THC - Alison Westrupp
🍵 Alison Westrupp - INFJ, SDGs 11 & 16
Alison Westrupp’s Human CV is full with with nature, leadership, intuition, and deep inner work. A woman with earthy presence and razor-sharp clarity. During our kōrerō (conversation), we unpack her journey. From free-range childhood to conscious educator, from pole-dancing powerhouse to quiet mountain soul ... she is, in her own words, “everything in all directions”.
🌿 THE STARTING POINT: “I never planned on going into early childhood.”
Alison was only 17 when she left high school. Feeling too young for university, she took a teacher aide role to buy herself some time ... and never looked back. One moment changed everything: a 15-year-old student she supported couldn’t multiply. He planned to drop out and steal cars. “I couldn’t change his life,” she recalls, “but I could go younger. Work within the system. Help children value education.” That moment of heartbreak turned into her life’s mission.
Today, Alison leads an early childhood centre for tamariki (children) aged 2–6. It’s a career that challenges and fulfils her daily. “I love it. I’m good at it. I see the value in my mahi and I’m driven to do my best every day.”
✨ PERSONALITY & SELF-AWARENESS:
Alison’s INFJ type (introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging) is among the rarest. But somehow she also scores highly on extroversion in the Big Five. How? “I do everything big,” she laughs. “Whether intentional or not, I go all in.” Her confidence in decision-making is backed by years of sorting information and leading people. Yet emotionally? That’s where the work begins. “Sometimes I draw a blank. But I’m learning, little by little.”
Her strength? Perspective. She helps others make sense of things by holding space for complex emotions and challenging stereotypes. “I want to dismantle unhelpful thinking. I advocate strongly against phrases like ‘the baddies.’ People take only when they do not have … They are sadies not baddies.”
🌿 IMPACT: “I feel deeply connected to the environment.”
Alison’s connection to nature is rooted in childhood; growing up outside, barefoot, with three siblings and no fences. But it deepened as an adult when she worked full-time, studied full-time, and danced six nights a week. “I was emotionally stretched. So I took to the hills. I’d stomp it out, scream into the wind, sing at full volume. And slowly, the outdoors became a source of joy ... not just an outlet.”
She describes herself now as “a feral forest goddess” with a love of waterfalls, fresh air, and multi-day hikes. “I love wearing the same clothes for five days, washing in a river, waking up under the stars.”
💥 IMPOSTER SYNDROME: “Look for the evidence.”
Even with her experience and passion, Alison is no stranger to imposter syndrome. Her advice?
Look for evidence that you don’t belong - and you won’t find it.
Flip the narrative with a trusted colleague.
Reflect on your entire journey.
Coaching tools mentioned by Jen:
Brag List and Bouncer List. “Print them out, make them visible. Keep reminding yourself that you're worthy of where you are.”
🧠 INTUITION: “I test my intuition like a muscle.”
Her favourite book? Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Why? “Because it backs up intuition with science.” She recalls stories of firefighters who saved lives because they felt something was off - before their conscious mind caught up. Alison relates. She actively strengthens her intuitive muscle, using quiz shows, daily decisions, and gut checks as mini-tests. “When I get it right, I say thank you. I’m listening.”
🔥 TEACHING TAMARIKI: “Empowerment, not perfection.”
Alison is deeply passionate about removing stereotypes from early childhood. Whether it's challenging gender roles or reframing police narratives, she meets each child where they are ... with openness and compassion.
She believes in safe discomfort.
That means giving tamariki puzzles that stretch their thinking, and celebrating failure as a stepping stone to leadership. “We had a child who struggled with problem-solving. Now she’s the only one who can finish the hard puzzles—and she teaches others.”
Her Human CV secret sauce? Balance. “We must be emotionally available, but also step back. Empower children to seek support from peers. To try. To fail. To believe they can solve problems.”
🌏 SDGs THAT DRIVE HER:
#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
#16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
She chose these because they’re practical and achievable. “We already have infrastructure - think cycleways, transport hubs. But the culture hasn’t caught up. I want to help make that shift.” She dreams in idealism, but acts in practicality. That’s INFJ magic.
💃 DANCE & CREATIVITY:
Dance has always been part of Alison’s life - tap, flamenco, Irish, and later, pole dancing. “I didn’t see it as a creative outlet. It was just something I did because I had energy. But now I understand its value. It quiets the mental clutter. It’s not just a hobby. It’s a release.”
Today, she dances barefoot in her kitchen, at sunrise, brushing her teeth. But she’s planning to bring more structure and presence back into her creative life.
🔥 FINAL REFLECTIONS:
Alison’s journey cracked wide open when she met Bear who lived life consciously. “Before him, I was skimming across the surface. After, I questioned everything. It was raw. But it helped me return to who I really am.”
And that’s what she gives to her tamariki every day. Space to question. Room to grow. Permission to become.
🌱 Books, People, and Tools that Shaped Her:
📚 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
🌍 SDGs: #11, #16
🎨 Creative Outlet: Dance
🔦 Person: Bear (conscious living, self-awareness)
📍 Alison lives and works in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, New Zealand
💻 Connect with her:
Email alison.westrupp@gmail.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ali__sun__/
📍 See more Human CVs at thehumancv.com