Nora Swann has spent 15 years running her own fashion business. Long before that, she was the kind of kid who kept things to herself.

Reading as a way in

“As an introvert I found that I tend to keep things on the inside,” Nora says. “So, reading has really helped me develop that.”

For Nora, books weren’t only something to read, they were somewhere to go. “I read because it helps me to broaden my communication,” she says. “It helps me to build my knowledge and the way I look at life, the way I process things.”

A different kind of reset

As a Duffy Role Model, Nora would start her mornings visiting Duffy schools, and she says it really helped set her day.

“As a business owner, you go through so many challenges. Being amongst the kids, really good energy, really happy. That helped me be in the right mindset before I went and had my business hat on.”

The assemblies became something she looked forward to. Some mornings, she needed that room as much as the kids needed to hear her story.

Why Role Models Matter

Every Duffy Role Model stands in front of tamariki as proof that reading can take you anywhere.

Our Role Models come from all walks of life, authors, community leaders, artists, musicians, scientists and more. What they share is a passion for reading and a love of learning that helped shape who they became. Now, they’re showing Duffy kids what worlds reading unlocked, and giving them a reason to dream even bigger.

The message is clear: read, then see where it can take you.

Watch Nora’s story