For Shaunna Li, success isn’t limited to one area of life. Whether she’s competing on the badminton court, running her own business, or building experience in the corporate world, balance has become a key part of how she approaches everything she does.
On court, Shaunna has firmly established herself as one of New Zealand’s leading players. She is a two-time Oceania Women’s Singles Champion (2023 and 2025) and the reigning New Zealand National Champion in both Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles. Across her career, Shaunna is also a 14-time New Zealand National Title holder, with titles spanning Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Her results reflect years of discipline, consistency, and a strong competitive mindset.
Away from badminton, Shaunna brings that same focus into her professional life. She runs her own business, Dress for Less, and recently completed an internship at EY, gaining valuable experience outside of sport. Rather than seeing these commitments as separate, Shaunna believes the skills she’s developed in each area complement one another.
“From badminton, I’ve learned discipline and hard work. When you put in the work, you get results,” she explains. “Teamwork and communication are also huge. Working with people of different ages and backgrounds really helps in the corporate world.”
At the same time, the skills she’s gained off court have strengthened how she approaches badminton. “Having to think about strategy off court helps how I think in badminton,” she says. “Problem solving applies to both, whether it’s solving an issue at work or figuring out how to play an opponent on the day.”
Finding balance, however, hasn’t always been straightforward. One of the biggest lessons Shaunna has learned over time is the importance of prioritising and accepting that perfection isn’t always possible.
“It’s important to know when to do the right things and learning how to prioritise,” she reflects. “It’s not about being perfect, it’s about finding the best way to balance things.”
That balance also means making time for life beyond work and sport. “I’ve learned how important it is to make time for yourself,” she says. “Spending time with friends and family, or even small things like finding time to eat dinner, those things can’t just drop down the priority list because of work.”
For younger athletes trying to juggle sport alongside education or work, Shaunna’s advice is refreshingly honest. “I feel like I need to message myself,” she laughs. “If you enjoy it, keep doing it. As long as you enjoy both things and have the drive, you can do both at once. Enjoy what you’re doing and think about what’s important to you.”
So what keeps her motivated to push herself across so many areas of life? For Shaunna, it comes down to enjoyment and a sense of achievement. “Winning motivates me, achieving something,” she says. “But enjoyment is a big part of it too. I wouldn’t do something I don’t enjoy. That sense of accomplishment is what keeps me going.”
As Shaunna continues to compete at the highest level while building her career beyond badminton, her journey highlights the importance of balance, self-awareness, and staying connected to what truly matters. Through smart prioritisation, discipline, and enjoyment in both sport and work, she continues to show that success can be built across multiple areas of life. We look forward to seeing Shaunna bring her experience, leadership, and drive into the upcoming VICTOR Oceania Individual and Team Championships, and to following the next chapter of her journey both on and off the court.
Event: VICTOR Oceania Individual Championships
Dates: 8-12 February 2026
Location: Badminton North Harbour
47 Bond Crescent, Forrest Hill, North Shore 0620, Auckland
Link: Full schedule and results
Event: VICTOR Oceania Men’s & Women’s Team Championships
Dates: 13-15 February 2026
Location: Badminton North Harbour
47 Bond Crescent, Forrest Hill, North Shore 0620, Auckland
Link: Full schedule and results