Business In Colour

In this episode, we speak with Rachel Castelino who is the founder of Blume Prebiotic Tonic), a company dedicated to promoting gut health through delicious prebiotic beverages packed with natural ingredients and plant fibre. Rachel educates us in this episode about the difference between probiotics and prebiotics and unsung hero of our body – the gut – how gut health is linked to mental health, skin health, and more. What we learn is that Australians don’t get enough plant fibre and we just don’t have anything quite like Blume on our grocery shelves – pay attention to the sugars and other nasties you might be consuming. Rachel’s founder story is incredible, it started with her own health journey, needing more gut microbiome’s and not finding anything on Australian shelves, she got started in her own kitchen during Sydney’s lockdowns in 2021.   Blume is now in Harris Farm Markets, WH Smith stores and other independent stockists. In this episode we also touch on the children of migrant’s and being risk averse often naturally because of all the struggles migrant parent’s go through to give children a head start. Rachel is inspiring in what she calls her “beginners mindset of being an entrepreneur”, as she had no manufacturing or supplier networks and no food science background. She is the customer always, which we love. Please enjoy the courage, care and curiosity of Rachel Castelino and head to the website, drinkblume.com.au or follow on Instagram, drink.blume

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In this episode, we speak with Min-Shi Michelle Lim, a former professionally trained ballet dancer, who uses her behavioural psychology and neuroscience background in the diversity, equity, inclusion and ethics space. She is well regarded for her advocacy and practitioner experience, named as one of the 40 under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians.

In this episode, Michelle shares openly and generously about her health journey and the impacts it has had on her as a young person and well into adulthood - including coming from a lower socio-economic background. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, from culturally diverse targets and how to implement them; career options and decisions for women of colour and how this changes at different life stages; how we talk or don’t talk about racism in the workplace; organizational risk and more. Michelle has two calls to action, that are sharp and clear, one for us all to lead no matter what our title is and another for senior leaders and organisations to embed diversity, equity and inclusion into the core of the business and to see the risks of not doing so. Thank you Michelle, you have influenced us to take our places to build a kinder, more safe, equitable world. More power to you.

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In this episode of Business in Colour, I talk to Uppma Virdi who is a trailblazing female entrepreneur. Just when her legal career in a disruptive start-up was about to take off, she made the decision to run her own business called Chai Walli. She built this business from the ground up, making it her and her team’s mission to preserve the Indian culture of teas and spices…by bringing the most authentic chai blends to the Australian market. In this episode I explore Uppma’s personal and professional journey, her thoughts on decolonizing chai, bringing back the ayurvedic value and her leadership principles – listen out for her 3 sustainability levers and her views on how to sustain purpose and passion over time. Some outstanding achievements Uppma has been awarded include being listed as a Forbes 30 under 30 in Retail and E-Commerce, CNN’s 40 under 40, Business Woman of the Year by the Indian Australian Business Community Awards, featured as a Woman to Watch by the Project on Channel 10. Hop onto the website chaiwalli.com.au buy some authentic chai – I have already – and engage with the brand, there are Chai Masterclasses for teams, ways to create your brand’s unique chai blend and more – please enjoy the warmth, ingenuity and strength of Uppma Virdi.

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In this episode of Business in Colour, Sadhana and I talk to Jacinta Whelan, a partner with Watermark Executive Search. Jacinta is an award-winning author, thought leader and popular speaker on the concept of Interim Executives, Portfolio Careers and future ways of working. She leads the Melbourne office of Watermark and has over 25 years’ experience starting and leading Interim businesses in Hong Kong, New York and Australia. This episode is a must listen for both candidates and organisations wanting to understand the talent market, what an interim appointment really means and how to make considered decisions about your own career journey. We unpack concepts like Buy, Borrow, Build and how soft skills are now known as Power Skills – thank goodness; the myths about interim roles in terms of quality, cost and process and of course Watermark’s 10 year record of collecting data on Board Diversity. Listen to Jacinta’s gold in this episode and get a hold of her book, The Rise of the Interim Executive. You owe it to yourself to at least consider it. Thank you Jacinta for your foresight and generosity as a leader.

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In this episode of Business in Colour we talk to Miriam Weir who is one of four Directors and co-owners of Mumamoo, a premium, scientifically designed, grass-fed, cows milk product. Proudly South Australian owned and Australian made. They are the National Winner 2024  Accelerating Women’s category of the Telstra Best of Business Awards. Along with Charlotte Chambers, Belinda Humphris and Kristina Scutella, Miriam is leading the charge on changing the narrative of feeding journey’s against some significant barriers: like not being able to advertise infant formula; midwives not able to recommend formula; and The World Health Organisation recommending breastfeeding. It is not hard to imagine a parent’s fear and anxiety with the judgement and pressure to choose just one way to feed. What is clear from this conversation with Miriam is that Mumamoo is pro breastfeeding whilst also offering parents choice in a safe product. The figures are startling, whilst almost 95% of parents initiate breastfeeding by 6 months onwards about 85% are changing to formula fully or in combination with breastfeeding. Listen keenly if you are an employer, if you are parent or a care-giver – as Miriam gives us the data, the science, the entrepreneurship, the health, the socio-economic reasons why Mumamoo is leading the way. Thank you Miriam for your leadership voice.

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In this episode of Business in Colour Sadhana and I talk to Lee Goddard

who was appointed as the inaugural Executive Director and CEO of the Australian Missile Corporation. He is also a Non-Executive Director of AUSTAL and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, and an Advisor to the Minderoo Foundation. Prior to assuming his current industry roles, he was dual appointed as Commander, Maritime Border Command and Operation Sovereign Borders, responsible for the law enforcement and operational oversight of Australia’s maritime economic and security zones, this preceded by;  a two-year secondment into the Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet. On promotion to Commodore in late 2014 he assumed the role of Commander Surface Fleet, commanding 18 major warships. Impressively, he has Commanded warships and joint-agency Taskforce's at every senior Navy rank… from Commander to Rear Admiral. He continues to serve as an active reserve officer following 34 years full time service up until January 2021, and is currently leading the CDF Inclusive Leadership Review. In this episode we delve into Lee’s deep experience and views on gender equality, absent leadership, inclusive leadership, ethical leadership and active followership. Lee gives us rare and meaningful examples of humanistic and authentic leadership. Please enjoy the wisdom and generosity of Lee Goddard.

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In this episode of Business in Colour, Sadhana and I talk with Colin Mackey, a mining engineer and procurement executive who has recently returned to Australia from living and working in Serbia. Colin shares the influence of his upbringing in the UK and his time working on major construction projects. We are lucky enough to have Colin walk us through his decision making, leadership and management approach of how he built a diverse team - how he persisted and motivated them.. and others to realise the benefit of diversity through respect and inclusion everyday. He has some gold phrases like, “Filtering out the Shit” and “Act on Values, Kindness, Wise Optimism and a Very Clear vision”. Other noteworthy accomplishments are: Colin has also made significant change alongside Indigenous suppliers in the procurement process that continues to deliver quality partnerships in the mining sector. AND Colin is also a board director at Inobat, an innovative battery manufacturer.  Please enjoy this authentic leader and his generous sharing of how to truly include and value diversity. Thank you Colin Mackey for lending us your leadership voice.

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In this episode of Business in Colour Sadhana and I chat to the inspiring Rosie Thyer Rosie is the chairperson of Culture Spring, a youth-led social agency that aims to transform organisations, institutions, and workplaces to make them more inclusive and culturally safe for Australia’s young multicultural community. Rosie taught me the distinction and benefit of youth led initiatives rather than just occasional youth advisory and in this episode we explore the many ways in which younger people need to be engaged, involved and take their place to lead from the front.

Rosie has extensive experience working in local government, evaluating council engagement with young people as well as advocating for equity and equality within academic settings. She also works for the Victorian Multicultural Commission in their Multicultural Youth Network. Her work was acknowledged by Darebin City Council, when she was named 'Young Citizen of the Year 2022'.

She is studying a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Global Studies at Monash University and hopes to incorporate social justice and human rights with policy reform in the future. Our today and tomorrow is bright with leaders like Rosie in it – please enjoy the charismatic, Rosie Thyer.

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Tricia Malowney is a disability and gender advocate. She calls herself an accidental advocate and credits her mother for her can-do attitude and confidence. We talk about the slow progress for disability in Australia, compared to the UK. Some of the reasons Tricia cites are:  the flaw in the ABS data, low funding, the low or emerging understanding of invisible disability; how many people look at what people with a disability can’t do, as opposed to what they can do…and much more.  She asks us to not speak for people with a disability but to ask why aren’t people with a disability in the room and to work through allyship and advocacy to include their voices . Please enjoy the charismatic, intelligent, funny [she is a comedian as well!]…changemaker, Tricia Malowney.

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Emma Olivier is the founder and CEO of Twenty Percent, a Disability Advisory working with Corporate Australia. With over 30 years of consulting experience and born without a left hand, she understands from her own lived experience the challenges and opportunities of having a disability in the corporate world. This episode is packed with practical guidance to start and progress the conversation in your organisation on disability inclusion. Why is Emma’s organisation called Twenty Percent, well I wonder if you know that 4.4 million Australians live with a disability—that’s 20% of our population. We unpack through our conversation, why organisations and leaders might be fearful of starting and to that Emma says don’t let perfection stand in the way of good. We talk about visible and invisible disability and she leaves us with 3 clear calls to action. One, To ask the question of why you don’t have representation of people with a disability at your decision making tables, as they are definitely your customers and in the communities you serve. Two, Believe people when they tell you what they need – don’t make the well intended assumption for them and 3. To people living with a disability, tell your story – don’t let just a few popular, high profile people living with a disability be the only voices that your leaders and organisation hears. Such sound advice from the empowered Emma Olivier, who is changing the conversation. Jump onto her website, www.twentypercent.au for more details.

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