Business In Colour

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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Dr. Morley Muse is a Chemical, Environmental and Renewable Energy Engineer with expertise in waste-to-energy generation, wastewater treatment, renewable hydrogen generation, biofuels production and energy transition including storage, transmission and waste heat reuse. She has worked across academia, government, and industry including in consulting and construction.

Among her various work and accolades are: being a board director with Women in STEMM Australia, being appointed as an ambassador for CSIRO's Innovation Catalyst Global, and being an Advisory Group Member of the Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM Program with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. As the co-founder of iSTEM Co, a research, consulting, and talent-sourcing business that enables employment for women in STEM, Morley continues to encourage women, including women of colour and women from CALD backgrounds to further their careers in STEM. iSTEM Co. was nominated as a finalist for the 2022 Women in Digital awards and was a Merit award winner at the 2023 Tech Diversity awards for the business category. This year, the iSTEM Group launched DEIR, a recruit-tech platform that eliminates recruitment bias for women in STEM. DEIR has also received recognition in STEM and won the Lift Women Social Impact Award. In this episode she weaves in the intersectionality of women of colour in STEMM. Please enjoy this powerful episode. 

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Lisa Martello is a construction project Director  with a depth of experience leading high-profile rail, engineering, demolition, and construction projects in the UK and Australia. Think…bridge upgrades, tunnel ventilation projects, stations, and structures. She is also a Board Director and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Portfolio for the National Association of Women in Construction in Australia. And a Professional Mentor for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Follow her Instagram profile “catching bees”  it is laugh out loud funny and real as she talks about gender equality, racism, workplace cultures and more. In this episode, we are privileged to have Lisa share two casual racism moments. She walks us through in detail, the range of emotions, quick decisions and navigation - A must listen for all people to understand the long lasting impact of a moment in time. She shares her advocacy in the construction industry from the gender pay gap to suicide rates and why she thinks leaders in Australia aren’t moving the dial.  She leaves us with two punchy messages as people of colour, be prepared to take the opportunity especially when you are likely underestimated and use your hypervisibility. This rings true for Sadhana and I, we have used both techniques successfully. Please enjoy the energy and expertise of this authentic change maker, Lisa Martello.

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Angela Pippos is a Journalist, TV Presenter, Radio Personality, Documentary-maker, Author and more. In this episode, Angela shares her early love of sport, being a middle child, her parent’s influence growing up in a Greek-Australian family in Adelaide. She reflects on her father’s start - cleaning the floors and being a Props Boy at Channel 7 to a Producer, Director and part of the management of Channel 7 and 10 in Adelaide.  She recounts being the first in her family to go to University, her start at the ABC as a researcher, her time on live television, her advocacy of feminism through politics and sport. Talking about multiculturalism and how the Howard government set us back, she says, you should not change what you eat, your name or who you hang out with to belong in Australia. She talks passionately about women’s safety, women’s economic equality, the national plan for violence against women and children – how we need more than just the will but the investment and action for gender equity in all spaces. Angela talks about how - The personal is the political for her and how she has transformed her advocacy and impact using her wonderful skill as a communicator, giving voice to and for others. She says: You have to be noisy and fight for change. Please enjoy the charismatic and courageous, Angela Pippos.

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