Meaningful Conversations with Annyse

In this episode, we sit down with Natasha Wiseman, founder of Wise on Water and the not-for-profit platform Make Water Famous. Natasha is a passionate advocate for the power of communication in the water sector—believing that if we want to build real change, we must start by telling the truth about water.

From climate disruption to pollution and public trust, Natasha shares how storytelling can bridge the gap between technical expertise and public understanding. We talk about the UK’s growing water crisis, the role of community engagement, and why communications must be built into every water project from the start—not as an afterthought.

Natasha also pulls the “Truth” card during our conversation (yes, we bring a little creative energy into the mix) and reflects on what “truth” means when it comes to water, media, and the stories we share.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why storytelling matters more than ever in the water sector
• The public’s growing curiosity—and concern—about water
• Why communication is a strategic tool, not just a nice-to-have
• What happens when people connect to their local waterways
• How to bring communications into the room before the project starts
• Why investment alone isn’t enough—we need narrative clarity too
• Natasha’s dream for a future where communications has a seat at every table

Links & Resources:

·        Make Water Famous

·        Wise on Water

·        Wise on Water Podcast 

·        UK Water Industry BBC Article 

·        Why Namibia’s 1960s sewage purifying plant is a beacon of hope for the US water crisis

·        Singapore’s NEWater Journey 

·        Summary of California's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Industry 

·        The Water Tower - a non-profit innovation hub based in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  The Water Tower bring together industry leaders, utilities, private companies, NGOs, and academic institutions to tackle the world's most pressing water challenges. 

·        Erica Gies – Slow Water — by Erica Gies

·        Water Experiment – Dr. Masaru Emoto 

·        Towumba water crisis

In the latest episode of Meaningful Conversations, we sit down with Jackie Jarrell, who has spent much of her career working at Charlotte Water and is now a Principal Consultant at Raftelis and a WEF Fellow.  Jackie’s career has been dedicated to water development, municipal strategy, and creating life-nurturing work environments.

Jackie brings deep wisdom from years of experience in utilities—and a heart-centered approach to leadership. We dive into the practical realities of running water treatment plants, the pressures utility teams face, and how we can build more balanced, human-centered systems.

The Balance Card Moment 

During our chat, Jackie pulled the Balance card. Her reflection? Many in utilities are working incredibly hard, often at the expense of personal wellbeing. But the future holds promise: with the right tools, technology, and inclusive perspectives—like involving HR, IT, and community voices—we can reshape how we support our teams and foster healthier work-life integration.

Key Highlights:

🔹 Leadership is for Everyone
Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a practice. Every person, regardless of role, holds the capacity to lead. Confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness are essential qualities that can be nurtured at every level.

🔹 Human-Centered Culture = Better Outcomes
Organizations that prioritize wellbeing, flexibility, and real development opportunities don’t just perform better—they become magnets for talent. Trust, clarity of purpose, and emotional intelligence aren't soft skills—they’re core infrastructure.

🔹 Breaking Silos Starts in the Mind
Barriers in organizations often live in our assumptions. When we bring those assumptions to light, they lose their grip. It is important for leaders to cultivate open conversations and question the “unwritten rules” of how work really gets done.

🔹 Reimagining Work with Ease
Why do we equate value with busyness? True innovation and connection thrive when we allow time for reflection, creativity, and rest. It’s not lazy—it’s smart.

🔹 The Power of Vulnerable Leadership
Sharing the messy parts of our career paths builds connection and trust. Leaders who model honesty and openness unlock more resilient, inspired teams

Final Thought:
This episode is a rallying call for courageous leadership in the water sector. As Jackie says, “We’re not just moving water—we’re serving people.” It’s time to build organizations that serve both the mission and the humans behind it.

LuminUS Leadership

LuminUS's purpose is to provide the environment and space for individuals, teams, and organizations to unlock their full potential. By fostering a co-creation mindset and skill set, we help harness the hidden wisdom within organizations, enabling them to thrive and achieve meaningful transformation.

In our latest Meaningful Conversations podcast episode, I had the deep pleasure of speaking with Erica Gies, award-winning journalist and author of Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge. This conversation left me both grounded and inspired — Erica brings not only science, but also soul, to the way we think about water.

At the heart of Erica’s work is the Slow Water movement — a powerful shift in how we manage water by working with it rather than trying to control or rush it. Her approach is rooted in ecology, Indigenous wisdom, and a deep understanding of the natural systems we’ve so often overlooked in our attempts to engineer the landscape.

Erica drew the Majestic card during our conversation, and it set the tone beautifully. She spoke about how water is not just physically vital, but emotionally sacred. We begin our lives in water; we are mostly water. In many cultures, water is not a commodity — it’s a relative. A friend. Something to be honoured.

Show notes: 

• Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge. 
• American Society of Civil Engineers: Endorses the use of nature-based solutions as crucial tool in combatting climate change
• Julie Beagle: The Nation’s Chief Engineers Turn to Nature to Improve Flood Protection: Scientific American 
• Ursula K. Le Guin: The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction – Link to book.  Link to article.
• More than Carbon sticks.  A story discussed in the podcast featuring Atmospheric Physicist Anastassia Makarieva and University of Washington atmospheric scientist and ecologist Abigail Swann
• Laura Norman, Physical Scientist, US Geological Survey: What if we let water flow where it wants, slowly? Article in Popular Science. 
• The meaning of Lichen 
• The science behind forest bathing 
• Edward O. Wilson’s Biophilia
• Edward O. Wilson – Half Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life 
• LuminUS Reflection Cards 

In this inspiring conversation, Pamela Lynch, President of BlueWave Strategy and investing member of Portfolia, invites us to rethink how we approach water, leadership, and collective wellbeing.
 Drawing from two decades of innovation in water and climate tech, Pamela shares insights on cathedral thinking, building wellness into water strategies, and the vital role of meaningful conversations in creating lasting change.

We explore:

• The connection between water, wellness, and creativity
• Why future-focused thinking is essential for the next 100 years
• How collective responsibility can heal the water cycle
• The importance of slowing down for real conversations that move the needle

Tune in to be inspired by Pamela’s powerful vision for the future of water — and the world.

Show Notes 

• The Good Ancestor - How to think long-term in a short-term world. Roman Krznaric
• Jeremy Hunter - Groundbreaking work on the Red, Green, and Grey Zones - Leading mindfully for a positive culture.   Jeremy Hunter

In this inspiring episode of Meaningful Conversations, we sit down with Julie Bliss Mullen, Founder and Advisor of Aclarity, a company on a mission to destroy "forever chemicals" forever.

Julie shares her journey from PhD researcher to Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, and how motherhood has deepened her purpose. We explore the connection between healing water and healing people, trusting your instincts as a leader, creating flexible workplaces, and celebrating small victories in big, complex industries.

Julie’s perspective reminds us that true leadership is about courage, community, and nurturing — and that in water, just like in life, energy and vitality matter.

Topics We Cover:

• Healing water vs. just cleaning it
• Trusting intuition in leadership
• Building flexible, purpose-driven workplaces
• Celebrating small victories in big industries
• Women leading the future of water
• Redefining success as integration, not sacrifice

Show Notes:

1. Water Always Wins, Erica Gies - Slow Water
2. We need to change to solve the Water Crisis, Cees Buisman - We need to change to solve the Water Crisis 
3. The Eden in Iraq Wastewater Garden Project - https://edeniniraq.com/ 
4. Professor Kongjian Yu - Sponge Cities: Sponge Cities 
5. Emily's Wonder Labs - https://www.netflix.com/ie/TITLE/81128389 

Welcome to the first episode of our Meaningful Conversations Podcast where we talk with the wonderful Laura Gallindo, the Global Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications at Grundfos Water Utility.

In this episode, Laura and Annyse dive into a rich and reflective conversation about leadership, purpose, and the future of work — through the lens of intention, rest, and the wisdom of water.

They ask the big questions:

• What if we’re not behind — but exactly where we need to be?
• Can doing less actually create more impact?
• How do fear and hope shape the future we want to co-create?

From redefining productivity to reimagining how we hire, this conversation invites us to challenge the status quo and slow down just enough to notice what’s trying to emerge.

Together, Laura and Annyse explore:

• The power of dissolving fear (instead of conquering it)
• How nature and rest can unlock flow and insight
• The role of curiosity, vulnerability, and co-creation in recruitment
• Rethinking job descriptions and leadership expectations
• The deep connection between how we live, work, and lead

And throughout it all, one quiet but powerful question lingers:

What would water teach us about how to lead — and how to live?

Tune in and join the conversation.
We’re so glad you’re here.

Show notes: 

·        Clarice Lispector - Clarice Lispector - Wikipedia 

·        Erica Gies, Water Always Wins - Erica Gies – Author and journalist Erica Gies  

·        Our Blue World - Brave Blue World  

Join us in meaningful conversations with inspiring women from water and beyond. Together, we explore bold visions, plant seeds for possibility, and reflect on what’s emerging in our world — as professionals, as humans, as a global community.