Episode 29   Sadhana Smiles

As an immigrant to Australia with no qualifications and no plan as well as being the granddaughter of a slave in Fiji, Sadhana Smiles inauspicious beginnings were no indication of what was to come.

She would rise to become a global CEO, multi leadership award winner, author, business and social entrepreneur and leading speaker on leadership, diversity and inclusion. She is one of only a handful of culturally and linguistically diverse leaders in this country and, as such, is a role model to women in the many diverse communities in Australia. 

She has had many obstacles to overcome. Sadhana talks of the triple glass ceiling that she has had to deal with, being a woman, being a woman of colour and being a woman with Indian heritage and the cultural expectations that come with that.

This has created a real determination and resilience to enable her to advance not just her own career but the careers of other women and, in particular, other women of colour. She is a constant voice for the benefits of diversity and she shares her recipe for success....and it's well worth listening to. 

She started listing the gaps in her working life and set about closing them. Courage is an important factor - which could be as simple as expressing an opinion or as big as stepping out of your comfort zone at work to make a different choice. The importance of sponsors, mentors, putting yourself forward for opportunities. There's a lot of solutions here. Not just for women of colour but for everyone wanting to get ahead.

As a social entrepreneur she has been active for years in the areas of domestic violence and violence against women generally and was instrumental in organising an annual 'Walk a Mile in Their Shoes' march which raised funds for those causes.

As a speaker on the corporate circuit, Sadhana has inspired thousands to chase their dreams....despite her often being the only woman of colour not only on any discussion panel, but often in the room! But she's determined to change that. And I wouldn't be betting against her in that regard. Her first two books are critically acclaimed and inspire people to blaze their own trail in business and in life.

Sadhana Smiles is someone that really is making the path a little wider and clearer for those that follow. And she's a lot of fun. Have a listen. 


www.sadhanasmiles.com
Books - People Power Did You have Them @ Hello
                  I Want What She's Having 
Podcast - Business in Colour 

This episode makes reference to slavery, racial themes, diversity and domestic violence.

#RIW #Reallyinterestingwomen #sadhanasmiles #resilience #determination #womenofcolour #diversity #women #courageouschoices #confidence #selfbelief #expressopinions #diversityisprofitable #goals #rolemodel #achieve #support #educate #businessincolour #leadership #harcourts #Iwantwhatsheshaving #richardinstagraham 

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