The Most Intelligent Selection - Gold Coast

Episode 68 - Ping: A passionate community volunteer, helping those living on the Gold Coast to live their best life. We talk about being "encouraged" to speak English and how positivity is the key.

Ping works tirelessly in the community to help others, whether through her (ACWF) Australian Chinese Women's Federation or (MCCGC) Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast.

Check out Ping's Australian Chinese Women's Federation Facebook page here.


Fromm MCCGC:

Valuing Cultures, Celebrating Diversity, Welcoming you

MCCGC's vision is of an inclusive community that values cultural diversity. We've been working in the Gold Coast region for over 40 years to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have equal access to appropriate and inclusive services, a high quality of life and independence. We want everyone in our community to feel connected and we have programs that support people of all ages and backgrounds. Under our CÜRA brand we've expanded our services to further promote the health and well-being of all Australians.

Check out the MCCGC website here.

Keonimana Shigematsu - A physiotherapist with the Hawaiian passion and spirit on making tough choices, finding gratitude, and forging your own path.

We touch on COVID restrictions, "teaching" young kids karate, having a never-give-up spirit, and grandpa's bacon and eggs.

Visit Mana's website by clicking here.
Visit Mana's LinkedIn by clicking here.

About Mana:

Mana Shigematsu is the owner and physiotherapist of Ikaika: Integrated Recovery & Performance. His background and expertise in exercise and physiotherapy go well beyond the walls of a university.

His passion for injury rehabilitation was ignited at the age of 15 when he experienced a severe knee injury that was mismanaged for five years. He underwent his first joint surgery at the age of 20 and came to realise what the human body was capable of. Doctors told him he would not be able to perform in sport the same again, would have arthritis and his knees would not be the same again. Fast forward to now and four more surgeries later (six in total due to traumatic sports injuries), and he is doing all the things he wants to do pain-free.

Over the past eight years, he has worked with a massive variety of individuals from the elderly who need falls prevention programs, to professional surfers and soccer players. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Exercise at Colorado Mesa University in 2013 and then his Doctor of Physiotherapy from Bond University in 2021. He also is a certified epigenetics health coach endorsed by ph360. Some of his experience includes:

• Rehab wards in hospital
• In-patient Stroke Unit
• Persistent Pain Clinic
• Private Practice
• New South Wales Police Physiotherapy and Strength & Conditioning
• Advocate for NDIS and Work Cover patients
• Personal Training
• Online Coaching
• Currently Physiotherapist for the Gold Coast Knights Men’s Team

Mana’s special interests and passions lie in the areas of musculoskeletal, post-operative (orthopaedic), chronic pain management, epigenetics, stroke, early-stage Parkinson’s Disease, vestibular rehab and sports physiotherapy. People say to niche down, but he wants to help as many people as possible and would hate to see his skills in a variety of areas go to waste.

Only individuals who are committed to change and want to make themselves a priority should inquire. If you’re excited to start a new journey and take control of your health, book with Mana TODAY!

Episode 66 - Leonie Howes: A traditional Chinese medicine doctor on the power of belief, the challenges of travelling alone in Tibet, and surviving the corporate world.

From Leonie's About page (which you can visit here.)
HI, I’M LEONIE HOWES 

A Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine I studied and graduated from Endeavour College of Natural Therapies in Sydney. For 26 years I worked corporate in telecommunications, it was not my passion so I decided to do something to find my purpose in life. This lead me down the path of holistic medicine. 

A survivor of PTSD and Trauma I embarked on a journey of self discovery. During this time I traveled the world, researched and experienced many types of therapies. It was during this time of self discovery I decided that helping people out of pain and crisis was where my focus lied. 

At PinGlow Acupuncture I utilise the most authentic treatments into a personalised therapy to deliver the best outcome for you. Providing  tools for home to help support you along the way. My mission is to help you be the best version of  ‘You’, because there is no one else on this earth like ‘You’.

Dr Leaving

You can visit Leonie's LinkedIn here.

Episode 65: Andrew Kavanagh - A Whyse guy on making Whyse Choices, while questioning the Status Quo...... no not the band, but that would be cool.

Andrew helps people make Whyse Choices, the most successful example being "convincing" his lovely wife to marry him. He was learning hospitality and pouring pints at 13 years old; he's not certain the World isn't flat after coming to realise that much of what we are presented is a lie; he doesn't like cats, but has four..... complicated, and lovely, guy that Andrew. Enjoy!

About Andrew form his LinkedIn page (Click her to visit.):

I help Business Owners to empower themselves by empowering their team, whether that's their employees, contractors, or JV Partners.

Business owners often say that their employees are their greatest asset but only a few leverage that by empowering them to manage themselves better. The resulting inefficiencies cost the business a fortune.

Whether it's training, risk management or more effective communications, video is still one of the best mediums to leverage time and add massive value to a business' bottom line.

The main areas where I can help are:

 1 - Recruitment - Filtering the process to ensure that you only ever spend time with pre-qualified candidates that are a good-fit for you and your business' culture.
 2 - Training - Fixing the "Repetitive Reminding" productivity nightmare that's costing you a fortune, disempowering your staff and devaluing your business.
 3 - Workplace Health & Safety - Ensuring that you have gone beyond your responsibilities of care expectations and giving you peace of mind.

My role is to support and guide my clients through a journey of CARE (Clarity, Activate, Review and Engage) from identifying the gaps and opportunities in their business, addressing them, fine-tuning them and ultimately developing them as the foundational core of their business culture and identity.

I can't work with every business and it's why our first discussion will be "Getting to know each other better".

For whatever reason, you and I may not be able to do business together directly.

It's highly likely, however, that I will know people who would be great contacts for you. I'm always delighted to help other people who also have a pay it forward attitude.

𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔?

Despite being proud of what you've built, I trust you're open to the idea that your business could be better.

Perhaps deep down you feel your business would struggle if you stepped out of it.

You're concerned that, should circumstances require you to "step out" of your business, you'll be poorly rewarded for all of the time and energy you've invested in it over the years and not provide you with the peace of mind you desire.

If so, let’s talk:

Go to https://calendly.com/whysechoices and get to know each other better (no selling - Guaranteed).

Episode 64 - Moana Robinson: A life coach, stylist, and personal shopper, on the joys of the Japanese art of Kinsugi (listen to find out), self-belief, and more empowering ideas.

About Moana (From her website):
Moana Robinson has a mission … to empower others to glow from the inside out. As a coach for life and style, she uses her skills to take others on a journey to discover their perfect colour palette, style, wardrobe and it doesn’t stop there.  Being the best you can be includes what goes on inside the mind and heart as well as outside.

Combining her experience as a Beauty Therapist, Image consultant and as a Life Coach, Moana Robinson has the ability to help people shine as she works with them to find that magic combination of colour, body shape, lifestyle and personality. The magic is in unleashing the untapped confidence we keep hidden for fear of standing out.

With a huge amount of life experience Moana has a passion for helping others using many skills and modalities – each person is an individual and Moana believes in being the best you can be.

Moana understands the obstacles that get in the way of living to life’s potential and brings to her consultations an empathy and kindness that envelopes her clients; they know they are in safe hands.

True success comes from following your own path, connecting with people and discovering and using tools that empower you to think, feel and be all you can be. B Styled for Life is is all about creating a life and style that is perfect for the real, authentic you.

Are you at a crossroad in life feeling frustrated and wondering how you can get the most of your life?  As a qualified Practitioner of Passion and Purpose Coaching™ Moana looks forward to guiding you in a holistic way to discover your Passion and Purpose.

You can get in touch with Moana and find out about her upcoming retreat at her website by clicking this sentence.

Episode 63: Pip Bagnall - A championer of charities on increasing $$$ at a staggering rate, saying YES all (read most of) the time, and transforming business processes to save time and money.

We talk "Yes Years", the movies The Castle and Groundhog Day, well... talk may be a stretch... we touch on them. We discuss journeying to America, overcoming grief, hosting a radio show, and most importantly helping charities boost their coffers.

From Pip's LinkedIn:

My experience in the NFP sector spans across state and national charities, in the community fundraising and major campaign space. I’m currently working with Wesley Mission Queensland and Hummingbird House to help create and deliver their fundraising campaigns and appeals. In 2021 I managed the Coles Hummingbird House Appeal, and doubled their previous years income by raising over $1 million.

Visit her website by clicking here

Visit her LinkedIn here

Episode 62: Denna Szwajkowski - A coffee-loving, charity marketing manager, on the power of networking, and helping others overcome or, better still, avoid disaster....

From Denna's LinkedIn:

About

Hello, let me introduce myself, I am Denna Szwajkowski, I am a passionate advocate for business entrepreneurship, I educate Businesses on how to conserve their cash, manage their cash flow and how to start using digital currency. How I achieve this, is with the knowledge of working within the realms of cryptocurrency I can show you wealth opportunities that will change your lives.

With over 20 years working as a Business Development Leader within the travel industry and working internationally I have gained the experience to show you a different way of looking at and creating wealth. 

Business is RELATIONSHIP. If you are desiring to accomplish business success at a whole new level and create your IDEAL lifestyle, then reach out to me. It is exciting, exhilarating and challenging all at the same time. Make a Difference. Collaborate. Grow, we can accomplish much together!

I am a leader, Host and Producer of a travel show, Business Mentor and Business Development Leader. I have played a significant role in a collective of 40+ meetups for mum entrepreneurs in cities around the globe. This organisation was “The Founding Mums” and was helping woman (Mums) get to know the business.

"Special Projects" also keep me on track with my mission: Make a Difference. Collaborate. Grow. The challenge has always been to find a way to do it from home -- but that makes it all the more rewarding.

Get to know me?
Lifehacker, World Traveller (Taught English in China) Creative, Connect, Contribute, Stylist.

Contact Denna at all the links below:

Denna Szwajkowski

National Marketing Director

Direct: 07 4800 7071

Email: [email protected]

Global Glamping Charities Incorporated 

Solving Homelessness in Australia

in all its forms!

Natural Disasters

Domestic Violence

Economic Homelessness

Telephone: 07 4802 3020

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Episode 61: Sumiko Eyears - The quietly achieving, bubbly, cotton-candy-powered portrait photographer on going from failure to failure to success all with a smile..... It's quite the journey.


We talk about her life as an air hostess with Japan Airlines, failing to get into university and newscaster school, her love of cotton candy, and more.


From Sumiko's website:

Sumico Photography is a professional boutique photography studio at Main Beach on the Gold Coast, specialising in magazine style portraits of women at any age. My passion is to empower all women through my camera lens, to give them confidence and show them how beautiful they really are.

Many clients have said their portrait session with me was one of the best experiences of their life. That makes me want to reach more women and give them the opportunity to see their strength, find their confidence and discover their real beauty.

I work alongside professional hair and makeup artists who bring out your best and make you look and feel like the amazing woman you are. Then I guide you through a professional photo shoot and capture those special moments when you are radiating with confidence. I make it a fun and positive photo shoot experience so together we create stunning portraits of you.

I grew up in Fukuoka, Japan and every decade of my life has brought something new. In my 20’s I worked as an international flight attendant and in hospitality before moving to Australia. My 30’s were spent working in tourism on the Gold Coast before business studies took me to Sydney where I met my husband and started a successful web design business.
In my 40’s, a move to Brisbane was followed by becoming a Mum to my darling son who is now a teenager. I discovered photography in my 50’s and have been creating beautiful portraits for women and their families ever since.

Over the past few years, I have continued to work hard on my personal and professional development. My efforts saw me recently awarded Associate Level Accreditation through Portrait Masters in recognition of my photography being of a high professional standard. This International accreditation not only recognises my level of skill, but gives you, my clients the assurance that you’re working with a true professional in the photographic industry.

I have enjoyed all the stages of my life and believe age does not prevent us from starting new things. I feel fortunate to have finally found my calling, what I really want to do for the rest of my life.
As a business woman, photographer and graphic artist I also understand business and what is required when it comes to your business portraits and headshots and commercial photography. I pay close attention to detail and aim to provide the best possible photography services to fulfil your needs for business promotional materials such as websites, brochures, business cards, banners and social media. If you are interested in Web and Graphic design services, please visit Sumico Net website.

I am passionate about women’s wellbeing and am an active member of Logan City Women in Business. As well, I support the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Animal Welfare League of Queensland.


Connect with Sumiko at her LinkedIn here.

Visit Sumiko's website here.

Sumico Photography Facebook 

Sumico Photography Instagram

YouTube Channel

Episode 60: Sharon Hunneybell - Learn from a lady on the AFR Top 10 Women of Influence on her learnings from being a teenage mum, building top-notch tech start-ups, and Angel Investing!

From Sharon Hunneybell:

Hi, I’m Sharon
I love technology, innovation, creativity and collaboration.

I have worked in software development and project management for most of my career, holding senior roles in some of Australia’s fastest growing companies including multi award winning software company, Opmantek.

In 2017, I threw everything I had behind the formation and launch of the Gold Coast Innovation Hub (GC Hub). The GC Hub is a non-profit organization that has received Federal, State and Local government support to deliver a citywide innovation strategy that will provide infrastructure and services to support new business growth in the city it is anticipated that the GC Hub project will have a $3Billion economic impact on the Gold Coast over the next 5 years.

In the years prior, I co-founded a number of initiatives in the innovation and startup space, including Startup Apprentice with Sam Winter, which launched on the Gold Coast in 2013. The organisation delivered Australia’s first in-curriculum high school startup accelerator program, introducing a new generation to entrepreneurship and paving the way for many other organisations to launch in the space. Since then, thousands of students across Gold Coast have participated in Startup Apprentice led workshops, events and programs, Startup Apprentice has also been a partner in the Mayors Telstra Technology Awards for 5 years.

I was named by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence in 2018 and was recognised as a ‘Startup Leader’ in the 2014 Westpac Community leader awards. Sam and I were also were named ‘Innovation Champions’ by the Queensland Government for our contributions to the Gold Coast Startup Ecosystem in 2015.

This website is my personal outlet for all the things that I think about – both in business and in life, as well as a place to share the more creative aspects of myself. Expect a lot of random poetry, in depth thought pieces, the occasional recipe, a showcase of painting, sketching, illustration and maybe the occasional creative tutorial.

Visit her website here at the link below:

https://sharonhunneybell.com/

Episode 59 - Sigrid De Kaste: She's 50% tulip, 50% windmill, she's Dutch and 100% sticky beak.... She's the brains and the beauty behind Sticky Beak Marketing. We talk about that, knowing  "Yes, you can", and the benefits that can be found on a morning walk.


About Sigrid (from her website)

Selling her Diamond Jewellery Business for double her investment, at a time when other Jewellers simply closed theirs down, Sigrid de Kaste knows how to engage the Power of Marketing when growing a Business, her Speciality!

Now a 3 times #1 Bestselling Author, Business and Marketing Consultant and Coach, Sigrid de Kaste founded Stickybeak Marketing® after experiencing the power of the right marketing in starting up, expanding, and selling her own businesses

When building her Businesses, in very different Industries, such as Diamond Jewellery and Office Supplies, Sigrid discovered the Power of Authorship and the way it creates Brand Reputation.

She then developed the High-Profit Author Formula specifically for successful Business Owners and Entrepreneurs  who know the value they provide but find it hard to express and explain what they do, often most difficult communicating it online

Having proven how a Book brings together the different types of marketing that are required for different businesses and each business stage, Sigrid has been invited to and delivered marketing and social media presentations around her home country Australia as well as Internationally in Hong Kong, the US, Kuala Lumpur and Switzerland.

Visit her website her to find out how you can create impact and inspire others by writing your own book: https://stickybeakmarketing.com/