You're in Charge

"How hard could it be to make a film?"

Taryn Brumfitt was a photographer with three young kids and no film experience when she asked herself that question. She had posted one photograph, a before and after that ran the opposite way to every before and after you have seen, and it went around the world. Seven thousand messages landed in her inbox from strangers telling her how they felt about their bodies.

She wrote a book. It did well. It was not enough. So she decided to make a documentary, and found out very quickly that first time filmmakers do not get funded. In her words, no one was going to take a punt on her.

So she went to Kickstarter. She set out to raise $200,000 over 60 days. She hit it on day 12 and finished at $331,000, backed by 8,909 people who had never met her. The film went on to beat Guardians of the Galaxy on opening night at the German box office.

What she says about that period is the part worth sitting with. It was not a clean run. She sold a car. She worked a second job. And the thing she credits most is not talent, it is getting the ego out of the way: "If you're the smartest person in the room, there's something wrong."

The full conversation with Sav Perera drops tomorrow.

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Past the headline stat about women in higher ed — Nicola Phillips on what actually slows women’s path to governance and leadership, and what’s starting to change.

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Adelaide University’s Vice-Chancellor on why self-doubt never fully disappears — even at the very top — and why that’s not the problem we think it is.

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What does it really take to lead at the very highest levels - and do you ever stop questioning whether you're good enough?

In this episode, Sav sits down with Professor Nicola Phillips, Vice-Chancellor and President of Adelaide University - one of Australia's newest and most ambitious universities, formed by the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. With 30 years of experience across the UK and Australia, Nicola brings a rare mix of academic rigour and hard-won leadership experience to one of the most significant roles in Australian higher education.

Nicola and Sav go deep on the questions that matter most to women in leadership: the non-linear path to the top, the impostor feelings that persist even at Vice-Chancellor level, how to make clear decisions when the buck truly stops with you, and why the human element of leadership isn't a soft skill - it's the whole game. They also talk about what it's like to lead an institution of tens of thousands of people through a once-in-a-generation transformation, and what the future of Adelaide University looks like from the inside.

If you've been waiting for someone at the very top to admit that self-doubt doesn't disappear with seniority - this is that conversation.

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“Not making a decision is just not an option.” That’s how Professor Nicola Phillips opened her conversation with Sav Perera - and it set the tone for everything that followed.

In Episode 1 of You’re In Charge Season 2, our Vice-Chancellor and President sits down to talk about the leadership lessons that don’t usually make it into a keynote: the impostor feeling that never fully goes away, why self-doubt is healthy humility rather than weakness, and what it really means to lead an institution of this scale through once-in-a-generation change.

Honest, grounded, and genuinely useful. Season 2 is here - listen now!

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Welcome to Season 2 of You’re In Charge.

Hosted by chef, business owner, and MasterChef Sri Lanka judge Sav Perera, this season digs into what it really takes to lead — the confidence to back yourself, and to build a life and career on your own terms.

Across the season, Sav sits down with inspiring women in business and leadership to unpack the real stories behind their success: the wins, the challenges, and the moments that shaped them. From entrepreneurship and creativity to confidence and personal growth, these are conversations made to help the next generation of women step up and take charge.

So whether you’re starting a business, finding your voice, or figuring out your next move — this one’s for you.

You’re In Charge is brought to you by ThincHer, an initiative of ThincLab at Adelaide University.

Got thoughts? Email us at [email protected]

Follow ThincHer:

Facebook: ThincLabADL

Instagram: @thinclabofadelaide

LinkedIn: ThincLab

Follow Sav:

Instagram: @savisquishles

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As an Indigenous business executive and social activist, Tanya Hosch is no stranger to being the ‘first’ and ‘only’ in some of Australia’s most prominent boardrooms. And if there’s one thing she want’s you to know, it’s to lead with authenticity.

In this final episode of You're in Charge Season 1, Tanya and Sav dive deep into the tolls and triumphs of being a trailblazer in any industry. From experiencing invisible barriers, to building a network of people who will give it to you straight,  Tanya gives listeners a masterclass in leadership.

Follow Tanya on LinkedIn: Tanya Hosch

You’re in Charge is brought to you by ThincHer, an initiative of ThincLab at The University of Adelaide. Google ThincHer to join our empowering community of like-minded women in business.

Got thoughts? Email us at [email protected]

Follow ThincHer:

Facebook: ThincLabADL

Instagram: @thinclabofadelaide

LinkedIn: ThincLab

Follow Sav on Instagram: @savisquishles

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sasha Baranikov once took a tech company from day 1 to ASX listing in under 5 years. A few years later it was sold for $3.7 BILLION.

These days, Sasha is using her keen instinct for entrepreneurship to help others kickstart their own endeavours. In this episode, Sasha and Sav cover the Founder Mindset, bouncing back from disappointment and what Sasha looks for when she invests in new start ups.

Follow Sasha on LinkedIn: Sasha Baranikov

You’re in Charge is brought to you by ThincHer, an initiative of ThincLab at The University of Adelaide. Google ThincHer to join our empowering community of like-minded women in business.

Got thoughts? Email us at [email protected]

Follow ThincHer:

Facebook: ThincLabADL

Instagram: @thinclabofadelaide

LinkedIn: ThincLab

Follow Sav:

Instagram: @savisquishles

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working on the frontlines of one of the biggest mergers in South Australia today, Professor Jessica Gallagher has a unique understanding of the risks and opportunities that come with shepherding brands into a new era.

In this episode, Sav sits down with the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and External Engagement at the brand-new Adelaide University. Together, they lift the lid on the university merger and discuss the evolving realities of being a woman in leadership.

Follow Jessica on LinkedIn: Jessica Gallagher

You’re in Charge is brought to you by ThincHer, an initiative of ThincLab at The University of Adelaide. Google ThincHer to join our empowering community of like-minded women in business.

Got thoughts? Email us at [email protected]

Follow ThincHer:

Facebook: ThincLabADL

Instagram: @thinclabofadelaide

LinkedIn: ThincLab

Follow Sav:

Instagram: @savisquishles

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After winning The Block in 2013, Alisa Fraser and her twin sister Lysandra took the leap into business. These days, the two lead a multi-million-dollar interior design empire and are constantly looking for new ways to meet their customers’ needs.

Today, Sav sits down with Alisa to unpack burnout, the mindset you need for the first 5 years, and the realities of business after reality TV.

Follow Alisa on Instagram: @alisa_lysandra

You’re in Charge is brought to you by ThincHer, an initiative of ThincLab at The University of Adelaide. Google ThincHer to join our empowering community of like-minded women in business.

Got thoughts? Email us at [email protected]

Follow ThincHer:

Facebook: ThincLabADL

Instagram: @thinclabofadelaide

LinkedIn: ThincLab

Follow Sav:

Instagram: @savisquishles

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.