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Business In Colour

Business In Colour

Hosted by Div Pillay & Sadhana Smiles

BusinessEducationSocietyCulture
WebsiteRSS feed

Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Business In Colour is a podcast that inspires, empowers and mobilises leaders and allies to understand and act for greater diversity. Hear our stories so that you understand our journey, our experiences and our wants. We bring to you leaders who are doing incredible work in this space. We know this work is not easy, we know the challenges leaders face. Our hope is that by listening to the leaders on the Business In Colour podcast, you make a commitment to act for positive change. Our businesses must reflect the colours of the communities we work and live in. Hosted by Div Pillay and Sadhana Smiles. This show is for you if you are interested in: Leadership in Business Workplace diversity Inclusion practices Innovative inclusion Creating change Equity in the workplace High performing cultures People and customer diversity and inclusion Culturally diverse leadership Get in contact with Div & Sadhana via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/divpillay/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 1, 202646 min

EP. 134 Identity at Work/Charmaine Panickar and Krystin Low

In this episode, Sadhana and I talk to two remarkable women — Charmaine Panickar and Krystin Low — the worthy winners of the Business in Colour 2025 Collective Impact Award, on behalf of AGL Cultures. Charmaine and Krystin are both Melbourne-based in-house lawyers at AGL, and the Co-Leads of AGL Cultures, one of the company’s employee-led inclusion networks, championing cultural awareness, anti-racism and belonging across the organisation. Charmaine was born in Singapore to Indian and Chinese parents, before her family moved to Queensland in 1999. Krystin was born in Malaysia and is a first-generation Australian whose childhood moved between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur, sparking an interest with place, language and code-switching, and how they shape who we are. Together, they bounce off each other with such warmth that we simply couldn’t separate them. We talk about belonging as the everyday outcome of inclusion rather than a box to tick, the quiet cost of assimilation and of softening our accents and identities to fit in, how the next generation is redefining cultural identity on their own terms, and why “progress over perfection” and a strong collective voice are how real, lasting change gets made – even when the tumultuous local and global contexts try to pull us apart. Listen towards the end, as Charmaine and Christine focus on how staff led networks can influence dialogues on safety and taking a duty of care approach. It’s a generous, insightful and deeply human conversation — so let’s get into it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 14, 202643 min

EP 133 Freedom Lends a Hand/Azadeh Dastyari

In this episode of business in colour, I had the absolute privilege of introducing a woman whose name alone tells you who she is. Azadeh means freedom. Dastyari means those who lend a helping hand. Born during the Iranian Revolution, raised in Blacktown, Western Sydney — she embodies her name. Azadeh will tell you she’s an accidental academic. But there is nothing accidental about what she has built. Professor Azadeh Dastyari is the Director of the Centre for Western Sydney and a Professor of Human Rights Law at Western Sydney University. She has held appointments at Harvard Law School, Georgetown University, and the European University Institute. We are proud to say that Azadeh was unanimously chosen by our independent judging panel as the winner of the Business in Colour Research Excellence Award. In this episode, Azadeh takes us deep into Western Sydney — a region where 75% of people have a parent born overseas, where more than 100 languages are spoken. There is untapped strength in this community and Azadeh is working to shine a light through her work and her research. In this episode she shows us what is at stake when we get this wrong in our workplaces, our institutions, and our communities – when we don’t value and recognise this strength in diversity. Azadeh also speaks directly to women of colour in this episode— to those who code-switch, who carry a lot in different work and home spaces, those who question whether they belong. Her message is both a challenge to leaders and a gift to multicultural communities and professionals. This is a conversation about racism, rights, resilience — and the quiet, radical act of solidarity. We are so honoured to bring to you, the authentic and purpose led leadership voice of…Professor Azadeh Dastyari.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 26, 202647 min

EP 132 Ripples of Change/Malini Raj

In this episode, Sadhana and I sit down with someone who has been in this fight long before diversity and inclusion became a corporate buzzword — and who is very much still in it. Malini Raj grew up as one of the only culturally diverse kids in her school, she longed for swapping her curry for a veggie-mite sandwhich and she watched her father change his name just to get a job in Australia. Malini went onto spend two decades in financial services — often the only woman of colour in the room. But instead of leaving, she started noticing. Noticing who wasn’t at the table. Noticing which voices weren’t being heard. And then doing something about it. Today, Malini is the Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance — a national initiative making sure multicultural women are not just part of the conversation, but central to the decisions that shape Australia’s future. In this episode, we get into the $9 billion productivity problem hiding in our skills recognition system, why opening your network is not enough, and what it really takes to keep pushing for change over decades — including the story of a corporate hijab that started with one colleague and ended up shifting multiple workforces. She’s also our Business in Colour Award exemplar winner — and honestly, after this conversation, you’ll understand exactly why.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 10, 202637 min

EP 131 Allyship & Impact/Dr Chischona Schmidt

In this episode of Business in Colour, I talk with Dr. Chrischona Schmidt — an arts professional, researcher, and fierce advocate for First Nations cultural expression, who has spent more than 18 years working alongside community to elevate First nations arts and storytelling. Chrischona is the Manager of Ikuntji Artists, an Aboriginal-owned art centre based in Haasts Bluff, 230 kilometres west of Alice Springs — and one of the most socially conscious, community-driven organisations we’ve had the privilege of spotlighting. I first met Chrischona through the Telstra Best of Business Awards, and her story left the judging room in complete silence — in the best possible way. In this conversation, Chrischona takes us behind the scenes of Ikuntji — from the women-led movement that began long before the art centre formally existed, to the creation of a powerful living archive: 26 films in language, told by the artists themselves. She also shares the impact of helping return thousands of archival photos to families, so people could finally see images of their parents and grandparents for the first time. A jam-packed episode with an extraordinary storyteller and ally — and a reminder that art isn’t just something we wear or display… it’s legacy, voice, and strength. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who cares about community, culture, and ethical engagement — and don’t forget to follow Business in Colour for more conversations like this.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 6, 202641 min

EP 130 Finding Home & Healing/Nyachan Nyak

In this episode of Business in Colour, I talk with Nyachan Nyak — the visionary founder and CEO of the Nas Recovery Centre, and a purpose-led leader transforming mental health and substance use support for African communities through culturally tailored care and lived experience leadership. Nyachan holds a Master’s degree in mental health and a bachelor’s degree in Community Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs. She’s also a certified suicide prevention and intervention skills trainer, and advises government through multiple committees on evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. But what makes Nyachan’s story unforgettable is how she tells it — with honesty, clarity, and joy. She arrived in Australia in 2002 at just 11 years old, after living in refugee camps, and she speaks powerfully about resilience, belonging, racism, and the strength of community — and why she’s committed to bringing people “home” through healing. Nyachan takes us behind the scenes of the Nas Recovery Centre — from free counselling, justice programs for young people in custody, outreach work with Victoria Police, rehabilitation pathways, and collective healing sessions grounded in culture and dignity. We are so grateful for her wisdom, and her reminder that in mental health, slowing down and listening well can change lives — and even generations. If this conversation resonates with you, please share the episode, leave a review, and follow Business in Colour — it helps us bring more powerful stories like Nyachan’s to the communities who need them most.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 9, 202541 min

EP 129 Creating Health Equity in Systems/Dr Ashna Basu

In this episode of Business in Colour we talk to Dr Ashna Basu who is a psychiatry advanced trainee in Sydney. She sits on the Board of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and is the Chair of the Young branch of the Medical Women’s International Association. Ashna has previous experience in management consulting and governance, and advocates for equity in health and society nationally and overseas. In 2024 she was invited by the President of the United Nations General Assembly to speak at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York and in the same year was awarded the Ministry of Health’s Achievement in Health award at the NSW Young Achievers Awards.  Now you know why we had to have her on Business in Colour. This episode is jam packed with gold both personally for people of colour, women and for employers. We talk about health system challenges, like supply, demand, access, resourcing and our often low societal will to change and advocacy for others in health. What sticks with us is Ashna’s analysis of women, especially ethnic women – how we are so often the care-givers, not the receivers of care; how women tolerate lots of pain across their life-time and how society reinforces how pain for women is normal. Some really poignant messages and calls to action right across this podcast – we hope you listen and make a list of areas to have a courageous conversation in your workplace. Please enjoy the trailblazer, change maker, Dr Ashna Basu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 16, 202543 min

EP 128 Purpose-led Leadership/Donna de Zwart

In this episode of Business in Colour I talk to Donna DeZWart who is an accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in consulting and the education sector, including 10 years as a CEO in the for-purpose sector.  Donna leads Fitted for Work that specifically focusses on the employability of women through its range of programs and welcomes into their safe spaces nationally all women, non-binary, and gender-diverse jobseekers. Under Donna’s leadership, Fitted for Work has built two successful social enterprises, which she talks to in this podcast.  In 2024 Fitted for Work was the winner of the Victorian Telstra Business Award – Accelerating Women and this is where I met amazing Donna in the National rounds, as a judge. In this podcast, Donna gives us a window into her personal story, and her professional journey – she shows us her social heart and commercial mind. She is incredible and so is Fitted for Work. We both have a clear call to action from an economic perspective for businesses who should be looking to partner as part of their ESG or gender equity commitments – Did you know that a vulnerable woman can take up to 18 months to find her way back into employment - with Fitted For Work’s intervention, this can take just 77 days. Tell me you don’t want to align with that kind of measurable Impact. Please enjoy the purpose-lead - leader, dynamic, Donna De Zwart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 3, 202539 min

EP 127 Inclusive by Design/Sonia Sarangi

Sonia Sarangi is a registered Architect – the first Architect on Business in Colour – Sonia is the co-founder of Andever, a Board Member at ArchiTeam and Ausdance Victoria…a mentor to many and a Mum of two.  She is the daughter of South Asian immigrants to the Middle East who then undertook her own migration journeys to Singapore and finally Naarm /Melbourne.  The duality of being an insider-outsider as a result of these multiple journeys is one that has deeply shaped her and her practice and this shows in this episode of the way Sonia things inclusively.  Sonia’s portfolio – both overseas and locally – cuts across Residential and Commercial and encompasses many project scales. She generously shares many other firms who are putting inclusivity at the heart of what they do, building for dignity and respect in both social housing and other builds.  In this episode, we move through a lot – from the design of spaces today and what is missing from an inclusivity perspective; the realities of the lack of representation and unearned privilege in those who lead the design of residential and commercial builds. She calls out how we shape buildings that eventually shape us, as communities. Please enjoy the innovative thinker and change agent, Sonia Sarangi.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 18, 202538 min

EP. 126 Young People as Knowledge Brokers/Kano Ravalji

In this episode of business in colour we interview Krushnadevsinh Ravalji [Kano as he is popularly known] who is the founder of Third Culture Australia and Youth Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. As a passionate advocate for D&I, Kano works to empower young people and multicultural communities nationwide. His dedication to equity has earned him accolades such as the VicHealth Future Changemaker Award and Wyndham City’s Young Citizen of the Year. In this episode, Kano generously shares his experiences of racism as a young migrant person in school and how this led him to start Third Culture and to advocate for young people. He provides some great advice for those young people wanting to engage safely and for business leaders also who need to meaningfully engage with young people. We talk business, politics, community, leadership and what the education systems need more of. Hear why Kano describes young people as knowledge brokers and why he implores us all to connect through our differences. Please enjoy the optimistic and inspirational Kano – Krushnadevsinh Ravalji. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 8, 202541 min

EP. 125 Elevating Safety at Work/Prabha Nandagopal

In this episode, we connect with Prabha Nandagopal who is an award-winning human rights, discrimination lawyer and advocate, having worked for over 18 years in a variety of areas from business and human rights to asylum seeker and refugee policy. She is the founder of Elevate Consulting Partners and SafeSpace@elevate, which she established to support and strengthen the work of organisations committed to positive social change. In this episode, Sadhana and I talk to Prabha about her growing up years, her early influences in a gender equal home and being the only person of colour at school. We talk about key topics like psychosocial safety, positive duty, respect at work legislation, how immigration and the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees is used politically. We centre the conversation on Prabha’s work in the last 18 months to influence leaders in the board room and at executive tables to think proactively to prevent sexual harassment. We talk about the change in mindset, courageous actions, and committed investment that leaders need to protect workers today, to future proof safety. Please listen to and connect with the fierce and fabulous Prabha Nandagopal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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