345 Hana Assafiri: Audacity and Freedom

In this episode, Mel talks with Elise Sernik, founder of Leadership Space. Elise is an executive and team coach, strategy consultant, leadership and culture change facilitator and trainer with a long history of specialising in the social purpose sector. She founded Leadership Space to help the sector fulfil its critical role in the Australian and global economy. Over the past 15 years, Elise has worked with hundreds of leaders across the sector helping them to unlock their ability to set strategic direction, lead, team, partner and accelerate the achievement of meaningful social impact.   Prior to establishing Leadership Space, Elise had the pleasure of contributing to the early foundation of People for Purpose - colleagues from her years at Social Ventures Australia where she was an internal and external consultant, providing strategy and operational consulting and program design. Prior to SVA Elise was General Manager of Nonprofit Australia where, amongst other things, she designed and delivered a large-scale mentoring program for social purpose CEOs. Elise’s first career was in the commercial sector managing corporate partnerships with BBC Worldwide, followed by consulting and the design of a production-finance-digital joint partnership. She left commercial roles in 2002, becoming Assistant Director of Marketing and Fundraising of the London based non-profit, Asthma UK.   Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

In this episode, Mel talks with pioneering social entrepreneur, Mandy Richards, founder and CEO at Global Sisters. Mandy is a social entrepreneur fiercely passionate about human rights, animal welfare, eradicating poverty and empowering women. She established Global Sisters to democratise entrepreneurship in 2013 – with the goal of creating a scalable and efficient model for supporting women to create an income stream via self employment, when mainstream employment wasn’t accessible.   Mandy’s diverse career path over the past 20+ years has spanned the commercial and not-for-profit sectors where she has worked internationally on government business incubation programs in Botswana and New Zealand, as well as for high profile charities including the Hamlin Fistula Hospitals in Ethiopia and locally as National Marketing Manager for the RSPCA.   Mandy established the ACT Social Enterprise Hub while working at Social Ventures Australia and was Director for Place Based Philanthropy with the Sydney Community Foundation. Following securing the highest investment on Channel 7’s Dragons Den, Mandy launched a $3.5 million startup and has commercialised an invention internationally.   She has also been voted one of the 25 most inspiring and influential poplin the for-purpose sector as a Pro Bono Australia Impact 25 winner for 2022.   A country girl who spent her younger years growing up on a small farm outside Armidale, NSW before her family moved to Indonesia, Mandy now lives in Sydney.   Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.  

David Ritter is the chief executive officer of Greenpeace Australia Pacific. He is also an adjunct professor in the Sydney Democracy Network at Sydney University; an affiliate of the Sydney Environment Institute; an associate of the Sydney Policy Lab at Sydney University and an honorary fellow of the Law Faculty at UWA.  Greenpeace has launched and executed a number of highly successful and deeply collaborative campaigns during David's time as CEO, including most recently: - Stopping big oil companies from drilling in the Great Australian Bight, wholly preventing the opening of a new oil frontier. - Persuading Australia's worst climate polluter, AGL Energy, to agree to early coal closures - which will result in roughly an 8-10% drop in annual domestic emissions, and; - shifting 21 major Australian corporations to adopt 100% renewable energy electricity commitments by 2025 - shifting around 5% of the National Electricity Market from fossil fuels to renewable energy. A widely published writer, including three books, The Coal Truth, Contesting Native Title and the The Native Title Market, his insights into the climate emergency have been published in The Guardian, The Griffiths Review, Independent Australian and The Quarterly Essay. A frequent and highly regarded keynote speaker, David uses his platform to take audiences on a journey; through the wonder and awe of the natural world, the powers that threaten it and his profound belief in the human capacity for good.  This conversation took place back in 2020, in the midst of Covid lockdowns. We've been reflecting on it and its potency still to this day and hope you enjoy it.  David's essay referred to in the episode is from the book, Living with the Anthropocene, a powerful anthology of writing from some leading writers, thinkers and doers.     Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.  

We know how groupthink, politics and inertia can feed costly and unproductive ways of thinking and doing. Through reframing, Josie Gibson and her team at CatalystFX gets right to the root causes so that we address the right problem, not a symptom of something deeper. Josie has an illustrious career in corporate and leadership, she builds communities and helps clients build change capability.  Josie Gibson established CATALYSTFX to address an urgent need for different thinking and responses to complex business, social, and environmental issues. Josie runs The Catalyst Network, a membership community of accomplished changemakers, and mentors graduates and creative entrepreneurs. She is a Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University’s FORWARD Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation in Australia, and is active in national and international initiatives exploring new work, community and economic models. Josie co-created Australia’s first leadership index at an internationally ranked business school and established and helped to build successful businesses, including communities of chief financial officers, HR directors and senior women in global multinationals. It was a pleasure to have this conversation with Josie, and get to the nuts and bolts of embodied leadership and why now is the time for connecting to the wisdom of ancient traditions and cultures. Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.  

 In this week’s episode, we sit down with the extraordinary Miriam Rose — an Aboriginal elder, artist, activist, and educator with a lifelong commitment to preserving cultural independence and fostering reconciliation. As the Northern Territory’s first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher, Miriam has been a trailblazer, advocating for the inclusion of Aboriginal art and culture in education and public life. Her work through the Miriam Rose Foundation bridges the divide between Aboriginal culture and mainstream society, inspiring change at the grassroots level. Miriam’s wisdom, vision, and passion for community earned her Senior Australian of the Year in 2021. Tune in to hear her powerful insights and learn how we can all contribute to a more inclusive and culturally rich future.    Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

This week on Humans of Purpose, Mel sit's down with the extraordinary Mykel Dixon – award-winning speaker, musician, author, and creative force. A "fierce nonconformist" and "prolific anti-perfectionist," Mykel helps senior leaders and teams at Fortune 500 and ASX 200 companies unlock their breakthrough creativity. In this episode, Mykel shares how he inspires people to rediscover their natural strengths, redefine their unique value, and reimagine their impact at work and beyond. From building a bar in Cambodia to working with the world’s biggest organisations, Mykel’s story is full of inspiration, wisdom, and practical magic for tapping into your creativity and living life on your own terms.  Highlights include: ✨How creativity isn’t just for the weekends – it belongs in your work, too ✨The importance of self-expression and following your wild impulses ✨Why collective effervescence is key to innovation and high performance 🎧 Tune in now to hear how Mykel’s unique approach can help you transform your life and work!    Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

In our latest Humans of Purpose episode, we sit down with the incredible David Leser—award-winning journalist, author, and social commentator.  David shares his journey from shy childhood dreams to writing about some of the most complex social issues of our time, including his powerful reflections on: 💡 The "brokenness" in our society and how it shapes us 💡 The origins of toxic masculinity and the path towards healing 💡 The deep connections we find in everyday moments of community In this thought-provoking episode, David unpacks not just his career but the heart of what it means to live with purpose in today's world. Don't miss this heartfelt conversation about embracing vulnerability, challenging the status quo, and finding hope in a world that feels increasingly uncertain.   Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

In this episode, we sit down with the inspiring Sarah Wilson – multi New York Times best-selling author, social philosopher, philanthropist, and founder of the global "I Quit Sugar" movement. From editing Cosmo to hosting Masterchef Australia, Sarah has led a dynamic life dedicated to creativity, minimalism, and deep global conversations. In this powerful conversation, Sarah shares her unique perspectives on: ✨ Facing existential risks like climate change ✨ Living with anxiety and the wisdom behind her best-seller First, We Make the Beast Beautiful ✨ The beauty of embracing collapse, community, and radical acceptance 🎧 Join us for this thought-provoking episode as Sarah unpacks how we can live a "wild and precious life" amidst uncertainty.   Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

This week on Humans of Purpose, we dive deep with Hana Assafiri, a fierce advocate for women's rights, social justice, and cultural understanding. In this powerful episode, Hana shares her journey from her early struggles in war-torn Lebanon to becoming a pioneering force for change in Australia. We explore her unwavering commitment to challenging societal norms, her role in establishing one of Australia's earliest social enterprises, and her creation of safe spaces for women through initiatives like the Moroccan Soup Bar.  🎧 Tune in to hear how Hana is reshaping the conversation around women's empowerment, community resilience, and the power of intuition. Don't miss out on this inspiring discussion! Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.

This week on Humans of Purpose, we sit down with Keith Rovers, a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in the corporate world. Keith has been instrumental in shaping the pro bono and social impact practices at MinterEllison , one of Australia's leading law firms. From providing employment pathways for those who have been out of the system for years to integrating social enterprises into corporate supply chains, Keith shares invaluable insights on how businesses can drive meaningful change. Join the conversation and explore how purpose-driven leadership can transform organisations and communities. Growing Your Business and Impact Talk to us today about how we can grow your capacity to level up your business and impact with our fully trained and managed outsourced marketing solutions - delivered by our digital heroes armed with good strategy, the latest tech and big smiles.  Learn more at humansofpurpose.com Promotional Partnerships Like what we are serving up on Humans of Purpose? Our promotional campaigns have delivered great marketing and sales outcomes and ROI for our partners to date.  Whether you're seeking a 1-month, 2-month or season sponsorship, follow the flow below to become a partner before we run out of our remaining promotional slots for 2024.  Click Here to learn more about collaborating on a custom campaign package. Ready to partner? Just complete this short Partner Enquiry Form and we'll be in touch. Gold Membership Want a premium listening experience that directly supports us to keep making the podcast?  Join current members Michael, Pravati, Noel, Kathy, Andrew 1, Andrew 2, Chris, Nikki, Margaret, Ben, Misha, Sarah and Geoff and enjoy our range of member benefits:  Premium dedicated podcast feed Removal of all three ads per episode Early access to all episodes Full transcripts of all episodes Brokered intros to all podcast guests Ask me anything page access To take up this great offer, just head to our Gold Member page today. CREDITS Music intro and outro on this podcast was written and performed by Keyo Rhodes, with Harrison McGregor on drums and percussion. Sound engineering and mastering by Lachlan McGregor.