In this episode, we speak with Hacia Atherton, founder and CEO of Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), is a pioneering advocate for gender equality and psychological wellbeing in Australia's skilled trades. Under her leadership, EWIT aims to boost female representation in the trades from 3% to 30% by 2030. Hacia is well recognised, being a celebrated winner of the Victorian Telstra Business Award for Accelerating Women. Hacia gives us so much in this interview, her personal journey of knowing and embracing pain to find her purpose; her practical tools to focus her mind and body; her business growth and impact strategies and way more. What is magnetic about Hacia is her authenticity, her vulnerability and personal power to reframe herself and the agenda for gender equity in trades and positive, psychologically safe environments. Hacia is a force of nature and a force for good. Tune into this positive psychology, almost masterclass-like episode with the formidable Hacia Atherton. 

In this episode, we speak with Hacia Atherton, founder and CEO of Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), is a pioneering advocate for gender equality and psychological wellbeing in Australia's skilled trades. Under her leadership, EWIT aims to boost female representation in the trades from 3% to 30% by 2030. Hacia is well recognised, being a celebrated winner of the Victorian Telstra Business Award for Accelerating Women. Hacia gives us so much in this interview, her personal journey of knowing and embracing pain to find her purpose; her practical tools to focus her mind and body; her business growth and impact strategies and way more. What is magnetic about Hacia is her authenticity, her vulnerability and personal power to reframe herself and the agenda for gender equity in trades and positive, psychologically safe environments. Hacia is a force of nature and a force for good. Tune into this positive psychology, almost masterclass-like episode with the formidable Hacia Atherton.

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/

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:
<ul>
<li>Leadership in Business</li>
<li>Workplace diversity</li>
<li>Inclusion practices</li>
<li>Innovative inclusion</li>
<li>Creating change </li>
<li>Equity in the workplace</li>
<li>High performing cultures </li>
<li>People and customer diversity and inclusion</li>
<li>Culturally diverse leadership</li>
</ul>
Get in contact with Div &amp; Sadhana via LinkedIn 
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/divpillay/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/divpillay/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/</a>

Providing inspiration to lead conversations and actions for diversity in your business

Business In Colour

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/

-- 

This is a Guide Your Light Network Production | Podcasts with Purpose

www.guideyourlightnetwork.com

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:
<ul>
<li>Leadership in Business</li>
<li>Workplace diversity</li>
<li>Inclusion practices</li>
<li>Innovative inclusion</li>
<li>Creating change </li>
<li>Equity in the workplace</li>
<li>High performing cultures </li>
<li>People and customer diversity and inclusion</li>
<li>Culturally diverse leadership</li>
</ul>
Get in contact with Div &amp; Sadhana via LinkedIn 
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/divpillay/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/divpillay/</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/</a> 
-- 
This is a Guide Your Light Network Production | Podcasts with Purpose
<a href="http://www.guideyourlightnetwork.com">www.guideyourlightnetwork.com</a>

EP 121 The Power of Positive Psychology - Empowering Women in Trades /Hacia Atherton

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.

In this episode, Sadhana and I talk to two remarkable women &mdash; Charmaine Panickar and Krystin Low &mdash; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;progress over perfection&rdquo; and a strong collective voice are how real, lasting change gets made &ndash; 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&rsquo;s a generous, insightful and deeply human conversation &mdash; so let&rsquo;s get into it.

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

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.

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 &mdash; she embodies her name.
Azadeh will tell you she&rsquo;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 &mdash; 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 &ndash; when we don&rsquo;t value and recognise this strength in diversity.
Azadeh also speaks directly to women of colour in this episode&mdash; 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 &mdash; and the quiet, radical act of solidarity. We are so honoured to bring to you, the authentic and purpose led leadership voice of&hellip;Professor Azadeh Dastyari.

EP 133 Freedom Lends a Hand/Azadeh Dastyari

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.

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 &mdash; 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 &mdash; often the only woman of colour in the room. But instead of leaving, she started noticing. Noticing who wasn&rsquo;t at the table. Noticing which voices weren&rsquo;t being heard. And then doing something about it.
Today, Malini is the Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Women&rsquo;s Alliance &mdash; a national initiative making sure multicultural women are not just part of the conversation, but central to the decisions that shape Australia&rsquo;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 &mdash; including the story of a corporate hijab that started with one colleague and ended up shifting multiple workforces.
She&rsquo;s also our Business in Colour Award exemplar winner &mdash; and honestly, after this conversation, you&rsquo;ll understand exactly why.

EP 121 The Power of Positive Psychology - Empowering Women in Trades /Hacia Atherton

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