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.

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>