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.

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>