September 30, 2024 • 18 mins
Jaynaya is a proud Noongar/Balladong woman from Quairading in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Jaynaya has a strong background across the Employment and Recruitment sectors through partnerships throughout the Education and Employment across regional and remote areas within Western Australia and Victoria. Having previously worked within the recruitment industry specialising in disadvantaged cohorts across wider Australia under the employment services framework Jaynaya has been able to assist in identifying the gaps in engagement deliveries and having the ability to effectively articulate throughout the partnerships on how to actively develop these.
Jaynaya describe herself as a Cycle breaker, a Glow Getter, an Indigenous Entrepreneur. She's a dual business owner and is passionate about making the most of every opportunity and to continue to grow. She believes in supporting others and their passion as we are stronger together. And leads a number of women focused businesses and initiatives such as Blakbone Sistahood, and SheEO.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Podcast unite our voices. We respectfully acknowledge the Watch Up
new O people as the traditional owners of the land
in which this was created.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I'm Krystal Kinsella. I'm a proud Jarwin and Braddrew woman,
a supply diversity expert and published author. Welcome to Meet
the Mob, a series dedicated to showcasing Black excellence in business.
I get to interview deadly First Nation business owners from
around the country and learn about their wife. Today, I'm
joined by Janea Winmar from Blackbone Sisterhood, who will share
(00:47):
with us her wife, why she got into business and
why she does what she does. So let's kick it off. Hey,
you and sis kid things?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
How are you? Yeah? Good?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Did tell my audience who you are?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Here's your mob?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Hi, I'm going to know. I'm an Baladan woman from
literally to hour up the road. I all live on
Melbourne for the last twenty odd years. In that time,
I've started two businesses that I operate on predominantly Black Grain.
Sisterhood is where I do a lot of space, a
lot of work with Indigenous women in the space and
creating space for them and professional development programs and opportunities
(01:19):
that are tailored to us and our needs as Indigo
women in that space. So that's my passion piece. I
do have a commercial cleaning company that I do a
lot of work with as well in that cleaning aspect,
but it's not actually a passion piece. It's just one
of those things that fell into my lap during COVID,
So yeah, yeah, yeah, lots of things.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
I think that's where we first really started connecting was
during COVID, wasn't it. Yeah, Well there was all the
online zoomi's and stuff where people getting together and yeah,
which was really cool.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, there was all those opportunities because we're all face
to face contact people. So being kind of stuck in
COVID and being in Melbourne because we had the hardest
lockdown in Australia, and then trying to get to Perth too.
A lot of that restriction period you had to do
permits and I think I came managed to get over
to Perth twice in that period of time. But having
(02:08):
those online catch ups with indigenous businesses especially, it kind
of helped me kind of break out of that little
two bedroom apartment in Docklands that I am in all
the time.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
So yeah, yeah, definitely so it's really glad that I
was able to catch you while you're actually over here,
because you're not, yeah, normally back home in Melbourne. So
the stars ALIGNE.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Just pretty good. Say, look, talk to us.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
A little bit about your why, Like what's driving you.
I was reading on your LinkedIn this morning. I just
caught my eye cycle Breaker. Yeah, like, just tell us
a little bit more about you, who you are and
your why.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I've always been known as someone that connects other people,
so I think when I started to go to networking sessions,
especially with mob networking, everyone kept calling me black Lego
because they're like, oh, Jane, I like, has met this person?
So I'm like, oh, yeah, kind of black Lego. But
I think being in that global Indigenous women network that
were we're a part of the one that resonated with
(03:07):
me with cycle Break it because there was a lot
of women kind of doing that for community. I'm like going, well,
I am kind of doing that too, because I go
into space and boardrooms don't look like me. And even
when I first started going into board spaces, like I
toned myself down, I dressed or corporate straightened my hair
for the death of it. And now I'm kind of
(03:27):
embracing who I am and like dressing the way I
feel comfortable and making sure I'm also promoting other indigenous
businesses in that space. So all of the what I'm
wearing today is all WA women. So it's that for
me that's really important to being comfortable in that space
and putting on my code Obama. But I set up
Blackbone Sisterhood because black women out the backbone of our community,
(03:50):
so that's pretty much what the name entails. My pop's
got seven sisters, so for me, we always had loud,
proud black women, So it was just kind of that
merging of what am I going to do? So I
went out of Employment services back in the day, I
moved to Melbourne for an opportunity with them, fell into
(04:12):
working at the AFL and did all the reconcervation action
plans for the clubs and a lot of the corporate
stakeholders that they had. Gave me a insight into the
corporate world and what that looked like and how I
can kind of impact changes there. So for me, that
was really important to kind of be doing things right
and not just doing it just a tick a black
box that evolved into me working for indigenous businesses. So
(04:35):
I started with an indigenous telecommunication company doing business development
pretty much during that black lego, connecting the dots and
dragging them to different networking opportunities that I felt would
be appropriate for them as well. And then I started
working with Isaac at Bungle Energy, which is an Indigeno
sell the energy company, and then transitioned to kind of going,
(04:55):
oh well, I want to do a lot more with
introg just women because I got ARCS to be on panels.
I got ARCS to kind of do these networking events,
but I had to look through all my Instagram photos
to find the best photo because I didn't have any
professional photos. So my first event was for indigenous women
where we had their hair and makeup done by and
(05:17):
indigenous makeup artists how to indigence female photographer come and
do their photos, and I had an indigenous business work
on their LinkedIn profile and their resumes. So for me
that was really important because I was creating bio and
not knowing how to create a buy when we do
this and kind of I fly.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
I didn't have time.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Other women probably didn't have time too, so creating space
for them to be able to do.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
That was really important definitely.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Oh wow, Well, I mean we shared some similarities because
my mum is one of ten and there was eight girls,
so long line of women and like a big strength
and so I really loved that you kind of titled
your business in that way of that recognizers and honors
the fact that black women are the back playing most. Definitely,
(06:05):
So it sounds like quite a bit of a journey
there You've been on like kind of evolving, you know,
from doing wraps at the AFL to you know, working
and encouraging and supporting other black women.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, it's it's kind of one of those things that
like building that confidence to kind of step out and
be comfortable to kind of go, yep, this is what
I'm doing now. That was a process too because I
lived in Melbourne. There weren't a lot of nong people
over there at that stage, and all of my connections
we're at the AFL because all of my cousins and
nephews and everyone place for footy at some stage. So
(06:39):
for me it was always supporting them and going what
are you doing after foot What do you want to
injury away from the rest of your life?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What are you doing now?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Proudly, like there's so many businesses popping out from boys
in coming out of football or that are still in football.
So to me, that was that natural progression of supporting
like my mob, but then also going well, what can
I be doing? So yeah, stepping out and kind of
being comfortable and I think working with Ia and him
going yeah, just do it, like you can do it
while you're doing this, and so kind of creating space
(07:08):
for me to do that, but supporting me and being
like that brother that was supporting the champion the change stuff,
but we just do it naturally because I'm all see
wear lots of different hats as well. So I'm glad
that you talked about boards. So are you sitting on
some boards at the moment. Yeah, a few boards, a
lot of advisory panels, really closing the gap foundation, so
(07:30):
on the foundation board and have been for three or
four years. So for me that was really important because
supporting the women changing from working out of like a
small small office space to kind of having a warehouse
and packing room and like a huge space now that
they do have. So for me that was really important
to kind of go, yeah, like I'm going to help
(07:52):
them with that but also that corporate dynamic that they
didn't have because they were from the original health organization
background and being in a community all so that's where
their passion piece came from. And they also went, well,
we can be doing this as a business. And then
the fashion brand kind of helped them create space for
healthy education for especially indigenous women over COVID too, because
(08:14):
they had a program called Weller Women that operated over
that COVID. So we had a lot of water or
seed nutrition came on and did our segment about like
talking about what natural foods or native foods that we
kind of have taken away from our diet within Western
culture and reputting it back into your diet and kind
of those superfoods that we previously ate. So I think
(08:36):
that was really important too, because they made those programs
not generic, but they were tailored and specific to us.
So I'm yeah on that board. I am do a
lot of work with office women, So I'm on this
advisory group or selection board for the Victorian Women's on
a roll so many I forget what they all are,
(08:58):
but yeah, definitely a lot of those passion pieces and
I think it now stepping into that global dynamic with
Indigenx organization and the indiduenced women industry of industry that
we're doing as a kind of subsection to the world
indigenous business for them. So it's really that's really important,
(09:18):
like to see that growth and kind of be putting
up my hand because I'm putting up my hand to
create space of people coming behind me. So it's if
I'm not saying yes, then other people kind of won't
get opportunities.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So it's creating that space.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
It gives you a lot of diversity in what you do. Hey, like,
so you're not just in business, but you know, putting
your head in it in various different things that you
know align with your passions and your values and stuff
like that as well. I didn't know that you were
working with clothing the gap, so that's good to know
that and understand.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, I think I've fell in love with the whole
process of what they do. So even through COVID, they
had to flip to selling T shirts and then had
all of their family kind of come in and pack
all the sh it's going out to everyone that was
in lockdown doing all sorts of things. So they were
in a building that used to be when I first
(10:11):
moved to Melbourne the Victorian Indigenous Sports but yeah, so
they were in the VEI office and then so but
having to move out of that because their orders were
too great, so they had to move into a space
that they could have boxes but also do the packing
and then do it in reverse because we can do
face to face stuff, so people couldn't actually go in
(10:33):
store and shop, not having the retail space set up first,
but having a warehouse set up first, completely different dynamic.
But being able to have that conversation and that I
don't know, Sarah, that is also on the board. She
is doing like university program at the moment talking about
wearing wearing your values on your shirt and what impact
that has not just nationally globally. So that research piece
(10:56):
is really interesting too because you're finding out different things
like wearing all of the cure and stuff and Buffy
creative and so just being able to have those support systems,
but then the impact of it because I kind of
wear this when I travel and I'm sitting in gorgeous
business lounge and people.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Go, oh my god, I love your outfit.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I'm like, oh, you can get it too, So like
being able to share that, and then even when you
go internationally, people kind of looking at what you're wearing
or what you're doing, and like the story behind it
is really important. So that's kind of what I got
on board for cloning the Gap because it was really impactful.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Yeah, you're so another similarity because whenever I'm rocking something
from Kurriken or Mara Collective it is and all earrings,
it's always a talking piece. People always come up and comment,
I've got the blue jacket and I had that on
in Sydney a whole week and just so many people,
where did you get it? I'm like, here's a link,
(11:50):
here's a link, gone buy, go and buy some. So yeah,
it's good. It's a really, I guess, a non intrusive
way yea to start conversations, but also to I guess
connect people as well. Clothing so it's a part of
you know, your identity or you are now. I think
it says it a thousand words as well.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, and mom, we've always been doing that. So like
ooriginal organizations always had like a Deadly shirt or something
that had kind of rolled out every year. So like
I think even my cupboard, like here back at home,
at mums, Like I've still got all of my MOB
shirts from whatever we've been doing this, And I know
most people's cupboards kind of look like out at the moment,
so you kind of keep things because they're deadly at
(12:33):
the time you're going. But I can't keep wearing these.
So I love the fact that our fashion is evolving too,
because we've got so many different options now. Before it
could was pretty much one place where you can be
getting stuff. Now they're everywhere and kind of get excited
when you go different places now and there's like a
Blackfellow shirt somewhere, or there's like I have an affinity
(12:53):
for pajamas and so Petere Alexander did that collaboration, so
I'm like going, I need to buy that.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
I need to buy that.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
So for me that's really important too, because like doing
stuff that you you feel comfortable in, but also you're
telling that story.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Definitely, COVID nearly sent me broke.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
I think because I made this commitment during COVID was
I will buy one item from an indigenous business every week.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
And you should see at my house, like I have
hundreds of earrings. I've got piles this big that don't
even fit in the drawer of T shirts of like
different mob business t shirts like you name it, active wear, towels,
I've got it. It's just crazy, but it's I mean,
it's yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
It gives me a lot of things to I mean,
I know I'm doing my bit to support black economy,
but yeah, it's been that billboard when you're walking around
as well.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, and it's that free support too that you can give,
Like you don't have to actually buy a lot of
stuff that's out there, you can be like liking and
sharing it on social media. So I always say that's
the freest support you can give to a black businesses,
liking them, following them online and sharing all their stuff.
And even in this last two months, I've had the
opportunity to travel out Astralia but to go to indigenous
(14:09):
restaurants so in Darwin, Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. So I
think I've kind of bar hopped black businesses over the
last all around the country. So it's been amazing that.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
It has as well.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So what's the future hold for black Ben's stood kind
of me stepping up my game too, so it's kind
of not necessarily stepping back from Black Bone, but streamlining
it so it's not just me on the forefront.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So creating a website because I don't have a website, that's.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
One of the no no nos.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
But it's just because when I first started doing it,
like I got so busy doing the actual job, I
didn't actually create the network and stuff like that. So
stepping b like, I think the opportunity now I have
of being able to step back and kind of go okay,
so I need this, I need that, I need that,
and getting it all set up so it's not just
me running around so it's more of a organized chaos,
(14:58):
not just chaos. So yeah, that's that's really important for me.
But a lot of global opportunities Next year in New Zealand,
we've got the Indigenous Women in Industry Conference in February.
I'm also ambassador for mindaru's Dream Venture Masterclass program, so
we've got the Black Angels, which is Indigenous businesses investing
(15:19):
in other Indigenous businesses. So we've got a learning opportunity
in America in March, and there's a Yeah, there's a
whole bunch of different things that is happening out there
that on that global scale that is impacting where we're
going to be in and we're sitting what spaces we're
going to be sitting in in the next couple of months.
So it's yeah, it's exciting. Yeah, it's going to be busy.
(15:40):
I'm looking forward to ELI in in February next years.
So what's the legacy piece for you?
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I mean, it's all.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
About creating that space. So it is that cycle breaking
aspect of it. So I volunteer my time also to
a lot of organizations that I feel are doing amazing
stuff like Culture's Life have a fellowship program that they're
actually in w at the moment, so I'm dropping into
them tomorrow because they're going to be at the University
WA so they're on country at the moment doing some
(16:09):
bush food tours. Disappointed I flew in too late to
go down to manage to do that with them today.
But to me, it's yeah, it's creating that legacy piece
of stepping out into into my outside of my comfort zone.
So then my comfort zone becomes larger. So when I
create a bigger comfort zone for myself, other people stepping
(16:29):
into that space as well. So this year I said
yes to MC the Dream Time President's function at the MCG.
So for me that was like, oh, yeah, I'll do it,
and then realizing what I was actually doing as I
was walking to the MCG and then being there and
rounding everybody up, being front and seter for that event
because I'm not usually like a hey, look at met
(16:51):
MC But to me it was kind of really important
because we have so many amazing people that are in
that space that will be looked at next year because
I was given the opportunity and hey, we had an
digit at MC so how about we look out doing
this for different events, not just dream time.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
So for me that was really important.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Yes, So I kind of trained people to take over
my role so that I don't have to be doing
it all the time, because that's really important. And if
I see other women succeeding in spaces that I've created,
I'll gladly kind of jump into another space so I
can see where that looks like. And I think that's
where my business. When you look at everything I've done,
I've stepped into different spaces because people have come along
(17:32):
and either been better in that space or I feel
that they could be better in that space. So I'm
like going, I can support you, but I don't have
to be doing that. So for me that's really important.
Is that self growth in other people as well as myself.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, so important. And yeah, you're creating space, you're showing
people how to show up, and then you kind of
you know, just then the support person along the side.
So if you had a key message for my audience
that you wanted to share, what would it be.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
You belong wherever you want to be. So it's it's
kind of me realizing that in that boardroom situation where
it's usually like middle aged white men that didn't look
like me then when I first stepped into that space.
So now you look at the diversity on boards, you
look at the people that are in those spaces and
the people that have they're dressing in those spaces, like
(18:20):
we're embracing that change, and I think that's really important.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So be wherever you want to be, Be wherever you
want to be.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
It's a real powerful message. So thank you so much
for joining me today. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you love it,
please share it on your socials with your mob. Let's
help amplify as many Indigenous businesses as possible and get
everyone supporting each other.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Thank you,
Podcast unite our voices. We respectfully acknowledge the Watch Up
new O people as the traditional owners of the land
in which this was created.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I'm Krystal Kinsella. I'm a proud Jarwin and Braddrew woman,
a supply diversity expert and published author. Welcome to Meet
the Mob, a series dedicated to showcasing Black excellence in business.
I get to interview deadly First Nation business owners from
around the country and learn about their wife. Today, I'm
joined by Janea Winmar from Blackbone Sisterhood, who will share
(00:47):
with us her wife, why she got into business and
why she does what she does. So let's kick it off. Hey,
you and sis kid things?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
How are you? Yeah? Good?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Did tell my audience who you are?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Here's your mob?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Hi, I'm going to know. I'm an Baladan woman from
literally to hour up the road. I all live on
Melbourne for the last twenty odd years. In that time,
I've started two businesses that I operate on predominantly Black Grain.
Sisterhood is where I do a lot of space, a
lot of work with Indigenous women in the space and
creating space for them and professional development programs and opportunities
(01:19):
that are tailored to us and our needs as Indigo
women in that space. So that's my passion piece. I
do have a commercial cleaning company that I do a
lot of work with as well in that cleaning aspect,
but it's not actually a passion piece. It's just one
of those things that fell into my lap during COVID,
So yeah, yeah, yeah, lots of things.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
I think that's where we first really started connecting was
during COVID, wasn't it. Yeah, Well there was all the
online zoomi's and stuff where people getting together and yeah,
which was really cool.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, there was all those opportunities because we're all face
to face contact people. So being kind of stuck in
COVID and being in Melbourne because we had the hardest
lockdown in Australia, and then trying to get to Perth too.
A lot of that restriction period you had to do
permits and I think I came managed to get over
to Perth twice in that period of time. But having
(02:08):
those online catch ups with indigenous businesses especially, it kind
of helped me kind of break out of that little
two bedroom apartment in Docklands that I am in all
the time.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
So yeah, yeah, definitely so it's really glad that I
was able to catch you while you're actually over here,
because you're not, yeah, normally back home in Melbourne. So
the stars ALIGNE.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Just pretty good. Say, look, talk to us.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
A little bit about your why, Like what's driving you.
I was reading on your LinkedIn this morning. I just
caught my eye cycle Breaker. Yeah, like, just tell us
a little bit more about you, who you are and
your why.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I've always been known as someone that connects other people,
so I think when I started to go to networking sessions,
especially with mob networking, everyone kept calling me black Lego
because they're like, oh, Jane, I like, has met this person?
So I'm like, oh, yeah, kind of black Lego. But
I think being in that global Indigenous women network that
were we're a part of the one that resonated with
(03:07):
me with cycle Break it because there was a lot
of women kind of doing that for community. I'm like going, well,
I am kind of doing that too, because I go
into space and boardrooms don't look like me. And even
when I first started going into board spaces, like I
toned myself down, I dressed or corporate straightened my hair
for the death of it. And now I'm kind of
(03:27):
embracing who I am and like dressing the way I
feel comfortable and making sure I'm also promoting other indigenous
businesses in that space. So all of the what I'm
wearing today is all WA women. So it's that for
me that's really important to being comfortable in that space
and putting on my code Obama. But I set up
Blackbone Sisterhood because black women out the backbone of our community,
(03:50):
so that's pretty much what the name entails. My pop's
got seven sisters, so for me, we always had loud,
proud black women, So it was just kind of that
merging of what am I going to do? So I
went out of Employment services back in the day, I
moved to Melbourne for an opportunity with them, fell into
(04:12):
working at the AFL and did all the reconcervation action
plans for the clubs and a lot of the corporate
stakeholders that they had. Gave me a insight into the
corporate world and what that looked like and how I
can kind of impact changes there. So for me, that
was really important to kind of be doing things right
and not just doing it just a tick a black
box that evolved into me working for indigenous businesses. So
(04:35):
I started with an indigenous telecommunication company doing business development
pretty much during that black lego, connecting the dots and
dragging them to different networking opportunities that I felt would
be appropriate for them as well. And then I started
working with Isaac at Bungle Energy, which is an Indigeno
sell the energy company, and then transitioned to kind of going,
(04:55):
oh well, I want to do a lot more with
introg just women because I got ARCS to be on panels.
I got ARCS to kind of do these networking events,
but I had to look through all my Instagram photos
to find the best photo because I didn't have any
professional photos. So my first event was for indigenous women
where we had their hair and makeup done by and
(05:17):
indigenous makeup artists how to indigence female photographer come and
do their photos, and I had an indigenous business work
on their LinkedIn profile and their resumes. So for me
that was really important because I was creating bio and
not knowing how to create a buy when we do
this and kind of I fly.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
I didn't have time.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Other women probably didn't have time too, so creating space
for them to be able to do.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
That was really important definitely.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Oh wow, Well, I mean we shared some similarities because
my mum is one of ten and there was eight girls,
so long line of women and like a big strength
and so I really loved that you kind of titled
your business in that way of that recognizers and honors
the fact that black women are the back playing most. Definitely,
(06:05):
So it sounds like quite a bit of a journey
there You've been on like kind of evolving, you know,
from doing wraps at the AFL to you know, working
and encouraging and supporting other black women.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, it's it's kind of one of those things that
like building that confidence to kind of step out and
be comfortable to kind of go, yep, this is what
I'm doing now. That was a process too because I
lived in Melbourne. There weren't a lot of nong people
over there at that stage, and all of my connections
we're at the AFL because all of my cousins and
nephews and everyone place for footy at some stage. So
(06:39):
for me it was always supporting them and going what
are you doing after foot What do you want to
injury away from the rest of your life?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What are you doing now?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Proudly, like there's so many businesses popping out from boys
in coming out of football or that are still in football.
So to me, that was that natural progression of supporting
like my mob, but then also going well, what can
I be doing? So yeah, stepping out and kind of
being comfortable and I think working with Ia and him
going yeah, just do it, like you can do it
while you're doing this, and so kind of creating space
(07:08):
for me to do that, but supporting me and being
like that brother that was supporting the champion the change stuff,
but we just do it naturally because I'm all see
wear lots of different hats as well. So I'm glad
that you talked about boards. So are you sitting on
some boards at the moment. Yeah, a few boards, a
lot of advisory panels, really closing the gap foundation, so
(07:30):
on the foundation board and have been for three or
four years. So for me that was really important because
supporting the women changing from working out of like a
small small office space to kind of having a warehouse
and packing room and like a huge space now that
they do have. So for me that was really important
to kind of go, yeah, like I'm going to help
(07:52):
them with that but also that corporate dynamic that they
didn't have because they were from the original health organization
background and being in a community all so that's where
their passion piece came from. And they also went, well,
we can be doing this as a business. And then
the fashion brand kind of helped them create space for
healthy education for especially indigenous women over COVID too, because
(08:14):
they had a program called Weller Women that operated over
that COVID. So we had a lot of water or
seed nutrition came on and did our segment about like
talking about what natural foods or native foods that we
kind of have taken away from our diet within Western
culture and reputting it back into your diet and kind
of those superfoods that we previously ate. So I think
(08:36):
that was really important too, because they made those programs
not generic, but they were tailored and specific to us.
So I'm yeah on that board. I am do a
lot of work with office women, So I'm on this
advisory group or selection board for the Victorian Women's on
a roll so many I forget what they all are,
(08:58):
but yeah, definitely a lot of those passion pieces and
I think it now stepping into that global dynamic with
Indigenx organization and the indiduenced women industry of industry that
we're doing as a kind of subsection to the world
indigenous business for them. So it's really that's really important,
(09:18):
like to see that growth and kind of be putting
up my hand because I'm putting up my hand to
create space of people coming behind me. So it's if
I'm not saying yes, then other people kind of won't
get opportunities.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So it's creating that space.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
It gives you a lot of diversity in what you do. Hey, like,
so you're not just in business, but you know, putting
your head in it in various different things that you
know align with your passions and your values and stuff
like that as well. I didn't know that you were
working with clothing the gap, so that's good to know
that and understand.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, I think I've fell in love with the whole
process of what they do. So even through COVID, they
had to flip to selling T shirts and then had
all of their family kind of come in and pack
all the sh it's going out to everyone that was
in lockdown doing all sorts of things. So they were
in a building that used to be when I first
(10:11):
moved to Melbourne the Victorian Indigenous Sports but yeah, so
they were in the VEI office and then so but
having to move out of that because their orders were
too great, so they had to move into a space
that they could have boxes but also do the packing
and then do it in reverse because we can do
face to face stuff, so people couldn't actually go in
(10:33):
store and shop, not having the retail space set up first,
but having a warehouse set up first, completely different dynamic.
But being able to have that conversation and that I
don't know, Sarah, that is also on the board. She
is doing like university program at the moment talking about
wearing wearing your values on your shirt and what impact
that has not just nationally globally. So that research piece
(10:56):
is really interesting too because you're finding out different things
like wearing all of the cure and stuff and Buffy
creative and so just being able to have those support systems,
but then the impact of it because I kind of
wear this when I travel and I'm sitting in gorgeous
business lounge and people.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Go, oh my god, I love your outfit.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I'm like, oh, you can get it too, So like
being able to share that, and then even when you
go internationally, people kind of looking at what you're wearing
or what you're doing, and like the story behind it
is really important. So that's kind of what I got
on board for cloning the Gap because it was really impactful.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Yeah, you're so another similarity because whenever I'm rocking something
from Kurriken or Mara Collective it is and all earrings,
it's always a talking piece. People always come up and comment,
I've got the blue jacket and I had that on
in Sydney a whole week and just so many people,
where did you get it? I'm like, here's a link,
(11:50):
here's a link, gone buy, go and buy some. So yeah,
it's good. It's a really, I guess, a non intrusive
way yea to start conversations, but also to I guess
connect people as well. Clothing so it's a part of
you know, your identity or you are now. I think
it says it a thousand words as well.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, and mom, we've always been doing that. So like
ooriginal organizations always had like a Deadly shirt or something
that had kind of rolled out every year. So like
I think even my cupboard, like here back at home,
at mums, Like I've still got all of my MOB
shirts from whatever we've been doing this, And I know
most people's cupboards kind of look like out at the moment,
so you kind of keep things because they're deadly at
(12:33):
the time you're going. But I can't keep wearing these.
So I love the fact that our fashion is evolving too,
because we've got so many different options now. Before it
could was pretty much one place where you can be
getting stuff. Now they're everywhere and kind of get excited
when you go different places now and there's like a
Blackfellow shirt somewhere, or there's like I have an affinity
(12:53):
for pajamas and so Petere Alexander did that collaboration, so
I'm like going, I need to buy that.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
I need to buy that.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
So for me that's really important too, because like doing
stuff that you you feel comfortable in, but also you're
telling that story.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Definitely, COVID nearly sent me broke.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
I think because I made this commitment during COVID was
I will buy one item from an indigenous business every week.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
And you should see at my house, like I have
hundreds of earrings. I've got piles this big that don't
even fit in the drawer of T shirts of like
different mob business t shirts like you name it, active wear, towels,
I've got it. It's just crazy, but it's I mean,
it's yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
It gives me a lot of things to I mean,
I know I'm doing my bit to support black economy,
but yeah, it's been that billboard when you're walking around
as well.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, and it's that free support too that you can give,
Like you don't have to actually buy a lot of
stuff that's out there, you can be like liking and
sharing it on social media. So I always say that's
the freest support you can give to a black businesses,
liking them, following them online and sharing all their stuff.
And even in this last two months, I've had the
opportunity to travel out Astralia but to go to indigenous
(14:09):
restaurants so in Darwin, Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. So I
think I've kind of bar hopped black businesses over the
last all around the country. So it's been amazing that.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
It has as well.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So what's the future hold for black Ben's stood kind
of me stepping up my game too, so it's kind
of not necessarily stepping back from Black Bone, but streamlining
it so it's not just me on the forefront.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So creating a website because I don't have a website, that's.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
One of the no no nos.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
But it's just because when I first started doing it,
like I got so busy doing the actual job, I
didn't actually create the network and stuff like that. So
stepping b like, I think the opportunity now I have
of being able to step back and kind of go okay,
so I need this, I need that, I need that,
and getting it all set up so it's not just
me running around so it's more of a organized chaos,
(14:58):
not just chaos. So yeah, that's that's really important for me.
But a lot of global opportunities Next year in New Zealand,
we've got the Indigenous Women in Industry Conference in February.
I'm also ambassador for mindaru's Dream Venture Masterclass program, so
we've got the Black Angels, which is Indigenous businesses investing
(15:19):
in other Indigenous businesses. So we've got a learning opportunity
in America in March, and there's a Yeah, there's a
whole bunch of different things that is happening out there
that on that global scale that is impacting where we're
going to be in and we're sitting what spaces we're
going to be sitting in in the next couple of months.
So it's yeah, it's exciting. Yeah, it's going to be busy.
(15:40):
I'm looking forward to ELI in in February next years.
So what's the legacy piece for you?
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I mean, it's all.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
About creating that space. So it is that cycle breaking
aspect of it. So I volunteer my time also to
a lot of organizations that I feel are doing amazing
stuff like Culture's Life have a fellowship program that they're
actually in w at the moment, so I'm dropping into
them tomorrow because they're going to be at the University
WA so they're on country at the moment doing some
(16:09):
bush food tours. Disappointed I flew in too late to
go down to manage to do that with them today.
But to me, it's yeah, it's creating that legacy piece
of stepping out into into my outside of my comfort zone.
So then my comfort zone becomes larger. So when I
create a bigger comfort zone for myself, other people stepping
(16:29):
into that space as well. So this year I said
yes to MC the Dream Time President's function at the MCG.
So for me that was like, oh, yeah, I'll do it,
and then realizing what I was actually doing as I
was walking to the MCG and then being there and
rounding everybody up, being front and seter for that event
because I'm not usually like a hey, look at met
(16:51):
MC But to me it was kind of really important
because we have so many amazing people that are in
that space that will be looked at next year because
I was given the opportunity and hey, we had an
digit at MC so how about we look out doing
this for different events, not just dream time.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
So for me that was really important.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Yes, So I kind of trained people to take over
my role so that I don't have to be doing
it all the time, because that's really important. And if
I see other women succeeding in spaces that I've created,
I'll gladly kind of jump into another space so I
can see where that looks like. And I think that's
where my business. When you look at everything I've done,
I've stepped into different spaces because people have come along
(17:32):
and either been better in that space or I feel
that they could be better in that space. So I'm
like going, I can support you, but I don't have
to be doing that. So for me that's really important.
Is that self growth in other people as well as myself.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, so important. And yeah, you're creating space, you're showing
people how to show up, and then you kind of
you know, just then the support person along the side.
So if you had a key message for my audience
that you wanted to share, what would it be.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
You belong wherever you want to be. So it's it's
kind of me realizing that in that boardroom situation where
it's usually like middle aged white men that didn't look
like me then when I first stepped into that space.
So now you look at the diversity on boards, you
look at the people that are in those spaces and
the people that have they're dressing in those spaces, like
(18:20):
we're embracing that change, and I think that's really important.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
So be wherever you want to be, Be wherever you
want to be.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
It's a real powerful message. So thank you so much
for joining me today. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you love it,
please share it on your socials with your mob. Let's
help amplify as many Indigenous businesses as possible and get
everyone supporting each other.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Thank you,
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