First Nations Leadership & Resilience: Uncle Lionel Dukakis on Overcoming Adversity

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🥋 How do resilience, identity, and love shape the way we negotiate in life and business?

In this episode of Rolling Through Negotiations, we’re joined by Uncle Lionel Dukakis, a Proud Gunditjmara Man, business leader, and survivor of the Stolen Generation. As Managing Director of First Nations Traffic Management & First Nations Labour Hire Pty Ltd, he has turned hardship into a mission to uplift First Nations workers.

Born in 1962, under policies that denied First Nations people recognition as citizens and treated them as part of the fauna and flora, Uncle Lionel was not recognised as a human being under Australian law. As a member of the Stolen Generation, he was taken from his mother at just 18 months old, raised in foster care, and forced to start life at a disadvantage. Despite these hardships, he went on to create a thriving Indigenous owned business, helping First Nations workers gain employment and and financial independence across the country.

🎯 Key Insights:

• Resilience in Business & Life: Despite the deep trauma of growing up disconnected from his culture and family, Uncle Lionel refused to let pain define him, choosing resilience over addiction. Today, he is a leader in Indigenous business, creating opportunities for First Nations workers across the country. But above all, he is a proud father and grandfather, with a big, loving family that keeps him grounded and inspired every day.
  
  
• Knowing Who You Are: He highlights how cultural identity plays a key role in negotiations, whether in business, community, or personal growth and why standing strong in who you are is non negotiable.
  
  
• Love as a Negotiation Strategy: At the core of Uncle Lionel’s work is love for family, for mob, for creating lasting change. He shares how love can be a powerful tool in overcoming challenges and leading with integrity.

📢 Connect with Uncle Lionel’s Work
Support Uncle Lionel’s mission by following and engaging with First Nations Traffic Management & First Nations Labour Hire Pty Ltd.

🔗 Follow Uncle Lionel on LinkedIn: Lionel Dukakis

Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal views and lived experiences only, it’s not legal, financial, or medical advice.

If you are triggered by any content discussed in this episode and need support, please reach out to the following resources:
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
13YARN: 13 92 76

We acknowledge the Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters, and communities. We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, and to Elders past, present and future.