Business In Colour

Div Pillay & Sadhana Smiles
  • 5.0 (23)
  • MANAGEMENT

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/ 

  1. EP 131 Allyship & Impact/Dr Chischona Schmidt

    10 APR

    EP 131 Allyship & Impact/Dr Chischona Schmidt

    In this episode of Business in Colour, I talk with Dr. Chrischona Schmidt — an arts professional, researcher, and fierce advocate for First Nations cultural expression, who has spent more than 18 years working alongside community to elevate First nations arts and storytelling. Chrischona is the Manager of Ikuntji Artists, an Aboriginal-owned art centre based in Haasts Bluff, 230 kilometres west of Alice Springs — and one of the most socially conscious, community-driven organisations we’ve had the privilege of spotlighting. I first met Chrischona through the Telstra Best of Business Awards, and her story left the judging room in complete silence — in the best possible way. In this conversation, Chrischona takes us behind the scenes of Ikuntji — from the women-led movement that began long before the art centre formally existed, to the creation of a powerful living archive: 26 films in language, told by the artists themselves. She also shares the impact of helping return thousands of archival photos to families, so people could finally see images of their parents and grandparents for the first time. A jam-packed episode with an extraordinary storyteller and ally — and a reminder that art isn’t just something we wear or display… it’s legacy, voice, and strength. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who cares about community, culture, and ethical engagement — and don’t forget to follow Business in Colour for more conversations like this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  2. EP 130 Finding Home & Healing/Nyachan Nyak

    6 MAR

    EP 130 Finding Home & Healing/Nyachan Nyak

    In this episode of Business in Colour, I talk with Nyachan Nyak — the visionary founder and CEO of the Nas Recovery Centre, and a purpose-led leader transforming mental health and substance use support for African communities through culturally tailored care and lived experience leadership. Nyachan holds a Master’s degree in mental health and a bachelor’s degree in Community Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs. She’s also a certified suicide prevention and intervention skills trainer, and advises government through multiple committees on evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. But what makes Nyachan’s story unforgettable is how she tells it — with honesty, clarity, and joy. She arrived in Australia in 2002 at just 11 years old, after living in refugee camps, and she speaks powerfully about resilience, belonging, racism, and the strength of community — and why she’s committed to bringing people “home” through healing. Nyachan takes us behind the scenes of the Nas Recovery Centre — from free counselling, justice programs for young people in custody, outreach work with Victoria Police, rehabilitation pathways, and collective healing sessions grounded in culture and dignity. We are so grateful for her wisdom, and her reminder that in mental health, slowing down and listening well can change lives — and even generations. If this conversation resonates with you, please share the episode, leave a review, and follow Business in Colour — it helps us bring more powerful stories like Nyachan’s to the communities who need them most. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  3. EP 129 Creating Health Equity in Systems/Dr Ashna Basu

    09/11/2025

    EP 129 Creating Health Equity in Systems/Dr Ashna Basu

    In this episode of Business in Colour we talk to Dr Ashna Basu who is a psychiatry advanced trainee in Sydney. She sits on the Board of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and is the Chair of the Young branch of the Medical Women’s International Association. Ashna has previous experience in management consulting and governance, and advocates for equity in health and society nationally and overseas. In 2024 she was invited by the President of the United Nations General Assembly to speak at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York and in the same year was awarded the Ministry of Health’s Achievement in Health award at the NSW Young Achievers Awards.  Now you know why we had to have her on Business in Colour. This episode is jam packed with gold both personally for people of colour, women and for employers. We talk about health system challenges, like supply, demand, access, resourcing and our often low societal will to change and advocacy for others in health. What sticks with us is Ashna’s analysis of women, especially ethnic women – how we are so often the care-givers, not the receivers of care; how women tolerate lots of pain across their life-time and how society reinforces how pain for women is normal. Some really poignant messages and calls to action right across this podcast – we hope you listen and make a list of areas to have a courageous conversation in your workplace. Please enjoy the trailblazer, change maker, Dr Ashna Basu. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  4. EP 128 Purpose-led Leadership/Donna de Zwart

    16/09/2025

    EP 128 Purpose-led Leadership/Donna de Zwart

    In this episode of Business in Colour I talk to Donna DeZWart who is an accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in consulting and the education sector, including 10 years as a CEO in the for-purpose sector.  Donna leads Fitted for Work that specifically focusses on the employability of women through its range of programs and welcomes into their safe spaces nationally all women, non-binary, and gender-diverse jobseekers. Under Donna’s leadership, Fitted for Work has built two successful social enterprises, which she talks to in this podcast.  In 2024 Fitted for Work was the winner of the Victorian Telstra Business Award – Accelerating Women and this is where I met amazing Donna in the National rounds, as a judge. In this podcast, Donna gives us a window into her personal story, and her professional journey – she shows us her social heart and commercial mind. She is incredible and so is Fitted for Work. We both have a clear call to action from an economic perspective for businesses who should be looking to partner as part of their ESG or gender equity commitments – Did you know that a vulnerable woman can take up to 18 months to find her way back into employment - with Fitted For Work’s intervention, this can take just 77 days. Tell me you don’t want to align with that kind of measurable Impact. Please enjoy the purpose-lead - leader, dynamic, Donna De Zwart. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  5. EP 127 Inclusive by Design/Sonia Sarangi

    03/08/2025

    EP 127 Inclusive by Design/Sonia Sarangi

    Sonia Sarangi is a registered Architect – the first Architect on Business in Colour – Sonia is the co-founder of Andever, a Board Member at ArchiTeam and Ausdance Victoria…a mentor to many and a Mum of two.  She is the daughter of South Asian immigrants to the Middle East who then undertook her own migration journeys to Singapore and finally Naarm /Melbourne.  The duality of being an insider-outsider as a result of these multiple journeys is one that has deeply shaped her and her practice and this shows in this episode of the way Sonia things inclusively.  Sonia’s portfolio – both overseas and locally – cuts across Residential and Commercial and encompasses many project scales. She generously shares many other firms who are putting inclusivity at the heart of what they do, building for dignity and respect in both social housing and other builds.  In this episode, we move through a lot – from the design of spaces today and what is missing from an inclusivity perspective; the realities of the lack of representation and unearned privilege in those who lead the design of residential and commercial builds. She calls out how we shape buildings that eventually shape us, as communities. Please enjoy the innovative thinker and change agent, Sonia Sarangi.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min
  6. EP. 126 Young People as Knowledge Brokers/Kano Ravalji

    18/06/2025

    EP. 126 Young People as Knowledge Brokers/Kano Ravalji

    In this episode of business in colour we interview Krushnadevsinh Ravalji [Kano as he is popularly known] who is the founder of Third Culture Australia and Youth Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. As a passionate advocate for D&I, Kano works to empower young people and multicultural communities nationwide. His dedication to equity has earned him accolades such as the VicHealth Future Changemaker Award and Wyndham City’s Young Citizen of the Year. In this episode, Kano generously shares his experiences of racism as a young migrant person in school and how this led him to start Third Culture and to advocate for young people. He provides some great advice for those young people wanting to engage safely and for business leaders also who need to meaningfully engage with young people. We talk business, politics, community, leadership and what the education systems need more of. Hear why Kano describes young people as knowledge brokers and why he implores us all to connect through our differences. Please enjoy the optimistic and inspirational Kano – Krushnadevsinh Ravalji.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  7. EP. 125 Elevating Safety at Work/Prabha Nandagopal

    08/05/2025

    EP. 125 Elevating Safety at Work/Prabha Nandagopal

    In this episode, we connect with Prabha Nandagopal who is an award-winning human rights, discrimination lawyer and advocate, having worked for over 18 years in a variety of areas from business and human rights to asylum seeker and refugee policy. She is the founder of Elevate Consulting Partners and SafeSpace@elevate, which she established to support and strengthen the work of organisations committed to positive social change. In this episode, Sadhana and I talk to Prabha about her growing up years, her early influences in a gender equal home and being the only person of colour at school. We talk about key topics like psychosocial safety, positive duty, respect at work legislation, how immigration and the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees is used politically. We centre the conversation on Prabha’s work in the last 18 months to influence leaders in the board room and at executive tables to think proactively to prevent sexual harassment. We talk about the change in mindset, courageous actions, and committed investment that leaders need to protect workers today, to future proof safety. Please listen to and connect with the fierce and fabulous Prabha Nandagopal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  8. EP. 124 Career and Culture Ceilings/Suji Sanjeevan

    02/04/2025

    EP. 124 Career and Culture Ceilings/Suji Sanjeevan

    In this episode of Business in Colour, Sadhana and I talk with Dr. Suji Sanjeevan, a Melbourne-based doctor turned ambiance innovator, who masterfully blends science, artistry, and creativity. She is a graduate of King’s College London, beginning her career in policy development and research at leading institutions, including the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. In 2015, her career took a transformative leap, when she co-founded Light & Glo Designs alongside her husband, Dr. Sanjeevan, an allergy specialist. Their Australian fragrance house operates through two visionary arms: LIGHT + GLO, celebrated for its premium home and personal fragrances, and BrandScent, a pioneering scent marketing agency specialising in bespoke olfactory branding.  Did you know that 60% of our emotions are driven by scent? Suji shares the science behind scents, their experience on Shark Tank, building a business from scratch with just $237, the challenges and hurdles to keep the business going – a behind the scenes in business - we don’t offer hear. We are so grateful for her honestly and even more so when she shares a bit more about herself, her SriLankan heritage, the expectations and pressure from culture and family and the impacts to well-being, finding your voice and what success truly means for culturally diverse individuals without socio-cultural norms. A jam packed episode with an outstanding, human centered, authentic leader, Suji Sanjeevan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
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5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

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/ 

Information

  • Creator
    Div Pillay & Sadhana Smiles
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Div Pillay & Sadhana Smiles
  • Show Website
    Business In Colour

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