admin, Author at Power of Women

Born in Exile, Singing for Freedom: The Voice of Lele

by admin | Sep 1, 2025 | Female Power, Podcast For Women

This week’s podcast is a conversation about legacy, resilience, exile, embracing a sense of belonging … & the power of music …the Voice of Lele.

Lele is a proud West Papuan singer-songwriter, refugee, mother of four, and decolonisation activist.

Born in exile, Lele’s journey has taken her from the Netherlands to Australia, where she became the nation’s first prominent West Papuan artist to perform on major stages — including the Australian Open. She shares the realities of being separated from one’s homeland, the deep cultural connection passed down by her late father — legendary musician Agustinus Rumwaropen.

We explore how music has become her weapon of resistance, a vessel for preserving her culture, and a bridge between her Melanesian roots and the world stage. This conversation is a testament to resilience, motherhood and determination.

In this episode, we explore:

– Growing up in exile and the meaning of “home”

– Music as cultural preservation and political protest

– The legacy of her late father, Agustinus Rumwaropen

– Balancing motherhood, activism, and performance

– Lessons in resilience and identity

This is what Lele said about resilience and identity:

“Music is a form of protest.”

“Living in exile means always longing to be home, even if you’ve never truly lived there.”

“You’re stronger than you think you are. Even when you think you’re strong, you’re even stronger.”

“If you get caught raising the West Papuan flag back home, it’s 15–20 years in jail — but I fly it proudly on stage.”

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Find Lele at:

Website: https://www.voiceoflele.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voiceoflele

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What If Power Comes From Being the One Who Speaks Up?

by admin | Aug 25, 2025 | Blog

What if power is stepping forward, speaking up, stating the need to think, to act differently. What happens when you challenge the system instead of adapting to it.

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, we meet Prof. Nada Hamad: physician, professor, mother of three, and unapologetic disruptor of the status quo. Her story is one of identity, integrity and the audacity to question systems that weren’t built with women in mind.

From medical school at age 14 to leadership in haematology and clinical trials, Nada brings insight and urgency to a conversation we all need to be having: what do we do when the system doesn’t see us?

Nada doesn’t just raise questions—she models what it means to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable. This conversation delves into her journey and calls to rethink how we build more inclusive systems, from healthcare to leadership.

In this episode, we explore:

How gender bias is still baked into medical training and patient care
What it’s like to grow up as a third culture kid and build belonging across borders
Raising daughters to take up space and advocate for themselves
Why women’s experiences in healthcare are too often dismissed—and what must change
How speaking up isn’t just powerful—it’s necessary

Here’s some of what Prof. Hamad said:

“Most of the studies were done on men, most of the studies done on… white people, most of the studies don’t include women.

“How do you tell the medical profession hang on you missed something and we need to learn how to do it better without upsetting too many people … to slowly integrate this concept into gender specific healthcare.”

💥New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Connect with Di:

Connect with Di on LinkedIn

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Follow Di on Instagram

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Contact Di

Find Prof. Nada Hamad at:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-nada-hamad-a093384/

UNSW Website: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/nada-hamad

💬 If this episode shifted something for you, pass it on. Share it with a daughter, a friend, or a colleague who needs to hear that their voice matters.

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Why Women Shouldn’t Have to Do the Heavy Lifting Alone: Advocate Together

by admin | Aug 18, 2025 | Champion, Exemplar, Female mentoring

Can’t tell you how damn refreshing it is to have a male guest who is a champion for women – and one who advocates why women should not have to do the heavy lifting alone.

We may be shoulder to shoulder in today’s workplace — but that doesn’t mean the playing field has always been level. For some, it still isn’t.

But we don’t have to be defined or limited by the past. The question is: how do we thrive better together?

This week marks a first for the Power Of Women Podcast — our very first male guest, Wade Kingsley. Wade is a creative entrepreneur, mentor, and the founder of The Creative Coach. He’s spent his career helping people unlock bold ideas and back themselves. Together, we explore creativity, ageism, and gender dynamics — and explore how men and women can work and thrive better together.

In this, thought-provoking episode, we explore:

– Why creativity and confidence are inextricably linked

– The role men can play in championing female leadership

– Ageism, gender dynamics, and the importance of finding a supportive network

– Reskilling and embracing new technologies

– How the workplace is shifting — and why collaboration matters more than ever.

Wade doesn’t just talk about empowering women — he’s actively doing it.

“It’s all very well to rant about it on a podcast — but you have to walk the walk… I’m hoping through some of the initiatives that I work on, that’s how I can make a difference.”

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Connect with Di:

Connect with Di on LinkedIn

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Contact Di

Find Wade Kingsley at:

Website

Instagram

💬 Change happens when bold women and supportive allies work together. Share this episode with someone who’s ready to be part of that shift.

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A Global Women’s Movement Sparked By One Woman & Just $200

by admin | Aug 11, 2025 | Women Supporting Women

Stephanie Woollard sparked a global women’s movement with just $200. A masterclass in purpose-driven, social entrepreneurship.

At 22, Stephanie Woollard followed a woman into a tin shed in Kathmandu — and walked out with a purpose that would change thousands of lives. With just $200 and an unwavering belief in dignity over charity, she founded Seven Women, a social enterprise that empowered marginalised women through skills training and employment.

Now, 17 years on and an Order of Australia Medal recipient, Stephanie has handed back that thriving organisation to the Nepali community — and turned her attention to a new chapter: The Celtic Way. In this conversation, Stephanie speaks candidly about the cost of conviction, the drive behind her global impact, and the spiritual anchor that’s fuelled her journey.

Whether you’re a woman with a big idea, or in a moment of doubt, this episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we explore:

– How she built a global social enterprise from scratch — with $200 and a sense of justice

– The philosophy of ‘trade, not aid’ was central to her approach

– Community and unity among women led to significant change.

– What she’s learned about asking, giving, and letting go

– The cost of purpose (and the personal sacrifices along the way)

This is what Stephanie said about creating Seven Women:

“If I get an excited idea or an inspired idea, I literally just go, what’s just one step I can take?”

“That was the foundation of Seven Women, that real sort of empowerment and the women owning it.”

“My passion is to really just see the gold in people and draw that out because we all have value.”

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Connect with Di:

Connect with Di on LinkedIn

Follow Power Of Women on LinkedIn

The Power Of Women Podcast Instagram

Find Stephanie Woolard OAM at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%98%98%EF%B8%8F-stephanie-woollard-oam-46300342/

The Celtic Way https://www.thecelticway.com.au/

Resources:

Bringing The Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxHsclrjyF4

A Spirited Journey: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLmqPumFTpzdy-Fj5ck7p5dTzscuVcKxKZ

💬 What personal sacrifices have you made? Share in the comments.

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How to Survive the Difficult People in Your Life.

by admin | Aug 6, 2025 | Blog

Di Gillett sits down with psychologists—Dr. Jessie Stern and Rachel Samson, authors of ‘Beyond Difficult’—to explore the emotional terrain of difficult relationships and just how to survive the difficult people in your life. Let’s face it – we all have at least one – or maybe it’s you who’s the problem!

Together, they unpack what really makes someone “difficult” (spoiler: it’s not a diagnosis), and how attachment theory, temperament, and communication styles shape our experience of others—at home, at work, and in ourselves.

Difficult behaviour can be subjective, and in the workplace, relationships can be complex – especially when there are power differentials.

In this episode, we explore:

⇛ Understanding difficult relationships

⇛ The subjectivity of difficult behaviour

⇛ Attachment theory and its impact

⇛ Navigating workplace dynamics

⇛ The role of empathy in relationships

⇛ When to walk away from relationships

New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.