The theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.’
For women in startups, venture capital investment in them is already a hot topic, with female founders receiving 4% of the $3.5 billion in capital deployed in 2023.
That’s a literal invest in women and still has a long way to go, so we asked six Indigenous founders what accelerating progress looks like for them. And of course it’s not just about one day of the year. They’re making progress on the other 364 days as well. Here’s what they said.
Melissa Cole
Yaye
“Accelerating Progress as an Aboriginal businesswoman is about building intergenerational wealth by creating successful businesses.
“We can then create a brighter future for all Indigenous Australians through employment, education and business partnerships. At Yaye, we actively collaborate with other Indigenous-owned businesses assisting to grow the Blak economy.
“To ensure that my community benefits from the success of Yaye, I partner with Yipirinya School; we give back to the school and share the excellent work they do as a two-way bi-lingual school across my social media platforms.
Yolanda Finette
Yolanda Finette Holistic Life Coach, & Wellbeing
Yolanda Finette
“As an holistic life coach, Accelerating progress for me means guiding women on their journey of remembering.
“Through deep listening to their inner truth and reconnecting with their innate dreaming path and purpose, I support them to reclaim their sovereignty, break free from societal constraints and heal intergenerational wounds.
“Through the journey of remembering, we rewrite their life blueprint and pave the way for an aligned and authentic life.”
Kaylene Langford
Start Up Creative
Kaylene Langford
“Accelerating progress is when people who are in positions of power, influence and/or privilege use their platforms to profile minorities.
“As a Queer, First Nations woman in business I aim to showcase my Firsts Nations creators first and foremost as well as our Queer and gender diverse communities across my platforms.
“These communities along with women haven’t always had a seat at the table or their voices heard and without their perspectives we lose out on a wealth of knowledge, skill and talent. Lifting up those around us and seeking to understand different opinions and life experiences enriches our workplaces, communities and world.”
Elisha Kissick
Yura Tours
Elisha Kissick
“Accelerating progress means grabbing onto opportunities and running with it, finding the gabs in the market and thinking outside the box to push my business further.
“Having this attitude draws people in to want to work with you and opens up space for women in my community to get into business and work alongside each other so we all succeed and show the young women coming up they can do anything!”
Morgan Josey
That Therapy Hub
Morgan Josey
“At That Therapy & Support Hub, with my strong woman-led team of six therapists by my side, we’re not just accelerating progress; we’re building a lasting culture of change.
“Through our social enterprise, we redefine what it means to be a therapy business, paving the way for a better future, using our profits for greater impact. Our impact resonates in the free therapies we provide to mob & local community, fostering healing and well-being for all members of the community.
“Together, we build a foundation of strength, resilience, and equality, forging a path towards a more inclusive and harmonious tomorrow. ”
Shannon Mcneair
McNeair Aboriginal Psychological Services
Shannon Mcneair
“For me it equates to continually supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of my community as a positive psychological impact that generates attention for all the right reasons.”
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