Business owner, philosopher, comedian

My mother, a socialist, raised me on values like nationalising the power grid, Universal Basic Income, progressive feminism, and community care. While I share her love for democratic socialism, I also have a passion for understanding how organisations work, graphs and analysis, and being organised.

I realised that in order to lead effectively and help my community, I needed more than philosophy and goodwill, I needed business tools — tools that could be used to serve a greater good. So, despite my mother's disappointment, I decided to pursue an MBA, believing I could learn from the capitalist world and use those skills to benefit my socialist roots.

My MBA journey was anything but straightforward. A design thinking unit opened my eyes to innovative problem-solving and I realised this approach could be applied to libraries. In 2017, I received a scholarship to visit U.S. public libraries using design thinking to innovate their service delivery. After pausing for the scholarship, I completed the MBA while balancing work, life, and raising a teenage son.

Through this process, I discovered that business tools were just as valuable in non-profit, community-based, and creative fields as they were in corporate settings. Now, I’m here to share those tools, demonstrating that — whether you are in libraries, local councils, art, or activism — you too can benefit from key business tools and mindsets.