By Kali

I was named after a Hindu goddess — one that is frequently misunderstood. Kali’s role is to destroy all the evil in the world. My mum thought Kali was a symbol of a feminine empowerment. Either way, my namesake suggests I have big challenges to overcome.

I can see the most similarities between myself and a bee from the animal world. I like to move around/ travel, work in teams and be social. I am honest, funny and thoughtful. My colleagues might say I’m organised, responsive, hard-working, and mature. I am Australian and have a Masters degree in International Business. I am fascinated by the power of money and the way businesses can have a positive impact. However, also aware of its potential to corrupt and destroy. I’m frustrated by wealth inequality around the world.

In my role as Business Development Specialist for Includovate, I come across opportunities where companies are really making an impact, and it is reassuring to see that financing is getting directed to groups in need. There are many problems and many smart people to solve them, but their ideas need financial backing, which can be hard to secure despite the ridiculous ways the wealthy spend money.

When asked what makes me sad, it’s the number of people who don’t care for others. Those who think someone else’s life is less important than their own, or who spread hate and misinformation. However, I always maintain an optimistic outlook on life. I see amazing ideas and talent around me, and find it exciting to think about what the future will hold.

I think accessing good education can solve many problems and help bring about a more equal society. My education was varied. I attended public schools, international schools, and an all-girls’ boarding school. From my international school experience, I found gendered roles more apparent. As a girl who liked sports, I found there were fewer opportunities for girls to compete than the boys in my school. In the classroom, things felt more equal, as there seemed to be a clear understanding that education could lead to a better life. One reason for moving to the all-girls’ boarding school was to ensure I could have the freedom to be involved in any sport, and play with a competitive team. I am forever grateful to have had the education and opportunities I did, growing up. If I had the power, I would provide access to affordable, quality education for the whole world.

I admire innovative businesses that break the status quo. I think this level of creativity is very impressive, since I, myself, do not have the entrepreneurial skills. Organisations such as Apple, Netflix, and Includovate have stood out in their industries, and showed the world what they didn’t know they needed, rather than trying to sell something that already exists in the market.

My aim in life is to be happy and to make others around me happier too. The difficulty of this task is that people change and what makes them happy one day, may not always bring them happiness the following. People also vary greatly, so understanding what makes someone happy requires a great deal of emotional intelligence, listening and understanding skills. Please see below a happy moment in time from Peru, December 2019, (before COVID).