Finding Meaning In Work

What happens when meaningful work becomes so central to your identity that it begins to ask too much of you?

In this episode, I speak with Sita Sargeant about building She Shapes History, the power of recovering stories that have been pushed to the margins, and the difference between treating work as a job, a career or a calling. We also explore the loneliness of leadership, the tension between purpose and overwork, and why a meaningful life must ultimately be larger than our work.

Sita Sargeant is a social entrepreneur, author, and one of Australia's leading voices in women's history. In 2021, she founded She Shapes History, a feminist experiences company on a mission to make women's history accessible, engaging, and relevant. They currently operate in four cities: Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, and Melbourne, with plans to be in eight cities by the end of 2027.
In 2025, she published a book by the same name sharing the stories of over 250 women who helped shape 31 towns and cities across Australia. In 2026, she was named the ACT Young Australian of the Year. She was named the 2026 ACT Young Australian of the Year. She is a 2025 Snow Foundation Entrepreneur Fellow and AMP Foundation Tomorrow Maker, recognised through both the IGNITE (2025) and SPARK (2024) programs.

Production note: this episode uses backup audio due to a technical issue with the main recording. You may hear a little background noise in parts, but the conversation is clear — and very much worth sharing.

Suji Sanjeevan is a fragrance innovator, entrepreneur and co founder of Light and Glo and BrandScent, where science, psychology and storytelling collide to create brands people genuinely remember. With a clinical background and an instinct for consumer behaviour, she has built businesses that challenge the traditional idea of fragrance, transforming scent from a product into a strategic brand tool.

What began at a dining table evolved into national retail, global conversations and partnerships spanning retail, sport, hospitality and corporate. From boardrooms to stadiums, Suji’s work sits at the intersection of emotion, memory and experience, proving that the most powerful brands are not always the loudest, they are the ones people feel.

Alongside entrepreneurship, Suji serves as Chair of the Victorian Small Business Ministerial Council, advocating for founders and the realities of modern business. She is passionate about helping early stage businesses think bigger, refine faster and build brands with real cut through.

Cam grew up in a family boarding kennel, but only late in his career did he connect that upbringing to a vocation. After years in sales and a decade in banking, Cam felt misaligned with corporate hierarchy and box-ticking. Near 40, he listed what he truly liked and dogs kept winning. He enrolled in a training accreditation, joined a mentor circle, worked in a high-volume shelter, and launched Act Of Dog with a simple site and Google ads. Now he specialises in fear, anxiety and aggression, teaching that trust and self-regulation must come before obedience. He shares the pivotal moments—London resilience, key mentors, a supportive partner—and the practical model he uses with both dogs and people: create safety, then teach.

Today, he balances running his business with working at the RSPCA, helping post-adoption dogs and private clients with behaviour intervention. Campbell’s journey from finance to canine behavior showcases his dedication to improving the lives of dogs and their guardians.

Bryony Cole, the world's foremost authority on sextech, explores how technology influences our most intimate moments. 

Known for her top-rated podcast Future of Sex, she advises governments, tech giants, and entertainment leaders on emerging sextech trends. 

Cole also founded Sextech School, a pioneering pre-accelerator program, now in its 15th cohort, guiding hundreds of entrepreneurs and innovators in the sexual wellness and technology space.

Her innovative research and international hackathons have garnered recognition from events like SXSW, WebSummit and Founders Forum. 

Featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and Wired, and seen on Netflix, Bryony's work empowers women and redefines the future of sexuality. 

Today, Future of Sex is a central media and resources hub for the sextech industry.

Her vision is to create a world where technology enhances human connection, and she actively works towards this by shaping policy, fostering innovation, and advocating for sexual well-being.

Contact: 

Interviews: bryony@futureofsex.com

Instagram: @bryonycole, @futureofsex, @sextechschool

Ruhee is the founder of Allied Collective, Australia’s leading facilitation and wellbeing practice, specialising in leadership development, psychosocial hazard prevention, and workplace culture transformation. With 13+ years of experience supporting over 45 organisations, she has helped businesses improve employee retention, leadership capability, and wellbeing outcomes through targeted, evidence-based training. Her background in psychology, business management, and Yoga philosophy informs a measured, results-driven approach to organisational change. As a Regional Advisory Council member at the Victorian Multicultural Commission, she advises on workplace equity, anti-racism, and economic inclusion. She also mentors women entrepreneurs in wellbeing and leadership. A recognised expert in her field, Ruhee delivers practical, high-impact training and strategy that enables organisations to build stronger, more resilient teams.

Collective Closets is not just part of the Australian fashion landscape—it is actively reshaping it. Founded in Melbourne with a deep commitment to slow fashion, the label bridges continents and cultures through thoughtfully crafted clothing that carries meaning in every thread.

Established in 2016 by sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako, Collective Closets has grown from an intimate family story into a brand that authentically connects the creative spirit of Africa with Australia’s contemporary fashion identity. Their philosophy is clear and consistent: to create enduring pieces that make women feel seen, understood, and beautiful. Every garment is crafted with intention, designed for women who value both artistry and purpose.

The label emerged from a vision to offer something truly distinctive in Australian fashion—a brand that celebrates the vibrant textiles of Africa while speaking directly to the modern Australian woman. Collective Closets' journey began with the iconic Maasai Shuka, whose bold patterns and rich cultural significance became the cornerstone of their design philosophy.

As African-Australian designers, Fatuma and Laurinda bring an authentic perspective to the cultural conversation. Their collections go beyond beautiful clothing—they open dialogue, challenge perceptions, and highlight the sophistication of African textiles reimagined through contemporary design. Through each piece, Collective Closets invites wearers to be part of a new chapter in Australia’s fashion narrative—one that celebrates diversity, heritage, and conscious creativity.

Dr. Jason Fox is a wizard-philosopher and bestselling author masquerading as a leadership futurist. He works with questing teams seeking new and meaningful progress—beyond the default.

 

I had such a great time hosting Dr. Jason Fox aka ‘the wizard philosopher’ on the  podcast. In this conversation, he shares how his unconventional path, from studying motivation and behaviour change to exploring ecological systems and even navigating World of Warcraft informs his work guiding leaders and organisations toward more authentic, purpose-driven strategies. He critiques the narrow, metrics-obsessed approach of many corporate environments, arguing that real progress emerges when people embrace ambiguity, develop deeper curiosity, and remain open to creative possibilities. Whether referencing the importance of liberal arts thinking in an AI-driven era or highlighting how people can find meaning even in mundane roles, Jason emphasises that true meaning can’t be forced or fabricated; instead, it arises from thoughtful engagement with complexity, empathy, and collective exploration

This episode is a bit different.

Rather than the usual interview format, we’re trying something new. These "ONE IDEA" episodes feature recordings of essays I’ve written and published on Disruptive Business Network. Covering topics from authenticity to game theory to how technology is shaping our lives, these essays all center on one fundamental theme: our search for meaning, especially in the work we do.

I hope you enjoy it.

In this first essay: Authenticity

We often think of authenticity as simply “being true to ourselves.” But is that really what it means?

This essay explores a fascinating story of Johnny Cash’s rebirth, guided by the legendary producer Rick Rubin. Rubin didn’t just focus on the “authentic” man behind the music..he amplified the mythical Man in Black, reigniting Cash’s career in the process.

The key insight? Authenticity isn’t about clinging to who you are today; it’s about becoming who you need to be to create impact. In a world that overemphasizes hyper-individualism, this essay challenges that notion, encouraging us to think beyond the ‘I’ and focus on the ‘we.’

Drawing from the wisdom of Aristotle, Nietzsche, and beyond, I explore how true authenticity requires discipline, courage, and connection to others.

So how can we redefine authenticity in our own lives? Let’s dive in.

 

 

David Swan is one of Australia's leading technology reporters and editors. He is the Technology Editor for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and was previously Technology Editor for The Australian newspaper.

In 2024 he was awarded Australia's best technology journalist at The Lizzies, Australia's national IT Journalism awards. Previous roles include chief technology reporter at independent IT news website iTWire, and at News Corp publication Technology Spectator.

 

In my latest episode of the Finding Meaning in Work podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Garry Williams, a cornerstone of Melbourne’s tech community. Garry's story is one of resilience, connection, and a deep commitment to building meaningful spaces for people to gather.

Some key themes of the conversation:

1. Community & Connection: Garry has been pivotal in creating spaces that bring people together, not just for networking but for genuine connection. His work in the tech sector, especially with events like FuckUp Nights and his involvement with Inspire9, highlights his passion for fostering meaningful interactions.
2. Burnout & Self-Care: Like a few of us, Garry has faced burnout from saying “yes” too often. His journey in setting boundaries and prioritising self-care is something I think we can all relate to, especially those of us who juggle many roles in our professional and personal lives.
3. Finding Meaning: For Garry, the meaning in his work comes from curating experiences and connecting people. Whether it’s through tech events or helping companies grow, his joy lies in bringing people together and creating spaces where innovation and culture intersect.
4. Looking Forward: Garry's next venture, Group Group, is focused on niche communities—combining his passion for technology, music, and subcultures. It’s exciting to hear about his plans to build something new and impactful in Melbourne’s west.

Check out the full episode and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.disruptivebusinessnetwork.com/podcast

 

About Garry Williams

 

Garry (Gaz) Williams - CHIEF CHIEF, GROUP GROUP

Gaz runs GROUP GROUP - a specialist advisory+execution brand centred on the overlap of brand-building and capital growth stages for tech focused companies.

 

Gaz was first employee at Tractor Ventures leading brand-building & marketing for the company that became the fastest growing fintech in Aus. Previously, he was Creative producer of Innovation at University of Melbourne, and worked on some very strange things at Science Gallery Melbourne.

As well as running partnerships at General Assembly or coworking at Inspire9, Gaz has an extreme allergy to vanilla content, and places particular importance on niche creation, experimentation, curation, and the importance of place in his culture meets tech weirdo overlap