Power Of Women podcast

Artificial intelligence is no longer theoretical - it is actively reshaping careers, leadership, and relevance.In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett is joined by Kelly Slessor, one of Australia’s most respected AI strategists, digital innovators, and retail technology leaders, for a deeply human conversation about what AI really means for women, work and leadership.Kelly was building AI personalisation platforms years before ChatGPT entered the mainstream. Today, she works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence, and human systems, advising businesses, educating leaders, and advocating for responsible, human-centred technology.This episode moves beyond surface-level AI commentary to ask harder, more consequential questions:Who becomes more powerful in an AI-enabled world?Why fear is the wrong response - and education is the only viable oneWhy women are underrepresented in AI leadership, yet uniquely positioned to shape its futureHow fostering children has profoundly shaped Kelly’s leadership philosophy, empathy and perspectiveWhy “balance” is a myth - and what actually sustains women operating at paceThis is not a conversation about keeping up.It’s a conversation about agency, authorship and relevance, in a world that is moving faster than most organisations are willing to admit. You’ll hear:Why AI will augment people, not replace themThe real risk for leaders who delay AI educationHow repetitive work will disappear and what replaces itWhy emotional intelligence is the missing ingredient in AI developmentHow women can leapfrog professionally by engaging with AI nowThe leadership lessons Kelly learned through foster careWhy safety, belonging, and trust matter in teams and in technology New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week. Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations.🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/ Who is Kelly SlessorKelly Slessor is an Australian AI strategist and founder of TribeGen AI, advising leaders on human-centred AI adoption. With 20+ years in digital and ecommerce, she translates complex technology into decisive, practical action. Find Kelly at:Websites:https://theecommercetribe.com/https://tribegenai.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyslessor/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theecommercetribe/ Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ 💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive. Credits:Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

What actually makes a founder investable - and why hustle culture may be working against women.In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett sits down with Dan Copsey - entrepreneur, investor, and Group CEO, to unpack what investors really assess when backing founders, particularly women.This is not a surface-level conversation about confidence or pitching harder.Dan reveals why honesty beats hype, why performative hustle culture is a red flag, and why many of the most investable female founders are undervaluing what they already bring to the table.From founder-investor dynamics to gender bias in startup rooms, this episode delivers an unfiltered investor lens every ambitious woman in business needs to hear. You’ll hear:Why honesty is the #1 trait investors look forThe biggest red flags investors see in pitchesWhy hustle culture is failing founders - especially womenWhat female founders are doing right but not articulatingHow motherhood, life load and leadership are undervalued assetsWhat makes an investor–founder relationship succeed long-termHow to know when your business is truly ready to scale. New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week. Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations.🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/ Who is Dan Copsey?Dan Copsey is an Australian businessman, entrepreneur and active investor. He advises and consults for numerous founders and executives as well several charity organisations. He is currently Chief Executive Officer for TMSPC Pty Ltd which boasts a portfolio of leading advertising agencies, premium hospitality ventures, and impactful not-for-profit investmentsFind Dan at:Website https://dancopsey.com/media/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancopsey/ Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ 💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive. Credits:Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

In this powerful and deeply relevant conversation, Di Gillett is joined by Maddy Dychtwald, globally recognised futurist, author, and co-founder of Age Wave - to challenge outdated narratives around aging, retirement, women’s health and relevance.Women are living longer than ever before - yet spending more years in declining health. Maddy unpacks why lifespan is the least useful measure of aging, why healthspan and brainspan matter far more, and how up to 90% of our long-term health outcomes are within our control.This conversation goes well beyond theory. From inflammation, menopause, and Alzheimer’s risk, to workforce ageism, outdated retirement models, and the power of lifestyle choice, this episode is a call to reclaim agency - personally, professionally, and biologically.This is not about anti-aging. It’s about aging with authority, vitality, and intention. We explore:   Why women are winning the longevity lottery, but paying a hidden price   The critical difference between lifespan, healthspan and brainspan   How inflammation accelerates aging - and what actually reduces it   Why women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s   The outdated retirement model that no longer serves women or economies   Ageism as the last socially acceptable bias   Why older women are an untapped workforce advantage   How purpose, attitude, and social connection directly impact longevity   The lifestyle levers that matter most - beyond diet and exercise. New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week. Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations. 🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/  Who is Maddy DychtwaldMaddy co-founded Age Wave, a world leader in understanding and addressing the far-reaching impacts of longevity and our aging population. Recognized by Forbes as one of the top fifty female futurists globally, for nearly 40 years, she has been deeply involved in exploring all aspects of the age wave and how it’s fundamentally transforming the marketplace, the workplace/retirement, and our lives. She is the author of four books, including the national bestseller Ageless Aging: A Woman’s Guide to Increasing Healthspan, Brainspan, and Lifespan, published in 12 languages, and the award-winning Influence: How Women’s Soaring Economic Power Will Transform Our World for the Better.Find Maddy at:Website https://maddydychtwald.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddydychtwald/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maddydychtwald/ Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/ Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ 💫 If this conversation shifted your thinking, share it with a woman you respect. Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive. Credits:Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer:  https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

Own your voice. Build networks that empower. Create a legacy that lasts.The Power Of Women Podcast opens the 2026 season with a defining conversation on influence, voice and legacy.In this season-opening episode, Di Gillett is joined by global brand strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of Powerful Steps, Tory Archbold, a woman who has spent decades shaping brands, influencing culture, and helping women step into their authority with clarity and conviction.This conversation explores the new rules of influence when building your personal brand. What Tory attributes her impact in business to and why elevating your voice and building empowering networks are non-negotiables for women who want to lead with truth.From Tory’s journey building one of Australia’s most influential brand agencies, TORSTAR, to her global work across Australia, the Middle East, and the U.S., this episode is a masterclass in aligned leadership, self-belief, and purposeful visibility.  You’ll hear:The defining moments that shaped Tory Archbold’s leadership journey.What truly drives long-term success in business and brand building.How women can elevate their voice without compromising authenticity.Why visibility, alignment, and self-belief are strategic assets.How to build networks that empower women.The difference between transactional connections and legacy networks.Why women must start owning their influence.What it means to lead with truth, integrity, and intention in 2026. Key learnings:Your voice isn’t optional. It’s your responsibility.Self-belief is not a mindset cliché, it’s a leadership strategy.The right network doesn’t make you smaller, rather it expands you.Legacy leadership is built through alignment, not approval.Women rise faster and stronger when they rise together.  New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week. Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations.🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/ Who is Tory Archbold?Tory Archbold is a global brand strategist, women’s leadership expert, and founder of Powerful Steps®, a platform that activates the power, purpose, and voice of high-performing women across Australia, the Middle East, and the U.S. She is the former CEO and founder of TORSTAR, one of Australia’s most influential brand communications agencies, author of Self-Belief is Your Superpower and hosts the top 1.5% ranked podcast Powerful Stories. Find Tory at:Website https://powerful-steps.com/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-archbold-b8542715/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/toryarchboldofficial Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ 💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive. Credits:Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/Filming: Chocolate Studios: https://chocolatestudios.com.auExecutive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

Hana Assafiri OAM is not here to inspire you. More importantly, she is here to confront what society still refuses to face.In this powerful rerun of the Power Of Women Podcast, Hana speaks with unflinching honesty about freedom, violence, and the systems that continue to fail women. From growing up between Lebanon and Australia, to being forced into an arranged marriage at just 15, Hana shares how survival alone was never the goal. Dignity, agency, and purpose were.She reflects on the quiet acts of kindness that altered the trajectory of her life, the courage it took to leave violence, and the systemic gaps that pushed her to create something radically different: the Moroccan Soup Bar. Not a charity. A self-sustaining model of safety, employment, and community for women rebuilding their lives.This conversation challenges comfortable narratives around empowerment and asks harder questions: What does freedom actually mean? Why are women still required to negotiate for it? And why silence remains one of the most dangerous accomplices of all.We explore:Why freedom must mean more than survivalArranged marriage, violence, and institutional failureThe life-changing power of kindness from strangersWhy women don’t need charity… they need pathwaysHow the Moroccan Soup Bar became a blueprint for changeWhy solutions must be driven by women and supported by men. New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week. Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations. 🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/  Who is Hana Assafiri OAMHana Assafiri OAM is a renowned entrepreneur, activist, and author. Best known as the founder of Melbourne’s iconic Moroccan Soup Bar, Hana has spent over 25 years creating spaces that blend food, culture, and community justice. Hana is a leading voice on gender equity, intersectionality, and social change. Find Hana at:LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-assafiri-oam-293560173/Moroccan Soup Bar https://www.moroccansoupbar.com.au/ Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/ Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ 💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive. Credits:Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/Filming: Chocolate Studios: https://chocolatestudios.com.auExecutive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer:  https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

In this powerful rerun of one of our most resonant conversations of 2025, Maz O’Connor joins Di Gillett to talk about what it really takes to change your life after 50.Maz didn’t just imagine reinvention - she lived it. Selling everything and relocating to Bali,,,and then India, she has carved a new chapter fuelled by purpose, courage and deep clarity. From redefining retirement to creating financial independence, Maz shares the mindset shifts and personal stories that are helping women everywhere embrace their “third act.”If you’re navigating a life pivot, feeling stuck, or wondering whether there’s still time to start over, take some inspiration from this powerful conversation. Key takeaways:Start small: reinvention doesn’t have to mean selling everything.Back yourself, especially when no one else is.Create a strategy before you leap.Surround yourself with women who’ve walked the path before you.Courage as a quiet force that fuels big life shifts. New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week. Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations. 🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/  Who is Maz O’Connor?Maz O’Connor has spent over 30 years in the wellness industry and is now embracing her powerful “third act.” A solo mum turned entrepreneur, she has built businesses, supported women globally through affiliate and network marketing, and recently made the bold move to Bali to launch a new wellbeing venture. Maz is passionate about women’s empowerment, personal growth, and redefining what life after 50 can look like. Find Maz at:LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maz-o-connor-8867032b/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mazoconnor/?hl=en Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/ Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/ 💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive. Credits:Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/ Disclaimer:  https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/