PEERS

This International Women’s Day 2025, Michelle sits down with Dr. Amy Divaraniya, the brains behind Oova, to unravel her entrepreneurial journey and discuss the future of women's health.  Amy’s story begins in Princeton, New Jersey, and unfolds into a narrative of innovation, determination, and resilience as she overcomes traditional expectations to create a cutting-edge fertility company. In...

For most kids, punishment comes in the form of time-outs, groundings, and extra chores. But for this week’s special guest, acting out meant being forced to read profit and loss statements. A childhood deeply intertwined with the unwavering entrepreneurial endeavors of his father left Sam Mahmood with a simple ethos — success is not just measured in wealth, but in the positive impact one can bring...

When it comes to picking a career, our choice can often be traced back to the influence of family. It was the gentle encouragement of her parents to pursue what fulfilled her internally that helped this week’s guest find her calling. It’s that calling — to give back and make a difference — that has Bani Singh on a mission to revolutionize the way we approach mental health care. In this episode of...

They say you need a special kind of fire inside to make it as a founder. But what keeps that flame burning? For this week’s guest, the fuel to her fire is good old-fashioned self-empowerment. With an unwavering commitment to giving her all, Shannie Mears attributes her success to staying true to herself and fully embracing her growth and evolution with pride — and her spark isn’t going out any tim...

What do you do when you can’t find your dream job anywhere? The answer is: you make it. Our guest this week accomplished exactly that, and it’s why she refers to herself as an accidental founder. Creating success on her own terms, Rachael De Foe isn’t afraid to write her own story — and says you shouldn’t be either.  In this episode of PEERS, we’re joined by Rachael De Foe, Founder and Managi...

When it comes to challenges, most people would rather avoid them. But for a savvy few, such as this week’s guest, a challenge is a problem to be solved, and even an opportunity to transform something for the better. Underrepresentation in the beauty industry is a challenge Janvi Shah is taking head-on, and she’s not stopping until every face has its rightful place in the spotlight.  In this e...

Going it alone as an entrepreneur can be a scary thought. With nobody standing right beside you and the weight of decisions resting solely on your shoulders, it can be a pretty daunting path to go down. But if you believe you can do it, you will — that’s the advice from this week’s guest. And it rings true, Sneha Shah may have started solo, but now she’s championing equity in the arts for everyone...

Being different can often feel like a burden, an isolating force that sets us apart from the crowd. This week’s guest knows this burden all too well, having grown up in the US unable to speak English and lacking an immigration status. Being different once created big barriers in Reyna Montoya’s life; but today, her BIPOC and immigrant identity is her superpower, enabling her to change lives for th...

If there’s one setback every entrepreneur faces at some point, it’s rejection. While it can be disheartening, a “no” can serve as a valuable lesson and a chance for something even better. Our guest this week experienced this firsthand, as they heard the word “no” almost 100 times before finally getting a long-awaited “yes” — a “yes” that catapulted their company to new heights. In this episode of...

Recognise, realise, and move on. That’s how this week’s guest tackles the bad stuff that comes with running a business. And whilst many of us would rather avoid the bad, Madhavi Shankar would much rather run headfirst into it; because to her, risks and mistakes are what make things happen.  In this episode of PEERS, we’re joined by Madhavi Shankar, CEO and Co-Founder of SpaceBasic to talk abo...

Welcome to the new and improved PEERS — a podcast by BIPOC founders for BIPOC founders.  Join me, proud biracial Australian and Forbes 30 Under 30 Lister, Michelle Akhidenor, for soul-enriching conversations with my peers — fellow BIPOC founders.  Each week, I dive deep into the personal journey of my award-winning guests and unpack who they really are at their core. I ask questions like...

From waking up every day energized to feeling happy and fulfilled, there are plenty of reasons why pursuing your passion is worth the hustle. But when the grind gets tough, we need a little bit of motivation, and a whole lot of optimism, to keep us going on our entrepreneurial journey. If you’re searching for some encouragement right now — don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  In this special...

They say independent thinkers make great leaders. They’re confident in themselves, their problem-solving skills and the new ideas they often bring to the table. This week’s guest was raised to think for herself above all else, so nothing was going to stop her from doing what she thought was best for her — and that just happened to be becoming an entrepreneur. In this episode of Peers2Peers, powere...

The child of a funeral director and a hospice nurse, this week’s guest had no choice but to grow up surrounded by death. Whilst some may find that frightening, for Mallory Greene it was the catalyst for starting her business — one that aims to normalise grief, and help people build communities to talk about their loss.    In this episode of Peers2Peers, powered by Shopify, we’re joined b...

On the walk of life, we all inevitably reach a fork in the road. A moment where we have to make a choice and decide which direction we want to take. When this week’s guest reached that fork, she had two options — become a doctor: just like her parents, just like she’d always planned, or pursue the uncertain unknown that is entrepreneurship. Spoiler alert: she picked the latter and still ended up i...

Let’s be real — running a business is tough; but this week’s guest is so passionate about helping people, she runs 3. No big deal. Crediting the drive that comes with being an immigrant and her upbringing in the impoverished Democratic Republic of Congo, Nohémie Mawaka is putting health and tech hand-in-hand to support her people — and she’s only just getting started.  In this episode of Peer...

After working as an investment banker and helping other entrepreneurs with their passion projects, this week’s guest figured it was time to throw her hat in the ring too. And even though her first company flatlined, Jada McLean wasn’t about to let a little failure stop her from tackling the biggest crisis of our generation and creating a more sustainable world for all.  In this episode of Pee...

Navigating adolescence is tough, and it can be especially hard for neurodivergent people. This week’s guest can relate — having been diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age 14. What she didn’t know, however, was that overcoming the mental health and social challenges that many autistic youth face would not only lead her to find her people, but also her mission.  In this episode of Peers2Peers,...

As a facilitator for student-aged entrepreneurs, it’s not surprising that this week’s guest is a fount of practical knowledge about growing in the independent business space. But practical lessons, like finding your people, prioritising relationships, and taking time for yourself can only get you so far. You need to learn how to find “the energy” which pushes you forward, even when it’s not fun, a...

For Lacey Kaelani, a 9-5 work day was never the dream. And even when it was a reality, her parents were in her ear, giving her business ideas and telling her it was time to follow the dream of entrepreneurship that had permeated throughout her entire life. But for Lacey, the hardest choice wasn’t committing to a less traditional career, it was the transition from whiteboard to product, a process s...

Zara Perumal has always been grateful: of her supportive parents who embraced her love of computer science, to her career opportunities earned at places like Google. But most of all, she was grateful that she got to the position to fully follow and realise her dreams by founding Overwatch Data. In this episode of Peers2Peers, powered by Shopify, Zara Perumal joins the podcast to discuss the danger...

It’s unlikely “entrepreneur” was your first job. It probably took you a while to get there: keeping yourself afloat while you honed your passions and direction. But time spent learning isn’t time wasted.  When it came time to start her own venture, this week’s guest found she’d already learned the skills she needed along the way. In this episode of Peers2Peers, powered by Shopify, Irene Liu j...

How can you help the world around you, Peers? It’s a question we ask ourselves often, but the answer can usually be found right in our backyard. In today’s episode of Peers2Peers, powered by Shopify, we hear from Lach Baniya, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Icarus Media. While she founded her media company in 2013, she had to overcome many hurdles including responding to the crises in Myan...

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the luxury and glamour of social media. While everyone may be living their best lives, it’s often not the full picture and honestly, it’s not what’s really important.  In this episode of Peers2Peers, powered by Shopify, we sit down with Mladen Jovanovic, the Co-Founder of BindiMaps, an Australian tech startup that helps the visually...

When has life dealt you a rogue hand, peers? While at the time it can feel unfair or pull you away from your current path, sometimes that seemingly random hand can lead you to great things.  Today’s guest Stuti Gupta discovered this when her father became ill and struggled to continue with his flailing ayurvedic healthcare company. Stuti returned to her home town with her brother and cared fo...