Beyond the Boardroom: Leading with Purpose and Connection

Leading from the Inside Out: Human Design as a Leadership Compass with Katryn Van Der Steege

What changes when leaders stop trying to override themselves and instead learn to lead in alignment with how they're actually wired? In this episode of Beyond the Boardroom, Jennifer Demiri sits down with Kathryn Van Der Steege, executive coach, leadership advisor and former senior executive at Woolworths, for a deep exploration of leadership from the inside out. After 28 years in corporate, including senior roles across IT and HR, Kathryn made a bold pivot into transformational coaching, bringing together neuroscience, somatic awareness, nervous system regulation and human design to help leaders stay clear, grounded and decisive under pressure. In this conversation, we explore: * Why the leadership advantage is shifting in the age of AI, and what it means for how you lead * The hidden cost of the "conscious filter" and how it slowly erases your authentic self * How to recognise and trust your inner compass, especially in moments that matter * The Polyvagal lens on leadership, and why breath alone is not always enough * Human design as a practical leadership framework, not a mystical system * The five energy types (Manifestor, Manifesting Generator, Generator, Projector, Reflector) and what they reveal about your decision making, communication style and energy management * Why understanding your team's human design reduces friction, builds empathy and improves outcomes * A real client story of a senior leader whose influence transformed once he understood his projector design and communication style Whether you are a corporate leader, founder or someone navigating a meaningful transition, this episode offers a fresh lens on what it really means to lead with presence, conviction and alignment. Want to discover your own human design? CONNECT WITH KATHRYN: Instagram: @kathrynvandersteege https://www.instagram.com/kathrynvandersteege/ [https://www.instagram.com/kathrynvandersteege/]www.kathvdsmindset.com.au [http://www.kathvdsmindset.com.au/] DM the word DESIGN on Instagram to unlock your leadership strengths according to your Human Design. WANT TO GO DEEPER? Her Inner Compass Recalibration A 90-Day Strategic Identity and Leadership Reset for High-Capacity Women  (6–8 June 2026) If today's conversation sparked something and you're ready to move from insight into embodiment, this is the container where that work gets done. Max 10 women. Application only. Learn more and book an Alignment Call: https://www.kathvdsmindset.com.au/her-inner-compass [https://www.kathvdsmindset.com.au/her-inner-compass]

Beyond Grind Culture – Human Design, Rhythms & Sustainable Leadership with Lucy Bloomfield

In this episode of Beyond the Boardroom: Leading with Purpose & Connection, Jen is joined by Lucy to explore a powerful and often misunderstood concept in business: working with natural cycles rather than against them. From lunar cycles to deeply ingrained sales conditioning, this conversation challenges the traditional “always-on” approach to business growth. Lucy shares how leaders can move away from rigid, high-pressure sales timelines and instead align their offers, energy, and strategy with more intuitive rhythms. Together, they unpack: – Why most people misunderstand the influence of the moon – How traditional sales cycles keep leaders stuck in pressure and burnout – The power of aligning business offers with natural energetic phases – How intuition and strategy can work together, not against each other This episode is a refreshing perspective for leaders ready to move beyond force and into flow, without losing structure or results. Magic Marketer: https://www.magicmarketer.app [https://www.magicmarketer.app/] Lucy Bloomfield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-bloomfield [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-bloomfield-b29b1910a?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bkn7oR1dqQRm6fjzdHvXYxA%3D%3D]

Middle Management Is Breaking - And It’s Undermining Your Strategy with Rebecca Houghton

Middle managers are expected to execute strategy, protect culture, drive performance, absorb pressure, and somehow not burn out. Most organisations rely on them. Few truly understand what the role demands. In this episode of Beyond the Boardroom: Leading with Purpose & Connection, Jen Demiri speaks with Rebecca Houghton, Founder of Bold HR and author of More Impact, More Easily, about the structural and psychological realities of middle management. This conversation explores: – The “capability cliff” many leaders fall from when stepping into management – Why burnout at this level is often designed into the system – The pressure of translating strategy while carrying emotional weight – The culture of busyness that masquerades as productivity – Why data is a leadership tool — not just a reporting function – The shift from operational reliability to strategic influence – How AI can free managers from admin and restore thinking space This isn’t a conversation about soft skills. It’s about role clarity, design, and the commercial consequences of getting middle management wrong. If you lead managers, or are one, this episode will change how you see the middle. 🔗 Connect with Rebecca Houghton Founder – Bold HR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccahoughton/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccahoughton/] Bold HR: https://boldhr.com.au [https://boldhr.com.au/] 📖 Book: More Impact, More Easily on Amazon , Dymocks and major retailers 🔗 Connect with Jennifer Demiri LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendemiri/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendemiri/] Website: https://jdconsultingau.com [https://jdconsultingau.com/]

Leading Through Complexity - Trust, Cyber & Courage in Modern Leadership with Jasmin Illic

In this episode of Beyond the Boardroom: Leading with Purpose & Connection, Jen Demiri sits down with Jasmin Ilic, CEO and Co-Founder of CYBR, to explore leadership, cybersecurity, trust, and what it really takes to build impact-driven businesses in industries that weren’t designed with women in mind. Jasmin’s work sits at the intersection of security, psychology, and leadership. With a background in psychology and deep experience in cyber, she challenges the fear-based narratives that dominate the industry and reframes security as an enabler of innovation, not a blocker. Together, Jen and Jasmin unpack: 1. Why cybersecurity failures are often human, not technical 2. How trust, education, and behaviour shape organisational resilience 3. The hidden reality of cybercrime, and why shame has no place in the conversation 4. What women really face when founding and leading in male-dominated industries 5. Why visibility, community, and courage matter more than perfection 6. How leaders can embed values-driven leadership in complex, high-risk environments This is a powerful conversation about leading with integrity, backing yourself when the odds aren’t in your favour, and building systems that serve both people and performance. 🎧 Listen now and step beyond the boardroom. Connect with our guest & host: 1. Jasmin Ilic [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmin-ilic/]– CYBR 2. CYBR [https://www.cybr.sh] 3. Host – Jen Demiri [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-demiri-88b19867] 4. JD Consulting AU [https://ww.jdconsultingau.com]

Leading Change in Community & Why a Job Changes Everything with Steve Brown

What happens when people are simply given the opportunity to work? In this episode of Beyond the Boardroom – Leading with Purpose & Connection, Jen Demiri speaks with Steve from Orange Basket Community Services about the life-changing impact of meaningful employment for people living with disabilities. After more than 20 years working in disability employment services, Steve shares how Orange Basket is creating pathways to independence through its unique mentorship program. Operating real cafés, commercial services, and supported training environments, Orange Basket helps participants build practical skills, confidence, and connection while preparing them for open employment. Together, Jen and Steve explore the misconceptions many organisations still hold about disability employment, the importance of respectful workplaces, and why inclusion is about far more than compliance, it’s about recognising human potential. You’ll also hear powerful stories of transformation that show what becomes possible when people are supported, valued, and given the chance to contribute. In this episode we discuss: 1. Why meaningful work can be life-changing for people with disabilities 2. How the Orange Basket mentorship program prepares participants for open employment 3. The biggest misconceptions organisations have about disability in the workplace 4. What inclusive leadership really looks like in practice 5. How businesses can create truly supportive environments for diverse talent This is a powerful reminder that leadership is not just about performance, it’s about creating opportunities for people to thrive. Orange Basket Community Services: Phone:Phone: (8) 8333 7270 Website: https://www.orangebasket.com.au [https://www.orangebasket.com.au/] Orange Basket Fundraising Dinner: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-orange-basket-community-services-fundraiser-dinner-2ryhtlm2?fbclid=IwY2xjawQXJCxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzVmRIcGNtNFhlR0NTYUlac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjnJrE_IQ8VwqWWb2LG7qRw9pKXuFAnly5kHnwWJEy49CT8yysDXwl63uQus_aem__a88WUiaa00zTuQXHYUNeQ [https://events.humanitix.com/2026-orange-basket-community-services-fundraiser-dinner-2ryhtlm2?fbclid=IwY2xjawQXJCxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzVmRIcGNtNFhlR0NTYUlac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjnJrE_IQ8VwqWWb2LG7qRw9pKXuFAnly5kHnwWJEy49CT8yysDXwl63uQus_aem__a88WUiaa00zTuQXHYUNeQ]