Feb 02 2025 55 mins
In this enlightening episode of The Leader in Us podcast, hosts Sophie Crouch and Deb Kelly engage in a rich conversation with Dana Shen, a Ngarrindjeri-Chinese consultant specialising in systems leadership and community transformation. Set against the backdrop of the Kaurna, Boandik, and Barngarla lands, the episode explores leadership through the lens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions, intersecting with Western hierarchical models.
Dana shares her personal journey, shaped by the profound influence of her uncle, Uncle Moogie Sumner, and her mother, Polly Sumner, alongside the legacy of her Chinese grandparents. She discusses the unique characteristics of Aboriginal leadership, which emphasise collectivism, community transformation, and fostering young leaders. Dana delves into systemic leadership, a framework that views the world as interconnected systems, advocating for leadership that benefits all beings, including the natural world.
The episode also highlights Dana's work in co-designing trauma-responsive systems and empowering communities through collaborative approaches. Her reflections on mindfulness as a tool for leadership development provide practical insights for fostering self-awareness and collective growth.
Listeners are left with a thought-provoking challenge: reimagining leadership by embracing interconnectedness with all beings and systems, extending beyond human-centric approaches to include the natural world. This episode is a testament to the power of blending diverse leadership philosophies to inspire meaningful change.
For more on Dana's systems leadership model, visit https://danashen.com.
Dana shares her personal journey, shaped by the profound influence of her uncle, Uncle Moogie Sumner, and her mother, Polly Sumner, alongside the legacy of her Chinese grandparents. She discusses the unique characteristics of Aboriginal leadership, which emphasise collectivism, community transformation, and fostering young leaders. Dana delves into systemic leadership, a framework that views the world as interconnected systems, advocating for leadership that benefits all beings, including the natural world.
The episode also highlights Dana's work in co-designing trauma-responsive systems and empowering communities through collaborative approaches. Her reflections on mindfulness as a tool for leadership development provide practical insights for fostering self-awareness and collective growth.
Listeners are left with a thought-provoking challenge: reimagining leadership by embracing interconnectedness with all beings and systems, extending beyond human-centric approaches to include the natural world. This episode is a testament to the power of blending diverse leadership philosophies to inspire meaningful change.
For more on Dana's systems leadership model, visit https://danashen.com.