Tanya Denning-Orman on blending culture and leadership

<p>This episode, Shadé Zahrai interviews Tanya Denning-Orman. Tanya is the Director of Indigenous Content for the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia. She was also the Commissioning Editor and Director of Content for the National Indigenous TV.</p> <p> </p> <p>Valuable Discussion Points </p> <p>(01:38) What is the story of Tanya’s leadership journey?</p> <p>Tanya says she is an accidental leader. She was very passionate about becoming a journalist, storytelling and her craft. However, with that passion, she really wanted to tell stories, not just what was happening in the world around her or with Australians but particularly the stories that were happening to Indigenous Australians.</p> <p> </p> <p>(04:36) What was it about this industry that really inspired Tanya to make her impact here?</p> <p>Tanya grew up watching the news but had never seen the world through the perspective of her world, Indigenous people. Then one day she says "I saw a beautiful Black woman reading the news and it really changed me, I guess. And she knows who she is, Rubina Colbie. She was not only reading the news, it was the authority that she had. And so for me to see, this Black woman reading the news, there was a shift in my thinking. And if she could do it, I could possibly do it so that mixed with my passion of justice, so to speak, I always question the world". </p> <p> </p> <p>(19:32) What re the non-negotiables for Tanya when it comes to leading a team?</p> <p>Empathy, really understanding what it's like to walk in somebody's shoes and caring and showing a degree of vulnerability and sensitivity. Women bring a beautiful understanding and insight into human behaviour.</p> <p> </p> <p>Key Learnings</p> <ul><li>Leadership is about bringing your whole self into the position. It is all about getting to know each other first before you start talking about negotiating this contract or that deal. And it doesn't matter where you're at in your career; leadership is something that you can consider as part of what you're