Abiola Ajetomobi is the Founding Director of Leading Impact, an Equity & Inclusion consulting agency whose vision is to create inclusive and equitable organisations and leaders with lived experience at the heart of its strategic intent and legacy.
A transformative leadership journey created by Women of Colour for Women of Colour.
WoCA team and the WoC ELP 2024 cohort
Each place is valued at $15,000. The Women of Colour Executive Leadership Program is supported by the Victorian Government.
For private sector participants, a $5,000 co-payment applies. Why?
✔ Shared accountability – This co-investment signals genuine employer commitment to advancing Women of Colour in leadership roles and fostering inclusive workplace cultures.
✔ Program sustainability – Your contribution helps us continue delivering a high-impact program through expert coaching, psychological support, and rigorous evaluation—ensuring lasting change for current and future cohorts.
✔ Strengthening sector engagement – It also deepens our partnerships with the private sector, creating a network of aligned organisations championing equity, leadership, and systemic change.
Women of Colour are deeply underrepresented in executive roles across all sectors. This program is about flipping that script—building leadership on a foundation of identity, community, and lived experience.
✔ Centred on intersectionality, not mainstream norms
✔ Co-created with Women of Colour, including First Nations women
✔ Backed by the Victorian Government, and aligned with Our equal state: Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027
✔ Shaped by lived experience and continuous participant feedback
And the impact is real.
From our very first cohort in 2023, 6 of 9 participants were promoted to more senior roles within six months of completing the program.
Here’s a glimpse into how the program has transformed the leadership journeys of our participants:
“The experience was transformative for me. It allowed me to fully embrace my identity and confront the trauma tied to it, while reflecting on my cultural upbringing. I gained a deeper understanding of how my strengths and weaknesses have been shaped by these experiences. The program also gave me the chance to reassess my core values and consider the additional values I need to embody as an inclusive leader. It deepened my appreciation for my cultural heritage, ancestral wisdom, and the importance of owning my story and success. I believe this program is having a lasting impact on my life.” – 2024 Program Participant
“The concept of Va was very unique and practical. It’s something I can apply both in my personal and professional life. The analogy of the intersection of the sea and sand is perfect because it highlights the interconnection, the give and take, and the specific area where that connection happens. It’s a powerful lesson that will stay with me on my leadership journey.” – 2024 Program Participant
“The most valuable insight I gained from my 1:1 coaching with Koon was recognising the transformative power of strategising with a trusted coach. This experience sharpened my skills in leadership benchmarking, understanding psychological dynamics, navigating my inner voice, and exploring diverse perspectives and pathways.” – 2024 Program Participant
"Women of Colour are absolutely ready to lead with power and force and I am really pleased to be a part of it. I truly believe that you have to be representative of your communities if you want to be good leaders. I think that this leadership program is going to help so many of the businesses, of the Departments, of the groups that you come from to embed some real change.~ The Hon. Minister Natalie Hutchins, Minister for Women, Victoria.
Explore a bold, holistic leadership experience designed for and with Women of Colour. Each module combines storytelling, strategy, and support.
Date: 14 July 2025
Learn to harness the power of lived experience. Use storytelling as a leadership tool to amplify your voice and inspire change.
Date: 21 July 2025
Venue: Wesley Place Business Hub, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Victoria
New for 2025, this module was developed in response to participant feedback. Build resilience, manage stress, and prevent burnout. Includes expert strategies and support from a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed psychologist.
Dates: 22-23 July 2025
Venue: Wesley Place Business Hub, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Victoria
New for 2025, this powerful module was co-designed in response to feedback from a First Nations participant and the broader 2024 cohort. It centres First Nations knowledge and leadership, inviting participants to deepen their understanding of history, culture, and ways of knowing. Through truth-telling, relational learning, and practices of reconciliation, participants will strengthen their capacity to lead with respect, responsibility, and cultural integrity.
Dates: 28-29 August 2025
Venue: Wesley Place Business Hub, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Victoria
Explore how your cultural identity shapes your leadership journey and how to navigate systems that were designed for a particular 'archetype', applying an intersectional lens. Lead with courage, authenticity, and strategic influence.
Dates: 23-25 September 2025
Venue: Wesley Place Business Hub, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Victoria
Develop bold communication and advocacy skills. Learn to identify and activate allies and sponsors, to accelerate your career and drive equity through influence.
Dates: 25-26 November 2025
Venue: Wesley Place Business Hub, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Victoria
Discover how to cultivate inclusive, culturally safe environments. Rooted in the Pasifika concept of Vā, this module nurtures belonging and lasting impact.
Between carefully selected modules, participants of the WoC ELP will engage in personalised online executive coaching sessions. These one-on-one interactions are designed to enhance self-awareness, deepen their understanding of their unique leadership style, and help them set specific, actionable goals for personal and professional growth. With expert guidance by experienced executive coach, Koon Lai, participants will gain valuable insights and develop strategies to excel as leaders in their respective fields, fostering transformative change and driving positive impacts.
Dates: 20-22 October 2025
Venue: Wesley Place Business Hub, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Victoria
Wellbeing matters. Access a dedicated session with a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed psychologist and holistic support to strengthen your mental health and leadership resilience.
The Women of Colour Executive Leadership Program is led by a team of experienced professionals with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in leadership development. Our facilitators include:
Tasneem Chopra OAM
Tasneem Chopra OAM is an experienced Cross-Cultural Consultant and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) trainer helping businesses, not-for-profits and government understand and navigate diversity and inclusion using an intersectional lens.
Shelley Ware
Shelley Ware was one of the first Aboriginal women, to regularly appear on mainstream television and now has over two decades of experience in live television broadcast. Shelley is also a teacher and is passionate, about embedding First Nations histories and cultures into our classrooms and the national curriculum.
Simi Rayat
Simi Rayat is a globally acclaimed business psychologist
and one of Australia’s top leadership coaches. With over two decades of experience, she has helped hundreds of leaders and business owners transform their leadership to become a joy to work with.
Mahana Culture
Mahana Culture's Vā, a Polynesian term for 'the space between us,' emphasises the significance of developing relationships and designing learning experiences that honour culture, connectedness, and individual ecosystems.
Abiola Ajetomobi
Abiola Ajetomobi is the Founding Director of Leading Impact, an Equity & Inclusion consulting agency whose vision is to create inclusive and equitable organisations and leaders with lived experience at the heart of its strategic intent and legacy.
Historically, Women of Colour (WoC) have had limited access to executive coaching, which often overlooks the nuanced challenges faced by leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds. As part of our commitment to offering a truly transformative experience, our program features executive coaching led by Koon Lai, a Women of Colour herself. This is a standout component of our program, providing participants with tailored support from someone who not only understands the systemic barriers but also brings a wealth of lived experience and professional expertise to the table.
Koon Lai
Koon Lai is an executive coach with over two decades of leadership experience at one of Australia's largest global consulting firms. With a strong background in executive roles, she brings a wealth of real-life experience to support leaders through a holistic approach that combines practical insights with transformative coaching techniques.
She has made significant strides in advancing numerous multicultural leaders, helping them unlock their full potential and overcome systemic barriers. As a Malaysian-Chinese and a mother of three boys, Koon's clients value her whole person approach, which helps them develop authentic leadership skills both in their professional and personal lives.
New for 2025, the Program Guide is a unique support role embedded in the program. Designed based on feedback from the 2024 WoC ELP, the Guide ensures seamless learning across modules, promotes meaningful leadership development, and plays a crucial role in risk management. By participating in each session, the Guide fosters smooth transitions, reinforces key insights, and addresses potential challenges, such as interpersonal dynamics and group tensions. More than just a facilitator, the Program Guide acts as a strategic connector, helping participants bridge theory with practice and develop actionable leadership approaches that extend beyond the program.
The 2025 Women of Colour Executive Leadership Program is designed for Victorian Women of Colour, including First Nations women, who are aspiring to or currently in leadership roles across the public, community, and private sectors. If you are a Woman of Colour committed to enhancing your leadership capabilities, fostering meaningful impact, and driving systemic change in your workplace or community, this program is for you. We welcome applicants from all sectors who are ready to grow, connect, and lead with authenticity and influence.
Applications open Monday 5 May 2025 and close 3pm (AEST) Saturday 31 May 2025.
Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria.
Applicants must identify as Women of Colour including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and hold a mid-to-senior level management position in their organisation. Applicants must currently be living in Victoria.
Applicants must be willing to commit the necessary time and effort to fully participate in the program and make meaningful contributions to their cohort.
Applicants should demonstrate strong leadership potential, including a track record of professional achievements, ability to inspire and motivate others, and commitment to personal and professional growth.
Applicants should be passionate about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their organisations and communities, and be willing to serve as role models and champions for other Women of Colour.
Applicants should be able to articulate how the program aligns with their career goals and how they plan to apply the learnings to drive positive change in their organisations and communities.
Applicants must respect everyone's unique experiences, maintain confidentiality, embrace inclusivity, and adhere to a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination, fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment throughout the program.
Below you will find answers to commonly asked questions about the program structure, eligibility, and application process. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at elp@womenofcolour.org.au.
THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE “WOMEN OF COLOR”
"Women of Color is not a biological designation. It is a solidarity definition. A commitment to work in collaboration with other oppressed women of color who have been minoritized. It is a term that has a lot of power." Loretta Ross
Learn more here
WOMEN DEFINITION
Women - Transgender and cisgender, all those who experience or have experienced oppression as women, including non-binary and gender non-conforming people and all those who identify as women. Self-definition is at the discretion of the individual.
Definition credit: wire.org.au
ALLY DEFINITION
A - always centre the impacted
L - listen and learn from those who live in oppression
L - leverage your privilege
Y - yield the floor
*Mnemonic credit: Kayla Reed Executive Director ACTION St. Louis.
Privacy Policy Refund Policy Terms Of Use
WOMEN OF COLOUR LTD ABN 17 643 518 576 ACN 643 518 576 is an Australian Public Company Limited by Guarantee. We are a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). We have Deductible Gift Recipient status.
The WOMEN OF COLOUR AUSTRALIA logo is a Registered Trademark of WOMEN OF COLOUR LTD.
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
We acknowledge the Wallumattagal clan of the Darug nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which Women of Colour Australia is situated. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with whom we stand in solidarity. We acknowledge that as settlers on this stolen Aboriginal land, we are beneficiaries of the dispossession, genocide, and ongoing colonial violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We believe that it is our collective responsibility and moral imperative to help dismantle the systemic barriers and structural inequities oppressing the original inhabitants of this land. We are also painfully aware that this land was taken forcibly, without a Treaty or reparations made. We have taken a practical step towards honouring sovereignty by paying the rent – and we invite you to do so too. This land is and always will be Aboriginal land. Sovereignty was never ceded.
We acknowledge the Wallumattagal clan of the Darug nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which Women of Colour Australia is situated. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with whom we stand in solidarity. We acknowledge that as settlers on this stolen Aboriginal land, we are beneficiaries of the dispossession, genocide, and ongoing colonial violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We believe that it is our collective responsibility and moral imperative to help dismantle the systemic barriers and structural inequities oppressing the original inhabitants of this land. We are also painfully aware that this land was taken forcibly, without a Treaty or reparations made. We have taken a practical step towards honouring sovereignty by paying the rent – and we invite you to do so too. This land is and always will be Aboriginal land. Sovereignty was never ceded.