Growing up in Sydney’s Inner City and finding challenges in her schooling experience, Lateisha drew inspiration from her community, known for its deep ties and richness in Indigenous culture.

She now works with communities across Australia, delivering online webinars and facilitating workshops on how to start and manage a sustainable business and empowering those with a business dream.  

“As the Indigenous Business Training Facilitator at FNF, I work with Mob who have a business dream (or start-up), assisting them in developing their entrepreneurial skills. My aim for every webinar and workshop is that Mob leave feeling empowered, informed, and confident in possessing the knowledge, tools, and resources to turn their business dreams into reality.”  

Lateisha works closely alongside community, emphasising and facilitating cultural competency and awareness, as well as empowering Indigenous business owners to recognise their unique position for seizing unique business opportunities. 

“One of my most fulfilling and proudest experiences this year was presenting at the Cultural Competency and Spotlighting Masterclass at Central Queensland University (CQU), to the WHANU BINAL Indigenous Entrepreneur Program. It offered a different lens on how Indigenous business owners can empower economic sovereignty by accessing corporate budgets – shifting the focus and taking our power back from allowing white Australia dictating where Indigenous funding should go and challenging corporates to demonstrate their commitment to their RAP by providing unique opportunities for Indigenous businesses.” 

The My Business Dream workshops aim to provide invaluable insights and practical support to Indigenous entrepreneurs. Initially conducted through webinars and local travel in Victoria, these workshops have expanded Australia-wide. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and resources they need to turn their business dreams into reality. 

“Most attendees already have a business or a clear business idea, and the workshops facilitate deep, meaningful conversations, allowing me to see in real time Mob go from feeling unsure, or nervous about actioning their ideas, to feeling knowledgeable and empowered to start their business. It is the most rewarding aspect of workshops.” 

These discussions range from leveraging opportunities in a post-colonial landscape to actively reversing historical narratives, a topic Lateisha refers to as a “reverse uno” on the situation. 

Creating opportunities for collaboration is a key focus, as is actively positioning Indigenous businesses in mainstream spaces. The success and positive feedback from these workshops have led to ongoing partnerships, such as the rebooking with CQU for the WHANU BINAL Indigenous Entrepreneur Program. 

Reflecting on this personal and professional journey, it is clear that “the world is bigger than the high school one attends”. This serves as a reminder that early environments don’t define potential or future success. It often takes time to feel comfortable taking up space and asserting oneself.  

Her advice to younger generations and aspiring professionals is to recognise that education and early experiences are just the beginning. There is a vast world of opportunities out there, and each person has the potential to make a significant impact.