Feminist Series — My name is Kali
By Kali
I was named after a Hindu goddess — one that is frequently misunderstood. Kali’s role is to destroy all the evil in the world. My mum thought Kali was a symbol of a feminine empowerment. Either way, my namesake suggests I have big challenges to overcome.
I can see the most similarities between myself and a bee from the animal world. I like to move around/ travel, work in teams and be social. I am honest, funny and thoughtful. My colleagues might say I’m organised, responsive, hard-working, and mature. I am Australian and have a Masters degree in International Business. I am fascinated by the power of money and the way businesses can have a positive impact. However, also aware of its potential to corrupt and destroy. I’m frustrated by wealth inequality around the world.
In my role as Business Development Specialist for Includovate, I come across opportunities where companies are really making an impact, and it is reassuring to see that financing is getting directed to groups in need. There are many problems and many smart people to solve them, but their ideas need financial backing, which can be hard to secure despite the ridiculous ways the wealthy spend money.
When asked what makes me sad, it’s the number of people who don’t care for others. Those who think someone else’s life is less important than their own, or who spread hate and misinformation. However, I always maintain an optimistic outlook on life. I see amazing ideas and talent around me, and find it exciting to think about what the future will hold.
I think accessing good education can solve many problems and help bring about a more equal society. My education was varied. I attended public schools, international schools, and an all-girls’ boarding school. From my international school experience, I found gendered roles more apparent. As a girl who liked sports, I found there were fewer opportunities for girls to compete than the boys in my school. In the classroom, things felt more equal, as there seemed to be a clear understanding that education could lead to a better life. One reason for moving to the all-girls’ boarding school was to ensure I could have the freedom to be involved in any sport, and play with a competitive team. I am forever grateful to have had the education and opportunities I did, growing up. If I had the power, I would provide access to affordable, quality education for the whole world.
I admire innovative businesses that break the status quo. I think this level of creativity is very impressive, since I, myself, do not have the entrepreneurial skills. Organisations such as Apple, Netflix, and Includovate have stood out in their industries, and showed the world what they didn’t know they needed, rather than trying to sell something that already exists in the market.
My aim in life is to be happy and to make others around me happier too. The difficulty of this task is that people change and what makes them happy one day, may not always bring them happiness the following. People also vary greatly, so understanding what makes someone happy requires a great deal of emotional intelligence, listening and understanding skills. Please see below a happy moment in time from Peru, December 2019, (before COVID).
About the author:
Kali graduated from Melbourne University in 2020 with a Master’s degree in International Business and a Bachelor’s degree from Monash University in International Relations. Throughout her studies, Kali completed three semesters abroad in the UK, China and Canada, gaining interest in different cultures, and understanding of different business practices and a global mindset.
Prior to Includovate, Kali was working at the National Australia Bank managing teams of new bankers in the customer service department. She has also previously completed an internship at Ignite Investment where she worked on financial and business plans for SMEs in Ethiopia. She has volunteered with various organisations like Amnesty International, Friends of Refugees and an orphanage in Nepal. Kali has intermediate level French and basic Spanish language skills.
Includovate is a feminist research incubator that “walks the talk”. Includovate is an Australian social enterprise consisting of a consulting firm and research incubator that designs solutions for gender equality and social inclusion. Its mission is to incubate transformative and inclusive solutions for measuring, studying, and changing discriminatory norms that lead to poverty, inequality, and injustice. To know more about us at Includovate, follow our social media: @includovate, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.
