Economic empowerment is leadership in action.
Indigenous women are building enterprises that weave cultural knowledge, community strength and economic independence. The Foundation resources the practice, and stays out of its way.
Grounded in Culture, Growing Through Enterprise
Indigenous Women Leading New Futures
Some of the most powerful leadership in Australia is rarely described in conventional terms. It is found in women creating opportunity where systems have failed, strengthening families while building enterprises, and carrying culture forward while shaping new economic futures.
The Menzies Leadership Foundation continues to invest in this leadership through its Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship platform, supporting community-led pathways to agency, enterprise and long-term prosperity.
At the centre of this work is a simple but powerful belief: when Indigenous women lead, communities prosper. Their leadership often extends well beyond traditional organisational boundaries, connecting family, culture, enterprise, wellbeing and intergenerational opportunity. Yet despite this contribution, Indigenous women entrepreneurs continue to face structural barriers in access to capital, networks, mentoring and visibility. The Foundation's role has been to help back solutions led by women themselves.
Don't peck with the chickens when you can soar with the eagles.
The work, and who we do it with.
Every initiative below sits on the Foundation’s interactive leadership ecosystem map, with the partners delivering it.
Featured · 2021–2027Indigenous women entreneurship initiative
Reports, tools and recordings
from this work.
Community-Centered Blended Finance Report
This report outlines how to transform the use of blended finance to build community wealth in ways that are non-extractive, help heal historic trauma, and support Indigenous self-determination.
Yarning Business Podcast
A podcast series hosted by Menzies Leadership Foundation partner Natasha Short from Kimberley Jiyigas exploring how Indigenous women are using entrepreneurship to support themselves, their family and community, and Country.