Got a business? Welcome - you are a founder!

In this episode of The Essential Shift Podcast, we’re joined by Kirstin Hunter - the current CEO of Birchal and former Managing Director at Techstars NSW.

From co-founding ethical investing platform Future Super to mentoring Australia’s most promising founders, Kirstin brings a unique lens to what it takes to lead and grow mission-driven businesses.

We explore what makes a great founder, the mindset shifts needed to transition to startup life, and why conscious leadership matters more than ever in today’s business climate.

This is an inspiring, grounded conversation for anyone navigating the evolving path of entrepreneurship.

KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

• The traits successful founders share - and how to cultivate them

• What it really means to lead a business with purpose

• Lessons learned from mentoring startups at Techstars

• What it’s like stepping into the CEO role at Birchal

SHOW RESOURCES

• Learn more about Birchal – HERE

• Follow Kirstin on LinkedIn – HERE

• JOIN THE CIRCLE – A community for conscious, creative entrepreneurs - HERE

• Follow me on Instagram – HERE

• Find me on LinkedIn – HERE

ABOUT THE GUEST

Kirstin Hunter is the Chief Executive Officer at Birchal, Australia’s leading crowdsourced funding platform. Before Birchal, Kirstin was the Managing Director (NSW) at Techstars, where she selected and mentored some of the country’s most promising startup founders. She is also the co-founder and former CEO of ethical superannuation platform Future Super, and has held executive roles at Brighte. A reformed lawyer and ex-management consultant, Kirstin brings deep expertise across fintech, impact investing, and high-growth ventures. She’s also a long-time mentor with Blackbird's Giants program and Startmate Fellowships and serves on the board of Morphic Ethical Equities (ASX:MEC). Above all, she’s passionate about helping founders build companies that combine purpose and performance.

Bless it be.

With love, Laetitia!

We often think business growth comes from adding more - more content, more tools, more strategies. But what if the real shift comes from letting go?

In this episode, I’m sharing why spaciousness isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s a core business strategy.

I will share with you a key principle of lean management and we’ll explore the unseen clutter that drains your time, energy and creativity.

If you’re drowning in digital files, stuck in inefficient processes, or simply overwhelmed by too many ideas, let this episode help you identify what’s actually getting in your way - and how to create more room for clarity, momentum and meaningful results.

✨ Want to connect and build your business with a support network? ⁠JOIN THE CIRCLE⁠ ✨

KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

• Why decluttering is the first step in sustainable growth

• The 7 types of waste blocking your momentum (and how to spot them)

• What lean management has to teach even the most creative businesses

• How simplicity can create space for strategy, energy, and innovation

SHOW RESOURCES

• Join the Flow in Business Accelerator – HERE

• JOIN THE CIRCLE – A community for conscious, creative entrepreneurs - HERE

• Follow me on Instagram – HERE

• Find me on LinkedIn – HERE

Bless it be.

With love, Laetitia!

We often talk about AI in the context of speed, automation, and productivity. But what if AI could help make the world fairer?

This week’s episode is a powerful conversation about using technology to bridge one of the biggest gaps in our systems: access to justice.

If you’ve ever tried to navigate a legal dispute, you’ll know it can be overwhelming, expensive, and inaccessible. Especially if you don’t have legal training or support. That’s where AI can help.

In this episode, we’re joined by founder of Dispute Buddy, Jenny Rudd, who’s using AI to empower everyday people – helping them turn chaotic digital evidence into court-ready documents and reclaim their voice in a system that often silences them.

✨ Want to connect and build your business with a support network? ⁠JOIN THE CIRCLE⁠ ✨

KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

• How AI can be used to drive equity, not just efficiency

• How personal values can shape powerful tech solutions

• What it takes to lead courageously in the legal and funding space

• Jenny’s previous business experience + how she build this startup

SHOW RESOURCES

• Learn more about Dispute Buddy – HERE

• Learn about The Gender Investment Gap NZ – HERE

• Follow Jenny on LinkedIn – HERE

• JOIN THE CIRCLE – A community for conscious, creative entrepreneurs - HERE

• Follow me on Instagram – HERE

• Find me on LinkedIn – HERE
  

ABOUT THE GUEST

Jenny Rudd is the Founder & CEO of Dispute Buddy, a tech startup creating access to justice for people in legal disputes by organising complex digital evidence (texts, emails, etc.) into court-ready documents. She is also the Co-Founder of The Gender Investment Gap NZ, a national research project measuring and addressing gender disparities in venture capital.

Jenny lives in Mt Maunganui, New Zealand, with her husband Mat and their five beautiful children. Her work is grounded in values of fairness, disruption, and inclusion – and she’s leading change in the tech and funding space one courageous action at a time.

Bless it be.

With love,

Laetitia