In this episode of business in colour, I had the absolute privilege of introducing a woman whose name alone tells you who she is. Azadeh means freedom. Dastyari means those who lend a helping hand. Born during the Iranian Revolution, raised in Blacktown, Western Sydney — she embodies her name.

Azadeh will tell you she’s an accidental academic. But there is nothing accidental about what she has built. Professor Azadeh Dastyari is the Director of the Centre for Western Sydney and a Professor of Human Rights Law at Western Sydney University. She has held appointments at Harvard Law School, Georgetown University, and the European University Institute. We are proud to say that Azadeh was unanimously chosen by our independent judging panel as the winner of the Business in Colour Research Excellence Award.

In this episode, Azadeh takes us deep into Western Sydney — a region where 75% of people have a parent born overseas, where more than 100 languages are spoken. There is untapped strength in this community and Azadeh is working to shine a light through her work and her research. In this episode she shows us what is at stake when we get this wrong in our workplaces, our institutions, and our communities – when we don’t value and recognise this strength in diversity.

Azadeh also speaks directly to women of colour in this episode— to those who code-switch, who carry a lot in different work and home spaces, those who question whether they belong. Her message is both a challenge to leaders and a gift to multicultural communities and professionals.

This is a conversation about racism, rights, resilience — and the quiet, radical act of solidarity. We are so honoured to bring to you, the authentic and purpose led leadership voice of…Professor Azadeh Dastyari.