Daizy Maan is the founder at Australian Digital Job Accelerator, a platform empowering women to earn an income through digital work.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I’m the founder of Australian Digital Job Accelerator – we focus on helping ambitious women secure digital work.

I also founded Australian South Asian Centre – a not-for-profit dedicated to empowering underrepresented women who are founders, leaders and creatives in Australia. I also lead Deakin University’s entrepreneurship programs – SPARK Deakin.

2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

I wear a few hats so every day looks different -I love variety so it doesn’t bother me that my days can vary. During the day I focus on my role at Deakin University – strategising, planning and executing entrepreneurial programs.

I have a fantastic small team so it’s mostly making sure they can thrive in their roles. My role varies from sourcing founders to speak to our students, mentoring, speaking with students and supporting them on their startup journey and general management tasks.

In the evening I shift between marketing (writing copy, making videos as Instagram and Linkedin are my main channels to reach folks), planning community events for Australian South Asian Centre and teaching Australian Digital Job Accelerator. I love being able to use what I know to inspire and empower others.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine? 

Yes – both my charity and business are mostly online and so is my role with Deakin at the moment. It means that I can take walks during the day and have meetings closer to home – it saves on travel time.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal? 

It’s more about integrating the two: my work aligns closely with my core values of service, generosity and making a difference. Work rarely feels like a burden, I love doing what I do so I focus less on the hours and more on managing my energy. There are some months I feel I get a year’s worth of work done, and other months I just need to take it slow and rest.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

I’ve been focused more on my inner dialogue, I’ve been doing a lot of inner work. I feel less shame and guilt around “not being productive enough” and remind myself that I’m enough as it is, everything else is extra. A small new change is that I switched zoom face calls to audio and often will go for a walking meeting which energises me.

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

Valarie Kaur’s See No Stranger was one of my favourite books last year. I also recommend Give Work by Leila Janah. In terms of podcasts I’ve enjoyed Ms Represented and really loved Seema Anand’s episode Gangubai – The Brothel Woman. I enjoy reading Indie Hacker and Glowreel which highlights BIPOC’s women’s voices.

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without? 

Nothing people don’t already have! I use Instagram a lot to connect consciously with other like-minded folks and to share tips around freelancing.

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be? 

Leila Janah.

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