The Cost of Burnout - What I Wish I Knew with Shae Giles
Work Life by Design
Creating a retreat doesn’t happen without the incredible support of so many people behind the scenes. One of those people is the talented If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve no doubt seen Shae’s stunning photography scattered across my socials. She’s not only been my creative eye behind the lens for years, but also a loyal cheerleader and friend. But there’s another side to Shae’s story. Like so many women, she’s walked the heavy path of burnout — a reality that too often goes unseen until it’s too late. The emotional toll of pushing through, of constantly showing up...
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Trusting your Intuition with Filly Bellette
Work Life by Design
Have you ever had that gut feeling about a decision in your business… but second-guessed yourself, over-analysed it, or went searching for someone else’s advice? I know I have. For me, the turning point wasn’t about strategy or experience—it was about reconnecting with myself and learning to trust my own intuition. In this episode, I’m joined by —functional medicine practitioner, trauma therapist, and co-creator of the Ending Body Burnout Method. Filly was a huge part of my own healing journey, helping me uncover what was truly keeping me stuck: nervous system dysregulation,...
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Expanding Your Capacity with Heidi Lampard
Work Life by Design
Burnout can creep up on even the most high-performing women — sometimes we don’t even realise we’re on the edge until our bodies start screaming at us. In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Heidi Lampard — Yoga Practitioner, Holistic Wellness Mentor, Tea Ceremony Facilitator, Retreat Leader, and mother of two. Heidi will also be joining us as a facilitator at the upcoming Exhale Retreat in October, sharing her wisdom, practices, and tools with attendees. We dive deep into the challenges of burnout, particularly for high-performing female leaders and entrepreneurs who are...
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Exhale the Retreat | My 'why' and why YOU need it.
Work Life by Design
This retreat has been born out of my own experience and journey from body burnout to thriving. For years, I thought the only way I could find the peace I craved was to burn it all down, close my business, walk away from everything, and start fresh. I know I’m not alone in this. So many ambitious women I work with are exhausted from constantly being on. Leading a business, showing up for clients, being there for family... and silently wondering: is this just what success is meant to feel like? What I’ve learned... you don’t have to choose between leading a thriving business and having the...
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Season 7 | Thats a Wrap!
Work Life by Design
Season 7 has been one of the most personal yet—an honest reflection of a year filled with growth, insight, and powerful conversations. In this wrap-up episode, I’m sharing the key themes and lessons that emerged across the season: How personal transformation fuels professional fulfilment Why mastery isn’t perfection, but a commitment to growth The connection between workspaces, well-being, and culture The impact of neurodiversity and designing for inclusion The wisdom of nature, rest, and healing From solo reflections to rich guest conversations, this season was about designing a work...
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Following awe and wonder in our lives with Meg Hooper
Work Life by Design
When was the last time you let yourself be swept away by the sheer beauty of the world around you? Maybe it’s the sun sinking into a golden horizon or the way light dances through trees. These moments remind us of the profound joy that’s available — if we pause long enough to notice. In this special conversation, Dr. Meg Hooper and I explore the concept of awe, inspired by Julia Baird’s remarkable book Phosphorescence — a guide to finding light and wonder even in life’s darkest times. In this episode, we explore: 🌿 How reconnecting with nature can heal and ground us...
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Master your Focus in a world of Distraction with Angela Lockwood
Work Life by Design
In a world where distractions rule and our attention is constantly hijacked—how do we reclaim our focus and find clarity? In this powerful and practical episode, I sit down with Angela Lockwood, occupational therapist, author, speaker, and the brilliant mind behind The Focus Formula. With a career dedicated to helping people tune out the noise and tune into what truly matters, Angela shares the tools, mindset shifts, and daily habits that can help you own your attention and thrive—especially in leadership and business. From a life-altering accident that changed the course of her...
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Maximising Northrop's Investment Opportunity with Stephen Fryer
Work Life by Design
What if your next office move wasn’t just about real estate, but a radical reset for your entire business culture? In this episode, I sit down with my client Stephen Fryer, Greater Sydney Leader at Northrop Consulting Engineers, to explore how a lease expiry sparked a workplace transformation that redefined leadership, engagement, and innovation. From flexible work models to culture-led design, discover how Northrop turned relocation into reinvention, and how the team at COMUNiTI supported him to make it happen. 🎧 We talk: Turning a lease expiry into a growth opportunity Building a...
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A return to community with Amber Hawken
Work Life by Design
In today’s episode, we explore something deeply human yet often overlooked in business: community. When we shift focus from the bottom line to the broader picture—our people, our values, and our environment—we open the door to more meaningful success. I’ve welcomed Amber Hawken, a thought leader in this space, to explore how leadership, mindfulness, and nature can help reshape workplace culture. What You’ll Learn: ✔ The first steps businesses can take to foster a deeper connection with their communities. ✔ Why leadership must drive the change from the top down. ✔ How small...
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Body Burnout: Know the signs and what you can do with Filipa Bellette
Work Life by Design
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired—it’s your body waving a red flag. I know because I’ve been there, pushing through exhaustion until my body forced me to stop. That’s when I found Filipa Bellette, and everything changed. As co-founder of Chris and Filipa Functional Medicine, she’s helped thousands heal beyond just “managing” burnout. In this episode, we uncover: 💡 What body burnout really is—and why it’s often overlooked 💡 Why traditional medicine misses the root cause 💡 How deep-seated beliefs and stress patterns keep us...
info_outlineWhen was the last time you let yourself be swept away by the sheer beauty of the world around you?
Maybe it’s the sun sinking into a golden horizon or the way light dances through trees. These moments remind us of the profound joy that’s available — if we pause long enough to notice.
In this special conversation, Dr. Meg Hooper and I explore the concept of awe, inspired by Julia Baird’s remarkable book Phosphorescence — a guide to finding light and wonder even in life’s darkest times.
In this episode, we explore:
🌿 How reconnecting with nature can heal and ground us
🌿 The powerful impact of designing greener cities and communities
🌿 How to nurture your own internal light through small, meaningful practices
🌿 Why wonder and awe are essential acts of self-care
This conversation is an invitation to seek out the extraordinary hiding in the everyday — and to rediscover the vibrant, luminous energy within yourself.
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DATE ANNOUNCED - BUSINESS PLANNING DAY
Step out of the day to day, create goals with soul and design a business that lights you up!
Gain clarity on how you, as the leader of your business and life, want to FEEL this new financial year. Create your own sustainability plan to enable you to FEEL this way the whole year through.
Tuesday 17th June, 9am - The Calile Hotel, Fortitude Valley
EXHALE | THE RETREAT
Come join me for 4 days immersed in nature as we reconnect to our body, heart and soul, reigniting your fire within!
NEW WHITEPAPER DOWNLOAD | Leveraging Place - The importance of building community - not just culture - at work.
Get your copy of Mel’s new Book “The Next Workplace; Designing Dynamic Environments that Inspire Human Potential”