Hi there!

Each year we (Nicola Newman, Naomi Arnold + Amanda Rootsey) run a year-long Gentle Business Mastermind. We’ve just wrapped up our last round and are taking a gentle pause before launching again. In the meantime, search for our Ditch the Hustle podcast on your favourite podcast player!  If you need to get in touch with us, email gentlebusinessmastermind@gmail.com 

Listen to the Ditch the Hustle podcast 

We had so much fun recording these episodes for you, having chats about what gentle business really looks like and inviting experts to share their tips too. Enjoy!

Find all of the episodes here. 

The Gentle Business Mastermind

has run as a 12-month experience beginning in March each year, designed to support you to grow your businesses gently, sustainably and consciously.  As a community of like-minded business folk, together we’ll look at our businesses through a different lens, guided by carefully curated monthly themes such as Business Foundations, Offerings, Gentle Money, Conscious Business and more.

If you’re an entrepreneur, solopreneur, soulpreneur (and any other variation of this!), a maker of beautiful things, a creative, a coach, a teacher, a writer, a business person who likes to do things a little differently and is ready for your next 12 months to feel more in alignment with who you are, what you need and above all, to feel more gentle, THIS MAY BE FOR YOU!   

AMANDA ROOTSEY

Amanda Rootsey is the founder of teen personal development academy, Shine From Within®, a business coach and mentor, a published Hay House author and a gentle-living advocate.

It was the discovery of a lump, and subsequent cancer diagnosis, while living and modelling in Italy in 2009 that kick-started Amanda’s journey to living and working GENTLY.

Freedom and peace are now her driving values and she knows wholeheartedly that we can contribute to the world, make money and do it in a way that feels lovely (aka not feel completely drained at the end of the day!). And that’s her hope for you too.

Gentle living has looked differently over the years…from being Australia’s first eco-model working exclusively with eco-friendly and ethical brands, to building a vegan business with her partner David Rafter and living off the grid in a shipping container for a year.

For the past 10 years she has built a business empowering teens and training adults to be wonderful youth mentors at Shine From Within.

Amanda has a Bachelor of Business Management, a life coaching qualification, is a certified B-Corporation and has completed a number of business and social justice trainings. She recently won International Coach of the Year, has been featured on the cover of Peppermint Magazine, been mentioned as a ‘game changer’ in The Collective magazine, showed the hosts of The Today Show how to use food as make up (!!) and is on the Australian Board of Fashion Revolution. She is also the host of The Youth Mentor Podcast.

Find Amanda at www.amandarootsey.com

NAOMI ARNOLD

Naomi Arnold is an award-winning life + business coach, entrepreneur, writer, speaker and researcher with a background in psychology, health and human rights. She helps kind and socially conscious people bring to life the dreams they hold for themselves, their loved ones and the world at large.

Naomi is also the co-creator of the Gentle Business Mastermind and the Conquer Coach Certification Program where she trains and mentors business owners, entrepreneurs and coaches in strategically building successful and profitable businesses in a gentle, socially conscious and sustainable way.

Naomi has a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours, a life coaching qualification, is currently completing a Master of Human Rights, is certified as a B-Corporation and has completed a number of business and social justice trainings. She has been featured in copious print, radio and digital media sources where she has been referred to as a “local identity”, “shining light”, “megastar”, “gentle powerhouse” and ‘international coach of the year’.

Through her award-winning coaching services and programs, speaking gigs, Dream For Others® podcast and resources, and academic research in human rights – Naomi endeavours to live a life of use to others and to help you do the same.

Find Naomi at www.naomiarnold.com

NICOLA NEWMAN

Nicola Newman is a professional artist, writer, painting teacher and retreat host. Through her online training program, Flourish with Painting & Creativity, Nicola has helped creative-hearts around the globe express their creativity and explore the world with curiosity and playfulness.

Nicola has held over 17 solo exhibitions, been commissioned by Lendlease, Mirvac and The Star, produced a series of documentaries on contemporary Australian artists, created three online programs and is currently filming a YouTube series “Sailing Day Dream,” focused on life aboard her 35 foot sailing yacht.

Simple living has allowed her to cultivate her creativity. In her twenties, she bought a small acreage to grow organic food to heal her gut health, and later spent many months traveling the country in a van. Recently she and her husband Andrew sold everything, bought a sail boat and now live aboard as they cruise the east coast of Australia.

Nicola shapes her life in accordance with her heart’s desires. She finds fulfilment and income are a by-product of expressing her creativity through paintings, videos, ebooks, workshops, painting retreats and online courses. She began working for herself in 2002 and has since followed her heart to cultivate a creative, unconventional life.

As a painting teacher and retreat host, Nicola guides students to nurture their creativity, tune into their authentic heart’s desires, gently dissolve creative blocks, and use presence to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

Find Nicola at www.nicolanewman.com

Kamsin Kaneko

Japan [Writer, blogger + writing coach]

“In a loud and overwhelming online world the GBM community is a lakeside retreat. You’ll come away from mentor calls feeling grounded, connected and with greater insight into what steps you need to take each day and each month.

BEFORE THE MASTERMIND I was chasing after all the latest shiny objects with no clear goal of where I wanted to go or how to get there.

NOW I have clarity and focus on what I want to create and the steps I need to take to get there. I have also developed gentle self care practices and the self-belief to carry me through thanks to GBM’s kind, gentle support for me as a whole person, not just a business creator.”

the-slow-path.com

Aoife Collins

Ireland [Coach, trainer and researcher]

“Thank you for setting up and running such a wonderfully supportive community of like-minded people who are all trying to do life and business a bit more gently in whatever way that looks like to them.

The learning and inspiration I have got from the mastermind, along with the support and sense of community have been helpful, encouraging and nourishing and have helped to give me more confidence in my own voice and business and my own unique way of doing things.

I look forward to taking part again in 2019, thank you!”

Cameron Airen

USA [Feminist Mindset Coach, Gender Consultant, Writer + Podcaster] 

BEFORE THE GENTLE BUSINESS MASTERMIND I was confused on what actions to take, and didn’t have a community of entrepreneurs I could check in with regularly. I couldn’t afford to hire a business coach for 1:1 sessions.

NOW I’ve built the foundations of my business that will allow me to flourish. I created my first online course and program, four freebies, and I started writing my book. I’ve gained a lot more confidence and more of a following/audience/ideal clients and made new, magnificent connections and friendships.”

cameronairen.com

Ellen Ronalds Keene

Australia [Founder, Selfcare for Teachers + Perk Digital]

It’s really cemented my belief in just listening to what I want to do and what works for me. When I left my teaching career to start an online business I had this plan… and it didn’t go to plan! But I fell into the digital production space which has evolved over the year into something bigger than me – that’s come from learning to trust myself and allow myself to do business the way I want.

And you know what, it’s been really wonderful being in a group where we don’t have to know the answers. We can show up for each other, share what we’re thinking, wrestle with ideas and not have to provide advice or know everything. It’s been so beautiful to see so many others doing business gently – watching and learning from each other.

ellenronaldskeene.com.au

A peak at some of our wonderful guest mentors

LENA WEST

Lena shows women entrepreneurs how to discover their inner CEO and leverage that knowledge to build a business that loves them back.

She is also the creator of the CEO DNA Method, a personalised inventory that supports women entrepreneurs to determine their most effective business model and marketing strategy based on their work style, unique energetic blueprint, strengths and archetypes.

THANIA SIAUW + CHRISTINA LEGGETT

Thania Siauw and Christina Leggett are psychologists and directors at the psychology practice Little Window that offers counselling to adults, adolescents, children and families.

Little Window services encompass a holistic evidence-based approach to wellness, acknowledging the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual parts of the self.

LEESA RENEE HALL

Leesa is an author, facilitator, social historian and creative word artist. After writing half a million words over 365 consecutive days, Leesa helps highly sensitive introverted leaders (HSIL for short) use the art of self-inquiry to question their unconscious biases so they create truly inclusive communities, companies and corporations.

Leesa is on the Advisory Committee for Awarepreneurs, and her tips have been featured in America Express OPEN, Global & Mail and Inc. Magazine, along with television, radio and podcast appearances.

AMANDA CALLAN

Amanda Callan is half of the Church Farm General Store, which is a family business run with her partner Andrew Morris.  

Amanda and Andrew converted an old church in Billinudgel into their home and turned the half-acre block into a small scale organic vegetable farm.

DESIREE ADAWAY

Desiree Adaway is a seasoned nonprofit consultant and facilitator.

All of her presentations have a mix of thought provoking content presented with humor and wit. When she teaches she makes a point to connect with every person, and create a safe space for their growth. She is not afraid of addressing anything that gets in the way of great work.

KERRY ROWETT

Kerry Rowett is a Kinesiologist based in Adelaide, Australia, who is known for helping her worldwide clientele create powerful results and transformations.

She’s the author of Align + Attract – Align Your Energy to Create a Business You Actually Love and teaches a much-loved group program about creating business alignment, also called Align + Attract.

STACI JORDAN SHELTON

Staci Jordan Shelton is a Performance Consultant, Breaker of Chains, Professional Encourager, and Alchemist.

She supports her clients in getting free from everything that is holding them back from freedom, joy, success and having the life they want. ​​

HAYLEY CARR

Hayley Carr is a 9 X Karate World Champion, and Life Coach for Superfreaks: Intuitive, sensitive, high-performing, ambitious powerhouse humans who are on a mission to raise the tide affect the world.

Based on a farm on the East Coast of Australia, Hayley is on a mission to support superfreaks to become powerful, authentic leaders through doing less, and being more. 

LOUISE VISSER & ALICE JONES

Louise Visser and Alice Jones are the owners of Sinerji. Sinerji is an eco-label designed on the Sunshine Coast and made using organic natural fibres, non-toxic dyes and fairtrade partnerships.

They are pioneers and leaders in the sustainable fashion space.

KOMAL MINHAS

Komal Minhas is an Indo-Canadian entrepreneur, content creator and investor.  She was named one of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 and is the co-founder and producer of Dream, Girl, a documentary about female entrepreneurs.

She speaks about recovery and resilience, re-defining what success looks like and legacy.

MICHAEL MAIDENS

Michael empowers people with a unique, systematic approach to create a thriving business to support creating an amazing lifestyle. He’s a digital launch expert and consultant who’s worked with world leaders such as Hay House and Food Matters TV.

BARI TESSLER LINDEN

Bari Tessler Linden MA is a Financial Therapist, Mentor Coach and Mama-preneur.

Bari’s gentle, body-centred approach weaves together personal, couple, and creative entrepreneurial money teachings into one complete tapestry. She is the founder of The Art of Money: a global, year long money school, which integrates Money Healing, Money Practices and Money Maps.

MEGAN DALLA-CAMINA

Megan Dalla-Camina is a strategist, speaker, writer, and researcher on women, leadership and work.

She’s also the author of Getting Real About Having it All and co-author of Lead Like a Woman.

MELISSA BANDERA

Melissa Bandera is a blog + web designer and the owner of Jelly Design Studio. She is on a mission to help bloggers and small businesses perfect their online image by providing affordable, custom design and blog templates through her true passion – web design.