Essays and notes on work, activism, creativity and life in Melbourne.https://daizymaan.com/https://daizymaan.com/blog/author-talks-growing-up-indian-in-australia/https://daizymaan.com/blog/author-talks-growing-up-indian-in-australia/I'm thrilled to doing a number of free author talks at libraries across Melbourne, for some of these I'll be joined by other Melbourne based contributors to the anthology Growing Up Indian in Australia.Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/december-2023-sabbatical-update/https://daizymaan.com/blog/december-2023-sabbatical-update/My goals, progress and reflections of month one.Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/fitness-routine-and-mental-health/https://daizymaan.com/blog/fitness-routine-and-mental-health/Ditching appearance goals, focusing on mental health, Pre-booking reformer pilates classes and momentum. No more strict diets; just one goal—regular classes.Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/why-are-we-south-asians-disgusted-by-second-hand-clothes/https://daizymaan.com/blog/why-are-we-south-asians-disgusted-by-second-hand-clothes/More importantly, why aren’t we disgusted by fast fashion? In our Indian community, there's nothing that screams "you're desperate" louder than buying second-hand clothes.Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/letter-to-international-republican-institute-ft-freedom-award-video-of/https://daizymaan.com/blog/letter-to-international-republican-institute-ft-freedom-award-video-of/Uploaded from full video available at https://www.c-span.org/video/?194399-1/2006-freedom-awardFri, 24 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/5-significant-moments-in-under-3-minutes-elephant-christmas-camping-st/https://daizymaan.com/blog/5-significant-moments-in-under-3-minutes-elephant-christmas-camping-st/Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/0Om2Foiya0AlVF46BoY9mX?si=44c25aa765064143 or Anchor below. Prompted by the Wheeler Centre's latest SignaSun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/the-not-so-good-of-leadership-in-australia/https://daizymaan.com/blog/the-not-so-good-of-leadership-in-australia/…having been the youngest female on a publicly traded company’s board and working in a university without a PhD / not being seen as “senior enough”- I haveFri, 23 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/activists-and-social-justice-leaders-this-book-is-for-you-valarie-kaur/https://daizymaan.com/blog/activists-and-social-justice-leaders-this-book-is-for-you-valarie-kaur/If you're an activist fuelled with rage at the state of the world or a social justice leader - this book is for youhttps://tidd.ly/3z4Uktm. This book tookSun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/leila-janahs-give-work-a-must-read-for-social-entrepreneurs/https://daizymaan.com/blog/leila-janahs-give-work-a-must-read-for-social-entrepreneurs/I often think about the spaces between capitalism and humanity. One founded on individualism, ego and progress. The other on love, sacrifice and faith. TheSun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/sbs-world-news/https://daizymaan.com/blog/sbs-world-news/Back in October 2020 we set up the South Asian Women's Wellness Space pyarfully called Soul House in Melbourne which aired on SBS World News.Thu, 10 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/svetha-venkatesh-artificial-intelligence/https://daizymaan.com/blog/svetha-venkatesh-artificial-intelligence/You can also listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/29YWOI6Leu2J52wb2K8qk9?si=5a906044aa2e497d, Google Podcasts.Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/love-letter/https://daizymaan.com/blog/love-letter/an overdue love letter to my Soul House in the Himalayas. i was only 19 a staunch little Richard Dawkins loving atheist secretly leaving home with nothingWed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/tax-tips-for-instagram-influencers-bloggers-youtube-content-creators/https://daizymaan.com/blog/tax-tips-for-instagram-influencers-bloggers-youtube-content-creators/Are you an Instagram influence or Youtuber? Did you know 86% of young Australians just like you want to be influencers? In 2018 - 46% of you between 18-24Tue, 17 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/panjabi-and-indian-soldiers-in-ww1-remembrance-day/https://daizymaan.com/blog/panjabi-and-indian-soldiers-in-ww1-remembrance-day/Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and I want to pay tribute to our Sikh & Panjabi great grandfathers who served time for the British empire that colonised them.Tue, 10 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/being-grateful-and-demanding-respect/https://daizymaan.com/blog/being-grateful-and-demanding-respect/Original post on Brown Girls Rising Facebook Group: Last year a director at a publicly listed company I was serving on the board of yelled at me. I had nevWed, 04 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/how-to-direct-message-your-way-into-a-job/https://daizymaan.com/blog/how-to-direct-message-your-way-into-a-job/800+ people have told me they are looking for work. Less than 5 have applied for project-based digital jobs I’ve informally advertised here on Linkedin oveSat, 31 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/the-two-types-of-workplaces-you-can-get-a-job/https://daizymaan.com/blog/the-two-types-of-workplaces-you-can-get-a-job/There are two types of places you can work. The first you get \ a clear structure \ very clear roles and responsibilities \ told exactly what you need to dSat, 31 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/a-love-letter-to-my-soul-house/https://daizymaan.com/blog/a-love-letter-to-my-soul-house/an overdue love letter to my Soul House in the Himalayas. i was only 19 a staunch little Richard Dawkins loving atheist secretly leaving home with nothingFri, 16 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/revolutionarylove/https://daizymaan.com/blog/revolutionarylove/Taking a strategic approach to activism and advocacy through revolutionary love. Recently, after The Australian newspaper published a cartoon dismissing KaFri, 04 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/lets-talk-about-aussie-media/https://daizymaan.com/blog/lets-talk-about-aussie-media/Let’s talk about Aussie media... and our token multiculturalism and diversity. From 19 000 segments on Australian TV, only 6 % had non-European presenters.Tue, 25 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/we-have-slavery-in-australia-today/https://daizymaan.com/blog/we-have-slavery-in-australia-today/How widespread is it? I don't know yet. It's a matter of power imbalance. I have now heard too many stories of international students mostly Indian whose pTue, 25 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/should-i-show-up-online/https://daizymaan.com/blog/should-i-show-up-online/Two points to consider when it comes to showing up online. People are more likely to trust "someone like themselves" than they are the CEO, a successful enFri, 21 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/little-brown-girl/https://daizymaan.com/blog/little-brown-girl/Dear Editor, I write to you as a young Indian Australian woman who is exhausted with how the Australian media portrays us, in the rare case that it does evSun, 16 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/waking-up-at-5am/https://daizymaan.com/blog/waking-up-at-5am/Someone sharing about their experience can help normalize yours. For years I’ve felt bad about not being part of the 5.00 am club that so many motivationalSun, 09 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/netflixindianmatchmaking/https://daizymaan.com/blog/netflixindianmatchmaking/7/08/2020 Dear Brandon and Cindy, I understand you commissioned the show Indian Matchmaking, well done on bringing something so relevant to the diaspora onFri, 07 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/un-youth-victoria-linkedin-zoom-call/https://daizymaan.com/blog/un-youth-victoria-linkedin-zoom-call/Recording of conversation with Eliza on 28/07/2020 re Linkedin Handover and Strategy tips \ Only for UN Youth Vic Committee Members/Directors. \ The videoTue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/rentingoutmycar/https://daizymaan.com/blog/rentingoutmycar/It’s now 6 years since Jagraj who I pyarfully call Jagga and I have been together, the longest relationship I’ve had ❤️ He’s convenient, open-minded and heMon, 27 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/svethavenkatesh-2/https://daizymaan.com/blog/svethavenkatesh-2/Today I sent this email to someone I really admire Professor Svetha Venkatesh who I think should be an idol of many young Indian Australian girls. "Dear SvMon, 27 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/tired-of-not-starting/https://daizymaan.com/blog/tired-of-not-starting/https://youtu.be/CemNtZABSIo Are you procrastinating something you really want to do? Start that podcast? Learn a language? Launch that startup? Or start aSat, 25 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/building-relationships-online/https://daizymaan.com/blog/building-relationships-online/If you're yet to meaningfully connect with someone new online not including Tinder or Hinge this is for you. This video is for students and beginners who fMon, 20 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/f0-9f-93-95-why-i-stopped-writing-my-book/https://daizymaan.com/blog/f0-9f-93-95-why-i-stopped-writing-my-book/📕 When I was 22 I started writing a book, the first 10 000 words were a breeze. The rest felt like torture. I was crippled with self-doubt and the weightMon, 20 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/linkedinrequests/https://daizymaan.com/blog/linkedinrequests/What do you do with LinkedIn requests from people you haven't met or don't know? How do you handle them? Here's what I do and a template you can use to makSat, 11 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/chandigarh-poet-amy-singh/https://daizymaan.com/blog/chandigarh-poet-amy-singh/Having been featured in prominent Indian media outlets – The Indian Express, India Today and Tribune India Amy Singh courageously leads campaigns for a morFri, 17 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/shanidhanda-asianwomanfestival/https://daizymaan.com/blog/shanidhanda-asianwomanfestival/Today's episode is a conversation with the Shani Dhanda who founded the Asian Woman Festivalhttps://www.asianwomanfestival.com/ a first-of-its-kind festivaSat, 02 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/3-running-away-to-the-himalayas-at-19-spirituality-meditation-and-purp/https://daizymaan.com/blog/3-running-away-to-the-himalayas-at-19-spirituality-meditation-and-purp/Ever hit rock bottom and feel like there's no way out? In this episode I share my story of finding myself in a place where I felt suffocated by the negativThu, 24 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/6-ted-talks-worth-watching/https://daizymaan.com/blog/6-ted-talks-worth-watching/TED talks are a great source of inspiration, a platform to hear ideas from across the globe. Though there’s so many it’s difficult to know where to start.Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/a-new-powerful-campaign-on-diabetes-you-must-see-mithaas/https://daizymaan.com/blog/a-new-powerful-campaign-on-diabetes-you-must-see-mithaas/It is well known that within Australia, the risk of having diabetes which leads to a greater risk of heart disease is considerably higher among people bornFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/are-you-being-mislead-soy-chai-latte-please/https://daizymaan.com/blog/are-you-being-mislead-soy-chai-latte-please/On my walk to work from the train station I thought I’d try out a newly opened cafe on Collins Street in Melbourne. The branding was on point, the interiorFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/building-new-habits/https://daizymaan.com/blog/building-new-habits/Late in 2016 I set an audacious goal, I said I was going to write a book to be published in 2017 and confidently announced it to the world via my FacebookFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/dresden-optics-is-trash-buy-a-pair-today/https://daizymaan.com/blog/dresden-optics-is-trash-buy-a-pair-today/How can prescription glasses possibly be $49 AND come with a lifetime warranty? Hello startups. Heard of Dresden Optics? German inspired, made with love inFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/how-to-be-confidence/https://daizymaan.com/blog/how-to-be-confidence/How To Be Confident. Know what you stand for Know what your values are Know what you care about Know yourself Own your decisions Own your actions Own yourFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/melbourne-startup-venture-crawl/https://daizymaan.com/blog/melbourne-startup-venture-crawl/We took university students on a tour of Melbourne’s booming startup ecosystem visiting Envato, Blackbird Ventures and Google for Startups. !/images/2019/1Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/my-role-models/https://daizymaan.com/blog/my-role-models/There’s people I admire deeply, whose work, life and stories inspire me. As I connect the dots I realise how much influence my role models yield — the wayFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/what-to-do-when-you-dont-make-it/https://daizymaan.com/blog/what-to-do-when-you-dont-make-it/Whether it’s a startup accelerator, scholarship, degree, competition or a job — chances are if you’re successful at some of these you’ll be knocked back moFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/when-do-we-become-evil/https://daizymaan.com/blog/when-do-we-become-evil/There’s this clip on YouTube from 1994 that shows Tobacco Company CEO’s testify before Congress on whether nicotine is addictive. All the evidence presentiFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/when-innovation-makes-society-worse-off/https://daizymaan.com/blog/when-innovation-makes-society-worse-off/Afterpay, fintech and startups Innovation and entrepreneurship make society better — they force people to make services and products that are better for peFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/why-working-at-a-startup-will-do-wonders-for-your-career-and-character/https://daizymaan.com/blog/why-working-at-a-startup-will-do-wonders-for-your-career-and-character/Most universtiy students haven’t considered working at a scaleup or startup, they usually haven’t even heard of companies considered to be innovative and lFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/yes-people-still-care-about-caste-in-australia/https://daizymaan.com/blog/yes-people-still-care-about-caste-in-australia/They’re well educated too. I spent the the weekend watching Daughters of Destiny on Netflix, a 4 part documenary that vividly captures the stories of girlsFri, 18 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/what-do-you-want-to-do/https://daizymaan.com/blog/what-do-you-want-to-do/I get asked frequently what do you want to do? This question makes me a little uncomfortable. The easy yet somewhat self deprecating answer is I don’t knowFri, 30 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/courage-to-be-vulnerable/https://daizymaan.com/blog/courage-to-be-vulnerable/It pains me to see this. But so often I see talent restrained by a lack of confidence or courage.Mon, 27 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/the-one-constant-thing/https://daizymaan.com/blog/the-one-constant-thing/Plants grow. People mature. Places look different. We change. It’s guaranteed that the one thing constant in life is change. So why do we avoid it?Mon, 27 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/theres-a-solution-for-all-of-your-problems/https://daizymaan.com/blog/theres-a-solution-for-all-of-your-problems/When you’re sick you go to a doctor.Mon, 27 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://daizymaan.com/blog/who-cares-what-you-said/https://daizymaan.com/blog/who-cares-what-you-said/Sure, you can say whatever you please. But people will always remember how you made them feel. Sometimes we get so caught up in being right. That we forgetMon, 27 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT