My Story

"Live life by design. Learn with a growth mindset. Lead with purpose."

~ Michelle J Castaneda

I was raised as a ‘third culture’ kid born in Sydney, Australia with a proud Filipino heritage. My parents taught me the value of family, generosity, hard work and resilience. Our family home was always filled with tables of food, laughter and community.

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Together with my wonderful husband, it is our greatest pride and joy to raise our 3 beautiful daughters. Family life is real and raw…there are definitely ups and downs, and even though we (sometimes) still fight about the dishes… we do our best to show grace, embrace our uniqueness (and quirks!) and cheer each other on.

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I recently started my MBA at AGSM and experienced a series of 'aha' moments when I came across an article on “developing career resilience and adaptability”. I think if I read this article back when I was 18 (which I couldn’t have since it was written in 2016!) I would have saved myself a lot of pain and frustration. Like many of you, I have found it a wobbly, non-linear and difficult process to navigate work, parenthood and life over the years…raising young children, career breaks, sickness, loss of confidence, limited networks, inflexible work practices and culture, financial pressure, unconscious bias…and all the other things life can throw your way!

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Still, I value my journey of "blood, sweat and tears"… and all the lessons I have learned along the way. They say your mess is your message...I know my journey has made me who I am – gritty, curious, empathetic & welcoming of change and growth. I am passionate about helping individuals and organisations reach their next level of growth and impact. 

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LIVE YOUR ADVENTURE