Leaders

The courage to speak up with Jane Epstein

Published

4 years ago

August 9, 2021

ticker NEWS

Several years ago, Jane Epstein acknowledged she was depressed and had spent 40 years in a continual state of dissociation. It was time to turn inward and seek answers. In the past, she used behaviours such as food, alcohol, drugs, exercise, anger, sex, and a career in stripping to avoid the pain, anything to prevent being authentically known and detected as her true self.

One day, in a therapist’s office, Epstein shed her layers of shame by owning her story with grace. It was there she found the answers. As she uncovered her past, Jane discovered a more profound truth about me that had always hidden, and unlocked a new relationship with herself. She learned to trust, open up, and found a kind of love and peace she had never imagined.

Epstein had been through multiple traumas at a young age, sibling sexual abuse, a widow at the age of 34. Having worked through these experiences and speaking with hundreds of people who have gone through something similar, she has discovered that when someone is hurting and starts to share their pain, they are not always looking for a solution or wanting to be fixed.

She advocates for survivors as a board member of Incest Aware, moderate a survivor Facebook group, and have a memoir in progress. In addition, she shares her story publicly to give other survivors the courage speak up and share their stories and know they are not alone. Courage is contagious.

She is available for several types of podcasts: to educate parents, stories of hope and resilience, trauma and grief.

* What is sibling sexual abuse and how does sibling sexual abuse happen?
* What types of families does sibling sexual abuse occur in?
* What is normal curiosity versus sexual abuse?
* What are the factors that contribute to adolescent, child with child, and sibling sexual abuse?
* What are the warning signs?
* Where can parents find online classes and books to read to their children?
* Resources for parents if something has already happened.

Epstein hopes to contribute her experiences and insights to bring awareness to sibling sexual abuse and help educate and empower parents on preventing sibling sexual abuse and remove the fear of the unknown.

She is a survivor of sibling sexual abuse, turned advocate, and expert. Her passion, work, and life mission are to bring awareness of the staggering statistics of SSA, a largely ignored segment of sexual abuse, and make body safety conversations between parents and children an everyday conversation.

Visit her website to read the full story.

Leaders

AI platforms boost online visibility for small businesses

AI platforms boost visibility and sales for small businesses, addressing challenges in online transition and customer engagement

Published

1 day ago

July 17, 2025

ticker NEWS

AI platforms boost visibility and sales for small businesses, addressing challenges in online transition and customer engagement

In Short:
– AI platforms help small retailers improve online visibility and sales after challenging years for physical stores.
– Any.market offers tools to easily create online stores and streamline local e-commerce for small businesses.

After challenging years for physical retailers, AI-powered platforms are enabling small businesses to enhance visibility and increase sales online. According to Andrey Korchagin of Any.market, many brick-and-mortar stores face significant obstacles when transitioning to digital. Though local searches constitute nearly half of all Google searches, many businesses lack the websites needed to capitalise on this traffic.

AI Solutions

Any.market utilises AI automation to simplify the online setup process. With just one click, small retailers can transform their Google business profiles into fully functional online stores. This includes pulling images, reviews, and important business information to create a professional catalogue. The ultimate goal is to turn local searches into potential sales effortlessly.

Furthermore, Any.market is introducing a feature that allows sellers to snap product photos, which the AI then converts into informative item cards, streamlining the sales process. By facilitating hyper-local e-commerce, Anymarket aims to equip small businesses with the tools necessary to compete effectively, ultimately reshaping the landscape of local commerce for the better. Business owners can register now on their website to get started with their free AI-generated store.

Leaders

SMEs face “time leakage” challenges managing tools and remote teams

Published

1 week ago

July 8, 2025

ticker NEWS

Cassandra Cadorin discusses SMEs’ challenges with tool overload and the importance of efficient project and team management.

Businesses are increasingly seeking ways to reduce costs without laying off staff, shifting attention to operational efficiency and the impact of excessive tools.

Cassandra Cadorin, director of CanTicket, and with nearly 20 years in media and marketing, has faced significant challenges in managing remote work.

Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are under pressure due to factors like rising interest rates, post-COVID dynamics, and the complexities of hybrid work arrangements. Cadorin highlights that managing clients, projects, and teams are key concerns rather than productivity alone.

Many businesses adopt numerous tools without realising it can lead to profit loss. The term “time leakage” describes the inefficiencies caused by switching between tools and the efforts to integrate various systems.

Cadorin advises small business owners to review their software expenses and seek team input about tool usage, emphasising the importance of tracking time to ensure project profitability.

The real cost of using too many tools:

Leaders

Promoting a culture of psychological safety at work

Published

1 week ago

July 8, 2025

Nathan Langridge

Workplace silence stifles innovation; fostering a speak-up culture enhances safety, engagement, and productivity.

Karen Maher, founder of Smart Culture, highlighted the importance of fostering a speak-up culture.

She explained that creating a safe environment for employees to express concerns—whether related to behaviour, ideas, or safety—is essential for organisational health.

Good relationships between employees and managers can significantly influence this dynamic.

When employees feel safe to speak up, they are more engaged, creative, and willing to contribute to the workplace, resulting in greater productivity and a more positive environment.

Conversely, failing to allow open communication can lead to serious risks, such as to safety or workplace morale, and can result in financial and reputational damage to a business.

With the shift to remote work, maintaining communication and connection has become more challenging, complicating the employee-manager relationship.

For more information about Smart Culture and its offerings, interested parties can visit smartculture.com.au