#29 - Michel Kelleher: Building Integrity, Family, and Peace Through Business

Michel Kelleher has built a life and business around peace, values, and practical care. In this conversation, she shares how she left a high-stress chapter, built a business in Bali, and learned to navigate grief, menopause, remote work, and change with more clarity and self-trust.We talk about building family through business, creating simple systems that empower people, communicating across cultures, and making a life that feels aligned with what matters. It is a grounded conversation about maturity, compassion, structure, and surrender.This episode explores:• leaving a high-stress life and starting again in Bali• running a business remotely across Australia and Indonesia• using peace as a guide after grief and survival mode• communicating respectfully across cultures and languages• building a values-led team across different faiths and backgrounds• creating a workplace that feels like family• using simple systems to keep progress happening• creating the life you want, and learning to surrender along the wayGuest bio:Michel Kelleher is an Australian business owner who built a business in Bali after leaving a high-stress job and looking for a more peaceful way to live and work. She now runs that business remotely, employs 15 people, and has spent years building simple systems, strong relationships, and a values-led culture across Australia and Indonesia.She is also a mother, grandmother, traveller, and thoughtful leader. In this conversation, Michel brings a grounded perspective on communication, resilience, family, and creating a life that feels aligned.Guest links:Michel Kelleher: https://www.facebook.com/michel.kelleher1Chapters:01:08 Emotional wisdom and the search for peace02:20 Leaving a high-stress life and building a business in Bali04:29 Grief, remote work, and finding the silver lining09:02 Cross-cultural communication and using the right words11:48 Building a values-led business and family through work20:20 Simple systems, remote management, and empowering others40:16 Grandchildren, joy, manifesting, and surrenderExplore further:Discover your Natural Genius one-on-one with Sam: https://naturalgenius.com.auLearn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.auSubscribe to hear future episodesAbout Natural Genius:Natural Genius is a podcast hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell, exploring the people, choices, and ways of working that make life and business more clear, useful, and alive.It is also a Lab for founders, operators, and thoughtful humans who want to hear the signal, make strong next moves, and build what matters with more clarity.Credits:Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Kiama, 5 March, 2026.Produced at the Violet Town offices, 5 March - 1 April, 2026.