#7 // Jess Colgan, GingerSnap & All Things Equal // Creating a Seat at the Table for People with Disability: Unlocking Limitless Potential

In this episode, I’m joined by Jess Colgan, co-founder of GingerSnap and CEO of All Things Equal - two social enterprises transforming how we think about disability, inclusion and employment in Australia. Jess’ bold idea began with her brother Brett, who is profoundly deaf. Seeing the barriers he faced at school and in the workplace led Jess to build ventures that showcase the talent, capability and creativity of people with disabilities - from a disability-led patisserie to a scalable hospitality employment model. You’ll hear how GingerSnap became a platform for both beautiful products and powerful advocacy, how All Things Equal is creating award-wage pathways across Melbourne’s hospitality scene, and why inclusive workplaces benefit everyone. We also talk about real inclusion, meaningful support, and the five-year vision that unexpectedly landed Jess on stage at the Age Good Food Guide awards. [00:00:00] – Meet Jess Colgan - social enterprise leader, co-founder of Ginger Snap and CEO of All Things Equal [00:02:00] – Growing up with Brett: Profound deafness, cochlear implants and early experiences of exclusion and bias [00:06:00] – When support shifts everything: Deafness awareness training, simple workplace accommodations and why the “problem” is rarely the person with a disability [00:11:00] – The spark for GingerSnap: A vegan, gluten-free, nut-free celebration cake, untapped talent and a gap in truly inclusive patisserie [00:15:00] – Disability-led leadership, limitless potential and centring lived experience in every decision [00:20:00] – The reality of family business: Pride, pressure, multi-generational involvement and why the wins outweigh the hard parts [00:25:00] – How a search for partners led Jess to the CEO role and a perfect intersection of hospitality, disability and social enterprise [00:31:00] – Workforce shortages, 100+ people on a waitlist, and the business case for inclusive hiring and retention [00:37:00] – The three-stage pathway model: Pre-employment training, award-wage roles at the café, and mainstream jobs with partners like W Hotel and major caterers [00:45:00] – Challenging misconceptions: “Lack of motivation,” masking, and why asking “Do you even want to be here?” is the wrong question [00:51:00] – Using NDIS funding as an engine for real jobs, better retention and stronger businesses [00:57:00] – A first step for employers: How to start tomorrow by asking your current team who needs support and how [01:00:00] – Jess’ North Star exercise, why you should write it down Find GingerSnap and All Things Equal on Instagram at @gingersnap_patisserie and @allthingsequal.org.au To get in touch, DM us via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldideas_au/