We’ve Always Known How to Lead: Reclaiming Leadership on Aboriginal Terms

In this episode I sit down with respected Wakka Wakka/Wulli Wulli Elder, author, academic, and leadership expert Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng. Recorded in Naarm at the Indigenous Leadership Summit, this yarn dives deep into the meaning of sacred leadership, emotional intelligence, and the importance of First Nations ways of knowing, being, and doing within modern systems. Aunt shares her journey from growing up in Longreach to working in public service and academia, and how she has applied First Nations knowledge to leadership development through her PhD and mentoring programs. She unpacks the foundational cultural laws of reciprocity, responsibility, and respect — teachings passed down through generations — and how these values shape authentic leadership today. Together, we also discuss supporting the next generation of Blak women, breaking free from limiting belief systems, and empowering young mob to lead in their own right — not by assimilating into dominant systems, but by centring cultural integrity and lived experience. Resources & Links • Aunty Tjanara Goreng Goreng – Personal websitehttps://www.tjanara.com/ • The Leadership Institute – Indigenous Leadership Summit:https://www.theleadershipinstitute.com.au/indigenous-leadership-summit/ • BlackCard – Aboriginal Terms of Reference (via About Us page)https://www.theblackcard.com.au/about-us/ Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities.  Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do. If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, [email protected]  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.