Bite BIG - Boss Women Leading Big

What does it take to give a brand its voice? Not a tagline. Not a campaign. A genuine, distinctive, ownable way of being in the world through words. In this episode of Bite Big, recorded live in London as part of our UK creative leadership series, Amber Bonney sits down with Vikki Ross, the woman described by Creativebrief as "the UK’s leading tone of voice and copywriting expert." Vikki has spent almost 30 years shaping how some of the world’s most iconic brands talk. Sky. BAFTA. ITV. IMAX. And most recently, Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar, four distinct British luxury vehicle brands, voiced simultaneously, from scratch. But what makes Vikki’s story worth leaning into isn’t just the portfolio. It’s the philosophy. Her mantra, trust the process, or more accurately as she reframes it in this episode, trust the journey, isn’t a slogan. It’s how she has navigated an entire career built on happy accidents, open doors and the discipline to wait and see. No grand plan. No career ladder. Just curiosity, craft and an absolute refusal to let brands sound like everyone else. In this conversation, Amber and Vikki get into the real mechanics of brand voice: what it takes to find it, how to protect it, and why AI can execute copy but can’t replicate the soul of a brand. They talk about the Jaguar rebrand pile-on (Vikki was in the room; she has thoughts), the growing sea of sameness that AI is accelerating, and why she rewrote her entire approach to brand guidelines so that non-copywriters could actually use them. Vikki also gets honest about the nervousness behind her public confidence, the side hustles that didn’t pan out, and why the best advice she’d give her 16 year old self is the same thing she tells her clients: just wait. It’ll all happen.This is a conversation about words. But it’s also about conviction, patience and the underestimated power of sounding like yourself. Follow *The Edison Agency* and *Amber Bonney* for more electric conversations with boss women leading big brands. Links: Vikki's LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/vikkiross Vikki's X Account: @VikkiRossWrites Vikki's podcast: A word with... https://open.spotify.com/show/01cSW2BAMhVFptse468Xp1?si=cf231118d07a4a26 Refuge Web: https://refuge.org.uk/ Bite Big Instagram - @bitebig.podcast Amber's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberbonney Amber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbonney The Edison Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edison-agency The Edison Agency Instagram: @edison.agency Credits: Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 5, Amber sits down with Amy Kean, social psychologist, bestselling author, CEO and Creative Director of Good Shout, and one of the most credentialed and unconventional minds working in creativity and brand. Amy spent 17 years inside global advertising networks, from Mindshare APAC to Havas Media Labs to Starcom's global creative and innovation team and she left with both the receipts and a responsibility to do something about it. Amy's personal mantra is Eleanor Roosevelt's famous line: 'Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.' And this conversation goes deep on what it actually costs to live by those words, from being told by a recruitment consultant that her Essex accent was 'too common to be around important people', to losing her confidence at the top of her career in Singapore, to writing a bestselling picture book for adults called The Little Girl Who Gave Zero F*cks as an act of reclaiming her own voice. They talk about the sociology of voice, why women in their 30s, 40s and 50s get quieter, not louder, and why that silence is never irrational. About the advertising industry's shamelessness, brilliant with words, catastrophic with action, and why Amy doesn't believe it will ever have its Me Too moment. About the perils of likeability, likability labor, and why older women, bless perimenopause, are statistically the group that cares least about being liked. And about Good Shout for Girls, Amy's charitable initiative to give teenage girls public speaking skills before society gets the chance to take their voices away. Because Amy wrote The Little Girl Who Gave Zero F*cks for women who'd already lost their voice. The charity exists so the next generation never needs the book. This one is sharp, honest, funny and genuinely electric. Two women who give zero fucks about what anyone thinks of a conversation that needs to happen. Follow *The Edison Agency* and *Amber Bonney* for more electric conversations with boss women leading big brands. Links: Amy's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amycharlottekean Guest Instagram: @amyckean Good Shout Web: goodshoutcommunity.com Good Shout for Girls Web: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/amy-kean The Book: The Little Girl Who Gave Zero F*cks — available via goodshoutcommunity.com Bite Big Instagram - @bitebig.podcast Amber's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberbonney Amber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbonney The Edison Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edison-agency The Edison Agency Instagram: @edison.agency Credits: Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 4, Amber sits down with Rania Robinson, CEO and Partner of Quiet Storm, the independent, B Corp certified, employee-owned London creative agency that has been starting storms since 1995. Rania’s personal mantra is “Filercely Independent,” and in this conversation, she proves it isn’t a slogan. It’s the architecture of everything she’s built. Rania came to the UK from Egypt at three years old, started school without a word of English, and left at 16 with no conventional qualifications. What followed was anything but conventional. She moved through music publishing, video distribution, shopper marketing, and culture-driven experiential work before walking into Quiet Storm to help on a pitch one day and never leaving. Reluctant CEO. Best move she ever made. In this episode, Amber & Rania get into what independence really costs and what it gives back. Rania is candid about the trade-offs: saying no to private equity, no to Interpublic Group, and yes to converting Quiet Storm to an Employee Ownership Trust, a decision that put every employee in as a stakeholder and left not one regret in its wake. They also go deep on the state of brand creativity in 2026, why consensus culture is killing the best ideas, why brands keep abandoning the fundamentals that actually work, and why original work will always make some people uncomfortable. That’s not a problem. That’s the point. On female leadership, Rania brings a rare honesty: the cost of advocacy work when you’re also running a business, the subliminal message that absence sends to women coming up behind you, and her practical, no-nonsense advice to any woman who’s feeling like she doesn’t belong in the room: look for the evidence. It’s already there. Follow *The Edison Agency* and *Amber Bonney* for more electric conversations with boss women leading big brands. Links: Rania LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rania-robinson-01b68511 Quiet Storm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quiet-storm Quiet Storm Instagram: @quietstormagency Create Not Hate: https://www.createnothate.org Bite Big Instagram - @bitebig.podcast Amber's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberbonney Amber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbonney The Edison Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edison-agency The Edison Agency Instagram: @edison.agency Credits: Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

There are very few people who can claim to have started a revolution. Lesley Gracie is one of them. In Episode 3 of Season 4 of BITE BIG, Amber Bonney travels to Girvan on the southwest coast of Scotland, and into one of the most extraordinary creative spaces in the world, The Gin Palace, to sit down with Lesley Gracie, Master Distiller and the pioneering creator of Hendrick's Gin. Lesley's story is one of the most unlikely in business. A Hull chemist who started her career making medicine taste less awful. A woman who moved to Scotland in 1988 to marry her husband (always called 'the current husband') and walked into a job that, twenty-something years later, would change the way the world drinks gin. Inspired by her dad's lifelong advice, 'if you want it, go for it', Lesley has spent 38 years at William Grant & Sons building something that simply didn't exist before she made it. In this episode, Lesley and Amber get into the real story behind Hendrick's, the vague brief ('make something totally different'), the months of failed botanical combinations, and the day the marketing team revealed a short, black, dumpy bottle that looked nothing like anything else on the back bar in 1999. Lesley's response? 'What?' They go deep on what it actually means to hold a brand's core identity steady while letting innovation run wild at the edges, and why Lesley believes the consistency of Hendrick's is one of its most powerful assets. The recipe hasn't changed. The bottle hasn't changed. And yet every limited edition tells a completely new story, built from her botanical obsessions, from greenhouse experiments, from a cacao flower garnish on a cocktail in Mexico that sent her down a months-long rabbit hole. Lesley Gracie has received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Hull. She's been inducted into the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame. She's one of only four people in the world who knows the full Hendrick's recipe. Strip away the titles and the accolades — what Lesley Gracie most wants to be known for is this: she enjoys what she does. And it shows. Follow The Edison Agency and Amber Bonney for more electric conversations with boss women building big brands. Links: Lesley Gracie LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lesley-gracie-62a64423/ Hendricks Web: hendricksgin.com/ Hendricks Instagram: @hendricksgin William Grant & Sons Web: https://www.williamgrant.com/ William Grant & Sons UK instagram: @williamgrantuk Guide Dogs UK: www.guidedogs.org.uk/ Bite Big Instagram - @bitebig.podcast Amber's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberbonney Amber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbonney The Edison Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edison-agency The Edison Agency Instagram: @edison.agency Credits: Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

What does it look like when a working-class girl from the UK with no money, no models and no road map builds a global discipline from scratch? You get Dr Rachel Lawes. In Episode 2 of Season 4 of BITE BIG, recorded on location in London, Amber sits down with Dr Rachel Lawes, social psychologist, futurist, author of two landmark books on semiotics, and founder of Lawes Consulting, to get under the skin of the woman who turned an academic discipline most people can't pronounce into a commercial superpower used by Unilever, P&G, LEGO, Diageo, Warner Bros. Discovery and more. Rachel's personal mantra, Read, Create, Give Thanks, sounds deceptively simple. But as this conversation reveals, it's a survival strategy, a creative practice and a daily act of courage, all in three words. From the semiotic field trips she took clients on through Christmas fairs and airports, to teaching a large language model to read visual emotion the way she does, Rachel brings a rare combination: intellectual rigour, commercial instinct and a refusal to let either get boring. This episode covers the power of courage in branding, the dangerous brilliance of 'shittification', why consistency edges out uniqueness, and the real cost of brands that chase change without conviction. Rachel is also bracingly honest about what it's like to be a woman in a field that defaults to male expertise, and her strategy for building loyalty, lifting others and designing a career on your own terms. And then there's Elizabeth. Rachel's sister. Breast cancer survivor. Sahara trekker. The very human heart behind the Give Thanks in her mantra. This is one of those episodes that makes you want to go on a semiotic field trip, rethink every brand you've ever touched, and call your sister. Follow *The Edison Agency* and *Amber Bonney* for more electric conversations with boss women leading big brands Links Dr Rachel Lawes LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachellawes/ Lawes consulting Web: lawes-consulting.co.uk CoppaFeel Web: coppafeel.org Bite Big Instagram - @bitebig.podcast Amber's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberbonney Amber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbonney The Edison Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edison-agency The Edison Agency Instagram: @edison.agency Credits: Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 1 of Season 4 of BITE BIG, recorded live in London, Amber Bonney sits down with Vanessa Sanyauke — Founder and CEO of Girls Talk Global, a community marketing agency that has connected over 60,000 women across 37 countries to brands who want to reach them in ways that actually matter. Vanessa's personal mantra is "Failure is not an option." And yet her first social enterprise ran for five years and failed. What she did next is what makes this conversation genuinely worth your time. She didn't reframe the failure, she used it. Got a Masters. Built smarter. Launched Girls Talk from scratch, doing free events in city venues, asking people to speak for nothing, growing a community purely on the value of connection, before a product, before a revenue model, before a pitch deck. Two years in, the women in that community were turning to Vanessa and asking, "Can you work with my company?" That movement became Girls Talk Global. Brands like Apple, Meta, Visa, Zalando and Beats by Dre have since activated with her platform delivering up to 9x ROI on event activations. Because when you build trust first, commerce follows. In this episode, Vanessa and Amber unpack the messy reality of entrepreneurship, the feast-or-famine cashflow, the toxicity she experienced inside UK Parliament, the colleague at a global bank who told her she saw her as competition (in the DEI team, of all places), and why Vanessa thinks the companies rolling back DEI commitments have already lost, they just don't know it yet. This is a conversation about power, community, conviction and what it means to keep going when failure feels like the only option on the table. Follow *The Edison Agency* and *Amber Bonney* for more electric conversations with boss women leading big brands. Links: Vanessa's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vanessa-chiedza-sanyauke-9b41171a/ Vanessa's Instagram: @vanessasanyauke Girls Talk Global: girlstalklondon.com The Vanessa Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vanessa-podcast/id1810074161 Refuge: refuge.org.uk/ Bite Big Instagram - @bitebig.podcast Amber's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberbonney Amber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberbonney The Edison Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-edison-agency The Edison Agency Instagram: @edison.agency Credits: Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

If there's one woman who has built an entire career on not giving a damn what anyone thinks, it's Cindy Gallop. In this episode of BITE BIG, Amber Bonney goes head-to-head with one of the most fearless, sharp-tongued and unapologetically disruptive forces in global advertising and tech. Cindy Gallop studied literature, built a powerhouse advertising agency in New York, worked on iconic brands including Ray-Ban and Coca-Cola, and then walked away from all of it to build something the industry had never seen before: MakeLoveNotPorn, a platform designed to end rape culture by role-modelling what real, consensual, communicative sex actually looks like. Seventeen years in, Cindy is still fighting against algorithmic suppression, investor conservatism, and a financial infrastructure that punishes "adult content" regardless of its mission. She's now also launching MakeLoveNotPorn.academy: a global aggregator for sex education content that is being blocked, censored and de-platformed everywhere else. She calls it, deliberately, the Google of sex ed. This is not a polished corporate story. This is a woman who will tell you that women are over-mentored and underfunded, that the only way to live your life is to not give a damn, and that "the market of human happiness" is the biggest market of them all and that investors should be funding the fuck out of it. Cindy also gets into: how the UK campaign "Yes, Sex Please, We're British" is pioneering a national conversation about sex education; why female solidarity on social media is one of the best things to come out of the internet; and what she'd tell any woman who feels invisible at 40. Buckle up. This one bites big. Want More? Listen to the full episode of *BITE BIG* with Cindy Gallop on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow *The Edison Agency* and *Amber Bonney* for more electric conversations with boss women leading big brands. GUEST LINKS Cindy Gallop — LinkedIn Cindy Gallop — Twitter/X @cindygallop ORGANISATIONS MakeLoveNotPorn — Website MakeLoveNotPorn.academy — Website (early beta) Yes, Sex Please, We're British — Campaign Dear Cindy — Substack AMBER & EDISON Amber Bonney — Instagram Amber Bonney — LinkedIn The Edison Agency — LinkedIn The Edison Agency — Instagram CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 18 of BITE BIG, I sat down with Astrud Burgess, Group Chief Marketing Officer at ANZ, to unpack the mindset, mantra and marketing savvy behind her powerhouse leadership. Astrud’s journey from the retail floor to the C-suite is anything but typical. Starting as a graduate at ANZ, her path has spanned continents, industries, and disciplines, from media and telco in London to transforming customer experience, brand, and data strategy back home. Now, as Group CMO, Astrud is proving that creative instinct and commercial impact are not mutually exclusive. Her mantra? “Optimise for joy.” A deceptively simple philosophy that drives how she leads, how she works, and how she stays sane in a high-pressure world. 👑 Boss Takeaways from Episode 18 with Astrud: “Optimise for joy.” It’s not about chasing happiness, it’s about choosing the work that energises you, builds momentum, and lets you play to your strengths. Embrace job kleptomania, mindfully. Astrud owns her love of saying yes to big opportunities, but with one caveat: it has to serve joy, not just busyness. Creative empathy is a leadership superpower. Whether leading data teams or developing brand platforms, Astrud blends logic with intuition and consistently backs her team with trust. Longevity in agency partnerships pays off. Her 12-year relationship with ANZ’s creative agency proves that trust, listening, and curiosity lead to bold, effective work. Brand is your trust engine. Especially in industries under public scrutiny, brand isn’t fluff, it’s foundational. And when done well, it lifts every other comms piece in market. Intuition = a personal data set. For a leader driven by evidence, Astrud still champions the value of gut instinct, because decades of experience is data, too. Help women take up space. From mentoring young marketers to advocating for financial literacy, Astrud is helping more women step up, take risks, and thrive. 🔗 Follow BITE BIG for more unfiltered stories from women who lead big—one mantra at a time. Links: Astrud LinkedIn ANZ Website ANZ Instagram Orange Sky NZ Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – Alyssa Payad, Intern, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 17 of BITE BIG, we go behind the scenes of one of Australia's most successful luxury skincare brands, Rationale, with its trailblazing CEO, Shamini Rajarethnam. From navigating global expansion and regional relocation, to staying ruthlessly focused in a fragmented market, Shamini shares the story of building an enduring brand without compromising on values. With a mantra passed down from her father, "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care", Shamini's leadership style is deeply human, deeply strategic, and unapologetically clear on what matters most: purpose, people, and integrity. 👑 Boss Takeaways from Episode 17 with Sharm Leadership is caring: Sharm’s leadership mantra reminds us that empathy and connection are the real currencies of influence.I Curiosity builds capability - From digital marketer to CEO, Sharm’s rise was fuelled by intellectual curiosity, humility, and the courage to ask questions, no ego required.“ Integrity is your strategy- Saying no to distractions and staying laser-focused on your North Star isn’t just brand discipline it’s brand leadership. Culture starts at the top You can’t delegate culture. Sharm leads her team with the same care and intention she brings to her customers. Bite big, but know when to stop- From global expansion to building a regional HQ, Sharm proves that knowing when to pivot or quit is as brave as pushing forward. DE&I drives insight - Diversity isn’t a checkbox—it’s a competitive edge. From packaging to policy, inclusive voices lead to better decisions and better design. 🔗 Follow BITE BIG for more unfiltered stories from women who lead big—one mantra at a time. Links: Shamini's LinkedIn Shamini's Instagram Rationale Skincare Rationale Instagram Rationale Facebook Primed to Perform by Neel Doshi The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins Fight Parkinson’s Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – Alyssa Payad, Intern, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

Episode 16 of BITE BIG features the brilliant Professor Jenni Romaniuk, Associate Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute and leading voice in marketing effectiveness, brand salience and distinctive brand assets. Jenni’s mantra, “Progress is more important than perfection”is the lens through which she approaches her life’s work: from developing world-first theories in mental availability to helping brands avoid the costly trap of vanity metrics. Her insights are as grounded as they are game-changing. 👑 Boss Takeaways from Episode 16 with Jenni Progress is more important than perfection – Jenni reminds us that great ideas come from testing many imperfect ones. Don’t wait for perfect, start moving and make it better as you go. Evidence VS Ego – Good marketers don’t just have opinions; they evolve with the evidence. The best ideas hold up under scrutiny. Distinctive beats different – You don’t need to be wildly different to win. You need to be unmistakably you. Distinctive assets are your brand’s true superpower. Don’t chase the loudest voices – Social media can distort reality. Make decisions based on balanced data, not Twitter tantrums. Big brands aren’t invincible – Size brings opportunity, but also complexity. Without visual consistency and evidence-led direction, scale can become a liability. Know what you know – Confidence comes from expertise. Jenni’s advice to women: anchor your voice in what you know best and let your impact grow from there. 🔗 Follow BITE BIG for more stories from women who lead big one mantra at a time. Links: Jenni Romaniuk LinkedIn Jenni Romaniuk Books Ehrenberg-Bass Institute web Ehrenberg-Bass Institute Instagram Academy Of Social Sciences Australia Catherine House Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – Alyssa Payad, Intern, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 15 of BITE BIG, Amber is joined by Donna de Zwart, CEO of Fitted for Work, a social enterprise that’s helped over 46,000 women reclaim their independence through employment. With a career spanning education, consulting and social enterprise, Donna’s mantra is clear and quietly radical: “Look for the beauty.” Born from personal hardship, it’s a daily practice that shapes everything from the way her team answers the phone to how they prepare clients for job interviews. 👑 Boss Takeaways from Episode 15 with Donna “Look for the beauty” – Donna’s mantra reminds us that even in moments of darkness, beauty can be found in people, in purpose, and in the quiet dignity of starting again. Work is power – It’s not just about a job. Employment is a key to choice, safety and autonomy, especially for women recovering from family violence. Reinvention is resilience – From wardrobes to worldviews, Donna shares how beauty and creativity are deeply connected to personal reinvention and healing. The ripple effect is real – Helping one woman into work can shift the trajectory for entire families, communities and future generations. Systemic change starts with action – From launching programs for girls as young as 14 to partnering with corporate giants like Coles and Accenture, Donna proves that small acts can spark big shifts. No safety net? Build one – Donna’s decade of leadership at Fitted for Work hasn’t been easy. But with tenacity, vision and a board that believes, she’s shown that passion, not privilege, builds progress. 🔗 Follow BITE BIG for more unfiltered stories from women who lead big one mantra at a time. Links: Donna De Zwart LinkedIn Donna De Zwart Instagram Fitted For Work Web Fitted For Work Instagram Fitted For Work Facebook Page Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – Alyssa Payad, Intern, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 14, we crank the volume way up. Amber is joined by speaker, author, and rebel leader Lucy Bloom, a woman who doesn’t just challenge the rules of leadership, she rewrites them in hot pink. From running a top creative agency to leading game-changing charities and launching global firsts like Beer + Bubs (childbirth education for dads at the pub), Lucy’s career is a wild masterclass in passion, resilience and reinvention. With four books under her belt and a speaking career that lights up global stages, she brings truth bombs, belly laughs, and brilliant advice in equal measure. 💥 Boss Takeaways from Episode 14 with Lucy Bloom “Do it with passion or not at all.” Lucy’s mantra isn't just catchy, it’s a life philosophy. If it doesn’t light her up, it’s a no. Period. Burnout is not a badge of honour. After decades of going full tilt, Lucy’s now all about boundaries, sleep, and putting health first. Confidence is a muscle, not a gift. Lucy proves that being bold doesn’t mean being fearless, it means practicing courage over and over again. Be so good they can’t ignore you . Whether she’s on stage or running a business, Lucy’s approach to success is simple: back yourself and deliver. Purpose makes it worth it .From training midwives in Ethiopia to empowering women in Uganda, Lucy shows that real impact comes when passion meets mission. When in doubt, just start. Whether it’s a business, a book, or a sewing project, Lucy’s advice is clear: you don’t need a perfect plan, just the guts to begin. 🔗 Follow BITE BIG for more unfiltered stories from women who lead big one mantra at a time. Links: Lucy Bloom LinkedIn Lucy Bloom Instagram Lucy Bloom Facebook Lucy Bloom Website Lucy Bloom's Books Lucy Bloom Blog: Why I will never work full time again The Imperfects: The Science of sleep Love Mercy Australia Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – Alyssa Payad, Intern, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 13 of BITE BIG , I sat down with Mim Haysom, Executive General Manager of Brand and Customer Experience at Suncorp Group, to dig into exactly that. Mim’s career is one that most would consider enviable. From GM at M&C Saatchi to holding one of the most influential brand roles in Australia, overseeing AAMI, GIO, and Shannons, to name a few, her resume is heavy with achievements. But what really stood out in our conversation wasn’t her accolades. It was her authenticity, self-awareness, and a mantra that reminds us what really matters: Life is short, so love what you do. 👑 Boss Takeaways from Episode 13 with Mim “Life is short, so love what you do.” - Mim’s mantra, inherited from her father, is a powerful reminder to find meaning and joy in your work because we spend too much of our lives working not to. Passion can drive impact - From GayTMs to One House , Mim’s most defining projects were powered by belief, not just data. When purpose meets bravery, extraordinary things happen. Leadership is symbiotic - You’re only as good as your team, and they’re only as strong as the confidence and support you give them. Empowerment is not optional; it’s essential. Progress isn’t always linear - Forget the ladder. Mim’s journey proves that growth often comes from sideways moves, big leaps, and unplanned pivots. Say yes, but be intentional - Early in her career, Mim said yes to everything. Now, she says yes to what aligns with her values and serves her whole self. A reminder for all of us to be more thoughtful about how we spend our time. Define your purpose early - Understanding your personal values and purpose isn’t a mid-career luxury, it’s a strategic advantage. Get clear on it sooner, and let it guide your path. Bite big and chew like hell - Taking on the Suncorp role was a huge pivot and she’s still chewing. Mim’s career is a masterclass in bold moves backed by belief and a lot of hustle. 🔗 Follow BITE BIG for more unfiltered stories from women who lead big one mantra at a time. Links: Mim Haysom LinkedIn Mim Haysom Facebook Suncorp LinkedIn Suncorp Instagram St Vincents Clinic Foundation The Marketing Academy Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram CREDITS Host & ECD – Amber Bonney, The Edison Agency Founder Producer – Niki Beeston, Group Account Director, The Edison Agency Marketing – Liz Archer, Head of Operations, The Edison Agency Social Assets – Alyssa Payad, Intern, The Edison Agency Post Production – Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 12, Amber Bonney Bites Big with guest co-host Jo Stanley - a super star radio and TV presenter who has grown up telling stories and connecting with Australian audiences on award winning commercial TV and radio show. Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell" , in this episode we talk about Jo's belief in the power of words, ideas and metaphors and one of her favourite mantras, ' Freedom lies in being bold '. Now as the co-founder and CEO of start up digital radio platform Broad Radio, Jo's talks about her commitment to changing the inequalities of women in radio, disrupting the status quo and helping the most invisible women to be seen and heard. In this conversation we look back over Jo's eclectic entertainment background, get curious about why radio is her first love and where her true passion lies. Jo shares the journey of writing the 'Play Like a Girl' book series, losing a high profile job and why never wasting a minute is an important part of her gratitude for life. We get under the skin of how the Broad Radio concept came to be after a trip to Berlin left her inspired to create something different. Jo truly is a woman who has bitten big and now chewing like hell! Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity Fitted For Work a charity helps women, non-binary, and gender-diverse jobseekers to become job-ready, find meaningful employment, and thrive in their working lives. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Jo Stanley you can connect and follow these boss women via their socials links below! Links: Jo Stanley LinkedIn Jo Stanley Instagram Jo Stanley Facebook Broad Radio Web Broad Radio Instagram Broad Radio Facebook Play Like a Girl Book Series Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic Glennon Doyle - Untamed Fitted For Work Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Credits Main Host: Amber Bonney Producer: Niki Beeston Post Production : Fran Toscano, 17th Street Audio,

In Episode 11, Amber Bonney Bites Big with guest co-host Denni Francisco - proud Wiradjuri woman, a pioneer in the Australian fashion industry and a strong advocate for First Nations people. Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell" , in this episode we talk about how Denni's own Mantra centralised around the notion of "Together we create". Denni's mantra has been the guiding foundation of both her business's where she sees collective togetherness as being at the heart of her values, actions and impact. We talk about the powerhouse that is Ngali, Denni's high-end fashion label which saw her secure her first standalone show as a First Nations designer in 2023! Denni's shares her experience of this journey from the daunting task of preparing for the show to the sense of relief when it was over, only allowing herself to reflect and acknowledge the magnitude of what she had achieved in the weeks and months that followed. As a First Nations woman, Denni discusses her childhood and the profound influence of her grandmother in shaping the woman she is today and her perspective of the world. Denni delves into how she feels she has a responsibility to take advantage of the opportunities she has had, to understand her privilege, and to help generate opportunities and to shine a light on First Nations creativity. Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity Dot Com Mob a charity that aims to improve the lives of people living in remote Australian Indigenous communities by providing access to technology centre, Youth IT training & digital inclusion projects. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Denni Francisco you can connect and follow these boss women via their socials links below! Links: Denni LinkedIn Ngali Website Ngali Instagram The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn Dot Com Mob Credits Main Host: Amber Bonney Producer: Niki Beeston Post Production : Fran Toscano, 17th Street Audio,

In Episode 9, Amber Bonney Bites Big with superstar guest co-host Leisa Bacon who has been described as a brand & experience evangelist, she's one of Australia's most credentialed marketers and creative thinkers and holds the role of Director of Audiences for the iconic ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell" , in this episode we discuss Leisa's 25+ years of marketing experience and how her two Mantra's, " Just Do It " & "Be Kind" , has shaped her career and personal life, especially during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic where here value's- based decision making and ingenuity has been well documented as a best-in-class example of how to lead, pivot and innovate during challenging times. Being named the number 1 CMO in the top CMO50 Awards in 2020 and being in the top 5 for the 3 years previous, Leisa is a formidable force that consistently shows up for her team as well as herself, and in this episode we find out exactly how and what leadership strategies Leisa uses to get the best out of her teams. Leisa shares how she likes to flip challenges into opportunities by using the enterprise design thinking process, a methodology Amber practices in her own business. Leisa specifically discusses the media landscape and the advancement of AI and the challenges it brings with misinformation. How staying relevant to current and future generations requires harnessing diversity across a range of dimensions to produce better content and creative across a multitude of platforms. Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity CanToo an independent health promotion charity committed to funding Cancer research. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Leisa Bacon , you can connect and follow these boss women via their socials links below! Links: Leisa's LinkedIn ABC , ABC iView or ABC Listen References: Brene Brown – Daring Greatly Byron Sharp – How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don’t Know The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn CanToo Credits Main Host: Amber Bonney Producer: Niki Beeston Post Production : Francine Toscano, 17th Street Audio

TRIGGER WARNING This episode contains depictions of self-harm and suicide that you may find disturbing. If you want to avoid this content, please skip forward to 10.17 sec. If you are experiencing a personal crisis there is a 24hour crisis support and suicide prevention service through Lifeline Australian on 13 11 14. In Episode 9, Amber Bonney Bites Big with co-host Suji Sanjeevan an exceptional Australian business owner whose intellect, tenacity and resilience has seen her graduate with a medical degree from Kings College London, shape medical policy and research governance in Australia and co-found two successful businesses & appeared on Shark Tank! Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell" , in this episode we get real and raw about what it was like for Suji growing up in London with family pressures to study medicine, experiencing failure for the first time and her career "rebirth". With exceptional humility, Suji shares how her experience of the all-too-familiar 'glass ceiling' - how being a migrant, a woman and a mother was inhibiting her career options and the actions she took to break that class and become her own "boss woman". Amber gets under the skin of Suji's mantra, "It's not successful people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are successful", and how being thankful show's up for her in a practical way everyday. Suji speaks from the heart and with gratitude about her success, reflecting on how her failures have helped her achieve all that she is today, including her experience with Channel 10's Shark Tank Australia, the lead-up to her appearance & how she has used it to further benefit her business. Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity Bridging Lanka a charity that is bridging the ethnic, religious and geographic divides for peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Suji Sanjeevan you can connect and follow these boss women via their socials links below! Links: Suji Sanjeevan LinkedIn Light & Glo Brandscent Shark Tank Australia Episode with Brandscent Brene Brown TED Talk James Clear - Atomic Habits The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn Bridging Lanka If you need crisis support, contact Lifeline Credits Host: Amber Bonney Producer: Niki Beeston Sound Edit: Fran Toscano, 17th Street Audio

In Episode 2 of Season 2, Amber Bonney Bites Big with guest co-host Lisa Cox - one of Australia's leading authors, TEDx speakers and inclusive communications consultant & disability advocates. Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell" , in this episode we talk about how Lisa's early career has influenced her efforts in championing inclusion for people with disabilities, particularly in media, since a brain haemorrhage triggered a series of events that left her with both visual and invisible disabilities herself. Amber and Lisa discuss how her two mantra's, "Worse things happen" , and "Start with the small changes to create a tidal wave" have helped give her perspective on a daily basis, whilst the change we need won't happen overnight, the small changes combined by herself and others can create a huge ripple affect and the need to celebrate these small wins. Lisa shares insight on how she shifted from survival after her series of events left with overwhelming challenges and pivoted into an advocacy role using disadvantage for change, changing her own inner stereotypes of disability to helping change industry and the way disability was being represented. Listen to one of Australia’s most inspirational marketing services professionals who has broken the mould of what our industry looks like, and has demonstrated through data-led evidence how embracing diversity makes good business sense. Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity Youngcare a not-for-profit that is revolutionising the way young people with high care disability live to give them freedom, dignity and choice. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Lisa Cox you can connect and follow these boss women via their socials links below! Links: Lisa's LinkedIn Lisa's Instagram Lisa's Website Lisa's TedXTalk Unstereotype Alliance The Valuable 500 Diversity Australia The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn Amber's Instagram Youngcare Credits Main Host: Amber Bonney Producer: Niki Beeston Sound Engineer: Jack Gooden, Gasworks Brisbane Post Production : 17th Street Audio

For the first episode of Season 2, Amber Bonney Bites Big with guest co-host M ichelle Redfern - the unofficially anointed "voice for change" advocate and CEO of Advancing Women in Sport, Podcaster, Ambassador and AFR Top 100 Most Influential Women. Quite the list! Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell" , in this episode we talk about Michelle's mantra 'Get Shit Done' and how this has influenced her approach to business. We find out why Michelle has been so aptly described as a 'Powerful voice for Change' and one of Amber's Top 20 most inspiring Australian women. In Amber's words "Michelle Redfern is an action-led human. No mincing of words, bravery in spades, an exception strategic leader and one of the most passionate advocates for women in business and sports I know". Michelle discusses growing up in a patriarchal society where women are taught not to play big, not to be big and not to get shit done, and how this has actually helped fuel Michelle to be the fiery character she is today! Being the self driven woman she is and not wanting to have any regrets, Michelle gets candid about her journey of self discovery and reflection, and how important it is to tune into your body and mind, and the importance of having a 'squad' that allows you to 'think out load' and discuss the issues, big or small, in your life. Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity Our Watch an a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Michelle Redfern you can connect and follow these boss women via their socials links below! Links: Michelle's LinkedIn Michelle's Website Michelle's Instagram Michelle's New Book The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn Our Watch Media/Book References "No Ceiling, No Walls' by Susan L Colantuono Credits Main Host: Amber Bonney Producer: Niki Beeston Post Production : 17th Street Audio

In Episode 6, Amber Bonney Bites Big with guest co-host Kate Dillon - a fearless omni talented founder and creative director of Melbourne-based fashion accessories brand She Lion Group . Inspired by Amber's own Mantra, "bite big and chew like hell", in this episode we talk about Kate's innate personal drive and how that underpins her mantra "Anything is possible with guts, determination and persistence." As a mother and lawyer-turned-entrepreneur - Kate's career trajectory is nothing short of exceptional. As a dual qualified lawyer in both Australian and New York, not only is she a successful award-winning ethical business owner, but Kate also holds the role of Director of Employee Strategy & Experience at Gilbert & Tobin Lawyers. As a trained transformation and innovation coach Kate is no stranger to change and in this episode she openly shares both her academic frameworks and lived experiences in overcoming adversity, taking back control, feeling the feelings and being your own boss (figuratively speaking)! Bite Big has donated $500 to the chosen charity Fitted for Work an not-for-profit community-led organisation who help women experiencing disadvantage to become work ready and gain secure and meaningful employment. If you would like to know more about our host Amber Bonney her business The Edison Agency or co-host Kate Dillon you can connect and follow these boss women via the socials links below! Kate's LinkedIn Kate's Instagram She Lion She Lion's Instagram AFR Article "Actually, I Can" Support Local Video - She Lion The Edison Agency's LinkedIn The Edison Agency's Instagram Amber's Instagram Amber's LinkedIn Fitted for Work Fitted for Work Instagram