Redefining opportunity through inclusion
For Katie, leadership is about creating opportunity and driving change with purpose. As CEO and Co-Founder of Embrace Disability Group, she’s reshaping the future of inclusive employment. Through cafés, school canteens and catering services, Katie leads a social enterprise where people of all abilities can thrive, proving that when inclusion comes first, success naturally follows.
Tell us about your organisation, how long you have been there and your role within it.
I’m the CEO and Co-Founder of Embrace Disability Group (Embrace),a social enterprise redefining what inclusive employment looks like in the catering and hospitality industry. At Embrace, we create meaningful, paid work and training opportunities for people living with disability — not as a token gesture, but as the very foundation of who we are and why we exist.
Since launching at the end of 2022, Embrace has grown to operate cafés, school canteens and large-scale catering services across the ACT and NSW. Each part of our business is designed to provide hands-on hospitality experience, develop capability and skills, build confidence and create a genuine sense of belonging for our team members.
Leading this organisation from its inception has been one of the most rewarding (and most challenging) experiences of my life. Watching the people we employ gaining skills, independence, confidence and pride in their work is what drives everything we do and the reason I show up and keep working for all of them.
What do you consider to be your key strengths?
I am driven, results-focused, and a natural problem solver. I love to help others find a way through their challenges, even when things seem difficult to navigate. I have a strong compass for finding solutions to even the most complex problems, and am able to see potential where others might see barriers— in people, ideas and opportunities. That sense of possibility keeps me creative and forward-thinking, both as a leader and as a problem solver.
My first priority is always our people and I believe that strong leadership begins with empathy and trust, being able to bring people along on the journey we are on, as well as having a strong alignment to our organisational values and leading with these every day.
I am resilient and work hard to manage my mental health and stay balanced and never has it felt more important to do this than now, running a social enterprise.
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in business?
Don’t wait for perfect timing, or permission, or for someone else to give you an opportunity — just start. Believe in yourself, even when the path ahead isn’t clear and trust that confidence grows through action.
Surround yourself with people who lift you up and challenge you to grow. Be authentic and be yourself; it’s your individuality that will set you apart.
Leadership isn’t defined by titles — it’s defined by the difference you make and the impact you have on others. If you can use your influence to open doors, particularly for those who’ve been overlooked or are unable to advocate for themselves, then you’re already creating meaningful change.
Embrace Disability Group
To see more Women in Business profiles, click here.
