Turning passion into purpose

For Nadia, leadership is driven by people, purpose and positive impact. As Director of Pulse8 Strategies and The People Initiative, and Chair of the Bruton Basketball Foundation, she combines empathy with strategic insight to create meaningful change. Whether empowering teams, supporting communities or mentoring future leaders, Nadia’s work reflects her belief that true success comes from lifting others.

Tell us about your organisation, how long you have been there and your role within it.

I am a Director across several businesses, with my primary consulting agency being Pulse8 Strategies. At Pulse8, we focus on business improvement through people, taking a holistic approach with our clients. Our services span HR, People and Culture, leadership coaching, executive and board advisory, workforce planning, and business advisory, complemented by a strong design, marketing, communications, and PR arm.

Our clients are diverse, ranging from not-for-profits, SMEs, and government agencies to large organisations of over 1,000 employees. I founded and have led Pulse8 for more than four years and I am proud to sponsor the YWCA She Leads Conference each year. My passion lies in helping people reach their full potential, with a strong belief that the key to success in business is a successful team — The People.

I love bringing out the best in others, always balancing empathy with commercial acumen. My motto is to use my powers for good, which inspired the creation of The People Initiative two years ago — a non-profit recruitment company where profits go back to the community. Our motto, Power to the People, reflects our mission, and we are proud to offer some of the most competitive recruitment rates in Australia, operating nationwide.

My other passion is my role as Chair of the Bruton Basketball Foundation (BBF), where we work with disengaged and disadvantaged youth across Australia, particularly in Indigenous communities, helping them develop life skills both on and off the court. I am very lucky as I work closely with NBL Hall of Famer Cal Bruton OAM, who is the CEO and Founder of BBF. Bringing his vision to life is one of the most rewarding roles I have ever had.

What do you consider to be your key strengths?

My key strengths centre around leadership, connection, and strategic thinking. I have a natural ability to bring out the best in people, creating environments where individuals feel valued, supported, and inspired to perform at their best. I’m known for my emotional intelligence, commercial acumen, and ability to see the bigger picture while keeping people at the heart of every decision.

Ultimately, my strength lies in balancing empathy with accountability — I care deeply about people, but I’m equally driven by achieving meaningful and sustainable business outcomes. My motto, use my powers for good, really sums it up — I lead with purpose, passion, and integrity.

What advice do you have for the next generation of women in business?

It’s hard — but it’s absolutely worth it. My biggest advice is to back yourself and trust your gut. You will make mistakes, but that’s where the real growth happens. Listen to feedback, take it on board, and use it to evolve — you don’t have to know everything, and you will find that people are often willing to help if you’re open and genuine. I do find that the next generation don’t take feedback well, they see it as an attack – we need to understand feedback is a positive; we have to learn from feedback. We don’t have to take it all on, but we need to listen and reflect to continue to improve.

Don’t try to do it alone. Surround yourself with good people, build your network, and find a mentor or executive coach — it makes all the difference. Always lead with integrity and do good work for the right reasons. When you follow your passion and stay true to your purpose, the success and the money will follow.

Nadia Pessarossi

• E: [email protected]
• T: 0416 270 194
• W: thepeopleinitiative.au
• W: brutonbasketballfoundation.com.au
• LinkedIn: Bruton Basketball Foundation BBF
• LinkedIn: The People Initiative