Invisible Disability, Inclusive Leadership & Building Businesses That Last

Invisible Disability, Inclusive Leadership & Building Businesses That Last (Startup Today Podcast - Episode 5)

Featuring: Flic Manning – Founder - The Manning Institute, Startup Consultant, Author & Radio Host
Date: Tuesday, 12th August – 12pm AEST
Duration: 45 min chat + audience Q&A
Location: Live Streamed via YouTube
Proudly Sponsored by: Tekkon

Event Overview
In Episode 5 of Startup Today, we sit down with Flic Manning - author, founder, radio host and leadership advisor - for a deep conversation about what it really takes to build startups that support wellbeing, inclusion, and long-term resilience.

Flic brings lived experience of chronic illness, invisible disability, and mental health challenges - a perspective that shapes her approach to leadership, business building, and creating teams that work for everyone.

Though not neurodivergent herself, Flic has long worked alongside neurodivergent communities and draws deeply on their lived experiences in her DEI and wellbeing work.

She’s built businesses in Melbourne, led projects in San Francisco, and now mentors founders from Perth - always with a focus on humanising the startup hustle.

What You’ll Learn:
- How to build a business that supports real human wellbeing - beyond perks and ping pong
- Why chronic illness and invisible disability deserve a central seat in startup inclusion (and why they’re often ignored)
- Lessons from leading companies and projects in SF, Melbourne, and Perth
- What inclusive leadership actually looks like - and how to make it practical, not performative
- Why inclusive design isn't just “nice to have” - it’s strategic, scalable and necessary

Live Q&A
We’ll wrap with a live Q&A - come with your questions about inclusive culture, founder wellbeing, or designing better workplaces from the inside out.

About the Speaker
Flic Manning is the Founder of The Manning Institute, a leadership and wellbeing consultant, award-winning radio host, and startup strategist. She brings the lived experience of chronic illness, mental health conditions, and invisible disability, which shapes her mission: to help founders and teams build businesses that don’t burn people out - but lift them up.

She’s worked with major names like VaynerMedia, LIFX, and YMCA Australia, spoken on global stages, and hosted Brainwaves on 3CR - sharing human-centred insights backed by science, storytelling, and compassion.

We look forward to having you there to say hi or ask a question via the live stream.

Hosted by Matt, sponsored by Tekkon