https://www.taniadejong.com | Inclusion and Entrepreneurship the Key to Success - Australia has traditionally been a highly successful and prosperous nation. On almost every important business index, we are accelerating. The stakes – the financial, social, environmental and political consequences – similarly are rising. Being lucky is no longer enough. We lag well behind many other nations on innovation. We have to nurture our entrepreneurs and innovate faster in order keep up with the pace of growth. To compete globally we must welcome, include and empower the many diverse voices of our citizens, migrants and the refugees who are seeking a haven here.

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Inclusion and Entrepreneurship the
Key to Success
Australia has traditionally been a highly successful and prosperous nation. On almost every
important business index, we are accelerating. The stakes – the financial, social,
environmental and political consequences – similarly are rising. Being lucky is no longer
enough.
We lag well behind many other nations on innovation. We have to nurture our
entrepreneurs and innovate faster in order keep up with the pace of growth. To compete
globally we must welcome, include and empower the many diverse voices of our citizens,
migrants and the refugees who are seeking a haven here.
Over the next 5 to 10 years it is estimated that up to 40 per cent of companies on the
Standard and Poors index will be disrupted by rapidly advancing technologies and the
entrepreneurs adapting quickly to this new environment. According to international
research, 47 per cent of middle-class jobs will become redundant due to robotics and new

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technologies. And some jobs will continue to exist but will be performed in cheaper labour
markets overseas.
Australia doubles the research outputs of the United States per capita but produces half the
amount of patents. We generate plenty of ideas and research but we don’t commercialise
them enough. We urgently need to train our young people to be entrepreneurs: makers and
creators of the jobs of the future. We need to build a culture of innovation to sufficiently
develop our capabilities to turn ideas into enterprises. Willingness to experiment and fail,
leads to innovations creating opportunities and prosperity for millions. FAIL, after all, stands
for First Attempt In Learning.
Turning ideas into enterprise also benefits from diversity. With skilled migrants and refugees
seeking a home here, we have real opportunities to foster a new wave of entrepreneurship
and innovation.
We surround ourselves with people who make us feel safe, who come from similar
backgrounds and educations, who think, feel and dress like we do – and who agree with and
endorse us. Yet our biggest gains as humans come from “creative abrasion”, where we rub
up against people who make us feel uncomfortable and challenge our notions of ourselves
and the world we live in. This is where creativity and innovation truly spark.
“Inclusive leadership must be paramount. Instead of fearing people from different
backgrounds and cultures, there is an opportunity for all of us to choose to create a
happy, healthy, inclusive and innovative Australia.”
This is about removing the ‘us and them’ mentality and acknowledging our common
humanity. Ultimately we are more similar than different, yet our negative focus on the
differences between us creates a lot of our problems.
Let’s remove the walls between us and build bridges of understanding. As a community we
need to empower all voices, no matter what their faith, background, disadvantage, disability
or age. People need to feel like they have a place here, a true home, a sense of belonging, a
sense of self and respect from others. Then they will truly be able to contribute to our
future.
And does our size matter? No. Look at Israel, a nation founded by refugees that faces
permanent geographical, political and social challenges. It thrives because it has a risk-
tolerant culture producing massive innovation. Imaginations are allowed to run free, ideas
are nurtured and entrepreneurs celebrated: Israel is home to over 5,000 tech start-ups and

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lists more companies on NASDAQ than all of Europe combined. Israel proves that small
countries can be engines of entrepreneurship and innovation.
When refugees and migrants come to a new country they want to restart their lives. They
work incredibly hard and bring a diverse and rich cultural background that contributes
economically, politically and socially. They just need to be given a voice.
We do accept people from diverse backgrounds into Australia. Now we need to put out the
welcome mat and provide everyone with the education, skills, engagement and
opportunities to participate in this accelerating environment.
Tania de Jong AM is a leading Australian soprano, inspirational speaker, social
entrepreneur, spiritual journey woman and creative innovation catalyst. She
foundedCreative Universe, Creativity Australia, Music Theatre Australia, Pot-Pourri and The
Song Room and works with diverse communities through the ‘With One Voice’ choir social
inclusion programs. Tania sings around the world as a soloist and with her group Pot-
Pourri releasing 7 CDs. She is Founder and Executive Producer of Creative Innovation Global.
Tania’s TED Talk How Singing Together Changes The Brain has sparked international
interest. Tania has just released her solo CD Heaven on Earth.
Tania helps organisations build capabilities in creative thinking and leadership, develop a
culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, understand and manage disruption, foster
diversity and community and unleash potential of individuals and teams.
Tania speaks and performs around the world and presents leadership and innovation
workshops inspiring diverse audiences of 10 to 10,000 people ranging from corporate
executive teams, boards and entire organisations to universities, hospitals, schools, business
and entrepreneurship forums and at major national and international conferences and
public events.

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For more detailed information on Tania’s presentation topics or to book her for your next
conference or special event please contact us.
Information Presented by :-
Tania De Jong AM
Level 1, 10 Dorcas Street,
South Melbourne Victoria, 3205 AUSTRALIA
+61 (0)3 8679 6000
Email: info@creativeuniverse.com.au
Web: www.creativeuniverse.com.au