Vimala (she/her) Thangaveloo is an Executive Coach, Corporate Counsel, and qualified Company Secretary. She is a passionate advocate for women, especially those from traditionally underrepresented communities (immigrants, women of colour, LGBTQ+, and those facing ageism).
She firmly believes that owning our confident voices sparks personal empowerment and has the power to reshape the corporate and business world.
Vimala lived across several continents before finding a home in Australia. Her perspective, shaped by her Southeast Asian heritage and an international career, highlights the need for diverse workplaces and the implementation of strong governance practices in businesses.
Vimala has engaged in initiatives that amplify underrepresented voices – including:
- co-launching an award-winning internal podcast with her employer celebrating diversity, equity and inclusion,
- hosting speaking engagements on career growth, and
- advocating for better inclusion of underrepresented employees.
She is a multi-certified coach and empowers women experiencing mid-career challenges to confidently own their voices so they grow their careers on their own terms.
Her journey of resilience through the solitude of being “the only one” in many work settings has imbued Vimala with a love for the diversity of human experience. She treats each person’s attributes as pieces of a higher ‘mosaic’ – inspiring her to launch her business, Mosaic Working.
Vimala’s mission is to inspire, engage, and uplift individuals and organisations, steering us towards truly highly engaged communities and organisations whilst also promising a more just and equitable society.
How has being a corporate lawyer shaped the way you approach life and business?
As a Corporate Lawyer, my approach to life and business is influenced by the discipline and continuous learning required in the legal field. My legal training sharpened my strategic thinking and enhanced my ability to ask incisive questions that help my clients achieve breakthroughs, new perspectives and tangible results —skills that are invaluable as an Executive Coach.
To be a truly effective corporate Lawyer, it’s crucial not only to ask if a decision is legal but also to consider if it is wise. This constant evaluation in my law practice has emphasised the importance of embedding ethics and equity into decision-making.
Years of legal practice made me realise that women and people from underrepresented groups are often excluded from important discussions. This awareness has driven me to find ways to contribute to and create workplaces that seek out talent with different perspectives and from different sources, resulting in with better representation. I have witnessed the power of diversity and how it leads to improved business outcomes.
Helping businesses is one side of my “passion coin.” The other side is empowering women and individuals from underrepresented groups to step into their confident voices and advocate for themselves. This dual focus not only drives better representation but also improves the overall effectiveness and equity of business environments.
You spent about 4 years in total living and working in the Netherlands, how has that experience contributed to your passion to help women and those from traditionally underrepresented communities women in their careers?
My experience in the Netherlands was transformative and profoundly influenced my commitment to advancing the careers of women and individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities. Known for its progressive policies, the Netherlands places a strong emphasis on work-life balance, gender equality, and inclusive practices. Living there, I witnessed effective, equitable workplace strategies firsthand.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. My friends from various backgrounds and industries highlighted ongoing issues such as implicit biases and underrepresentation in senior roles. These obstacles made it clear that even in progressive environments, much work still needs to be done. This realisation has sharpened my focus on empowering these groups to overcome such barriers and succeed professionally on their terms.
What more can we do to support women from underrepresented backgrounds in corporate careers who are facing discrimination in the workplace?
Corporations often tell their employees that feedback is a gift but then react poorly when it is given to leaders within the organisation. I have heard of women who approach senior people in their organisations to discuss discriminatory behaviour, only to find themselves defending their actions instead of being supported.
To address this, organisations need to provide a safe space for open communications. Critical to success is a commitment to establish clear, robust anti-discrimination policies that are strictly enforced, along with transparent, straightforward processes for reporting grievances. Training senior staff to handle such reports with sensitivity and impartiality is crucial. We must ensure that these conversations are opportunities for understanding and improvement, not scrutiny of the victim’s behaviour.
Creating this safe space also involves regularly reviewing workplace culture and practices to identify and eliminate systemic biases. This proactive approach demonstrates a real commitment to equity inclusivity and can significantly impact the experience and retention of all employees, including underrepresented ones.
Who was your role model growing up and why?
Growing up, Oprah Winfrey was a significant role model for me. She was the first influential person I saw on television who shared my skin colour. This was a time before LinkedIn Lives and Instragram and I was told that I was not “suitable” for TV – who wants to look at a dark-skinned girl?
However, Oprah turned that narrative on its head! Seeing her not only succeed in the media industry but dominate the industry for decades has been inspiring. That industry, which was profoundly lacking in diversity then, inspired me and showed me the power of representation. Oprah uses her voice for good, and her resilience, intelligence, and philanthropy further solidify her status as my role model.
Her ability to overcome adversity, let her imagination drive her contributions, and use her platform to advocate for others taught me the importance of determination and using one’s voice and position to positively impact the world.
If there was one thing you could choose to do before your last day on Earth, what would it be and why?
If I could choose just one thing to do before my last day on Earth, it would be to sit in nature and radiate love to people worldwide. I deeply believe in the transformative power of love.
In a world that often feels deeply divided, love is a powerful force that can bridge gaps and heal wounds. I love this quote from Bunda Arsaningsih, a meditation expert:
“The purer our hearts are from any anger, the wider the energy of our love and compassion radiates, which allows us to be a magnet in our surroundings for those seeking this comforting, peaceful energy.”
This philosophy resonates deeply with my mission to uplift people and nurture understanding across communities.
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