Meet Richa and find out how she leads better by dancing

Today’s guest is Richa Joshi, Board Chair of Reach Her Inc and a passionate advocate for empowering women from diverse backgrounds. Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Richa leads with both heart and purpose helping women build confidence and find a sense of belonging through education and employment—all while balancing her roles as a leader, a mother of two, and a champion for change.

In this issue:

• 🌿 Rest & rejuvenation – Incorporating rest into a busy life and why it’s essential for effective leadership.

• 🌍 Cultural perspectives – How diverse experiences can shape an inclusive approach to leadership.

• 💪 Breaking stereotypes – Challenging misconceptions about women in leadership by focusing on leveraging everyone’s strengths.

— Sharon Brine, Founder and Editor (Follow me on LinkedIn)

Q: What inspired you to get involved in the nonprofit sector?

A: I have skills and experience that I want to channel into furthering the nonprofit sector, in whatever ways I can, to support organisations in their mission. For me, being part of this impactful sector means that I'm helping more than just one person—I'm contributing to meaningful, lasting change. This aligns with my top values, and this is a core source of satisfaction and fulfillment for me.

Q: Many women who lead nonprofits find themselves giving more time and energy than they realise, which can impact both their physical and mental wellbeing.

What are your go-to practices for staying energised?

A: For context, I’m a parent of two, and as any parent knows, the challenges of raising children change constantly, especially as they grow older and hit milestones like puberty. It’s a hectic time, and with everything else I juggle—work, family, and clients—I’ve had to be very intentional about self-care. I realised that if I didn’t carve out time to recharge, I couldn’t be fully present for the people who rely on me.

Self-care for me starts with rest. We’re often taught, especially in corporate environments, that more hours mean more productivity, and I grew up believing that. I used to think that working longer meant being a good employee, but that mindset was incredibly destructive—both physically and mentally. I eventually reached a point where I couldn’t sustain it. Now, I’ve learned that rest is essential, and it’s okay to take a break. Our culture sometimes makes it feel like resting is lazy, especially for women, but I’ve had to push back against that mindset. The benefits of rest have been undeniable for me.

Another key part of my self-care is movement. I love to dance—it’s something I do daily. Even if I’m working from home, surrounded by four walls, I’ll take a moment to put on a song from Spotify and just move. It doesn’t matter how silly it looks or feels, it helps me reset. That physical movement gets the adrenaline flowing, changes my energy, and helps me return to my work with a fresh perspective.

Lastly, staying connected with my loved ones is vital. I make an effort to really talk to the people in my inner circle—no more ‘I’ll call you later’ or ignoring texts. Even though most of my family and friends live outside Australia, those connections energise me and keep me grounded.

Q: As a 'third culture adult', how has your cultural background influenced your worldview, and ultimately shaped your approach to leadership?

A: This opens up so many layers because we often don’t realise how much our cultural background shapes us as adults—the good, the bad, and the unexpected. It influences how we think, the decisions we make, and even how we speak, often without us noticing.

I was born in India to academic parents, and my brother is a reporter, so growing up in a family that valued learning was a big part of my early life. But my brother and I eventually left home, and we both settled far from our roots.

It’s also important to note that I didn’t just grow up in India—I’ve lived in Europe, the U.S., and now Australia. All of these experiences have shaped my identity, creating a blend of cultural influences. For me, it’s important to hold on to parts of all the cultures I’ve experienced.

When it comes to leadership, my multicultural background has given me a broader perspective. My own experiences have made me more empathetic, supportive, and open to diverse viewpoints. I understand that people’s lived experiences are different, and that’s okay. In a leadership role, that translates into creating an inclusive environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Q: In your experience as a nonprofit leader, what are some common misconceptions about leadership you see, particularly when it comes to the roles and expectations placed on women?

A: My response is shaped by my personal experience across borders, so my perspective might differ from others. One major misconception I see about leadership in the nonprofit space is the belief that the person leading or founding the organisation must do everything—almost bending over backwards to keep things running. The reality is, no one person possesses all the skills needed to manage every aspect of a nonprofit. Expecting one leader to do it all is neither realistic nor sustainable.

I think this misconception exists because people assume that, being in the nonprofit sector, leaders will take on anything that comes their way. It’s an unhealthy expectation.

When it comes to women in leadership, I’ve noticed another misconception. It’s often assumed that women have more time to dedicate to nonprofit work, especially in settings like school P&Cs (Parents and Citizens associations), where it’s overwhelmingly women who volunteer.

Somehow, society still associates these roles with nurturing and caregiving, and it doesn’t add up for me. I’ve seen the same pattern, where women are expected to take on these roles simply because they might be assumed to have more time or energy to give. This expectation of women as the default nurturers often leads to burnout.

We need to break these misconceptions—whether it’s about women having more time or men being the ones to handle specific tasks. Leadership, especially in the nonprofit sector, should be about leveraging everyone’s strengths, regardless of gender, and moving beyond these outdated expectations.

Q: Earlier, we discussed the importance of self-care and work-life balance on a personal level.

When it comes to a professional context, what strategies do you use or recommend to support good mental health and work life balance for women leaders, and all contributors, in nonprofit organisations?

A: Burnout, fatigue, and exhaustion are all too common in the nonprofit sector, especially since many people come into nonprofit work as volunteers. There’s often an unspoken expectation—both from the organisation and from the volunteers themselves—that they’ll take on a lot, sometimes more than they can manage.

One strategy I’ve found effective is regular, meaningful check-ins—not just a quick survey or a form to fill out, but actual in-person or virtual meetups. These meetings go beyond the usual status updates. More than just handing out gift cards or ordering pizza. We create an experience, whether it’s a meal, a drink, karaoke, bowling, or painting. The idea is to bring the team together for a few hours in a relaxed environment, where we can talk openly and genuinely. It’s in these spaces that you start to learn if someone is struggling—whether it’s related to their role in the organisation or something personal where we can offer support.

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At Reach Her Inc, we meet every six to eight weeks, and we’ve done everything from karaoke to paint-and-sip sessions. During these gatherings, we take the time to connect on a personal level: How are your kids? How’s the new job? How’s your mom doing? This kind of engagement fosters a supportive environment where volunteers feel comfortable raising their hand and saying, ‘Hey, I’m struggling,’ and we can either help directly or guide them to the right resources.

Once we’ve built that foundation of trust and support, it becomes easier to have conversations about self-care and implementing ongoing wellness practices.

Every changemaker has a soundtrack. Our evolving playlist features the songs powering the remarkable women in our Women for Purpose community - the music that moves, inspires, and drives them.

Listen to today’s featured track below or enjoy our collective soundtrack on Spotify 🎧🎵