There’s no denying New York City is bursting with possibilities. It’s home to hustlers and heroes, all drawn to its neon billboards and towering skyscrapers in pursuit of their dreams.

That’s exactly what took me to NYC earlier this year, standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow dreamers and doers, Dr Zali Yager and Ellen Hooper. We had a bold vision — and we were there to bring it to life!

But let’s skip back to where it all began.

Several years back, I was on a bus in Fiji, on my way to deliver the keynote address for the She Evolves event. As fate would have it, I ended up sitting on the bus next to Ellen, and she shared how my documentary, Embrace, had brought her to tears. As an executive and career coach, she’d seen firsthand how body image could hold people back professionally. Our connection was instant, and before long, Ellen became a founding circle member of the charity Zali and I created — The Embrace Collective.

Fast forward to 2023. When I was announced as Australian of the Year, Ellen congratulated me and said, “You’re going to need me this year!” We laughed, but just one week later, overwhelmed by the weight of the role, I called her in tears, asking her to become my executive coach. That call started a truly transformative partnership. Ellen has a knack for giving frank feedback while also boosting my confidence — her guidance has been invaluable, and working with her has been one of the great privileges of my professional life.

Meanwhile, Zali and I were laser-focused on spreading the Embrace message far and wide. In 2023 alone, we reached over one million Australian kids and delivered over 100 keynote addresses and appearances. But, amid all the progress, one question kept returning: how could we reach people where they spend most of their time — at work? How could we help them feel better about their bodies in environments that demand their best every day?

Zali and I had the content, the tools, and the passion to make it happen — and working with Ellen brought together the final piece of the puzzle. She brought the expertise needed to engage organisations and senior leaders in initiatives that genuinely improve employee wellbeing. With a formidable drive between the three of us, we’ve achieved a lot — reaching 200 million people in 190 countries, earning six degrees, publishing 60 research papers, producing two feature films, raising over $11 million, writing seven books, recording a #1 song on iTunes, publishing a magazine … all while raising nine kids.

So, we poured all our energy, experience and passion into creating the world-first workplace wellbeing initiative Embrace@Work, which we proudly launched in the heart of New York City at the American Australian Association with President Steven Marshall.

Our message is bold but simple: we’re here to power up productivity, wake up wellbeing, and big up the bottom line.

Why? Because how people feel about their appearance directly affects their mental health, confidence, and performance. Around 60–70% of adults are dissatisfied with their appearance, making them 24 times more likely to develop depression. And that’s not just bad for us as individuals — it’s bad for business and the economy. Poor body image is a hidden drain on focus, productivity, positivity, and energy. The cost to business? A staggering $69 billion in lost productivity every year.

That’s why we’re so incredibly proud of Embrace@Work. It’s delivering real, measurable outcomes: improved productivity, focus, engagement, and mental health. It’s not just a program — it’s a powerful tool for creating a happier, healthier, and more effective workforce.

Our goal is ambitious but clear: we want to bring this program to businesses on every continent. Launching it in New York City — the heart of global business — was the perfect first step. Now Embrace@Work is out there, we can’t wait to help shake up the business world and show employers how feeling good leads to doing good.

Tell me more about Embrace@Work