When I think of quiet influence, strategic thinking, and purpose-driven leadership, Mel Silva is the woman that comes to mind. She's the VP and Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, and on Tuesday 24th June, you have an opportunity to sit front row and learn directly from her. Normally, our mentor masterclasses are reserved for Slow Fashion Lab members, but Mel's story is too inspiring not to share, so this call is open to non-members too.
Mel has crafted digital strategies for Citibank, ING Direct, and AMP. She's risen through the ranks of global leadership roles. She's on the board for the Business Council of Australia. Mel has sat at some very big tables over her career, all while keeping her values front and centre.
Now, she leads a multi-billion dollar tech powerhouse in Australia and New Zealand and she’s joining us to share her insights and experience to help founders in the slow and sustainable fashion space.
Mel's leadership journey in rooted in strong values. This is a powerful conversation you don't want to miss.
Mel’s story is a masterclass in intention, resilience, and purpose. She began her career in financial services, mastering product and marketing dynamics. In 2007 she joined Google, working across the APAC region, and spent two transformative years in Singapore where she led the Go‑to‑Market Strategy and Operations team. Since returning to Sydney in 2018, Mel has risen to her current role, empowering teams, guiding partnerships, and driving platform growth across Australia and New Zealand.
But Mel is more than an executive. She’s a champion of diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. Her leadership helped launch Google Australia’s third Reconciliation Action Plan, encouraging teams to actively support Australia’s First Nations communities.
In 2023, she joined the Business Council of Australia Board and later became Chair of its Digital and AI Committee. And in August 2024, she added, 'Trustee of the Sydney Opera House' to her accomplishments list, reflecting her commitment to cultural connection and societal impact.
Want to know why Mel's insights matter so much to slow fashion founders?
At first glance, leading one of the world’s biggest tech companies might feel worlds away from ethical and sustainable fashion design. But Mel’s journey is built on the same deep-rooted principles that slow fashion founders value too...
1. Leading with purpose. Mel believes having clarity in your mission is a non-negotiable. Without it, growth becomes hollow. For slow fashion founders, a clear 'why' isn’t just aspirational, it’s essential.
2. Influencing from within big systems. As a solo founder, you might not be in the boardrooms of a global tech firm, but the challenge of staying true to your values as you scale is universal.
3. Navigating growth without burnout. Mel’s leadership is marked by empathy, boundaries, and sustainable impact, all essential lessons for independent creatives who regularly face doubt and fatigue.
4. Amplifying quiet voices. Whether you're an introvert or a creative who shies from the spotlight, Mel has mastered how to lead effectively in a quiet way, something countless founders crave to know how to do.
And these aren’t just lessons. They’re bridges between purpose and real-world impact, between sustainable values and genuine business success.
And on Tuesday, you have the rare opportunity to learn from Mel to discover...
How to scale your mission without losing your mind or your values. Mel knows firsthand that long‑term growth doesn’t have to mean compromise. She’ll unpack how to embed your values in every business decision, how to design routines that fuel impact while protecting your mental and emotional reserves, and she'll share real examples from Google and how you can translate them to your studio, workshop, or atelier.
How to find your voice as a quiet or creative leader. If you're not comfortable with dancing on TikTok (seriously, who is), or you shy away from the camera, you're not alone. Mel will walk you through how to lead decisively even if your style is calm, measured, or behind‑the‑scenes. She'll share why leading from a quieter place can be more powerful, not less. And you'll discover simple, authentic ways to inspire your audience and your sector.
How to create leadership strategies that create meaningful impact. Effective leadership isn’t about ego, it’s about impact. You'll learn tools to rally community, partners, team, or followers to a shared vision. You'll hear about Mel’s framework for aligning purpose, performance, and progress. You'll learn how small‑scale, high‑impact decision-making often has the biggest ripple effects.
How to stay purpose-driven in a noisy, fast moving world. Scaling often means pressure, so help you navigate it, you'll learn how Mel stays grounded and how practical mindset shifts can help staying calm and intentional amid chaos. You'll learn methods for simplifying decision-making so that nothing feels conflicting or overwhelming.
How to navigate influence from local to global. Launching a slow fashion business isn’t just about the products. It’s about storytelling, partnership, and advocacy. You'll learn how Mel thinks about partnerships at scale and how you can replicate these for your brand. You'll learn how to speak to niche customers and broader communities without losing your essence, and you'll learn powerful steps to grow your influence ethically and impact‑first.
Because sometimes, it's hard being a leader, especially in slow fashion, and when you're running an ethical, sustainable, handmade or slow fashion business and doing it solo, it can be lonely.
You’re designing, making, shipping, managing emails, building a community and you're wearing all the hats. And sometimes, that leads to overwhelm, imposter syndrome, or at worst, giving up on your mission because the business side feels ruthless and messy.
And it's why this mentor masterclass matters so much.
You'll learn how to cut through the noise. You'll learn how to pair structure with soul. You'll learn real world tools, not just theory. Because inside the Slow Fashion Lab, we don't have 'pep talks'. We have meaningful, powerful, practical masterclasses that deliver frameworks, answers, and real-world examples you can use today to grow your slow fashion business.
You'll walk away with momentum. You'll walk away empowered. You'll walk away ready to lead and move your fashion business forward. This masterclass will be inspirational, yes, but it'll also be tactical, strategic, useful.
It'll be about you, your leadership, and your ability to lead on your terms. You'll leave with a renewed sense of your leadership identity, clarity on a values-led path forward, a toolkit of proven strategies to stay grounded and expand impact, and most importantly, the confidence to speak up, step forward, and scale sustainably.
This is your sign.
When leaders like Mel Silva take the virtual stage, they don’t just share insights, they invite you to step into your fullest, most authentic leadership. And the world needs more slow fashion brands built by grounded, purpose‑driven voices like yours.
Save your seat and prepare to build your values-driven vision.
If you want to learn how to lead your brand from grassroots to global with purpose and intention, how to scale without losing your message or your sanity, this masterclass is for you.
DATE: Tuesday 24th June 2025.
TIME: 2pm AEST.
ZOOM LINK: Access the call here.
Mel Silva is the kind of leader you want to learn from. She's deeply grounded, tech-savvy, and purpose-driven. This is your opportunity to learn from someone who’s navigated big systems and stayed true to her values.
Show up live right here at 2pm AEST on Tuesday 24th June. Don't miss this!
Claire x
