Nartarsha Navanaga-Bamblett built her business by honouring culture and identity in a Western-dominated space. Her story shows the power of representation and how to stay true to who you are in business.
When you are a First Nations person who’s navigating a Western-dominated world, you enter unchartered territory. When you do that as a business person, things get turned up a notch.
Challenges don’t just come from a lack of precedent, they also come from “your own mob” questioning your journey.
👑 Nartarsha Navanaga-Bamblett knows all about this. Now a proud First Nations queen, mum of (soon-to-be) three, and the magical soul behind Queen Acknowledgements, Nartarsha was raised on Yorta Yorta country, her grandmothers and the subsequent generations carrying the deep scars of The Stolen Generations.
These days, Nartarsha is rocking it in Naarm Country (Melbourne).
She made it her business to connect people through movement, dance, and music. Her entire heart, soul, and ancestral wisdom wrapped up in it. But navigating that requires a lot of work and self-reflection.
Because that’s what it means to her: how to stay true to who you are in business, even when it’s not the easy or the obvious road.
How To Stay True To Who You Are In Business
Staying true to yourself, building your business around your values, it’s something you’ve heard me mention many times. It’s important for all of us.
But as a First Nations woman, it gets magnified.
How To Stay True To Who You Are In Business When The Path Hasn’t Been Trodden Before 🌿
Growing up, Nartarsha didn’t see Indigenous women in leadership roles. Representation? Zero. Visibility? Nonexistent.
When you don’t see someone who looks like you doing amazing things, it’s easy to think you’re not meant to either. For a long time, she kept her gifts hidden. But deep down, the fire smouldered. Eventually, a leap into social media (Yep, COVID again) and a whole lot of self-talk and cheering on from other people helped her find her voice.
It was a lonely journey at times, but each workshop, each performance, is another step onto the journey of growth. Getting more comfortable, finding deeper meaning.
But being seen isn’t just for her, it is for every little Indigenous girl that needs to be shown the way. ✊🏽
It’s all part of the journey. Figuring out how to stay true to who you are in business when no one else has walked that road before you.
Balancing Culture and Corporate: How to Stay True to Who You Are in Business 🏛️
When there is no one to show you what the path of business and professionalism without stepping on your values and culture looks like, you have to make it up as you go.
For Nartarsha, especially in the early days, it was an inner wrestling match that required a lot of inner soul searching and conversation with elders as well as people who make it their business to move around in the corporate world.
Her big lightbulb moment was when she realised her culture was her professionalism. Yes, she dons her Boss blazer when the occasion calls for it. But she equally takes her baby on stage, because that’s what her ancestors would have done.
The bottom-line, Nartarsha realised, that when you stay true to yourself, the Boss blazer doesn’t matter. She realises she may not be for every-one, and that’s fine. But her values, her message, her background are part of who she is, whether that is at home, on social media or in front of her audience.
Turns out corporate audiences don’t just respect that, it moves them to tears 🥹.
Indigenous Business Life: No GPS Included 🛤️
Nartarsha may know her culture (although she says she’s not an expert and is very careful to remain respectful at all times), running a business was completely foreign.
Pricing your services, being profitable in business, paying taxes; Nartarsha had to figure it all out in the slow (and sometimes painful) way.
Nartarsha’s journey is really common amongst business owners who don't come from a business background. They know what they know and they're really good at what they do. But the business lesson, tends to come later.
Nartarsha made it a point to educate herself in every way she could, build the knowledge, invest in that. If the path isn’t there, you build it yourself. Even if you trip over a few branches along the way.
Facing Pushback 🙃
One of the hardest lessons came from the home turf. As Nartarsha's visibility grew, so did the grumbles within her own community. Was she staying true to her culture? Was she selling out?
But instead of backing down, she leaned in. Seeking guidance from elders, reflecting deeply, and standing solid in her truth, Nartarsha realised that honouring culture doesn't always look one way. By sharing her voice responsibly, she was strengthening her community. Not selling it short. 💪🏽
That’s another layer of how to stay true to who you are in business: it means knowing when to tune out the noise, not running away from the tough questions or the challenging conversations, tuning in to your heart, and knowing where your actions come from.
Money, Mindset, and All That Awkward Stuff 💸
Let's be real: talking about money can be awkward at the best of times. Now throw in generations of cultural traditions where service wasn't tied to profit, and then try pricing your magic. 😬
For a long time, charging felt... wrong. Like putting a dollar sign on something sacred. But slowly, Nartarsha reframed it: abundance meant sustainability. Sustainability meant more impact. More impact meant more cultural empowerment.
Turns out, charging your worth doesn’t mean you’re betraying your values. It means you’re fuelling your mission. 💥
Legacy, The Big Picture 🌱
At the heart of everything Nartarsha does is a bigger vision: legacy.
To Nartarsha, legacy means leaving the world in a better state.
On the one hand, it’s about giving her children more opportunities: financial stability, access to education, and exposure to a variety of experiences. Legacy means providing them with a foundation that allows them to thrive without facing the struggles she did.
Because, truth be told, Nartarsha didn’t come into this world with much, but her parents worked hard. That’s what I’m striving for too: to pass on something better for the next generation.
But legacy isn’t just about my family. It’s also about helping people outside of her culture feel more connected to this place; leaving behind a deeper understanding and connection for others to build on. We only have a short time on this earth, and if anything, Nartarsha wants to make sure her actions leave a ripple for generations to come.
Because how to stay true to who you are in business also means thinking beyond the here and the now and your own little spot on our planet.
So, what does staying true to yourself in business look like for you? 💭 Whether you’re blazing a new path or navigating your own cultural mix, remember: your truth is your superpower.
🌟 If Nartarsha’s story moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it today. Or pop a comment below. I’d love to hear how you’re learning to stay true to who you are in business too. ✨
Get In Touch with Nartarsha from “Queen Acknowledgements”
📧 Email: bookqueenevents@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.queenacknowledgements.com
📘 Facebook: Queen Acknowledgements
📸 Instagram: @queenacknowledgements
