As Managing Director of Fitted for Work, Donna leads one of Australia’s most impactful social enterprises helping women facing disadvantage find work, gain confidence, and build a life of independence. From refugees and single mothers to trans women and survivors of domestic violence, Fitted for Work meets people where they are and supports them with practical tools, coaching, and clothing to get back into the workforce.
In Episode 15 of the BITE BIG podcast, we step into the world of impact leadership with Donna. She brings more than insight. She offers lived wisdom, unflinching empathy and a refusal to accept the status quo.
Donna’s approach to leadership starts with a simple and radical truth: everyone deserves dignity. At Fitted for Work, that means no tokenism, no shortcuts. Just deeply human support. “Clothing might seem superficial,” she says. “But it’s never just about the clothes. It’s about how we see ourselves. About being seen.”
For many women, the journey back to work isn’t just about writing a résumé. It’s about rebuilding identity after trauma, exclusion, or systemic neglect. And that’s where Donna’s leadership shines. She doesn’t just build programs. She builds belief.
In a world obsessed with hustle culture and scale, Donna is redefining what disruption looks like. It’s not always about launching the next tech unicorn. Sometimes, it’s creating wrap-around services that help a woman walk into a job interview feeling like she belongs.
Donna shares how her team’s innovation lies in human-centred design. They’ve adapted their services post-pandemic to be digital-first, more inclusive, and trauma-informed. “The women we support aren’t vulnerable because they’re weak,” Donna says. “They’re vulnerable because the system wasn’t designed for them. So we’re redesigning it.”
Donna’s leadership philosophy is steeped in listening. “You can’t lead from the centre,” she says. “You lead from the edges.” That’s why Fitted for Work doesn’t impose one-size-fits-all solutions. They co-design pathways with women, ensuring cultural safety, accessibility, and autonomy every step of the way.
She also challenges the business world to rethink what value looks like. “We measure our impact in lives changed, not just numbers moved.” And the numbers are moving. Over 40,000 women supported and counting.
What does it take to lead with this level of integrity and impact? For Donna, it’s not just about empathy. It’s about grit. Navigating funding shortfalls, gender bias, and complex stakeholder landscapes isn’t for the faint-hearted. But Donna doesn’t flinch.
She credits her resilience to lived experience and strong female role models. Her advice for future leaders? Back yourself. Know your values. And don’t wait to be invited. Take your seat at the table.
Donna de Zwart is the kind of leader who doesn’t just “do good”. She does it smartly, strategically and sustainably. She’s not here for optics. She’s here for outcomes.
At The Edison Agency, we’re in awe of women like Donna who use creativity, compassion and conviction to change systems from the inside out. In a world hungry for impact, her work reminds us that dignity is the beginning, not the end, of real change.
Want More?
🎧 Listen to the full episode; Amber Bites Big with Donna De Zwart, via Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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