Invisible Disability, Inclusive Leadership & Building Startups That Last (Episode 5)
How do you build a high-growth company that doesn’t burn people out?
In episode 5 of the Startup Today podcast, Flic Manning shares the lived reality of running ventures while managing chronic illness and invisible disability – and shows why inclusion, psychological safety and founder well-being are strategic advantages, not “nice-to-haves”.
We compare Silicon Valley hustle culture with the community-oriented scenes in Melbourne and Perth, then dig into Flic’s Ask • Listen • Learn playbook for practical, people-first leadership.
Chapters:
- 0:00 Intro & Flic’s lived-experience lens
- 3:22 What invisible disability really means (80 % are unseen)
- 17:59 Well-being as a scaling moat- why burnout kills start-ups
- 20:28 Inclusive leadership = strategic advantage
- 22:52 Safety first – culture before formal DEI programs
- 51:00 “Ask • Listen • Learn” loop: first practical steps founders can use
Why you should watch this episode?
- Understand invisible disability (chronic illness, mental health, neurodivergence) and its impact on 1 in 3 workers.
- Learn how inclusive practices widen markets, deepen talent pools and protect margins.
- Get actionable frameworks to build psychologically safe teams from Day 1.
Connect with Flic:
Connect with us via LinkedIn or fill out our contact form to get in touch.