Built for impact

When Nora Fraser doesn’t see a solution, she builds one. It’s how she’s always operated – from her early days volunteering with the BBC’s Children in Need campaigns to founding a globally recognized social enterprise.

“If I can’t find a solution, I’m not going to wait around for one. I’m going to create it myself,” she tells The CEO Magazine. 

It’s a mindset that has guided her from corporate people and culture roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe to becoming the Founder of two purpose-driven ventures: The Multicultural Professional Network (The MPN) and Equi Consultancy Partners. One builds community, while the other tackles systems. And both exist because Fraser couldn’t sit back without building what was missing.

Representation into action

Despite concrete business benefits from enhancing innovation to increasing engagement, inclusion can oftentimes be reduced to mere optics or a box-ticking exercise. For Fraser, that’s not good enough.

“We are committed to reshaping narratives,” she says. “Most importantly, we know that increasing representation is not enough. We needed to shift the focus toward creating real opportunities.”

One example shared by The MPN members is a project currently underway. A member secured capital funding to repurpose a private rental property into crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children.

“They are focusing on the specific needs of First Nations families and others who are often underrepresented,” Fraser reveals.

“The transformation will include community gardens, zen spaces and environments designed to support wellbeing. This illustrates the importance of moving beyond representation to develop tailored, meaningful opportunities for communities and achieve a lasting impact.”

Inclusive hiring

It’s that kind of deeply contextual impact that characterizes The MPN’s broader mission, which is to remove barriers and reimagine what opportunity looks like. That mission comes to life through Talent Connect, a flagship initiative matching underrepresented talent with companies committed to creating inclusive environments.

“Talent Connect is not just a matchmaking tool,” she points out. “It’s a strategic initiative designed to remove the barriers that often prevent talented individuals from accessing meaningful career opportunities.”

Fraser recalls one job seeker who was overlooked for years, despite having extensive experience.

“Through Talent Connect, they were matched with a company that recognized their potential and offered an inclusive environment,” she says.

“But Talent Connect isn’t just changing outcomes for individuals, it’s also helping organizations rethink what inclusive hiring truly means. That shift in mindset is where real, lasting change begins.”

Resistance with strategy

Change, Fraser admits, hasn’t always come easily. She’s faced plenty of pushback, particularly in corporate spaces still warming to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).

“One of the biggest challenges in gaining traction for DEIB initiatives has been navigating environments where there is a lack of understanding about the intent behind the work,” she explains.

Rather than pushing generic solutions, she focuses on tailoring strategies to each organization’s culture and goals.

“In many corporate settings that aren’t quite ready for meaningful change, a one-size-fits-all approach will often fail to resonate. What works in one organization may not translate to another,” she says.

“At Equi Consultancy Partners, we address this by embedding DEIB into business strategy, linking initiatives to measurable outcomes and long-term impact.”

The result is a shift from compliance-driven conversations to leadership-led transformation.

“Once decision-makers understand this work is not about compliance but about embedding DEIB into their organization’s purpose, culture and values to build stronger, more future-ready organizations, real progress begins to take shape,” she says.

Growth with purpose

With more than 654 members across 41 countries, The MPN continues to grow – but not at the expense of impact.

“We take a quality-over-growth approach,” Fraser says. It’s a mindset that’s delivered results: a 83.5 percent increase in revenue in the 2024 financial year, a steady uptick in corporate membership and more than 10,500 individuals supported through social impact programs.

As part of The MPN’s ImpactSphere, Fraser also launched Inclusive Enterprise, which is an education and mentoring arm for underrepresented founders.

“These initiatives support entrepreneurs to build their skills and grow ventures that create lasting change,” she says.

Her advice to women launching purpose-led businesses: “Be fearless in owning your vision and values. Stay authentic. Embrace adaptability. And remember, impact takes time. So be patient, but persistent.”

Expanding globally

Looking ahead, Fraser’s ambitions are global.

“My boldest goal for The MPN is to significantly expand our impact by creating a global community that not only connects professionals but also drives systemic change in workplaces worldwide,” she says.

For Equi Consultancy Partners, the aim is to become a leading advisory firm for organizations and public figures committed to measurable inclusion.

That future is already taking shape. Equi Consultancy Partners was recently appointed as a pre-qualified supplier to the New South Wales Government under the Performance and Management Services Scheme – a milestone that reinforces its growing credibility as a trusted inclusion advisor at the national level.

Meanwhile, The MPN is expanding into Sydney, launching Phase Two of the Zero Barriers Project, supporting AI digital inclusion and joining the Queensland Government’s Professional Services Preferred Supplier Panel.

“This appointment to the Queensland Government’s Professional Services Preferred Supplier Panel positions us to actively deliver projects that align with our expertise and purpose as a social enterprise,” Fraser notes.

“We are focused on collaborating with government and industry partners to deliver real value for Queensland in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.”