Give to Gain: Natalie (Nat) Tsirimokos

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Nat is a compassionate, values-driven leader who blends courage, collaboration and real-world empathy to create meaningful change for women, families and her community. Through Comfy Koalas, she is also helping protect the environment her community depends on, creating products that are gentle on babies and kinder to the world they will grow up exploring.

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Local Community Anchor

Nat is deeply committed to supporting families through flexible work, meaningful employment and products that genuinely make life easier for parents. Through Comfy Koalas, she contributes to a culture of care, connection and empowerment that reflects the values of the communities she serves. Her work also protects the environment she loves, ensuring cleaner waterways, healthier ecosystems and a safer world for future generations.

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Her Journey

Nat’s leadership journey began in the corporate world, where she built a successful career in media and stepped into leadership early. In 2015, she made a bold decision to leave corporate life and volunteer full time, a move that opened the door to the not-for-profit sector and reshaped her understanding of purpose and impact. When she became a mother, she found herself facing challenges that many parents quietly navigate. Instead of accepting them as inevitable, she created Comfy Koalas to solve the very problems she was experiencing. Her business was born from lived experience, empathy and a determination to make life easier for families.

That duality shaped everything: her resilience, her perspective on hardship and the quiet dignity with which she navigated the world.

Growing up, Nat and her mum would debrief every day. Those conversations taught her to reflect, to lead with her values and to be bold in her decisions. They also taught her that courage can be soft, that strength can be loving and that survival does not harden you when you hold onto your humanity.

As a young woman stepping into leadership in male dominated environments, Nat rarely saw women in senior roles, let alone in the c-suite. She learned to look sideways and upwards, finding inspiration in women wherever she could, taking pieces of their example and shaping her own leadership identity.

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Leadership Style

Nat leads with collaboration, compassion and a refreshing commitment to being real. with a team of 7 including the owners, and she believes people do their best work when they feel understood and supported. Her leadership is grounded in honesty and the courage to ask hard questions. She cuts through politics and posturing, choosing instead to show up as her full self. For Nat, authenticity is not a buzzword. It is the foundation of trust, connection and true collaboration.

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Challenges and Breakthroughs

Across her career, Nat has worked in environments where the boys’ club was alive and well. She has felt undermined, isolated and at times like she was standing alone on an island. It took time to realise that vulnerability in leadership is not a weakness but a strength. She now sees that living and leading in alignment with her values is the most powerful way to navigate any challenge. Over the years she has also witnessed real progress. More women are stepping into leadership roles, and when they do, they create space for others to rise.

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Teams, Talent and Giving to Gain

For Nat, Give to Gain means giving time, opportunity and support to create a healthier future for women and for everyone. She believes leaders should give more trust, assuming people are capable, intelligent and doing their best. This mindset creates strong, empowered teams. At Comfy Koalas, she designs work around people’s lives, not the other way around. She gives her team the freedom to lead without judgement, the space to make mistakes and the encouragement to grow. Her approach is grounded in deep listening. As a mother, she knows how frustrating it is to be told what to do. Instead, she listens, asks the right questions and creates an environment where people feel safe to be themselves.

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Impact on Women and the Environment

Nat’s work contributes to progress for women by empowering mothers to make their own decisions, offering flexible work and partnering with other female led businesses. Comfy Koalas is also built on a commitment to protecting both babies and the planet. Their products are designed to be gentle on delicate skin, free from harmful chemicals and kinder to the environment. By choosing sustainable materials and responsible production, Nat ensures that every product supports the health of families while reducing environmental impact. She is proud to champion women in business while also championing a cleaner, safer world for the children they are raising.

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Human Insights

A woman she admires:

Her mum. Brave, resilient and deeply human. She taught Nat to stand up for herself and that courage does not require hardness.

A book, podcast or idea that shaped her thinking:

The Guilty Feminist by Deborah Frances-White. A collective of women sharing honest, imperfect, funny and powerful reflections on progress.

A piece of advice she returns to often:

Her dad’s words: “Slowly slowly.” A reminder to move with intention and bring people with you.

One thing she wishes more people understood about leadership:

Do not hire the same kind of person over and over again. Hire people who enrich you, challenge you and expand what is possible.

Advice to her younger self:

Always work, live and lead in line with your values.

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We are proud to spotlight women like Nat Tsirimokos who show that giving is not just an act of generosity, but a catalyst for stronger teams, healthier communities and a more inclusive future.