Karen Ostenried has worn many hats over the years. From professional singer to
aerobics instructor, to the Chief Operations officer of an international biotech
company. Karen impressively has three world firsts in medical technology
accredited to her, and a number of Australian firsts in creating genetic models of
human diseases.

In 2009, Karen’s world would change forever. One week after she retired from the
field of science, she would be faced with the devastating Black Saturday bushfires
that tore through Victorian bushland causing widespread devastation and the
greatest loss of life from fire since colonisation. One hundred and seventy-three
people tragically lost their lives, 414 were injured, more than a million wild and
domesticated animals were lost, and 450,000 hectares of land were burned. Karen’s
Kinglake property destroyed, however one of her horses survived. Nursing the horse
back to health proved more difficult that she first imagined and in 2011 she took my
horse to Equine Assisted Therapy. Through this process, Karen quickly realised that
she needed to heal as much as her beloved horse.

By 2017, Karen qualified as an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. The primary
driver of this form of learning is to develop an expanded awareness of firstly self and
then of others. It develops essential life skills which can lead to success in all areas
of life and business, and the purest form of leadership.

Although Karen uses horses, it is very much Human Centred Design. It relies on
being present to fully comprehend everything around you, calm the mind and make
good decisions with empathy, accountability, and teamwork. It also relies on trust.
Today Karen’s business – The Matanya Effect, and Leadership Revolution, work
with Corporate Organisations to small businesses around team building and
leadership skills. She also works with people with low support Autism, some NDIS
clients for life skills, Teams, families, sports, business, community groups and all
levels of leadership up to C suite.

Join Karen as she chats with host Sandy Lowres and shares her amazing story.

You can follow Karen and her remarkable work here:
https://www.thematanyaeffect.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/thematanyaeffect
https://www.facebook.com/thematanyaeffect

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The Good Girl Confessional is the award-winning Podcast of WB40 - Women Beyond Forty, a platform for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

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I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, upon whose lands I live, work and play. I pay my respects to Aboriginal elders past, present and emerging.