A Long Black, A Sparkling Water, And A Woman Who Refuses To Shrink
Some conversations hit you in the chest, rearrange something inside you, and remind you why bold women belong at the top of every table.
My episode with Amanda Rose was exactly that.
If you don’t already know Amanda (how?!), she’s a national advocate, a media commentator, the founder of Western Sydney Women and Small Business Women Australia, and an unapologetic force who walks through life with clarity, conviction, and a zero-tolerance policy for bullshit. She’s built movements, torn down double standards, and mentored thousands of women with grit, strategy, and a heart that beats for community.
THE DRINK ORDER THAT SAID EVERYTHING
Amanda walked onto the set and ordered:
A long black. No sugar. No milk. No disguises.
And a sparkling water, because she likes her hydration like her energy: sharp, refreshing, and with a bit of sparkle.
And truly, could there be a more perfect drink order for a woman who is all ROI, no fluff, and never dilutes her message?
In her words, the long black is “matter-of-fact, no bullshit, maximum return.”
The sparkling water? “I like excitement. I like to stay sharp. And I like to stay sober when I work.”
Honestly… poetry.
And yes, Soli (ChatGPT) analysed the drink order perfectly:
A long-black-drinker is direct, intentional, structured, and the sparkling water signals discipline with a cheeky sparkle on top. Amanda heard it, nodded, and said,
“That’s about 30–40% accurate.”
Which is iconic.
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE STRAIGHT BLACK COFFEE
Amanda has lived ten lives in one; law, academia, startups, fintech, sport, politics, advocacy – not by accident, but by design. Every chapter of her career has been a strategic “fill the gap” move.
She comes from a working-class Western Sydney family and wears that proudly. In fact, her advocacy for Western Sydney started when someone introduced her at an Eastern Suburbs event by saying:
“This is Amanda Rose. She’s from Parramatta… but that’s okay.”
That moment lit a fire inside her, not in shame, but in rebellion. She knew instantly that not every woman had her level of confidence or her mother’s fierce encouragement. So she did what bold women do:
She built something for the ones coming after her.
From there came Western Sydney Women, Small Business Women Australia, and a decade of programs, advocacy, and real-world impact. Not pink-washed empowerment, but systems-level change.
Amanda doesn’t chase fame or noise.
She chases results.
And those results speak for themselves: funded programs, tender wins, women being hired, women being promoted, women being taken seriously.
THE CONVERSATION THAT HIT A NERVE
We spoke about everything women aren’t “supposed” to talk about publicly:
- Masculine and feminine energy
Amanda’s take was powerful:
“A real masculine man isn’t toxic. Toxic and masculine can’t exist in the same sentence.”
She defines masculinity as vision, confidence, integrity and calls out how women are forced into masculine energy far too often, especially in business.
- Why women intimidate mediocre men
She didn’t hold back:
“I scare the shit out of weak men. Which is great – it filters them out.”
- The double standards still suffocating women
Amanda shared the rumours men spread about her – the classic “she slept her way to the top” narrative and laughed,
“If that were true, I’d be driving a Bentley.”
- Money, power, and why women must stop apologising
She is unapologetic about success:
“Profit is only a dirty word when the wrong people are making it.”
She names the shame women carry, the guilt we’re conditioned into, and the relentless need to justify ambition. And then she dismantles it.
- Her rule for building anything worthwhile
“Don’t tell anyone what you’re doing.
Just post when it’s done.”
(Amen.)
THE HEAT, THE HUMOUR, THE HUMANITY
For all her steel, Amanda is warm, wickedly funny, and deeply invested in people. She mentors behind the scenes, champions women publicly, and outworks nearly everyone – not for applause, but for impact.
She said something in the recording that stuck with me:
“You’ll never change elitism. But you can change your reaction to it.”
That’s what makes Amanda magnetic: she’s not trying to be liked.
She’s trying to move the world forward. And she is.
A FEW FUN FACTS WE LOVED
- She used to wear police SWAT boots growing up; and still loves heavy, chunky shoes.
- She was a national swimmer, a basketballer, a hockey player, and a ten-pin bowling coach.
- She’s on her fourth degree (a Master of Business Law) because she wanted to understand legislation better.
- She once flipped the Amal Clooney narrative online and got 3 million views in a day.
- She hasn’t been on a date in six years, partly because she refuses to settle, compromise, or shrink to make someone comfortable.
Queen behaviour.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE
Click here to watch the full conversation with Amanda Rose
Trust me, you’ll want to hear every minute.
