Members On Their Way: Shani Langi

Shani Langi grew up in Queanbeyan, a suburb just outside of Canberra. She moved to Sydney after studying broadcast journalism, knowing a career in TV wasn’t for her, and quickly landed a role in the accounts service team for a creative agency which ignited a lifelong passion for all things marketing and advertising. Campaigns for American Express, Qantas and Samsung followed. Now she’s left big agency life behind to launch her own company, Usual Suspects Creative. Here, Shani talks using creativity as a force for good, hanging with her two little homies, hip-hop and Hamilton.

I live in the world of events but never attend enough outside of my own circle. I’m one of those introvert-extroverts, so don’t always feel comfortable socialising with new people. Future Women is a great way to push myself into new territories, learn new things and meet new people. I loved the Leigh Sales event at the NSW Art Gallery. I love the curated weekly inbox-ing too – excellent breadth of topics.

I’m currently working on a fundraising party for Guzman y Gomez to raise money for the Misión Mexico children’s refuge, a grand final activation for the NRL, and Good Is The New Cool – a gathering for those who use business and culture as forces for good. This is one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever been involved in.

I love hip-hop, theories from the Intellectual Dark Web, activism and eating out.

I’m reading junior fiction with the seven-year-old, currently Song For A Whale by Lynne Kelly. And, in parallel, Back on Track – the autobiography of the incredible Bernie Shakeshaft who founded Backtrack Boys, the Armidale-based organisation that supports kids who need love and stability.

I’m also listening to the Future Thinkers podcast, and the Hamilton soundtrack.

‘Work hard and be kind’ is the motto I live by.

My business partner Sharice (who I’ve worked with for 15 years) is bloody amazing. Sharice is a real go-getter – she’s great at the tough conversations, very generous, a great travel companion, an incredible mum and amazing at getting stuff done. It can be a bit of a risk going into business with such a great friend, but we know each other so well that the balance works perfectly. She completes me.

Oh, there’s still so much to still learn! How to better fit in mindfulness, how to shake off founder’s guilt, how to be a multi-linguist, how to best expose my children to the worlds’ truths, how to play the cello… the list is long!

My driving force is to make all moments matter.

Outside of work I love to hang with my little homies (my four and seven year olds).

The future for women is limitless.

We can lift each other up with small, genuine and consistent acknowledgement.

I’m most fulfilled when I’m surrounded by happiness.

Self-care means eight hours sleep as often as possible.