If you’re in business, leadership, or media—and especially if you’re a fan of Asher Keddie like I am—you must watch Strife. The Binge series is inspired by Mia Freedman’s memoir Work, Strife, Balance, but it’s fictional, not autobiographical. That fine line makes it even more compelling. Set in 2012, it captures the chaos and brilliance of starting a business with nothing but an idea, relentless passion, and the courage to take a risk.
Strife follows Evelyn Jones, the founder of Eve, a fictional women’s media platform (clearly a nod to Freedman’s Mamamia). Through Evelyn, the series showcases the brutal and beautiful reality of entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth. As a leadership coach and business owner, I watched not just for the drama—but for the real lessons every leader can take away.
Here are five big takeaways:
1. Risk-taking: Back Yourself, Even When It’s Scary
Evelyn launches Eve the first women-focused website, at a time when traditional media dominated. The stakes are personal and professional—she’s going through a divorce, raising her teens, and putting everything on the line financially and emotionally. What stands out is her tenacity, resilience, and sheer determination.
Real-world parallel: Mia Freedman started Mamamia from her loungeroom in 2007, and today it reaches over 7 million women every month. The lesson? Big risks can pay off—but they come with sleepless nights and high emotional stakes.
2. Innovate Relentlessly
From Eve’s early content to launching a podcast out of a makeshift tent (a scene that every small business owner will smile at), Strife captures the hustle of staying ahead. Evelyn is constantly searching for stories with a hook, pushing boundaries to create clickable, shareable content.
Leadership lesson: Innovation isn’t a “one and done.” It requires constant creativity and the pressure to remain relevant. Being an early adopter—as Mia was with podcasting—can set you apart.
3. The Ugly (and Beautiful) Side of Small Business
Strife portrays the raw truths: cash flow struggles, leadership loneliness, and the betrayal of a trusted 2IC who leaves to start a rival business. There’s also the devastating moment of an employee writing an unkind book about the company. Yet, Evelyn pushes on.
Lesson for leaders: These challenges are not unique. All founders face some level of betrayal, financial pressure, and setbacks. The key is to keep going, even when you feel like quitting.
4. Leadership Skills: Brutal Honesty with Room to Grow
Evelyn is fearless, direct, and occasionally too blunt. Her emotions—particularly frustration and anger—sometimes spill over in ways that hurt her team. In Season 2, she introduces “Yes Week” as an effort to rebuild morale. Evelyn leads from the front creatively, showing the power of leading by example even when you’re learning leadership on the go.
Tip for leaders: Emotional intelligence matters. Leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being self-aware and willing to change.
5. Build (and Trust) a Diverse Team
The Eve team is diverse, passionate, and chaotic. They sit around the same table throwing out ideas at a frenetic pace. As the business grows, they move into a more polished office, but the culture of collaboration remains. Evelyn understands that different voices create stronger content.
Leadership insight: Hire for passion and perspective. Surround yourself with people who challenge you and bring different skills to the table.
Final Thought: Why Strife Matters for Leaders
Mia Freedman’s real-life journey and Strife’s fictional telling are a blueprint for what entrepreneurship really looks like. From working in her loungeroom to building Mamamia into Australia’s largest women’s media company, Mia’s story (and Evelyn’s character) teaches us this:
Leadership is messy. It’s risky. It’s exhausting. But with resilience, creativity, and a great team, it’s also wildly rewarding.
If you haven’t watched Strife yet, I highly recommend it—not just for the drama, but for the business and leadership inspiration.
Claire Harrison is the Founder and Managing Director of Harrisons, a flourishing HR consulting business that sprouted in 2009 from Claire’s passionate belief that inspiring leaders and superstar employees are the key success factor to any business. With over 20 years’ experience, Claire has worked as a HR Director of multi-national organisations, as a Non-Executive Board Director, and a small business owner. Claire’s corporate career includes working with companies such as BHP, Westpac, Fonterra and Mayne Nickless.
