What is your best career tip?
I have an insatiable curiosity and I believe that I have built my career on the quality of the questions I ask. I want to know how things work, how they can be improved, how challenges or solutions became embedded and always why, why why! Sometimes it takes courage to ask the tough questions and to keep digging after a consensus has been achieved. My advice to myself and others is to not be afraid to really get to the heart of the matter (and then the heart of that matter and so on) by being prepared to ask challenging and pertinent questions, and from multiple perspectives. Every interaction is an opportunity to increase understanding and build rapport and trust, with your team, customers, and investors.

I would give my younger self permission to embrace her own feminine leadership qualities and seek out more female mentors much earlier than I actually did!

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
I’m inspired by women who are forging a new kind of leadership – courageous, authentic, kind, and collaborative, but distinctly feminine leadership.  This has been especially highlighted to me during the COVID-19 pandemic seeing just how successful this new leadership model is proving to be, during incredibly challenging times. 

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
So many! Presently I’m inspired by Jacinda Ardern’s handling of the COVID pandemic in New Zealand, where she has so effectively recruited her ‘team of 5 million’ and brought the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders with her COVID 19 response plan over the past extremely challenging 12 months. Jacinda is modeling a new way of both political and feminine leadership, taking a people-led approach to her decisions. Her clear, direct, and frank communication style is very refreshing in contrast to much of the political modeling we see in Australia and the US during the pandemic. 

What is your best career tip?
Literally everyone is in the same boat. Some are better at masking it, some sail faster. But it is the same boat. Don’t be scared to ask questions. It is always one step closer to that answer you are looking for.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Don’t be shy, get out of your comfort zone and get comfortable outside of your comfort zone. You will learn a lot more things in a shorter period of time. And ASK. Always ASK questions! There is no right or wrong. The stupider, the better!

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Not to sound very cliché, but this would certainly be my boss, Emma. In a male-dominated industry and world, she juggles family, children and her own business. The one skill I would like to steal from Emma is her people skills and art of persuasion.

What is your best career tip?
Persistence pays!

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
The world really is your oyster so don’t limit your thinking. Back yourself because you’re more capable than you realise.  Think bigger and take the first step, because after the first step you’ll find it’s not long before you’re up and running.

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Dr Catherine Hamlin has always been an inspiration. Her work in Ethiopia to support women was extraordinary and her legacy lives on in the work of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation. When I think things are tough I imagine what it would have been like traveling to Ethiopia 60years ago to tackle a health issue destroying the lives of local women. Dr Hamlin was a Superhero and we can all learn from her selfless work.

Anything else you’d like to say?
There are so many extraordinary women doing extraordinary things and we need to collectively shine a light and celebrate our achievements to inspire young women so they know that anything is possible.

What is your best career tip?
Identify a niche and own it!

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Speak up

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Whitney Wolfe Herd

Anything else you’d like to say?
Keep your heels, head and standards high! (Coco Chanel)

What is your best career tip?
Do what you love , live your dream and never give up.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Surround yourself with a team that knows more than you

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Michelle Obama – amazing woman

What is your best career tip?
Find your allies! You don’t have to go it alone. Find mentors who teach you both formally and informally, find colleagues who support you and brainstorm with you, find work friends who make you look forward to working with them.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Have a little faith in the sheer amount of things you’re capable of.

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Malala Yousafzai: ‘I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up.’

What is your best career tip?
To persevere and be resilient when it comes to getting your business idea off the ground in the early days. Often others cannot see what you can see, particularly while you are building your product. They will often give well-meaning “advice” which could dampen your spirit if you let it. Keep going despite any obstacles or challenges. By all means take on the feedback that resonates with you and supports your business moving forward. However, be aware there will be a time while building momentum for your business, that you will have to hold true to your vision and keep on believing in yourself until others can see it too.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
That I am always enough. My true essence is wise, loving, kind, empathetic and compassionate—as it is for everyone. When we are younger, that truth can get overshadowed with other people’s opinions and the daily stresses of life. I would tell my younger self when I have lost my way, feel confused or overwhelmed, that it is important to take the time and space to connect to my true essence and to tap into my intuition. From this calm and centred, intuitive place I will make the best decisions for myself to go forward on life’s journey.

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Anita Roddick, as she was was one of the first women to bring feminine principals to the forefront in business. She defined “feminine principals” as: using your intuition, collaboration, engaging in business in a loving way, always developing a win/win by never doing business at the expense of another. Anita believed in doing business from the heart. Over the past 20 years women have been stepping up in the business world and are making positive change by incorporating “feminine principals”. Over time this balancing of male and female energies, will bring more balance and harmony to the business environment, positively impacting communities and the greater world. It is not about male or female energy being dominant, but working alongside each other. In the future we will all move forward together, knowing that there is plenty of abundance for all and room for everyone to shine in their way.

Anything else you’d like to say?
This is one of the most exciting times in history where women are stepping up and embracing their strength, unique perspectives and skills that they contribute as feminine leaders. It is a time for women to feel confident and empowered in their abilities—as they are much needed—as the world makes a major shift from upheaval and stress to more harmonious and peaceful ways of being. Women have a major role to play in this transition and the time to make a positive difference is now.

What is your best career tip?
Say yes and then figure it out.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Be grateful for, and make the most out of the opportunities you have today. Focus on impact – the 80/20 rule is important for so many reasons.

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
The women managers who’ve become mentors. The female CEOs I’ve been lucky to work closely with: Emma Lo Russo at Digivizer for her strategic skills and vision; Elayne Grace for her passion and resolve; Nicolette Rubinsztein – who authored a fantastic book ‘Not Guilty’ for career mums – for her authenticity. 

No one inspires me more than my own Mum for her spirited generosity, resourcefulness, determination and creativity. She studied at uni for 8 years while working and raising 3 kids. As a Speech Pathologist she now runs high impact learning programs for families in low-socio economic areas, while being a key support person to many people in her family/friendship/social and volunteer circles.

Anything else you’d like to say?
I think as women, we sometimes naturally put others’ needs before our own, and that can lead to burn out. So recognizing your own needs and confidently asking for what you want is important. That applies to opportunities at work and remuneration too. Sometimes it requires being vulnerable or defending boundaries, but it’s worth it so you can keep growing and giving your best. 

What is your best career tip?
Do what you love  – of course. Don’t accept no for an answer – a lot of my career moves have come from telling my story and linking my roles  and experiences together. I never accepted an initial rejection and pursued ways to tell my story – I got all my key roles this way. As a small business owner, you need to invest  time and money  in improving your skills and knowledge because no one else is going to do it for you. Pay for a course, read – whatever it  is, stay relevant as a person  and as a business.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
I had no idea what I wanted to do when I “grew up”. Getting some advice about what types of roles suit your drivers, your personality, and trying out these options is what I’d say to my younger self. I love what I do, but can imagine doing so many other things in my work life now that would be difficult to pursue (but not impossible of course!).

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
Ita Buttrose. She never let anything stand in her way, in a very tough industry, and she continues to pursue the toughest roles in the country! She is very clear in her vision of where she wants to take a business, and rarely seems to back away from difficult situations. We also happen to have sons of the same name.

What is your best career tip?
Do what you love  – of course. Don’t accept no for an answer – a lot of my career moves have come from telling my story and linking my roles  and experiences together. I never accepted an initial rejection and pursued ways to tell my story – I got all my key roles this way. As a small business owner, you need to invest  time and money  in improving your skills and knowledge because no one else is going to do it for you. Pay for a course, read – whatever it  is, stay relevant as a person  and as a business.

What is your best career tip?
Take on every challenge you can and don’t be afraid to wrestle with them all. I’m a big believer in pushing myself to my (safe) limits and ensuring that I am giving my absolute best to every task I take on. To get where I am today, I have had to take on some big challenges that definitely looked a lot like mountains at first sight. But with every challenge I learnt something new that I could carry with me to make the next few a lot less daunting.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Set big goals. And when you meet them, set even bigger ones! Working towards a goal is what gives you drive, passion, and a hunger to succeed.

Which woman inspires you the most, and why?
There are so many incredible female influences in my life, and to narrow it down to one seems unfair. But if I had to choose one, it would be my older sister, Steph. As cliché as it sounds, she set the standard very high for me from a young age. Her independence and determination to live her life to the fullest capacity in the best way she knows how is inspiring and constantly reminds me of the hundreds of possibilities out there.