Brave Feminine Leadership

Property expert Greville Pabst opens up about transforming from a shy, introverted person to a confident public figure. Discover visualization techniques, strategies for conquering networking fears, and insights on building a personal brand that stands out. Greville shares candid stories about cold-calling with Yellow Pages, taking media training to overcome public speaking anxiety, and why someti...

In this special International Women's Day episode, we sit down with Louise Adams, Aurecon's incoming Group Chief Executive Officer, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, engineering, and creating pathways for women in STEM. Louise shares her remarkable journey from a little girl fascinated by bridges to becoming the leader of a global organization with 7,500 people across 31 locations. S...

Meet Dr. Jesseca Tighe - a dynamic career, life, and leadership coach with a PhD in psychology. In this episode, Dr Jesseca shares her journey with Melissa, and her insights on overcoming burnout and finding one's true calling. From sharing her own experience with burnout, anxiety and depression and how she navigated through these challenges, to rediscovering her own passion, Dr Tighe provides tod...

What does it mean to lead with authenticity, courage, and a commitment to inclusion? Shirley Chowdhary, former CEO of the Go Foundation and one of AFR’s 100 Women of Influence, joins the Brave Feminine Leadership Podcast to share her incredible journey. From navigating career breaks and redefining leadership, to her powerful mantra of "say yes until there's a reason to say no," Shirley's story is...

Whether you're eyeing a CEO role (33%), planning your next strategic move (50%), or positioning for board opportunities (16%), this episode is for ambitious leaders ready to stop waiting and start acting. Fresh from The Great Career Leap masterclass, Melissa breaks down why successful women get stuck in the busy trap - and shares the strategic shifts that create extraordinary careers without sacri...

In this episode of the Brave Feminine Leadership Podcast, Melissa Hamilton sits down with Matt Tice, CEO of Insurgence Group, to uncover the secrets behind navigating disruptive change with an insurgent mindset. From his beginnings as a nuclear engineer with the U.S. Navy to senior roles at Coca-Cola, and now the advisor to many Boards, Matt’s career is rich in energy, agility and awesome experien...

From teaching dance in parks to building an award-winning arts empire, Miss Tee Tamaira Sandifer is rewriting the rules of leadership, resilience, and impact. Hear how this powerhouse leader turned her passion into programs that have transformed over 800,000 lives globally. -----------------------   Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an...

Why do so many women shy away from calling themselves experts? Behavioral scientist and international speaker Penny Locaso shares her groundbreaking research into why women hesitate to own their expertise—and how it’s holding them back. Get inspired, gain practical tools, and learn how to live your impact in this empowering episode. Resources mentioned in this episode: Hidden Figures Whitepaper: h...

In this episode, we're diving into the minds of three incredible leaders who share their insights on staying future-ready in your career. Join us as we hear from Tony Johnson, former CEO of EY in Oceania; Michelle Loader, Managing Director at Future Leadership; and Jacinta Whelan, Lead Partner at Watermark Search International and author of "The Rise of the Interim Executive." Each leader brings a...

Originally shared as a powerful blog, 'It’s Not a Confidence Issue. Except Sometimes It Is.' dives into the hidden challenges faced by accomplished leaders in advocating for themselves. From the emotional toll of navigating male-dominated spaces to the moments of self-doubt even the most confident leaders face, this episode explores why developing skills alone isn’t always enough—and how to step i...

Welcome to the heart of meaningful conversations! On each episode of my podcast, I engage extraordinary leaders with a pivotal question: What is Brave Feminine Leadership does it need to change? Hear the perspectives from Kieran Flanagan (CoFounder of The Behaviour Report), Lisa Lynch (Chief Operating Officer, The Royal Women's Hospital), Alessandra Edwards (Health Scientist & Clinical Nutrion...

Join me, as I sit down with three extraordinary executives: Melanie Silva, Juggy Sihota, and Tammy Medard. In this special episode we dive into the pivotal moments that shaped their careers. From career-defining decisions to overcoming personal and professional challenges, these leaders share their stories with honesty and heart. Tune in to hear about Melanie's love for karaoke, Juggy's journey in...

As we come to the end of another busy year we often stop and reflect on the busy-ness of these times. One of my personal go-to reflections comes from 2 interviews I did - one with Dr Kellie Pritchard Peshek and the other with Kate Christe on the how to identify (and recover from) burnout. So I brought their interviews together for a timely reminder to us all that we need to take better care of our...

In this episode of the Brave Feminine Leadership Podcast, I sit down with internationally acclaimed style expert Jane Vandermeer. Jane shares her insights on how fashion goes beyond the surface, empowering women to show up with confidence, grace, and authenticity. We dive into the transformative power of personal style, the importance of embracing our uniqueness, and Jane’s experiences guiding wom...

Launa Inman, former CEO of Target, Officeworks, and Billabong, shares how being exceptional at her job almost kept her from becoming CEO—and the game-changing advice she received on a plane that changed everything. In this candid conversation, Launa reveals how she navigated pivotal career moments, turned challenges into opportunities, and built her leadership legacy. From engaging long-tenured em...

Welcome to the fifth interview in the 6-part CEO Series Visionary Voices, where I explore the CEO Mindset and path to success. This episode features Lisa Harrison, CEO of Suncorp Consumer Insurance, whose journey from the suburbs of Sydney to leading a major financial organization is both inspiring and refreshingly down-to-earth. Lisa opens up about the deep connection she feels to her organizatio...

Welcome to the fourth interview in the 6-part CEO Series Visionary Voices, where I explore the CEO Mindset and path to success. In this episode, Henriette Rothschild, former CEO of Hayes Group and now a Non-Executive Director at Richmond Football Club and Brown Brothers Wine, shares her journey of building an intentional career that combines her passions with a relentless drive to grow. From stepp...

Welcome to Interview three in the 6-part CEO Series Visionary Voices where I explore the CEO Mindset and path to success. Carolyn Cresswell CEO & Founder of Carman's Kitchen , proves you can have a multinational business, love what you do and genuinely balance all the spinning plates. Carolyn is the ultimate "Multiplying" leader, ensuring her team have what they need to succeed (including disc...

Welcome to Interview two in the 6-part CEO Series Visionary Voices where I explore the CEO Mindset and path to success. What is the journey to growing a CEO Mindset? Just ask Bernie Brookes AM to share his career journey and you get a great roadmap. Bernie shares his inspiring story and the mindset needed to succeed in senior roles. From his humble beginnings as a 10-pound pom to leading large com...

Welcome to Interview One in the 6-part CEO Series Visionary Voices where I explore the CEO Mindset and path to success. Could a light hearted remark spark a wonderful career? You bet! This happened for Jeanne Johns. "If you don't get discovered by the time you're 30, your career is over." This comment was shared by her boss when Jeanne was only 22 or 23 years old. Jeanne thought "Well, that's the...

Are the stories you are telling yourself getting in your way? A panic attack in Bunnings literally stopped Mark Jones in his tracks. For the first time ever, he shares that moment and the painful transition as he faced the prolonged period of stress and anxiety head on. Mark is a master storyteller, highly acclaimed speaker and an optimist with a drive to encourage others to just step forward and...

Short but not so sweet reflection on the latest CEW Executive Census Report. I coupled this with the top 3 things I observe when I mentor senior executive women. Love to hear your thoughts! -----------------------   Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflection, top tips to build an intentional & sustainable life and other things that have captured my attention a...

As High Performing senior leaders, often there is an overarching feeling that our bodies are no longer supporting us. We put on weight even when we are doing everything we know is right. Our confidence falters, we start to question our capability and it feels like we have lost control. Alessandra Edwards, Health Scientist and Clinical Nutritionist, works with incredibly high perfoming executives a...

Does your Team know what winning looks like? How do you zoom out and get an unbiased view of your business? Join as I explore 3 Tips that elevated my influence as a CEO and delivered a focused, aligned team and protected our culture so we could massively scale. Download the CEO Code Webinar workbook here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15DQJKyjJW4A3W5Ijq9fg_Tu9kR1PBFbX/view?usp=drive_link -------...

Operational or Strategic? It's the #1 question leaders reflect on as they move into more senior roles. It's hard to let go of the detail when it has played such a role in your success and your credibility. Join as I reflect with another former CEO on how we got out of the weeds. Who gave us the feedback we needed to hear to grow. -----------------------   Craving inspiration? I send an email each...