Brave Feminine Leadership

Together Bob Rae and I discuss the lessons he absorbed from his mother as the corporate executive - painting an exciting vision far from his coal mining hometown. The hard work and customer ethics from his entrepreneurial father and the benefit of his psychology degree in understanding and leading people. Bob moved often to chase growth and stretch himself to the edge of his capabilities, his advi...

Self-awareness and asking for feedback is critical for any leader. So is listening and changing. Join Michelle Winzer and I as we discuss how she let go of perfectionism, viewed her “selfish” decision to undertake an MBA as the best investment she ever made and her way of tackling the inner critic who sits on her shoulder. Michelle is a truly brave feminine leader. Open, down to earth, vulnerable,...

The advice of a good friend is something we all need to hear sometimes. Luckily for Richmond Football Club, Peggy O'Neal listened and stepped fully into the role of President. Join Peggy and I as we discuss the critical role sport plays in lifting respect for women, gut feel, being perceived as “too soft”, deep community engagement and stepping away from an established & successful career when...

Join Christina Ryan and I as we pull the threads of her extraordinary career and discuss how the focus on gender is impacting women with disability, how our natural leadership qualities get damaged, burn-out and how to drive change based on the 3 incredible things she learned from her mentors. Christina has been an active leader in the Australian disability community for over 20 years, working at...

Join Jo and I as we discuss what she believes is the greatest unlocker to an exciting life and happiness, why starting out with no network is ok, the leadership book she reads every year and why an incredible female leader was the drawcard for her to choose L’Oreal to start her career. Jo Horgan, MECCA Brands Founder and Co-CEO opened her first Mecca Cosmetica store in the Melbourne suburb of Sout...

Supporting gender diversity is the fair thing to do. Join Peter and I as we discuss his leadership lessons, his reflections on the mistakes he made, his decision to share financial success across the whole organisation. He has dealt with some serious business issues in his time in the Insurance industry which isolated him from his senior leadership team. It was in these moments that he realised ho...

Diane Smith Gander has had a varied 40 year business career in banking and consulting and is a non-executive director. She is currently Chair of ZipCo and DDH1, Chair elect of HBF Health and is a non-executive director of AGL Energy. Diane is a keen advocate for gender equity and is a past president of Chief Executive Women. In her own words she shares her leadership style had “hairs on it” and ho...

One curious question led to a worldwide journey to meet every living female president and prime minister. It then led to the creation in 1996 of the Council of Women World Leaders. Laura is the Secretary General of the Council and a Former Managing Director & Senior Advisor, Goldman Sachs & Co. She is Laura is the author of four books: The Loudest Duck - Moving Beyond Diversity, The Elepha...

Born in a Kenyan refugee camp and moving to Australia at the age of 10, Anyier is the founder and CEO of Miss Sahara, celebrating the diversity of Women of African heritage in Australia. Anyier is a passionate advocate for women and girls rights, refugee and gender equality, the potential of sport, youth participation and improving the representation of minority groups in Australia. Soak in her en...

Elle Roseby is the Managing Director of Country Road. Named the most influential retailer in Ragtrader’s Power 30, she is regarded as an authority in strategic brand development and retail management. Over 30 years, Elle has risen through the ranks of some of Australia’s most respected retailers, including Myer, Sportsgirl and Supré, her tenures at the latter two cementing her reputation as someon...

I am glad I met Alister Dias, Vice-President, Google Cloud Australia and New Zealand. Alister shares his own story for the first time in this conversation. It is not the story of typical privilege we hear from so many leaders who dominate our corporate landscape. It is a story of perseverance and optimism, a story of racism, loss and hard work. Make time for this conversation. --------------------...

Ana Marinkovic is privileged to lead Australia’s largest Small Business Bank and look after the needs of 500,000 businesses nationally. She is a lifelong learner, global citizen and passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity and has been volunteering and mentoring women from disadvantaged backgrounds for over a decade. Everyone has a story and often it takes a long ti...

Tables are turned. I’m in the hot seat. In this episode, you will hear my very own story of transformation. The journey from being a CEO leading teams of 5,000 through my breast cancer diagnosis and slowly out the other side with a picture of what I didn’t want to do and no idea of what I actually wanted to do. Penny Locaso, in her Podcast Hacking Happy turns the tables on me. I am the Founder of...

With an innate sense of curiosity, Cookie loves to learn. She indulges herself in a continuous self-improvement learning cycle and even has her own Instagram page to share her latest recommendations in the self-development genre. Despite her passion, Cookie found herself ready for the next step but unsure of how to ask for it. Find out how she got her brave on in our Meet our Graduate series. ----...

Every podcast I ask incredible leaders the important question: What is Brave Feminine Leadership and what needs to change? In this episode, I have curated a real treat for you with over 20 replies from outstanding leaders including Ann Sherry, Rabia Siddique, Laura Berry, Lousie Adams, Natalie Charles, Sangeeta Venkatesan, Penny Locaso, Sarah Harden, Professor Laura Kray, Mani Thiru, Natalie Walke...

Sue is a brilliant example of the incredible women who join our Brave Feminine Leadership Masterminds.  A highly successful Retail Executive with a career that spans South Africa, the UK and Australia.  She found me as a result of my very first interview series at a time in her life where she was assessing the next career step.  Sue is a dynamic, ambitious and a strong leader who is open and hones...

Traditionally many females, including so many of the incredible female executives I have interviewed, operate on the belief that if I work hard, put my head down and excel, then I will be offered a promotion or a pay rise. That’s an old story. You can create your own opportunities. Dr. Michelle Perugini is inspirational. Fascinated by the human body from a young age she was into STEM from day one....

Georgie is a passionate advocate for gender equality, is involved in the Tech Girls are superheroes competition and is focused on her next venture. Together we discuss the lonely life of a solo female founder, how she is doing it differently this time around, her inner voice that always says “yes”, mothers guilt and the critical need to make time for deep thinking. Georgie is a self-professed tech...

Could you take away your safety net? Would your drive and faith be so strong that you could back yourself to succeed? Nathalie is the Founder and CEO of Splashup. I was blown away by Nathalie’s pragmatic approach to using what many consider obstacles, as an opportunity to learn and fill her Founder success tool kit. Enjoy my conversation with Nathalie as we unpack imposter syndrome being the daily...

Meggie Palmer is doing what she was born to do. Founder of PepTalkHer she is ensuring that the gender pay divide is front and centre of the conversation and laying the foundations to shift the unconscious bias for change. Join Meggie and I as we discuss the critical value of your own cheer squad and how standing up for your beliefs can be isolating but worth the risk. -----------------------   Cra...

The Founder of Share the Dignity addressing period poverty in Australia – and soon globally, Rochelle is passionate about using her voice to support the many women without one. Together we discuss her explosive start, networking as critical and that to do good things, you need to get in the right room with the right people. A self-described accidental social entrepreneur, Rochelle didn’t start wit...

Sam and I discuss one of the worst things you can do is compare yourself to others, and the peace that comes from realising that no one is watching you that closely. Hear our frank and refreshing conversation as Sam takes us on her self-described journey of the “asshole years” to the “nearly lose it all years”. Both experiences have fuelled her belief in the magic of business. --------------------...

As one of the Founders of Gardenuity, Donna Letier has created a matchmaking site with a difference. Person to Plant. Donna shares her global upbringing, the challenges facing a female founder, the strength of a good team and how sometimes a “no” means not now. Discover how Donna embraces imposter syndrome. -----------------------   Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership...

Jo and I discuss; working in breakfast radio when it was “run by cowboys”, growing up influenced by a feminist, activist and optimist mother and how she worked out that it was a necessity to bring her vulnerability and authenticity to her work. If you have not yet met Jo; you are in for a real treat. -----------------------   Craving inspiration? I send an email each Sunday about leadership reflec...

Michael was most recently Group Executive of Enterprise at Telstra (2018 -2020), leading a growing business of $8bn and 8,000 employees. Prior to that, he was the CEO and Managing Director of SBS from 2011 - 2018. In 2017, Michael was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for this service to Broadcast Media and Multicultural Affairs. Michael recalls the time he was the only male in the r...