Fire and Forte

Hannah is joined by previous guests of Fire and Forte to discuss Ageism. Let's get beyond the headlines. What is Ageism? And what do we do about it? Some members of the Fire and Forte crew got together to discuss the topic, and the conversation was insightful & at times surprising. - What is the reality of ageing, versus the stereotype? - How does the media shape this? - What can life look...

Natasha is a Research Fellow in Psychology at the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute. Starting her career in fashion, she later decided to study psychology which sparked an interest in the attitudes and stereotypes towards ageing. Discussing the predominantly negative stereotypes we're fed from a young age, Natasha shares a number of studies and her own research that explain why that can impact our...

Sharon Handelman-Gotlib is driving a revolution in Health. The development and impact of FemTech is her life mission, wanting to ensure women at all stages of their life benefit from better health care and smoother journeys via diagnosis, treatment and so on. Her forte is innovation, and during the pandemic she began studying what startups and tech solutions were around that supported women's...

Peace Mitchell is the CEO and co-founder of The Women’s Business School and AusMumpreneur. She is also a TedX speaker, author and investor. Her passion to empower female entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential motivated her to launch AusMumpreneur with sister Katy Garner. Now with 70,000 followers, education has helped empower thousands to thrive and build profitable businesses that crucially...

In an age where women were told "you can have it all", Danika Johnston's media career grew vertically, at the same time as she was raising her family. Throw in a pandemic and juggling it all was a challenging reality many women can relate to.  It was when she reached 42 that she found a new lease of life - focusing on getting fit and healthy, and unleashing her creativity on a side h...

40 year-old Nicki Price is unrecognisable from 29 year-old Nicki. The Publicist and founder of Priceless Media is an expert in promoting the careers of her clients. But her personal transformation is one of the best stand out stories. Dealing with low self esteem and confidence issues throughout her younger years, it was approaching her 40th birthday that made her realise it would take action to c...

If Jules Brooke ruled the world, we’d soon have gender equality. In a ruthless pursuit to make women more visible in business, she is known as “the woman who mentions another woman’s name in a room full of opportunities”. The founder of Handle PR and the She's The Boss network and podcast talks with host Hannah Maude about how women can support one another, and grow in confidence. Topics -The...

A buyer in a bricks and mortar retail business for 25 years, Helen moved into a digital, Omni-channel role in 2018. Two years later, Covid hit, having an unprecedented impact on the Food retailer she worked for - so her move had seemed well timed. Leading through others whilst integrating ways of working across digital and physical part of the business has been key. Helen talks to host Hannah Maud...

Founding a Tech Start-Up was not something Lawyer Jeannie-Marie expected even 3 years ago. However, her personal experience of having her mother, Robyn, in aged care inspired her. Communication was an ongoing challenge relying on phone calls between the care home staff and her family, which could easily be missed but also take up the time of a nurse that could be caring for a resident with that ti...

Nicole Crivelli has a fantastic career path that demonstrates how we can utilise strengths, experience whilst learning & acquiring new skills. From Accountant, to Digital Roles into the new emerging tech world of blockchain and NFT's, she has done just that. Her career path included roles in Accounting and Finance, Sales, to Ecommerce & Digital Marketing and then wait for it, Cloud acc...

As an Executive Assistant for 20 years, Cos took the decision to retrain and move into Cyber Security. She was motivated by her own experience of identity theft. With 1 in 4 Australians having had their identity stolen, this terrible experience meant Cos wanted to educate people on protecting themselves and also workplaces. As an analyst and educator in one of Australia’s largest superannuation fu...

Georgie Hubbard is the co-founder of two Tech-focused businesses. Along with her business partner Pam Caldwell, Georgie recruits for technical roles across Australia with their business CH solutions. The two also embarked on an initiative to get more women into Web 3, founding The Sisterhood Club last year. The platform is focused on educating and empowering women around tech and regularly brings...

There's a Tech Skills shortage, a problem with productivity and a gigantic gender wealth gap. There are however, millions of women, in work and in need of work who have life and work experience that should they upskill or retrain in tech areas, could make a serious dent in such areas. Fire and Forte has been a passion project of Host Hannah Maude, sharing the achievements of women 'on Fire...

Sherika has made some big bets on herself in life. Each time she’s landed better than before. After a decade driving representation at tech companies such as Google, she turned 40 and decided it was time to pause and reflect. Now on a well deserved career break, she talks to us about her career, and what could be next.   The under representation of women in Tech, in Leadership, and across bus...

Group CEO of River Media Group, Nicki Murphy has stayed independently owned in almost 30 years of business. How? By staying relevant for her clients, their businesses and consumers. But also through finding meaning, both in her personal life and with how the business gives back. Evident through the establishment of REFLECT, the UK's first Diversity & Inclusion Talent Management for influencers...

"I feel amazing about turning 40. It's the decade I am allowed to be myself"   Jocelyne Royer is a marketing expert who cut her teeth working on luxury brands such as Bentley. Her career is a series of decisive, proactive actions - getting an idea, and making it happen through action. Now with a wealth of knowledge around how to build and reposition brands, she is moving into new technology....

Maribelle Malo Who has heard of the 4 day week? How many would like to ask for flexible working arrangements, but are not too sure how to? Do you have to quit your job to set up your own business? Not necessarily. Mariebelle Malo is a consultant with a purpose - to make work more productive, and more meaningful. She founded her own technology start up 8 years ago and to help her do this, asked her...

Founder of the Circular Economy Pioneers, Chelsea McLean moved into the environmental space at 40. Her approach was proactive and intentional.  5 years later her knowledge and passion around the Circular Economy is contagious. She is on a mission to equip young people with the tools they need to help us solve our environmental issues - telling us why and how many of us need to shift our linea...

Sarah had a huge year the year she turned 40. She passed a law degree, got married and bought her first home with partner Peter - she also underwent two rounds of IVF. Fair to say she is the poster girl for IT IS NEVER TOO LATE! Sarah talks through the experience of undergoing invitro fertilisation (IVF) and then the joy of becoming a mother in her 40's. Having had a daughter at 24, she shares how...

Lisa knew she'd have to fulfil her career ambitions by taking a less traditional route - living in rural Queensland when all the action was in the city. Lisa created her own career path, building her ESG consultancy firm the Caffrey Group that saw her working with CEO's and Boards, and finding solutions to motherhood and rural life. Now one of only 14% of Female Chairs in Australia, Lisa shares wi...

Futurist, Diversity Expert and Social Entrepreneur Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen shares her mission with us and how she has had the guts to go and make things happen. The CEO and Founder of Tech Girls Movement and STEMfest is full of Fire for her purpose.   Chapters 00.38 Introduction Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen OAM ‘Passion and Purpose’  09.55 What is STEMfest?  19:20 Women in Tech and My Journey...

Katy Graczer is on fire at 49. The original party girl, brought up in North London, had begun drinking as a teenager, and her love of fun meant margaritas were part of life. As her corporate career took off she found drinking was wrapped into her identity - drinking at conferences or when travelling for work.   At 45, however, fed up with the anxiety and wasted time, she stopped, an...

What's it like to be a woman in Tech? Do you have to code? What about transferrable skills, can we move into Tech later in our careers? Anna Liebel answers this and more. Her formidable career has taken her from coding at the age of 8 to being voted one of the Top 50 Chief Information Officers in Australia. She has worked for SEEK, Telstra and UniSuper - the latter servicing a board customer base...

Tammy Maggs is a Digital artist and mom. A few years ago, her world changed as she describes having an identity crisis - her children going to college and a life changing injury stopping her from doing the career she loved.  Accepting her health was to change forever took time.  However, as Tammy spent time at home trying to find a way out, she began to explore online communities and med...

A modern leader who believes the wellbeing of her team directly links to the wellbeing of her business, Silvia Wiesner talks about how she believes in helping her team flourish, share a vision and deliver in good and challenging times.   Silvia is the Managing Director Unilever Belgium, she is a Young Leader of the World Economic Forum, and is also a Mum.  "I don't believe in the superwo...