Who am I? My Story…
I'm a mum, a partner of 25 years, a daughter, a sister, an auntie... the list of labels could go on! And professionally, I've worn many hats: accountant, team lead, project manager, software developer (I use this one loosely!), support manager, consultant, national manager of service delivery, business owner, and leadership coach. It's quite a list, and each title has shaped who I am today.
This is a long blog post, so grab a cuppa and settle in!!
Way back as an 18-year-old, I started my career as an Accountant, working full-time for a Perth chartered accounting firm whilst studying a commerce degree part-time. Five long years later, with studies complete, I packed my bags and travelled the world. I worked for companies like Reuters in London, right on Fleet Street, down the road from St Paul's Cathedral. There, I consolidated results from daily foreign exchange trading back in the days when each country had its own currency, long before the Euro.
After a fantastic six-week break travelling Italy with my parents, I took on a new role with British Telecom. This is where I held my first Team Lead position; pretty scary stuff as a 24-year-old.
I remember after day one as a Team Lead, I called someone very dear to me, a trusted advisor and friend who had worked in corporate for many years as a manager himself – my Dad. I let out all my insecurities to him; I questioned why I ever thought I'd be able to manage a team of people when all I had was a degree and five years' experience under my belt.
He simply listened, then started asking me questions about the eight people in my team. As we spoke, my nerves calmed. The only advice he gave me was to get to know them and build up their trust. We talked through my approach for day two, and our conversation ended.
I didn’t know it at the time, but Dad was coaching me. He got me to dig within myself to come up with my approach, to realise that if I played to my strengths of honesty and empathy, with a sprinkle of Aussie humour and sarcasm, we would get along just fine.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing leading a team that was culturally diverse and more senior in years than myself, but what a learning experience! I phoned "my friend" multiple times that year and truly grew as a manager and a person. Every role from then on, in my next 20-year career, included a component of people management and leadership.
My travels eventually took me to 16 countries in 45 days on a Contiki camping tour (awesome fun!), I bought a Pontiac and drove across the wide lands of the USA and Canada for six months, and immersed myself in anonymity by living in London for three years before mobile phones became the norm.
A dear friend and I seeing the sights of London
After meeting my partner Nick in London, the year 2000 brought us back to Sydney. Let's face it, Perth felt way too small after London, and we lived the partying lifestyle for four years, surrounded by a beautiful bunch of humans.
Those travel experiences taught me something invaluable about adaptability and connecting with people from all walks of life – skills that would prove essential in every leadership role I'd take on. Whether it was navigating cultural differences in my London team or building rapport with diverse clients across Australia, those early adventures shaped how I approach relationships and communication.
The decision to start a family led us back to Perth, the ideal place to raise kids and afford a family home. By this time, accounting had taken somewhat of a back seat to the introduction of systems and technology in the mining industry.
The software called “Hyperion”, as it was known back in the day, became my focus. I was lucky enough to join an organisation that were "my people," and little did I know that I would be surrounded by them for 12 solid years!
We grew from a crew that could squeeze into a tiny meeting room, then a larger boardroom, to ultimately filling a stadium – all while ensuring that culture remained key. I worked with complete gurus and a team of people that made it easy to go to the office every single day.
I held a variety of roles in that organisation and ultimately started and grew the Support arm of the practice. Being National Support Manager of the analytics department was more than just a title; it was an honour to lead and hold a seat at the table.
I do miss those times, but what I have learned from all my days working with organisations is precisely what makes me the coach I am able to be today. It's about truly understanding people and being authentic in my communication. Every challenging conversation, every team dynamic I navigated, every culture I helped build – it all informs how I support my clients now.
Our family grew once we hit Perth, and my kids are now 18 and 16 – they are the world to me. However, my Cavoodle named Gypsy is undeniably my favourite child!
The support that I have given my family over time has come back to me tenfold since I started my own business. The interest, the encouragement, the shared celebration of successes, the commiserations at the losses – they are there for it all. I am blessed.
Hats off to you if you've read my story to this point! I feel like getting to know the person behind the picture, the person that generally hides in the background, is important if you are going to engage with them in coaching.
Lessons I Learned About Leadership Along the Way:
Be authentic and relatable – it's the foundation for building trust and rapport. Leadership is not static – always be available to grow and learn.
Knowing your limits and instilling life balance is essential – for yourself and your team. Find your people – a strong support system makes all the difference.
Support systems will ensure that successes are celebrated, and lessons are taken on the chin.
I have loved reliving my story by recapping it on paper. My work story is one I treasure and have grown so much from.
