Theia Gabatan
Grant Programs and Impact Lead, Blackbird Foundation
📍Brisbane, Australia
What qualities do you think leaders need to have in today’s world?
Empathy, adaptability, and strong conviction.
If you had to describe your leadership style in one word, what would it be and why?
I’d say curiosity. I think being curious about the problems I’m solving, being curious about different solutions, and being curious about people and their ideas has served me really well. Asking good questions and seeking out what is true also means you can make better decisions that aren’t purely based on emotion alone.
How does your company’s Pledge 1% program help shape the kind of workplace culture you believe in?
Our mission at the Blackbird Foundation is to unleash creativity in young people. To us, creativity can take many forms and shapes – we don’t think of it as existing squarely in the domain of the arts. Creativity can be evident in startups, in technology, in finance, in science, in sports, and in many other fields and industries. Through our work, we grant creative individuals who are bringing their passions to life. We spotlight these stories with our team, and over the past few years, we’ve seen a real shift in how our workplace views and values creativity. We’ve also seen a renewed and genuine interest in supporting young people to be creative. There’s much more enthusiasm and dialogue around how to support and nurture creativity and passion projects in young people.
This year marks the 7th year of Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead campaign. How can companies champion and support female leadership?
I can only speak to my experience, but what has been true for me at Blackbird and the Blackbird Foundation is that the best way to champion and support emerging female leaders is simply to give them the space to lead their own projects and to do them in their own way.
If you could write a note to your younger self on her first day of work, what would it say?
Back yourself, trust your instincts, and do what feels right. Your first instinct is probably right – don’t talk yourself out of it.
