Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Beth Clements
Operations Director, ProvenWorks
Reading, Berks, United Kingdom
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
Overseeing and realising our customer success strategy and working with everyone across the team to make sure our customers are supported in the most effective way possible.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
Collaborating with people from all over the world! I have the pleasure of working with a range of organisations from tiny non profits to huge enterprises and the people I meet along the way always bring a smile to my face!
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
Our team! We all support and encourage each other when someone is struggling or lacking in motivation. Knowing someone is only a video call away when I need support is really reassuring.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Breathe! When there are 100 things to do, stop and write down what needs to be done right now. Most tasks are probably not as urgent as you think.
What does generosity mean to you?
Someone dropping everything to be present for you when you need them.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
At ProvenWorks we encourage everyone to be more environmentally friendly! I am as eco-friendly as possible with everything that I do at home and that doesn’t stop at work either! We heavily encourage recycling in the office and share advice for how people can save the planet when working from home too. Simple tips can go a really long way. (I’m more than happy to share my own tips and tricks!)
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Smiling! No matter what the day brings, whenever I’m in a meeting whether it’s with a customer or a member of the ProvenWorks team, I will always smile. Bringing positive energy to calls is so important especially when everyone has been working from home and is probably suffering from Zoom fatigue!
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
Xavier Rudd – We Deserve To Dream (I can’t help but watch the music video every time I put this song on!)
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I’ve recently been involved in raising more awareness of opportunities for women in tech by visiting schools to show students what roles are available within the Salesforce Ecosystem. I can’t wait to carry on with that project this year!
On a personal level, my goal is to get better at surfing! You’ll find me chasing the sun whenever possible in my campervan (and falling off my surfboard into the sea!).
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Eleda Towle
President, Triple Mountain
Hiram, Maine, USA
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
As a small business owner, I do it all, from running our store to receiving and processing incoming consigned collectibles, answering customer inquiries to creating and managing our marketing.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
I’m a horse lover born and raised in the woods of Maine, so my favorite part of the business is getting to talk with horse lovers from all over the world. When you share a passion or a hobby, distance means little, and it brings the world closer together in a positive way.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
With all the emotions these last two years have brought people as they hunkered down, or had to work in dangerous situations, many found relief in reviving a hobby they enjoyed when they were younger. They may have set aside their hobby when life got hectic, but since 2020, it became a lifeline – an escape from the worry that brought back memories of happier times. Because our business is also a lifestyle for me, since I’m a collector, too, I welcome friendships from our customers. This can be both a challenge and a motivator, as I have shared some happy moments in their lives and some terrible ones with them by email and social media. I have been kept in the loop as their real horses get ready to foal, and been blessed with photos of the new babies, and also informed when their family members have passed, or they’ve had to move out of their homes. I have cried with some of them, and carry them all in my heart, but I also feel quite humbly honored that they have chosen to include me into their lives.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
It wasn’t given to me directly, but it’s one I’ve taken to heart: Maya Angelou said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I use that to guide every decision we make here, since the models we sell (we like to say adopt out) often have an emotional component, and we always want to be conscious of that. They’re not “plastic models,” they often carry a deeper meaning for the collector.
What does generosity mean to you?
Generosity for me means trying to find ways to be helpful with whatever resources are available to me. Whether that be my time, processing donated models for the animal shelter charity account we maintain; money we donate to Riding to the Top, our “1% To Charity” beneficiary; or effort, helping promote events where collectors can get together to socialize and learn more about the hobby.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
I believe every business has a responsibility to its customers, community, and the world in which it resides, to make a positive impact. For us that means working toward becoming a B-Corp, which inspired us to power our store mainly by solar, helping support our regional animal shelter (we’ve raised over $10,000 for them since 2016), and participating in roadside cleanup, erosion control efforts, and forest management to promote healthy habitats for wildlife here on the mountain.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
I’ve never been described as “a woman of few words,” so ONE word? Nope, can’t do it! Maybe “driven,” or “compassionate.” There’s always a balance to strike there.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Last autumn we were named DownEast Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for Best Toy Store in Maine, a huge honor for us, since it was our first time being nominated. The publicity has increased both foot traffic and online sales for us, and we’re now in a position to expand our business! We’ve been a Mom & Pop since inception in 2012, and are now considering building a larger store building / warehouse space, and perhaps hiring someone to help part-time. That’s a huge step, both financially and emotionally, as it will mean “letting go” of some of the things I’ve always done myself, but it’s an exciting thought as well. I still have to pinch myself when I think, “I sell plastic ponies for a living. For a LIVING.” It’s my dream job, and it has grown to the point that it needs to expand. That’s mind-blowing.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Shilpa Sharma
Co-founder and CEO, Flyte
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
I’m the co-founder and CEO of Flyte. I manage sales & marketing aspects of our business while closely working with my co-founder on brainstorming product priorities and planning. As a startup founder, legal and hiring are a substantial part of my job so I closely work with our legal partners as well as coordinate with universities and other agencies to hire the best talent.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
I’m always fascinated by tech and how it is helping every aspect of our lives. By being close to customers, I’m able to gather the latest trends and challenges that our customers are facing. This helps me visualize our product roadmap and marketing strategy. I truly enjoy interacting with our customers and building trust with them to deliver the best platform that can help them build their pipeline faster.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
Past two years have been challenging for everyone and there were repercussions on people’s jobs, personal lives and many other aspects that we can’t even imagine.
In these challenging times, the one thing that keeps me motivated is the passion for what I am doing. In the past two years, people came much closer through technology and there were so many programs that supported startups through online mediums.
We were fortunate that we became part of accelerators such as Founder Institute and Techstars that not only guided us in the right direction but also provided immense support through mentorship from accomplished founders and leaders.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
If you strongly believe in what you are doing, keep going! Persistence is the key!
What does generosity mean to you?
Give the gift of education! Make people self-sufficient!
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
Things done with passion and grit always make an impact.
Businesses are built with a goal to create something that can solve problems people are facing in day-to-day life. With tech businesses, be it in hardware or software, companies have been able to achieve 30-40% more productivity through automation resulting in higher revenue or extra time to do innovative tasks. Not just the process level efficiencies, businesses are helping economies generate more jobs and building an ecosystem for next generations.
For example, with Flyte sales and customer success teams can save >30% of their time by automatically logging call notes and improving success rate through advanced analytics. Sales teams are the oxygen for a company and by making them more efficient at their day-to-day work, we’re not only helping a company bring more revenue but also engaging their workforce in more innovative tasks rather than spending hours in documentation.
If we think of a workflow from a CEO or CRO perspective, they’d want to understand the direction their organization is heading into. Through a fully integrated platform, Flyte can provide revenue intelligence as well as customer insights that can help them make key decisions on sales techniques, product priorities and marketing campaigns to achieve better conversion.
We promote education initiatives by pledging to contribute 1% of our time towards non-profit organization.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Fast learner! I have done things for the first time and did it so well that people who were skeptical about my performance in the beginning, appreciated what I achieved in the end!
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
I like violin and guitar instrumentals!
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I am excited to take Flyte to the next level so I’m able to contribute further towards non-profit organizations. I’m passionate about promoting education initiatives across the globe.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Jan D’Alessandro
President, Blue J Strategies & Executive Advisor, Lookout Foundation
San Francisco, California
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
President, Blue J Strategies & Executive Advisor, Lookout Foundation. I run a strategic advisory business helping public, private and nonprofit companies scale through strategic partnerships, with a particular focus on building cohesive social impact programs. In addition to my work leading the Pledge 1% Equity Initiative and work with purpose driven companies, Unagi Scooters and Future Fuel, I advise the Lookout Foundation.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
I love all my clients and most enjoy the ability to work with companies that are committed to giving back to their communities. I am inspired by the deep commitment to giving back that Lookout demonstrates. Lookout joined the Pledge 1% movement with an equity, time, profits and product pledge. I help the Foundation choose impactful nonprofits with which to partner with grants and employee volunteer time in furtherance of their core themes- Women & STEM and Data Privacy and Security. Lookout launched an important conference Day of Shecurity, focused on helping women secure jobs in the cybersecurity industry. The conference now reaches over 1000 women twice a year and is one of the predominant means for helping raise awareness of roles in this lucrative field. Lookout also has an extremely generous employee matching program of $1000 per employee per year. The Lookout Foundation reserves a portion of its budget to address disaster relief. With the matching program, Lookout and our employees joined the Pledge 1% campaigns and contributed over $50,000 to help Indian Covid Relief efforts and over $50,000 to help the people of the Ukraine
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
The ability to use my skills and networks to help purpose driven companies give back to the communities in which we live and work keeps me going.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Do What Matters.
What does generosity mean to you?
Giving back with whatever resources you have.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
Businesses have an enormous responsibility- and opportunity to positively impact the communities in which we live and work. Harnessing the resources at their disposal – employee time, products, profits and relationships with customers and partners is a powerful force multiplier. See above about Lookout.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Positive. I see the world with rose colored glasses, striving to see the best in people and situations. My motto is to “Assume Good Will and Spread Good Cheer.”
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
“Everyone Loves the Sunshine.” Roy Ayers
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I look forward to expanding the impact that we are making with Day of Shecurity to helping more women receive training and resources, and obtaining roles in the cybersecurity industry. I look forward to helping Pledge 1% unlock another 2 billion in new philanthropy, to helping Unagi Scooters give employees of Google and other forward thinking companies the ability to commute to work in a joyful and sustainable way, and to helping Future Fuel give employers like Salesforce and other forward thinking companies the ability to allow their employees to pay down their student debt faster.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Karen Chan
Executive / Project Lead, ADAPTOVATE
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
I am an experienced Agile Coach and Consultant who helps organizations achieve their business transformation objectives using agile frameworks and methodologies. I have led and coached teams at scale from initiation to execution.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
At heart, I’m still a Quality Engineer – I want to make things better. My job gives me the opportunity to create sustainable, impactful change for clients and I’m able to use these skills in my volunteer work to support and strengthen my community and my profession.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
It’s knowing that the outcome I’m trying to achieve is worth the work, effort and time. For example, I believe it’s incredibly important for there to be more women in STEM and in leadership; how I live this belief is by organizing events like Mathletics, mentoring new graduates and young career professionals through the engineering licensing process, and making sure our hiring processes and candidate pools are diverse and inclusive.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Look at things as an opportunity rather than a challenge. This flip in mindset is incredibly powerful.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Organized. One of my managers told me that he didn’t realize organization was a talent until he met me. I enjoy strategic planning because I love seeing things execute well. Being organized helps me to achieve that outcome.
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
Sara Bareilles “Brave” has always resonated with me. Be brave enough to be who you are, speak up and speak out for the things that matter to you. As an Asian woman in engineering and now leadership roles, it’s even more important to make sure I create space for others to be brave enough to be who they are.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Personally, I am looking forward to traveling and family vacations again. Professionally, I am looking forward to continuing to grow our ADAPTOVATE Toronto office. In my volunteer life, I am looking forward to continuing to mentor women through the Women for STEM program at Ontario Tech U and mentoring young professionals through the engineering licensing process. I’ve also been invited to join the WAGE (Women and Gender Equity Canada) Procurement Advisory Group so I am looking forward to developing public policy to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Justine Violante
Vice President of Marketing, Appfire Technologies
Zurich, Switzerland
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
As a leader in a product-led SaaS company, Appfire Technologies, my role is to empower and enable our product marketing organization with strategy and market growth.
I am responsible for a portfolio of 185+ products across 8 solution categories, and lead a team of 13 talented marketers; working closely and cross-functionally with senior leaders managing the channel, product development, engineering and business operations.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
In my time at Appfire, the rapid and constant growth has been the most exciting part of my job, and having the opportunity to scale and shape a talented team that is diverse and inclusive has been the most rewarding experience so far.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
My family – I have three daughters and I strive to give them a strong, confident and positive role model, always.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
It’s all about perspective – listen, ask questions and think laterally
What does generosity mean to you?
Sharing, giving, doing – with no strings or expectations attached.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
Be the change they seek.
I admire the founders of Atlassian who are committed to philanthropic causes not only with words but with action and activism. Mike Cannon-Brookes, the co-founder of Atlassian and climate change advocate, has placed a bid on Australian energy giant AGL to pursue net zero electricity generation, potentially one of the biggest decarbonisation projects globally to be achieved by 2035.
Also, Melanie Perkins (and Atlassian Alumni)and Cliff Obrecht, co-founders of Canva, pledged to donate the majority of their 30% equity to philanthropic projects when they reached their $40billion valuation.
Similarly, at Appfire, all employees have time to give back to our chosen causes. With our commitment to Pledge 1%, we are encouraged to share stories and engage in efforts of generous giving – the most recent example being the rehousing, relocation and assistance team members offered to our colleagues and their families affected by the Ukraine Crisis.
Growth is awesome. Greed is not
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Dynamic
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
(please read the lyrics)
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Meeting my team physically for the first time, celebrating our growth; and exploring new places around the world again.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Semonie Kong
Contingent Workforce Program Specialist, Atlassian
Orlando, FL
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
Advise, educate and support on a wide range of Contingent Workforce issues. Collaborate with cross-functional partners such as Employment Law, HR Operations, Brand & Marketing, Procurement, and Talent Acquisition on Contingent sourcing initiatives, solutions and issues.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy working with different people and building relationships.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
I am motivated by my family and knowing that what I do matters and makes a difference.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
Always be true to who you are and remember your values.
What does generosity mean to you?
Generosity to me means being willing and available to help as needed. Just being kind.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
I think businesses can start by being more inclusive and open. By this I mean, businesses should display this in their day to day operations not just saying it. These are 2 areas in society that cause a disconnect amongst people.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Selfless – I am constantly putting others and their needs ahead of my own. Always thinking of others.
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
To finally taking a trip out of the country – having a real vacation/break.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Brenley Brotman
Vice President, Global Recruiting at Lookout & Chair, Lookout Foundation
San Francisco, CA, USA
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
I lead the talent acquisition team at Lookout, and am responsible for hiring world class talent across our various regions. In addition, I am the Chair of the Lookout Foundation, and we are proud to be part of Pledge 1%.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
Everyday, I get the honor of working with “wicked smart people” who are fundamentally really kind. I am delighted to Chair our Lookout Foundation, where we are supporting non-profits in the places where we live and work. Today in fact, we launched a Global Campaign for our sisters and brothers in the Ukraine. Within one hour of launch, we exceeded our goals. I am humbled by my colleagues each and every day.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
I am driven to make a difference. During these difficult times, people need a reason to feel inspired, to be valued..to be heard. Every day I strive to bring out the best in my team and my peers. Empathy is my secret sauce, and lots of humor doesn’t hurt.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“Behind all anger is fear. If you can wander about without scaring others, you will win at the game of life”. How true that is. Best performance comes from a place of emotional security.
What does generosity mean to you?
There is an old story about two women who are breaking bread together. One of the women held a loaf of bread, tore off a large piece, and handed it over to the other woman. The 2nd woman declined the bread and said, “with a full heart, you will toss the bread to me. When you release the bread into the air, you are releasing the expectation of anything in return”. A truly generous person asks for nothing in return.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
Every single company should have a Foundation, or at least a group of people that want to formalize efforts around “giving back”. In our Lookout Foundation, one of our themes is to support women interested in getting into the field of cybersecurity and other STEM areas. We co-founded “Day of Shecurity“, a place for women to come and learn about cybersecurity. We started small – bringing 25 women together at our Lookout offices in San Francisco. We provided a full day of Cybersecurity training.
At the end of the day, we held a “Capture the Flag” competition. The winner was awarded an all expense paid trip to Defcon (cybersecurity conference).
Fast forward 3 years and 6 events later, 2021’s Day of Shecurity conference attracted over 1700 women from 52 different countries for two days of free training, networking and collaboration (90+ Women Speakers). Just this week, Lookout hired another woman from our last Day of Shecurity event. It’s exhilarating to watch this free program grow in such a meaningful way for women around the world.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Driven. I have internal horsepower that drives me to make a difference in the relationships I build and the opportunities I seek.
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
“Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I’d like to launch a free “Day of Shecurity” Conference for women in India this year. Perhaps 3000 attendees? Let’s do it.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Elaine Abery
Director, Unravelling Red Tape
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences
I deal with complex government requirements on behalf of small and medium sized organizations allowing them to focus on what they do best. I stand with them to develop position statements and advocate for them, their professions, and industries to access high quality government decisions.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
The first meeting with most of my clients usually lasts for a long time and they are often very distressed – sometimes in tears. A few months later, our conversations are much quicker – they say they are confident with me by their side and sleep soundly knowing I am doing my best for them and their situations.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
From a personal perspective, I am known for being an eternal optimist, but in the middle of last year I hit an emotional and physical roadblock – it was like I was operating by habit and laughing less (strange for me). Then, I discovered ocean swimming in the middle of winter. If you look at pictures of ocean swimmers when they come out of the ocean, they are often glowing, especially in winter. And just like that, the invigorating glow of ocean swimming brought back my joy.
From a professional perspective, my clients relied on me to help them navigate complex, constantly changing government decisions around COVID. Sometimes, we think government is an all-knowing entity, but it makes mistakes. For example, many small businesses were excluded from accessing government COVID assistance in Australia due to a turnover test. After discussions with the NSW government, they created a micro-business grant for small businesses struggling due to covid. Just thinking how much this assistance was needed motivates me to keep going.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
When I was fifteen, I was being taken around Frankfurt-am-Main by a childhood friend of my grandmother. She said “everything is not black and white Elaine. There are so many colours of life in between.” Those words continue to open my perspective on life, events and people.
What does generosity mean to you?
When I was living in Malawi, working with orphaned and other vulnerable children, I would often go for long walks. People would call out “Muzungu,” (white person) and invite me into their homes. I would squat on the ground with men, women and children who gave me half their meal and insisted, with a broad smile, that I start eating before they did. I felt guilty taking half their food for that day or week. Many times, I tried to give them their food back, but this was met with confusion. True generosity is giving what you cannot afford.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
This is the reason I left behind my safe salary and set up my business. I love empowering people to change the law – to make it more equitable to help people do good stuff for society. Sometimes, government decisions just don’t make sense, or make the world a better place.
I have a particular passion for advocating for front line health workers, especially given their contribution during the challenging COVID years. One particular example is a highly specialised medical profession approached me after they received a large salary cut in the Federal Budget. This occurred due to some issues in the consultation process. I worked with them to have the Budget decision turned around and ensure they were treated equitably, in line with similar medical professions.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
LOL. I have an infectious laugh. My friends joke they never need my address when I move – they just follow the laughter.
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I want to do all the ocean swims in and around Newcastle and take the time to go places regularly and get back into rock climbing.
From a business perspective, as a woman I have struggled to own my successes. I am working with my business coach to stop feeling like I need to apologise for being great at what I do and charging to do something that adds value to so many associations, charities and businesses.