Leading Women

https://feed.podbean.com/leadingwomen/feed.xml

33.5K

Downloads

Episodes

Explore the ’now’ and look at what’s ahead for the future of female leadership as we hear from women at the forefront of change and innovation. Season 5 of Leading Women features dynamic, inspiring and resilient women from different industries and sectors, who are paving the way for our collective future. Join Shivani Gopal, a trailblazer in women’s empowerment and financial inclusion, as she goes beyond ’business as usual’ to bring you real stories of women – both challenges and successes – from across the Australian business and community landscape. In this new season, we amplify the voices of those who are future-focused, explore successful business strategies and look at the state of technological advancements. Gain actionable tips for making effective decisions and experience-backed insights to add to your toolkit. If you’re an established executive, aspiring leader, or passionate about supporting transformative leadership, this podcast is your go-to resource. Don’t just adapt to the future of leadership—shape it. Welcome to Season 5 of Leading Women.

Episodes

Friday Sep 03, 2021

Leading Women - Season 2 Trailer

Friday Sep 03, 2021

Join host Rebekah Campbell, Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker and Mentor for Season 2 of Leading Women where together we shift business leadership from aspirational to actionable.

Don’t miss an episode as we share in warm connections and rich relatable experiences with women leading business across the country.

Monday Sep 20, 2021

Cecily McGuckin, CEO & Managing Director of Queensland Steel & Sheet on building leadership confidence

Monday Sep 20, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Cecily McGuckin, CEO & Managing Director of Queensland Steel & Sheet. Cecily leads with integrity, gut instinct and a no-ego rule as the foundations for a successful culture and talks about building leadership confidence through tough experiences.

Key insights

(01:17) What is the story of Cecily’s leadership journey and what does she do differently?

Cecily brings three key areas to the table. She focuses on her gut instinct, her emotional intelligence and on asking a lot of questions. When she got involved in the business, one of the things she started off with very early was asking questions and getting perspectives from everyone. Cecily travelled the world, saw steel mills, and all of their customers. She also spent time with her staff so she could understand every aspect of the business that she was walking into.

(05:55) What was the reaction from staff when Cecily started rising through the ranks?

In a very male dominated industry, when Cecily came on board, the company didn’t have any female members of staff. She faced a number of challenges including the fact that there were no women in the business and the fact that she was the owner's daughter. So these were two areas which made it really challenging when she joined the organisation.

(18:44) How does Cecily navigate between letting people go and supporting her team and company culture?

Cecily makes sure she looks at all the facts to ensure she is making the right call for the business as a whole. When she looks at letting someone go, it’s about making sure the business is best placed to keep on succeeding. She communicates with the rest of the team and gives information as to why the decision was made.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html

Host of the Leading Women podcast, Rebekah Campbell is a high-profile entrepreneur and public speaker who spoke at TEDx Sydney (2012). Rebekah is co-founder of payments app Hey You and author of the book ‘138 Dates’ published by Allen & Unwin in 2021. Rebekah was named a Woman of Influence in 2015 and APEC Young Woman Innovator. She was the host and curator of the City of Sydney's virtual event series 'Reboot', supporting 18,000 Sydney business owners to recover from the impact of COVID in 2020 / ‘21. If you’re interested in learning more about Rebekah visit her website: www.rebekahcampbell.com

The Leading Women podcast is proudly brought to you by Commonwealth Bank. The series is produced by Nicole Hatherly, recorded at RadioHub Studios with post production by Cooper Silk and Iain Wilson.

Things you should know: Guests featured in the podcast are speaking from their personal experiences only. As this podcast has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, you should, before acting on the content consider its appropriateness to your circumstances. CommBank does not necessarily endorse the views of a particular individual or guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.

Monday Oct 04, 2021

Kelly Taggart, CEO of Roses Only Group on leading with creativity and intuition

Monday Oct 04, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Kelly Taggart, CEO of Roses Only Group. Kelly leads with creativity and intuition and uses data to back her decisions. With a burning desire to grow a business, Kelly boldly stepped beyond the finance role and into the CEO seat. Today, we talk about leading teams with a focus on results and outputs, the importance of a considered hiring process and onboarding experience, and how instilling an owner's mindset encourages the team to thrive.

Key Insights

(01:32) How does Kelly describe her leadership journey?

Kelly recalled a conversation with her father who said “you never know who your next boss will be and you never know who will end up working for you”. This sparked the idea that she could lead anyone, not just someone younger or less experienced than her. Kelly began her journey at Roses Only Group as an accountant, and quickly moved to managing the finance and contact centre teams. She then became COO, before rising to CEO.

(13:52) What are Kelly’s thoughts on onboarding and how the process can establish culture?

For Kelly, the onboarding experience is just as important as the hiring process. A great deal of time is spent hiring the right person, a leader should onboard them into the company culture. This, for Kelly and the Roses Only Group, includes meeting the team and helping them to understand how different teams impact their roll. Kelly encourages a thorough onboarding process to help new employees feel comfortable to speak up with new ideas and fresh perspectives.

(21:44) What has Kelly learnt from managing a team of 300 people?

Communication is everything. For Kelly, it is so important to communicate in many ways to ensure everyone hears your message and that communication is to be done with positivity.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html  

The Leading Women podcast is proudly brought to you by Commonwealth Bank.  The series is produced by Nicole Hatherly, recorded at RadioHub Studios with post production by Cooper Silk and Iain Wilson.

Monday Oct 18, 2021

Tanya Van Der Water, CEO of Buckaroo Leatherworks on the responsibility of delivering quality Australian-made products

Monday Oct 18, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Tanya Van Der Water, CEO of Buckaroo Leatherworks. Tanya openly shares the challenges, risks and rewards in taking over an iconic family business. She also talks about the advantages of failing fast, the power of a brand story and the responsibility of delivering quality Australian-made products.

Key Insights

(01:32) How does Tanya describe her leadership journey?

There’s no Cinderella story to Tanya’s leadership journey. She started with a small business mentality and approach to decision-making, communication and staff engagement. When Tanya took on the leadership role, it gave her an opportunity to develop a growth path for herself and the company.

(08:14) What are the risks that Tanya took that brought the company to the next level?

Tanya took on a go hard or go home approach. She wanted to make her mark as a second-generation owner. One of the risks that Tanya took was cutting about 60% of Buckaroo’s product line in order to become specialists in leather tool belts.

(22:52) What tool can Tanya share with the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Tanya shares an African proverb; to get lost is to learn the way. For Tanya, losing your path or making mistakes does not mean you’ve failed, it provides the opportunity to forge a new path, grow and develop. It’s in these experiences you find the courage to continue.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html  

Monday Nov 01, 2021

Gill Minervini, Director of Vivid Sydney and Gill Minervini Creative on the importance of bringing stakeholders on the journey

Monday Nov 01, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Gill Minervini, Director at Vivid Sydney and Gill Minervini Creative. Gill shares how she creates memories that last long after the lights go out, the importance of bringing stakeholders on the journey and her simple superpower that gets her through everything.

Key Insights

(00:34) How does Gill describe her leadership journey?

Gill started out as an actor and theatre director. At the time there was no events industry, per se, but Mardi Gras was hiring a festival director. Gill found the skills required were very similar to those of a theatre director and got the job. Mardi Gras was her first epic journey in events and her love of events that changed hearts and minds grew from there.

(06:17) How does Gill get people to think these big out of the box ideas?

Thinking out of the box is one of those terms that Gill sort of argues with because for her, not everyone’s box is the same. It’s about knowing what your audience expects and then thinking outside of that.

(23:19) What tool can Gill share with the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Gill shares that it’s important to remember why you’re doing something, to go back to the source. She reminds herself and her team that they’re not just putting on an event, they’re actually creating a memory for someone.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html  

Monday Nov 15, 2021

Judith Barker, CEO, St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. on the crucial role that empathy plays.

Monday Nov 15, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Judith Barker, CEO of St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. on the crucial role that empathy plays, the power of saying yes and how leadership can come from anyone at any time in the workplace.

Key Insights

(01:30) How did Judith start her leadership journey?

Judith started almost 25 years ago in WA working for the ambulance service as a paramedic. As she became more confident in her role, Judith realised that she needed challenge and change to keep herself stimulated and interested. Judith started saying yes to any opportunities that came her way, and began to recognise her strengths and where she needed improvement. So she continually searched for opportunities that would complement her education and grow her skill set.

(12:08) Was there ever a time where Judith felt that maybe she shouldn’t be in her position?

Imposter syndrome is something Judith has felt throughout her career. When being the only woman in the room, it’s especially easy to feel like you don’t belong. To overcome this feeling, Judith regularly checked in with herself to reassure herself that actually, she did belong in that room and knew she had something worthwhile to contribute.

(25:47) What tool can Judith share with the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Judith shares that you can’t do this alone and you have to know your people, know your tribe and know who you can turn to because it can be a lonely job at the top.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html  

Monday Nov 29, 2021

Clare Morgan, Executive General Manager Small Business Banking, Commonwealth Bank on redefining success

Monday Nov 29, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Clare Morgan, Executive General Manager Small Business Banking, Commonwealth Bank. Clare shares how redefining success supports self-leadership, lessons in leading from the eye of a GFC storm and the one simple factor that can derail your leadership.

Key Insights

(01:20) How did Clare start her leadership journey?

Clare got to where is today with a combination of hard work, opportunity and good timing along the way. After working in investment banking for a few years, she realised what drove people was teamwork. Clare decided to study a postgraduate degree in the US looking at psychology and how to optimise team performance which she brought back into the financial services industry.

(14:28) What did Clare learn through her experience working in New York during the GFC?

Clare developed a sense of perspective, of needing to stay grounded and a newfound appreciation for her support network. She realised her identity wasn’t defined by her job or her title and convinced herself she was stronger for it. Clare almost felt embarrassed that she had been part of the crisis, but when she returned to Australia, she was fascinated to find people were interested to hear what her experience was like and the learnings they could take from it.

(21:16) What is Clare’s definition of success?

Success for Clare is being healthy, connecting with people, giving energy to those around her and learning. Clare has a curious mind and a love for learning. For her, if she can enjoy all of these things, Clare feels like she is having a good life.

(22:00) What tool can Clare share to the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Clare shares the framework around growth mindset, and a quote, ‘there is no growth in the comfort zone and there is no comfort in the growth zone.’ She shares the importance of looking at every opportunity through the lens of how can she grow? What can she learn?

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html  

Monday Dec 13, 2021

Brigid Price, Founder, Rural Resources Online on diversity in agriculture and leading an intergenerational rural family business

Monday Dec 13, 2021

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Brigid Price, Founder, Rural Resources Online on diversity in agriculture and leading an intergenerational rural family business. Brigid shares insights on the value of storytelling, the responsibility of stepping up and the role technology plays in the succession of emerging leaders.

Key Insights

(01:34) How did Brigid start her leadership journey?

Brigid was working as a finance manager for Queensland Health when she met and married a farmer. Two and a half decades later, she is now part of an intergenerational farming business as the business and compliance manager. Brigid has always been curious by nature and thinks she can learn something from everyone and every interaction. She’s fortunate that her parents encouraged her to say yes to opportunities. It was instilled in her the importance of serving others and contributing from the perspective that if you can do something, you should.

(05:58) What important lesson did Brigid learn that made her a better advocate for diversity?

It’s not capacity or capability that women lack, but it’s essentially more about confidence,

connections and clarity in terms of where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do. Brigid shares that it’s important for women to connect with other women and have role models.

(21:49) What tool can Brigid share with the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Brigid shares her strategy on how to manage that overwhelming to do list. The solution is to align with your values. When you have to make decisions or if you’re in a situation where you’re a bit torn, you can look at how you can operate in alignment with your values to make the decision.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html  

Monday Feb 07, 2022

Samantha Read, CEO of Chemistry Australia on manufacturing, diversity and mentorship.

Monday Feb 07, 2022

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Samantha Read, CEO of Chemistry Australia about manufacturing, diversity and mentorship. Samantha shares the power of backing yourself, leading with strategic thinking and creating formidable partnerships to ensure a more sustainable future.

Key Insights

(01:22) How did Samantha start her leadership journey?

Samantha’s journey didn’t start with one Big Bang moment; her leadership journey has been developing through her career. Samantha started as a research engineer with BHP and was fortunate enough to be nominated for the Committee for Melbourne for their Future Focus Group, which was a two-year leadership experience with other merging leaders. However, her first people leadership role was as a superintendent in a steel mill. It was a challenging environment at the time as a woman. She had four crews of eight operators, shift supervisors and maintenance.

(12:11) Partnerships can be hard but how does Samantha approach partnerships?

Samantha thinks it’s important to understand whether there's a cultural and values fit. Reflecting on partnerships she has formed, they have emerged due to common needs and objectives and the opportunity to make or have a greater impact by working together. For Samantha, the key to a successful partnership is built on a good relationship of getting to know each other. Samantha says you have to understand the challenges and opportunities you face and how you can work through them together.

(23:08) What tool can Samantha share to the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Samantha shares strategic thinking, strategy development and implementation skills are critical for all leaders. They require looking into the future and thinking about the conditions that impact your business at both a domestic and global level, and looking at how that might create both risk and opportunity to ensure that you can be sustainable for the future.

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html

The Leading Women podcast is proudly brought to you by Commonwealth Bank. The series is produced by Nicole Hatherly, recorded at RadioHub Studios with post production by Cooper Silk and Iain Wilson.

Tuesday Feb 22, 2022

Kathy Richardson, Executive Director of Our Community on her have-a-go attitude, curiosity and a team shared manifesto guiding her leadership

Tuesday Feb 22, 2022

Join Rebekah Campbell as she chats with Kathy Richardson, Executive Director of Our Community on her have-a-go attitude, curiosity and a team shared manifesto guiding her leadership and her insights into the staggering $100 billion world of not-for-profit grants.

Key Insights

(01:41) How did Kathy start her leadership journey?

Kathy grew up on a dairy farm where leadership wasn’t really talked about in her household as her family did not move in leadership spheres. She was always very interested in news and current affairs which led her to starting a career in journalism. Kathy took an opportunity to relocate to Thailand and work for the Thai government for a couple of years after which she returned to Australia to join Our Community.

(10:14) How did having curiosity as a superpower helped transition Kathy into leadership?

Kathy joined Our Community with an interest in the blend of social and profit missions of the organisation. She became particularly interested in the area of grants, which initially seemed very niche and something that she was not going to stay in for too long. But she found it to be a rewarding career where her deep curiosity helped her to thrive and progress into leadership positions.

(23:40) What tool can Kathy share to the audience to add to their Leadership Toolbox?

Kathy shares a US produced podcast, Invisibilia. Invisibilia is from the Latin word that means ‘invisible things’ and the podcast aims to bring to light the invisible forces that shape our experiences as humans moving through the world. For Kathy, this concept makes invisible forces visible and allows us to consider them in the decisions we make in everyday life. The link to the podcast is: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia

Important Resources and Links

If you’d like to learn more about how CommBank is supporting the growth of women in business visit https://www.commbank.com.au/women-in-focus.html

The Leading Women podcast is proudly brought to you by Commonwealth Bank. The series is produced by Nicole Hatherly, recorded at RadioHub Studios with post production by Cooper Silk and Iain Wilson.