Breaking Stereotypes with Dr Morley Muse, CoFounder of iSTEM and Women's Agenda STEM Winner
Credit: Image courtesy of University of South Wales
When you tell companies to employ women, it almost seems like charity.
While it sounds like a denegrading thing to say, with very little change when it comes to the statistics of women in leadership and parity in pay, it’s comments like this that help shake and wake us up.
A story on the lack of parity in pay hit the front cover of the AFR last week. Economics correspondence Michael Read wrote an insightful and somewhat alarming report on ‘The Gender Pay Gap”.
There are so many alarm-bells, but rather than give you our opinion, how about you read the article and listen to this week’s interview with gender equity expert Dr Morley Muse.
According to Dr Muse, “research shows that having gender diversity would increase your profits by 25 percent and if add an intersectional like race or ethnic diversity it would increase your profits by 33 percent”
In today’s episode of The Uncharted Leader, host Kylee Stone talks with Dr. Morley Muse, Chemical, Environmental and Renewable Energy Engineer and CoFounder of iSTEM about breaking stereotypes, the importance of strength and vulnerability in leadership, revolutionising recruitment with AI and a humanistic approach to gender parity.
“A leader is someone who is not afraid of being vulnerable and knows that they do not need to have all the answers but can bring together a team to create the answers together.”
An activist for equality in STEM, Dr Muse shares her story of breaking stereotypes, the need to nurture strength and vulnerability in leadership and our collective responsibility to create a diverse and inclusive society.
In 2022 she was the winner of Women’s Agenda awards for the Emerging Leader in STEM category, a finalist in the Victoria University Alumni Rising Star Awards and in 2023 she was a finalist in the Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards.
Credit: Image courtesy of ProBono Australia
A few of the many highlights of today’s conversation…
💡 The Retention Gap for Women in STEM
💡 The iSTEM Co. Movement Revolutionising Recruitment with AI
💡 Women’s Agenda Emerging Leaders Award
💡 Overcoming Obstacles and Breaking Stereotypes
💡 Inclusive Leadership and Humanism
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Connect with Dr Morley Muse on LinkedIn and learn more iSTEM by visiting their website iSTEM.com and follow them on LinkedIN
Book a call with Kylee and ask about the Emerging Leaders Program to ignite your passion, grow your influence and amplify the impact you have to lead and succeed with purpose.
Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
Dr Morley’s mission is to solve the under-representation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by tackling 5 fundamental areas: Education, Employment, Retention, Leadership and Entrepreneurship.
What is one of the biggest challenges you overcame?
As a woman navigating the challenging landscape of STEM from a minority background, my journey has been a rollercoaster of personal and professional trials. The hurdles became mountains, especially when life dealt me a heartbreaking blow – losing my eldest sister while I was seven months pregnant with my second son.
The weight of this loss was amplified by the fact that I had already experienced the profound absence of my mother 11 years prior, just before embarking on my journey to Australia. I began my Ph.D. a mere three weeks after welcoming my first son into the world. I thought that was the pinnacle of difficulty, but little did I know that three years into my academic pursuit, I would face an even greater challenge.
In the midst of wrapping up my experiments, tragedy struck again as I lost my eldest sister, a dedicated pediatric doctor in Nigeria. Summoning every ounce of courage, I pressed forward. However, as I neared the finish line, just two months before my thesis was due, during COVID, I lost my second sister. It felt as though the ground beneath me was being continuously pulled away.
Yet, amid this seemingly endless darkness, what fueled my perseverance was nothing but HOPE.
I painted a vivid mental image of a seed buried beneath the soil. The experience of being planted is one of heat and darkness, an almost suffocating and seemingly hopeless ordeal. Yet, with the right amount of sunlight and water, that seed doesn't actively do anything but wait. And one day, it finds itself breaking through the surface, reaching toward the light. This mental picture became my lifeline, a symbol of the hope that I, too, would sprout again.
Another visual anchor that kept me afloat was the image of a flowing stream. Water, when stagnant, becomes stale and lifeless in a container. But once it's set in motion, coursing through the twists and turns, it undergoes a process of purification. I held onto this image, reminding myself that, like the stream, I needed to keep moving forward, navigating the challenges to find clarity and renewal.
In the face of unimaginable loss and adversity, it was the power of hope and the resilience of nature's metaphors that carried me through, propelling me to emerge stronger and more determined than ever before.
What does success mean to you?
When the STEM ecosystem is reflective of the true diversity of our society, achieving gender parity and representation of ALL women in STEM including women from DIVERSE backgrounds.
More about Dr Morley.
Among her various work and accolades are: being a past ambassador for CSIRO's Innovation Catalyst Global, a board director with Women in STEMM Australia, an Advisory Group Member of the Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM Program with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and a RISE Expert panel member with Diversity Council Australia (DCA), Settlement Services International (SSI) and Chief Executive Women (CEW). She works closely with Science Technology Australia (STA) and sits on STA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. She is also a mentor for senior and executive women in STEM with STA on their Superstars of STEM Program. In addition, Dr Muse is a member of the Energy Reference Group with Jemena Energy, providing expert advice on the energy transition, tariffs, and electricity price reset for Jemena Energy and its customers.
She was the winner of the 2022 Women’s Agenda awards for the Emerging Leader in STEM category and was named a finalist for the 2022 Victoria University Alumni Awards under the ’Rising Star category’. Her most recent recognition is being a finalist for the 2023 Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards.
As the co-founder of iSTEM Co, a research, consulting, and talent-sourcing business that enables employment for women in STEM, Morley continues to encourage women, including women from diverse backgrounds to further their careers in STEM.
iSTEM Co. was nominated as a finalist for the 2022 Women in Digital awards and was a Merit award winner at the 2023 Tech Diversity awards for the business category. This year, the iSTEM Group launched DEIR, a recruit-tech platform that eliminates recruitment bias for women in STEM. DEIR has also received recognition in STEM and has won two prestigious awards including the Lift Women Social Impact Award in 2022 and the “Equity in Innovation Award” at the 2023 Burning Hereos Competition.
The Catalyst of Meaningful Change with Dr Manasi Murthy Mittinty, Physician Scientist and Award Winning Emerging Leader
Did you know that chronic pain affects a significant number of individuals in the workplace, exerting a profound impact on their well-being and overall productivity?
Recognising and understanding chronic health conditions, including pain, is paramount for employers and organisational leaders. Chronic pain, often invisible and challenging to quantify, can manifest in various forms, from musculoskeletal disorders to neuropathic conditions, migraines and chronic fatigue to auto-immune conditions, impacting employees across diverse demographics.
By fostering a workplace culture that prioritises an understanding of chronic health, leaders can create an environment where employees feel supported and valued. This understanding is essential not only for mitigating the personal suffering of those with chronic pain but also for maintaining a thriving and resilient workforce.
Individuals experiencing chronic pain may encounter obstacles in performing their duties, leading to reduced productivity and increased absenteeism. Acknowledging these challenges enables leaders to implement supportive measures, such as flexible work arrangements, ergonomic adjustments, and access to pain management resources.
Furthermore, a comprehensive understanding of chronic health conditions promotes diversity and inclusion, breaking down stigmas associated with invisible illnesses. By addressing chronic pain in the workplace, leaders contribute to a holistic approach to employee well-being, resulting in increased job satisfaction, higher morale, and a positive organizational culture that attracts and retains top talent.
Ultimately, embracing the complexities of chronic health in the workplace is not just a compassionate endeavour but also a strategic investment in the long-term success and sustainability of the organization.
In the latest episode of The Uncharted Leader, host Kylee Stone explores the challenges faced by First Nations people in managing chronic pain and the importance of cultural context in understanding pain with Dr. Manasi Murthy Mittinty, a physician scientist at the Flinders University with a MD (Medicine, Dean’s medal) a PhD (Medicine) and Advanced Global Clinical Scholar Research Fellow with Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Manasi, a recipient of prestigious awards including the 2023 Finalist Australian Stellar South Asian Women, Harvard Mobility Grant (2023), Women’s Agenda Emerging Leader in Health Award (2022) and the Australian Government Funded Endeavour Postdoctoral fellowship (2018), shares her personal experience with pain and trauma and highlights the need for self-compassion, preventative measures and supportive environments in chronic pain management.
Key Takeaways
Emerging leaders are not necessarily young or inexperienced, but individuals who have a passion and purpose to make an impact.
Understanding the cultural context is crucial in managing chronic pain, especially for First Nations people.
Preventive measures, such as good sleep, exercise, and self-care, can help individuals live with chronic pain in a meaningful way.
Supportive relationships and environments play a significant role in coping with chronic pain and mental health challenges.
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Connect with Dr Manasi Murthy Mittinty on LinkedIn and learn more about her groundbreaking research at the Intersection of Chronic Pain and Mental Health.
Follow The Uncharted Leader on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
Book a call with Kylee and ask about the Emerging Leaders Program to ignite your passion, grow your influence and amplify the impact you have to lead and succeed with purpose.
Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
The Active Workday Advantage with Lizzie Williamson, Founder of Two Minute Moves
How are you feeling right now? Are you fit, strong, healthy, full of energy and vitality? What about mentally? Are you calm, confident, happy, motivated and fully engaged in your work?
If the answer is no (or not really), you’re not alone.
95% of HR leaders report burnout is sabotaging the workforce; 69% of leaders are seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their wellbeing; and 9 out of 10 Australians are not resilient - a level needed to be confident, happy, calm, successful in achieving your goals and avoiding the effects of stress, depression, anxiety and mental health issues.
According to founder and author of Two Minute Moves, Lizzie Williamson, “Moments of movement are all that’s needed to recalibrate, evaluate and adjust our approach to challenges”.
Dubbed ‘the excuse-buster from Down-Under’, Lizzie is passionate about trying to make it easier for people to move. Why?
“Movement is powerful for what it does to our bodies, brains and our spirit. We can use it to transform the way we think, the way we feel” and as Lizzie points out as her most recent discovery, “it can transform the way we work and the way we lead”
Exercise can feel really hard, and sometimes impossible, to do. Whether it’s the way you feel, too tired or exhausted, or it’s a lack of spare time, your energy levels, motivation, the weather or workload, Lizzie Williamson has found a way to make the seemingly impossible, possible.
“I always thought if someone was struggling with their mental health, they ‘just needed to exercise’. Why weren’t they doing it? It would make them feel better. It was only when I experienced depression after my second baby was born that I understood it wasn’t that simple” says Lizzie (loaded with compassion and appreciation).
Lizzie has just released her second book The Active Workday Advantage: Unlock your most energised, engaged and happy self at work. Loaded with every possible solution to every possible obstacle, this book is guaranteed to get you moving and energised.
Through her fun, interactive keynotes, workshops and videos, Lizzie motivates workforces around the world to integrate micro movements into their day so they can be their most engaged, energised and happiest selves.
She’s got hundreds-of-thousands attendees around the world stretching, moving and dancing at conferences featuring President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Arianna Huffington and the Dalia Lama.
Download The Uncharted Leader podcast for Lizzie’s inspirational and highly energising tips on how you can get yourself (and your teams) moving no matter what obstacles you’re facing.
Key takeaways:
Swap out two letters in the word ‘exercise’ so it becomes ‘energise’
The myth of motivation - it's a lot easier than you think
Fast facts on the impact of micro movements to decrease fatigue, improve mood and increase strength
Sneaky ways to move without any noticing (while you're at your desk)
Hacks for reducing stress or tension before a difficult conversation
Listen to the conversation on iTunes and tell us what you think by giving a rating and writing a review :))
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Follow Lizzie Williamson on Instagram, get a copy of The Active Workday Advantage: Unlock your most energised, engaged and happy self at work on Amazon, and download The Energise With Lizzie Podcast.
Follow The Uncharted Leader on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
Book a call with Kylee and ask about the Emerging Leaders Program to ignite your passion, grow your influence and amplify the impact you have to lead and succeed with purpose.
Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
Brand Magic with Debbie O’Connor, Founder of White River Design and The Creative Fringe
Branding is much more than a logo, name and a tagline.
The most obvious reason a business invests in branding is to help them get recognised. Why? Because if you have a strong brand, people will naturally take note of it more than they would a business without it, and it will lead to greater success.
While that certainly holds true, the real power of branding lies in its ability to shape perceptions, build trust, create lasting emotional connections and influence behaviour. It goes way beyond the tangible elements of a business and encompasses the intangible, emotional aspects that not only makes a brand memorable and impactful, it ignites the passion, inspiration and engagement of employees.
On The Uncharted Leader podcast this week we talk about the magic of branding with brand strategist and Founder of White River Design and The Creative Fringe, Debbie O’Connor.
Debbie is a multi-award winning brand strategist, entrepreneur and author of Brand Magic - How to build a brand with personality. With a mission to change lives one brand at a time, Debbie launched a platform to educate creatives in brand archetypes with a purpose of creating more profitable businesses.
Born and raised in Apartheid South Africa, on the border of the world famous Kruger National Park in a small bush town of White River, Debbie grew up without big brands like McDonalds, Nike, Pepsi and the like. Yet somehow she still knew these brands existed.
What was the source of that connection? Fast forward a few decades and Debbie has packaged her fascination, passion and insights into an online Brand Magic Program and 12 part Build My Brand series.
Recognised as the branding expert, Debbie co-hosted Kochie’s Business Builders television program and is now a sought after presenter and trainer, and in 2022, she launched her first book Brand Magic - How to build a brand with personality.
“A leader is someone who walks in front of you when the road ahead is scary, walks beside you when you need to get shit done and walks behind you when you are in need of help, support or motivation” - Debbie O’Connor
Listen to the conversation about the power of branding with Debbie on this week’s episode of The Uncharted Leader on iTunes and tell us what you think by giving a rating and writing a review :))
A few highlights:
The illusion and untapped power of branding - it ain’t what we think
Psychology based branding and brand archetypes
What to consider when writing copy for your website and social media
What is the difference between marketing and branding?
Truth telling on the role of values in branding and workplace culture
Stepping out of the ego and connecting with the brand’s purpose
Consistency is king, queen and everything in between
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Follow Debbie O’Connor on LinkedIn, get a copy of Brand Magic - How to Build a Brand with Personality and visit Brand Personalities to take the brand personality quiz and discover your brand archetype.
Follow The Uncharted Leader on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
Book a call with Kylee and ask about the Emerging Leaders Program to unleash your hidden potential and ignite your passion with the power of storytelling to amplify the impact you have in the world.
Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
The Future of Work is Now with Cherie Mylordis, Work Futurist and Founder of nexgenify
Is your organization ready for the future? What does it mean to be future-fit? How do you prepare for the future and what are the key elements of the future of work?
If you google 'future of work', you'll get over 6,480 million results.
While there are varying views, and an extensive amount of research, the goal is simple: to develop an informed perspective on what organisations need to know about how work is shifting and how the workforce can prepare for these changes, big and small.
Joining me on The Uncharted Leaders this week is work futurist and author of Rethinking The future of Work in a Fragile World, Cherie Mylordis.
With a belief that traditional ways of working are no longer fit-for-purpose, Cherie says, “We’ve reached a pivotal moment in the evolution of work. Despite four industrial revolutions and remarkable progress in business and technology, the way we organise people and work hasn’t changed"
Work practices are no longer fit for purpose and it's hindering our ability to meet today’s challenges.
Cherie is an accomplished high-impact transformation and innovation expert, leadership coach and Founder of Nextgenify. On a mission to find out what’s stopping people from doing their best work, Cherie spoke with 200 leaders from around the world and combining decades of experience with in-depth analysis and insights, she has three bold claims:
We’ve reached a signpost in the evolution of work.
Most organisations are running on outdated models which no longer serve us.
The future of work is already here and the clock is ticking.
Cherie explains “As the whole world emerges from the pandemic and looks to the future, leaders have a choice to set their GPS to the well-trodden path with a few minor upgrades (hybrid working, 4-day weeks etc), or to be bold and choose a road that’s new and fit for the future”
Progressive organisations from all over the world are achieving extraordinary outcomes. The problem is, most people don’t realise there’s an alternative to commonplace organisational models.
In her recently published white paper: Rethinking the Future of Work in a Fragile World, Cherie summarises the following key take-aways:
Most leaders are not consistently doing their best work, and this extends to the broader workforce.
The shift in workplace attitudes and priorities following the global pandemic has been astounding. Thresholds have changed.
Outdated organisational models are clearly holding businesses and their people back.
We know what good looks like and leaders are trying to drive change in the right direction.
There are big problems to solve in the world and leaders would love to contribute to issues or causes they care about.
When asked what success looks like, Cherie says “seeing ambitious people achieve extraordinary outcomes beyond what they could have imagined. Playing a part in that is always extremely rewarding to me, as it amplifies the impact I can have in the world”
"My purpose is to inspire leaders at all levels to embrace the future of work, amplify their impact and achieve extraordinary outcomes towards a better future" - Cherie Mylordis
As for Cherie’s greatest success, she shares “the most career-defining and life-changing experience was the five years spent organising the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games”
As employee number 52, I started in the strategy team five years out. It was my dream job, but I’d never been to an Olympic Games before, let alone organised one! And I wasn’t alone.
In true Aussie spirit, we developed the strategy, plans, and built the workforce that would peak at over 150,000 people, with a third of them volunteers.
At the closing ceremony, Sydney was declared the best Games ever, and we achieved many firsts, including the first city to integrate the Olympic and the Paralympic Games as one big event - something we’re all extremely proud of.
How did a team of mostly Olympic rookies achieve that? It turns out, we embodied many qualities of the extraordinary organisations I follow today:
A clear and compelling purpose that served as our destination
Strong, authentic and inclusive leadership helped us navigate new and challenging terrain
Autonomy and collaboration that turbocharged our energy
“A leader is someone who inspires and empowers people to do meaningful work that makes a difference. They create a constructive work environment that values solving problems and creating opportunities through collaboration, feedback and continuous learning”
What is one of the biggest challenges you experienced and what did it teach you?
I had an exciting role bringing agility and change management into a large organisation. Ironically, I found leaders saw themselves far too busy to change. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time. I had a choice – persevere, which felt like swimming against a tidal wave, or try something else.
It started with a question, “what do I do?” More training? Change teams? Find another job? Surely things will be better there!
I stepped out of the corporate world because I knew there was a better way to do things. I believed there was something bigger going on and as many organisations weren’t providing the ingredients for people to do their best work, I decided to conduct some research to get some answers.
The solution was simple: We can all make better, faster and more meaningful progress by working in 3D - my vision is for #workin3D to be a beacon for future-fit ways of leading and working.
Dare: to set a bold new direction which is purpose-driven
Ditch: outdated practices that no longer serve us
Dial: up proven, new ways of leading and working
Listen to this week's episode of The Uncharted Leader on iTunes and tell us what you think by writing a review and giving us rating :)) You can also listen on Spotify.
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Follow Cherie Mylordis on LinkedIn and visit NextGenify to get a copy of ‘Rethinking The Future of Work in a Fragile World’.
Follow The Uncharted Leader on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
Book a call with Kylee and discover The Power of Storytelling to Ignite Your Passion, Grow Your Influence and Amplify the Impact you have in the world!
Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
The Power of Mentoring to Build Strong, Inclusive Collaborative Relationships
If ever there was a time to invest in a mentor , or be a mentor, the time is NOW!
Organisational leaders are increasingly recognising the value diversity and inclusion brings to profitability and growth, more specifically improving financial performance and creating a happier and more productive workforce.
Here’s just three of the ‘‘17 Statistics Highlighting the Importance of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion”:
Inclusive companies are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders
Sales revenue increases 15-fold among companies with high racial diversity
More than 3 in 4 job seekers are looking at diversity when deciding to accept a job offer
Creating specialist DEI teams to help leaders create a more inclusive from reviewing hiring practices to developing comprehensive updates on behavioural competencies, leadership frameworks and training programs is a great step and much needed in building the foundations.
However, when it comes to tapping into the hidden potential that lies in your organisation, we all know that systems, policies and procedures are insufficient - and not the true source of performance and growth.
Whether you’re a large organisation with a dedicated team or a small-to-medium sized business with very little resources, bringing a coach in-house can help your leadership team unlock the hidden barriers to performance and, as a result, focus on what really matters - and what really matters is delivering on the organisations purpose!
Mentoring is just one of the many ways a in-house coach can help leaders embrace the efforts of their DEI strategy to create a happier, more productive and resilient workforce.
As a mentor, they bring additional knowledge, skills and experience to help people develop and grow. As a coach they provide laser sharp insights and guidance to help people go beyond the hidden barriers (biases and perspectives) to reach their full potential.
What Are The Benefits To A Business Or Organisation?
Mentoring can be linked to an increase in productivity, engagement and knowledge as well as improving leadership, communication, and management skills. Having a mentor is not only a confidence booster, but it can alleviate stress, overcome challenges, and help improve mental health wellbeing at work.
The business benefits of mentorship are well proven to accelerate personal growth and performance, increase confidence, and transferable skills especially people skills, therefore it is especially useful as part of leadership development and provides a platform for assessment and accountability.
Check out some of the following stats:
92% of companies invest in mentoring to promote learning, reduce employee turnover and develop, grow and retain skills and expertise within the organisation (Source)
Companies with mentoring programs are far more resilient to quitting and disengagement and record 3x higher median profits (Source)
94% of employees would stay longer if offered opportunities to learn and grow (Source)
Of employees who leave within 2 years: 71% think that their leadership skills are not being fully developed. 57% feel that they are being overlooked for potential leadership positions (Source)
Download The Uncharted Leader podcast and listen to an interview, Founder and CEO Kylee Stone had with Simone Allan , CEO of The Mentor Evolution, about the value of surrounding yourself with people who have your back.
“A leader is someone who walks by your side” - Simone
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Download The Uncharted Leader Podcast ‘The Power of Mentoring ‘ on Apple iTunes or Spotify.
Book a call with Kylee to discover the power of mentoring to connect people with the organisation’s purpose and consider the value of an in-house coach to elevate the hidden leadership potential in your organisation.
Follow Kylee on LinkedIn + Instagram for inspiration on how to listen, live and lead with purpose and the latest updates on leadership transformation, resilience and wellbeing.
Podcast proudly presented by The Performance Code
The Parity Project with Victoria Butt, Founder & CEO at Parity Consulting
Leaders are increasingly realising just how vital diversity and inclusion is to impacting organisational performance, innovation, engagement and wellbeing.
According to the Diversity Council Australia’s biannual study, tracking the state of inclusion in the Australian workforce, the message is clear - inclusion at work is good for everyone.
Employees in inclusive organisational cultures are:
three times more likely to report their team is highly effective (60% vs 17%)
five times more likely to indicate their team is innovative (47% versus 10%) and
three times more likely to provide excellent customer service (61% versus 21%).
While diversity and inclusion are interconnected concepts - they are far from interchangeable.
Simply put, you can bring together a diverse team, but without giving people the skills to be inclusive - to create a sense of belonging, demonstrate a genuine interest other people’s contribution and align on the organisation’s values; you are not leveraging diversity, you’re simply creating a revolving door of employees who are disengaged and don’t feel heard, seen or valued.
Victoria Butt, Founder & CEO of Parity Consulting says “we have a duty of care to represent a diverse workforce, but hiring for diversity is fruitless unless you set up an inclusive team to embrace diversity. Women and diverse members of the community will continue avoiding the path or they'll step into a role and soon leave”.
In 2012 Victoria founded Parity Consulting to reshape how the industry saw candidates and lift them to be equal to the client while specialising in placing diverse and capable talent in Product, Pricing, Digital, Marketing and Data Analytics.
Her team have successfully implemented two unconventional campaigns attracting career changers to recruitment and impacting 300 people by ignoring CVs and guaranteeing an interview for anyone who expresses interest in a role.
She says “the industry is sidelining over 50% of the population by taking the same approach to the way they recruit and, as a result, are failing to acknowledge two important variables - future experience does not dictate future performance, and you cannot create diversity without changing the way you include people”.
Join me on The Uncharted Leader as I talk with Victoria about The Parity Project and her purpose to level the playing field for those who are unseen and unheard.
Victoria is a serial entrepreneur, feminist, mother of two and a passionate, self-confessed wine sob who cannot be shut up when it comes to anything to do with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).
She is the Founder and CEO of Parity Consulting, Founder and Chief Training Officer at Evolve Sales Training, Board Member for the Entrepreneurs Organisation Sydney and an Angel Investor for BIPOC women.
“A leader is someone who thinks, feels, says and does the same thing.”
Ignite Your Passion!
Follow The Uncharted Leader on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Victoria on LinkedIn and check out Parity Consulting, Australia’s leading recruitment specialists who love working with awesome people.
Follow Kylee on LinkedIn and book a call to discover The Power of Storytelling to ignite your passion, grow your influence and amplify the impact you have in communities, organisations, society and the world!
Take Control of Your Destiny & Change the World with Mike Boorn Plener, Founder of Catapult and ScaleFest
There has never been a better time to invest in yourself and the ideas you’ve got for building a business that ignites your passion and gets you the results, and life, you want.
That seems like a pretty odd thing to say given, life as we know it is under threat, organisations are in the midst of disruption, interest rates and the cost of living is rising and we’re all a little anxious. Isn’t this the time we should bunker down, lower the risk, stay in our comfort zone and keep safe?
Absolutely not! No-one is safe and certainty is an illusion.
Last week Meta sacked 11,000 people after a revenue collapse. I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe any of us expected one of the tech giants to be facing such a disastrous downturn so soon after lockdown (if at all).
They’re not the first and they won’t be the last. Now, that seems like a fairly pessimistic outlook but organisations having been going through significant restructures and downsizing for years.
Regardless of whether you feel safe, 87% of people are unhappy, unfulfilled and undervalued, only 21% are engaged and with only 33% thriving in their overall wellbeing, most would say that they don't find their work meaningful, don't think their lives are going well or don't feel hopeful about their future.
Notably, 69% of C-suite leaders and 55% of employees are seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their wellbeing.
While starting and scaling a business is not easy, neither is showing up to work hating your job.
Joining me on this week’s episode of The Uncharted Leader to talk about ‘Taking Control of Your Destiny’ and having the courage to start your own venture is Mike Boorn Plener, Founder of Catapult and master curator at ScaleFest - a super-sized 24-hour entrepreneurial event across Sydney, Singapore, London and New York City bringing together business owners and entrepreneurs with the very best transformational speakers, thought-leaders, experts and organisations.
Having built several successful businesses and spending time in corporate before starting his own venture during the ‘recession we had to have’, Mike is confident in a future where a far greater proportion of the population are entrepreneurs and business owners.
Are you looking to accelerate growth or design your ‘what’s next’ in business by tapping into some of the world’s leading talent?
Do you wonder what it would be like to start your own business? Are you contemplating a career change?
Maybe you’d like to test the waters by sharing some of your knowledge with a bunch of business owners who are growing and scaling their business?
If any of that sounds like you, then you are going to love today’s conversation.
A few of the highlights:
When is the best time to start a business or leave your corporate career and take action on the ‘business in your belly’?
Scale-up your idea by going beyond inspiration to transformation and integration.
Pairing Executives and Business Owners for a win-win on being a contribution and knowledge exchange.
Know your strengths and your boundaries.
Get out of your comfort zone with some comfort applying proven frameworks, structures and lived-experience advice
Setbacks are a given. Resilience is just one component of a healthy mental state.
What sets apart a great entrepreneur and what makes an executive with decades of experience a great entrepreneur?
What are the four things an entrepreneur and business owner needs to be successful?
“A leader is someone who shows the way and leads from their values and beliefs”
Ignite Your Passion and Amplify the Impact You Have in the World!
Get tickets for the next Scalefest event here. Find out what it takes to build your business into an empire at Catapult. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.
Follow The Uncharted Leader on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Connect with Kylee on LinkedIn and book a call to Grow Your Influence and amplify the impact you have in communities, organisations, society and the world!