It’s not every day that you get to have lunch with some of the country’s most successful businesswomen — including entrepreneurs and leaders representing organisations as diverse as Norton Rose, the CSIRO, Caltex and Airservices Australia.
But I was fortunate enough to do just that this week when we gathered some of the winners of our 2013 and 2014 NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards to come together for an alumni lunch.
The lunch hosted by NAB was casual, informal and an opportunity to catch up and share career highs and lows from the last 12 months. It was also, for the most part, ‘off the record’, but those present were still generous in offering some advice I could take back to the emerging leaders in the Women’s Agenda community.
Below are a few of the key takeaways:
- Take risks and grab opportunities. You’ll only regret what you DON’T do. You’re the only person that you’re waiting for, so take as many risks and opportunities as you feel comfortable taking.
- Don’t take no for an answer. If you run into a brick wall, go around it. Work out how to turn a no into a yes. If you’re passionate for what you want, fight for it. Believe in what you want and go out and get it.
- Stay current and curious. Keep looking over the fence, explore other organisations, industries and career options. Pursue further personal development and education opportunities.
- Remember that ’emerging leaders’ don’t have to be ‘young’. Leadership talent and potential exists across all generations.
- Be connected. Don’t forget to look outside of the work you’re doing day-to-day and create an external network. It’s not about walking into a large room and trying to make small talk with as many people as possible. It’s about making meaningful connections, often they come best from intimate settings.
- Don’t wait for permission. The role that you’re employed to do is your ticket for playing in an organisation, but if you see a need or something else you can do, go and do it. Don’t wait. Don’t think, ‘I’m not old enough, or educated enough, or have enough experience’, just give it a go.
- Flexibility starts with you. If you want flexible work, permission starts with you. Keep it non-negotiable if you need it. Be bold and ask for it. Just because a role hasn’t been done a certain way before, doesn’t mean you can’t change it.
- Avoid perfectionism. If you attempt to be perfect, you’ll dwell on the things that go wrong and then miss the opportunity to back yourself. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Remember that fear kills more dreams than failure ever will.
- A man is not a financial plan. No ones’s going to look after you and your finances other than you, that includes the investment you make in your career. So don’t forget to think long term when it comes to what you invest in you.
- Turn around and say thank you. You need to be grateful and take the time to pause and give some appreciation to the people who helped you.
We’re looking forward to introducing our 2015 award finalists and winners to this collection of brilliant women. We just need to uncover them first. Check back with Women’s Agenda for the start of the nominations process soon.