And as Marina Go knows, the ability to accept and embrace change is essential for a successful leadership career.
Marina’s personally experienced significant change in her career; moving from journalism to editing magazines, to executive leadership positions and now sitting on a number of Australian boards.
Below, we’ve asked Marina to answer our 2 minute Q&A on leadership. Marina’s the founding publisher of Women’s Agenda and long-term judge on the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards.
Nominations for the Leadership Awards are now closed. Tickets to the lunch are available here.
Who and what do you lead today?
I Chair two boards: the Wests Tigers NRL club and Office Brands. I am also a non-executive director of Energy Australia and Autosports Group.
Has there been a career turning point that’s put you on this leadership path?
I was appointed to The Apparel Group board 12 years ago and six months later, The Netball Australia board. Both appointments were alongside a full-time executive career. I enjoyed the diversity of industry and thinking and made the decision to pursue a NED career in the future.
How have you worked with mentors or sponsors during your leadership career?
I have been fortunate to have had some terrific mentors and sponsors in my career. With regard to boards, I have a few high-achieving female directors who I have been able to turn to for advice. I have had three male sponsors at various stages of my career and each one was instrumental in recommending me for the next big step in my career.
What key skills and attributes do you believe successful leaders of the future will have?
Courage, openness to change, good listener, a strong customer focus, an understanding of the impact of technology on the industry and its customers.
What do you look for in a ‘potential’ leader?
I look at the attitude to change. If there is a reluctance to embrace disruption positively then the entire organisation will feel that and behave accordingly.
What needs to change to get more female leaders in your sector?
Boards need to stop thinking about CEO roles and key senior executive roles as male jobs and give women the opportunity to do the heavy lifting in operational roles. Gender diversity targets are met in some organisations by having women in marketing and HR leadership roles. We need women to be in the roles that are the pipeline for the CEO role.
What tools do you use to stay-up-to date as a leader?
I am a member of the AICD and I regularly attend seminars to remain up-to-date. I read online publications for the various industries that I work across. I subscribe to the AFR and read it via the app every day.
Any book you’d recommend on leadership?
Who Moved My Cheese by Kenneth H Blanchard
- I was given this some years ago and it fundamentally changed the way that I looked at disruption.