Berry Liberman is the editor and publisher of one of Australia’s most cherished magazines, Dumbo Feather. As chief conversation starter, Berry is responsible for leading the team and driving the editorial direction of the inspirational magazine that tells the stories of extraordinary people through long-form conversations.
Coming from a well-known and wealthy family has had a profound impact on Berry, forcing her to ask several tough questions of herself. Questions like, what is the meaning of value? And, what is the meaning of success? For Berry, this has always looked like a happy, healthy family coupled with work that has a positive impact on the world.
Berry believes that the world is full of extraordinary people, and through the pages of Dumbo Feather, plays host to a myriad of meaningful and challenging conversations that aim to heal, change lives and inspire its readers to act, to feel and to question—even if the questions are difficult ones.
Growing up, what kind of career did you want to pursue?
I wanted to be an actor and singer. I kept writing all the way through my teenage years and once I got into the VCA, I did play writing. After graduating, it was clear that acting would take a backseat to my writing and then I studied and worked as a screenwriter before becoming publisher and editor of Dumbo Feather.
Who inspires you?
The best thing about my job is that I get to connect with all the people around the world who inspire me. I’m endlessly inspired by people who are compassionate, contribute meaningfully to the world, are self-aware, kind and full of passion for what they do. Top of the list? Very hard but Brene Brown, Brendan Murray, Lauren Hill, Dave Rastovich, Jane Goodall, Dr Arne Rubinstein and my husband Danny are in the top ten.
Who is most surprised by your achievements?
Haha! Me!
How have women helped shape your success to date?
Where to start?! I was raised by a strong and smart woman – my mum is a big inspiration. Her zest for life, sense of beauty and compassionate and engaged lens of the world and people was a wonderful example. Then there’s my sister, a powerful, together and brave woman whose strength astounds me. She’s always looked out for me, taught me about resilience and made me laugh. I read a lot of biographies of strong women of history from Katherine Graham to Catherine the Great, to Georgia O’Keefe – the list goes on and on.
Women and their stories inspire me every day; I feel empowered by the women I meet who are making a difference in their communities, the women I work with, the women who have come before me. My success is nothing compared to the body of contributions women have made and are making – I feel very privileged if I get to play some small part in that arc.
What qualities do you most admire in a female colleague?
I admire colleagues who are all in. To me, that means they bring their whole self to work are eager to contribute, carry their strength without apology, are self aware, know how to listen, are open to grow yet also bring their skill and a pride in excellence. I also admire kindness and a deep sense of community.
What’s the key to successfully balancing work and life?
I don’t know. Really. Some days I feel super balanced, some days I feel like a total failure… Things I know make it less difficult is a great life partner, a home life full of respect, shared passions and shared values and a work life that’s similar! Quite frankly, I work with the best team in the world and I could not do anything without their support, their talent and their hard work. I am grateful every day for the people I have the good fortune to work with.
If you had an afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it?
Sleeping, daydreaming, a long walk, listening to music, in nature.
Who do you regard as your mentor?
I don’t have any one mentor – I have many. I value meaningful conversations and relationships above most things, and feel like I learn different wisdom from different people all the time!
What personal attributes have you used to overcome adversity in your life?
That’s an interesting question…. A love of life, passion, a sense of wonder and curiosity, deep desire to connect, to understand and to relate to others. Despite my otherwise haphazard style, I am pretty resilient.
If you could make one change to women’s lives, what would it be and why?
A global mandate for equal property rights – in far too many countries around the world women are impoverished, abused and kept in servitude because they cannot own property. Or should I start with education for every woman, everywhere? Sanitation, clean water, greater birth support – there is so much work to be done. That’s what propels me forward every day.
What is the hardest part of your job?
Not having enough time.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to success in your field?
Don’t be a snob. Writing is best done from the head and the heart. Stay open, be kind, write a lot, study structure and keep learning.