1. Tell us a little about yourself?

I am the founder of two businesses. Handle Your Own PR, where I teach business owners and experts how to get free media coverage via the mainstream media, and I have built a unique PR SaaS platform with media contacts, especially for non-professionals to manage their PR campaigns. My other business is called She’s The Boss, and it started along with the onset of the COVID lockdown in 2020. I am passionate about shining the media spotlight on female founders and women doing extraordinary things in business. I believe that it is important to make women in business as visible as possible and to provide role models for the next generation of women coming up behind us. The group’s motto is to Empower the Women Around You, and I am a big believer in connecting women in business and encouraging them to collaborate where possible. She’s The Boss has two podcasts – She’s The Boss Leaders, and She’s The Boss Chats. There is also a She’s The Boss YouTube channel, live lunch events along the east coast of Australia, and an online zoom lunch every Friday.

2. Who are the women who have inspired you the most in your life?

Gosh! Where do I start? My first ‘proper’ boss was my first inspiration. She encouraged and nurtured the whole sales team, and we adored her. As a result, she had our undying loyalty, and we had her back, just as she had ours. I have met some extraordinary women since then who have inspired me. But to name a few: Fabian Dattner of The Dattner Group and Homeward Bound, Dr Louise Mahler, Stephanie Woollard from Seven Women, Sheree Rubenstein the founder of One Roof, Sandy Lowres, the founder of Women Beyond 40 magazine, Sue Fennessy of WeAre8, Helen McCabe of Future Women, Robyn Foyster from Foyster Media, Rachel service of The Happiness Concierge, Rechelle Leahy from Regional Collab, Alex Tullio from finance Executive Women (FEW), Shannon Gilleland, inventor of The Pronto bottle, Cheree Stokes who is an aboriginal artist, Rochelle Courtenay from Share The Dignity, and Gemma Saunders from Workplace Edit….the list is endless. They are all amazing!

3. Why do you think it’s important to increase the number of women in business, particularly in leadership roles?

I think this is THE most important thing we need to achieve over the next 5-10 years. It is not healthy for a company to be run solely by men. There is a balance in the way men and women work, which needs to be put in place at all levels. Because the change we have been waiting for is sooooo slow (from 3%-22% women on boards for the top 500 companies has taken 30 years, 100% of TV programming is still being done by white, Anglo Saxon men over 50 and so on), I believe we need to accelerate the progress of women to make them more visible. Why? Not only because we need their skills and abilities to guide companies to success, but because we MUST have more women as role models for the younger generations, or the same thing will happen. Now is the time for a change, and fast!

4. How would you describe your current thinking about diversity and inclusion?

I am a huge believer in diversity and inclusion. I personally abhor the idea that there are men, women and children in our society who are not treated as equal to everyone else, on a human level, never mind in business. For businesses to succeed and flourish in our multicultural society, we need to have the input of everyone, including ethnic minorities, disabled people, LBGQI people, older people and women. I believe that we are turning a corner as diversity and inclusion are now important for big business, so hopefully, change isn’t far away.

5. Would you like to tell us a bit more about your thoughts/ comments?

I am passionate about gender equality and eradicating ageism in business. We need full diversity if we are to flourish in business. By opening up opportunities for everyone, society will benefit, and we will all be better off!