Tell us a little about yourself?

I am an executive and situational coach, training facilitator and workplace mediator. I’m passionate about helping people in their career direction through practical guidance. I enjoy making a difference in the workplace in areas such as leadership, performance, productivity, communication and relationships.

I recently co-authored a No 1 Amazon Best Seller book “In the Moment Coaching for Leaders: Quick and Effective Strategies to Inspire, Connect and Excel.” My motivation for writing this book was to provide practical guidance for time-poor people who would like to make a difference for themselves and others by understanding the “whys” and “hows.” I share what I know to hopefully make someone else’s life better.

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

My mother is a first-generation migrant. She worked tirelessly with my father when they migrated to Australia in the late ’60s. At a time when flexible working hours didn’t exist, my mum who is a doctor, worked full-time hours went to school and organised home-based work during holidays.

Her discipline and determination to find a way to manage her career and family in that era is genuinely inspiring. On top of this, she always found the time to cook wonderful meals every evening for us. I look back now and marvel at how she did it.

I am also very inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a lawyer appointed to the US Supreme Court, who fought tirelessly for gender equality and did not stop when she encountered barriers.

I also have great respect for Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s Prime Minister. She leads her country with compassion and authenticity while managing the extreme demands of her work schedule and looking after a young family. All these amazing women share a theme of determination and compassion which is truly inspiring.

Why do you think it is essential to increase the number of women in business, particularly in leadership roles?

An article by the Huffington Post resonates with me about why it is essential to increase the number of women in business. This article identified the qualities that women bring to leadership. These qualities were not just one-offs; they defined the way women move through the world every day.

The qualities these women consistently displayed were optimism, persistence, a strong and powerful voice, passion and purpose, strong sense of self and confidence, embodying and embracing change, authenticity, and seeking and receiving support.

What do you think are barriers for women in the recruitment process?

As an Executive Coach, I frequently see barriers such as a lack of confidence, particularly after returning to work from a period of leave or caring responsibilities along with negative self-talk minimising achievements. Other significant barriers include a lack of role models or examples of how to be successful. Also, the qualities associated with leadership or promotion embedded in the culture of the organisation may have a male bias.

What do you think contributes to the lack of females taking the plunge in entrepreneurship?

Some critical barriers in my experience include a lack of access to supportive networks and capital and knowing how to navigate the road to entrepreneurship. Also competing priorities and time constraints can pose barriers to progressing ideas.

What more can be done to support women in all industries?

Access to coaching, mentoring services and a commitment to positive workplace cultures are vital steps to making change. Understanding intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are critical to achieving results as well. Training programs supported by coaching also play a significant role in embedding the leadership qualities consistently used by effective female leaders, such as those identified in item 3 above. Organisations that open themselves to in-situational coaching with a trained coach can benefit from real-time observation and then implement actions to enhance positive workplace cultures.