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Who has been the greatest contributor to your success this far?
I am fortunate to come from a long line of strong females, but my mum was my greatest role model. She built a strong career of her own during a time when it wasn’t as common to see women in leadership. When I was diagnosed with a disability at the age of 11, she empowered me to decide who I wanted to become, and what I would allow to define me.
How do you approach your relationship with mentors within your organization and beyond?
I had some great female bosses who were collaborative and clearly loved their work, and working with them inspired me to take on a management role. Today, I deliberately make myself present because I want to be visible, approachable, and available for younger colleagues while doing the work that I love. As financial planners we can give our clients comfort while helping them achieve financial success.
How would you like to see others inspire inclusion?
The support for inclusion is obvious at CG and we can see that having more diverse perspectives benefits everyone. Of course, there are still some pockets of our industry where we need to see more inclusivity in practice, but I am confident that the shift is happening, and I feel more empowered than ever.
What is one piece of practical advice you would give to someone starting out in your team/organization?
Now is the time to hone your craft – learn, ask questions, and speak to as many people as possible. You don’t need to fit someone else’s mold to be successful. Trust in yourself and find the process that works best for you.