Women's Leadership Forum

Aiming for the stars!
Women’s Leadership Forum

On Thursday 13 July, I had the pleasure of attending the Women’s Leadership Forum in Brisbane, at Victoria Park. Held by the ‘Aim for the Stars’ Foundation.

Aim for the Stars’ was founded by Australian world champion surfer, Layne Beachley. Her aim, through the Foundation, is to empower and inspire women of all ages to achieve their dreams and become great leaders.

Resilience
Thursday’s forum focused on resilience and brought together presentations by a number of women who are recognised leaders in their chosen fields of sport, science, business communication and entrepreneurship.

Finding your voice
The first guest speaker was Dr Cathy Foley – Director and Deputy Director of Manufacturing at CSIRO.

Cathy’s presentation was both engaging and amusing! She told us of her life journey from being a dyslexic young girl who did not even know her times tables – to being part of world-renown discoveries in science.
From ‘power posing’, to keeping fit, to dinner planning – Cathy provided us with great insight and tips from her life lessons.

I felt that everyone in the room could relate to Cathy’s insights and gained reassurance that in life, no one is perfect! What makes the difference is how we approach sticky situations and how we can empower ourselves to rise to each challenge!

Fear is good
Holly Ransom was our second guest speaker. Holly is known as a serial overachiever! She is CEO of her own business and has an accomplished list of achievements well beyond her age! To just name one – Holly was listed by Sir Richard Branson in 2016 as one of his dream dinner guests!

Holly explained how she went from being diagnosed with clinical depression to travelling the world and doing something she feared every day for an entire year. She went on to tell us how she trained and completed a 13-hour marathon – how the hardships and inspiration she gained through the experience provided her with capabilities well beyond what she could have imagined possible.

Holly showed us how such life lessons provided her with the agility and resilience to shape and direct her career. It was so inspiring to listen and learn about how much she has achieved at such a young age.

Being inspired
To conclude the Forum, we listened to three young women who have each received scholarships from ‘Aim for the Stars’. We listened to their amazing achievements and how the Foundation has supported and guided them. Each of these women provided great tips on personal growth and ensured us all that no matter what life may throw at you – you CAN achieve amazing things!

A day of inspiration and reassurance
What a fabulous event full of inspiration and reassurance. With effort, determination and, most importantly, resilience – we can achieve our dreams!

Bree McElroy
Designer – Salt Design

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