Darcy Lee’s Post

We were thrilled to announce the appointment of Cath Lomax to the role of Chief People and Strategy Officer in February. Cath brings to Southern Cross over 20 years’ experience within the financial services sector, enjoying a varied career with roles at Fisher Funds and Bank of New Zealand. To mark International Women's Day we asked Cath a few questions: What’s been a career highlight for you thus far? One career highlight was undertaking a piece of “sprint” research work that investigated how we can retain and promote women in senior leadership. Undertaking both qualitative and quantitative research with a fantastic team of data scientists and experts, we uncovered key findings and actions. It was an emotional piece of work for all of the team, men and women, and it inspired us all to try and take action, not just discuss what we need to do. What is the most valuable piece of leadership advice you have been given? One of my very first amazing female leaders shared the quote with me: 'A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle'. Although this was very early in my leadership career, this empowered me to really be who I am and to lead with courage, inclusivity, and optimism. Reflecting on myself and learning from others means all our candles can shine a bit more brightly. If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why? The dinner would actually be a party, as my list is very long! Every day I meet so many inspirational women - I'm going to have to go with six: My gran, Doreen Reta Brunsden, who passed away when I was 20. I miss her and want to ask her advice on lots of things. My mum, Marcia, will have to come too. My daughters, Rata and Anika. Our younger generation of women have so much to teach us and I feel so much hope and optimism that they are change makers. Kate Sheppard and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg– the conversation would be fascinating and help us to learn what we can do more of and differently and learn from their courage. #WomenInLeadership #InternationalWomensDay #LeadershipAdvice #IWD2024

‘The Minerva’s Transformation : A New Chapter of Inclusion’ 🙌 Minerva, like many organizations, recently went through a big change. It wasn't about growing too fast; we realized our main mission wasn't as connected with our community as it should be. We moved away from showing how a community of women achievers can make a big difference with their leadership and inspire others. As the founder, my initial ideas were sparked by a strong passion that also motivated others. However, I learned that passion alone doesn't guarantee lasting success; a solid foundation is necessary. 📌 The key elements included: - Having people who effortlessly align with Minerva’s mission to inspire and support others through leadership. - Attracting those drawn to a sense of community and belonging. - Welcoming members who share our values and beliefs, without needing to be convinced through a sales pitch. - Creating a space focused on mutual growth and respect, beyond just work or networking. Recently, Minerva has extended its membership to include men, and I am privileged to know some truly remarkable people. Their kindness and ability to inspire others with their success is motivating. Knowing I can count on them, I've personally invited them to join a community aimed at inspiring and supporting each other. I dream of a community that keeps growing with like-minded individuals. Together, our experiences help us create a solid foundation and a culture that keeps our original vision alive and strong✨ #vision #likedmindedpeople #growthmindset #membershipclub #socialnetworking

Cheers to all the women leaders, who have been shaping vartaleap over the years! This International Women's Day, we are taking a moment to recognize the incredible contributions of the remarkable women who have been shaping vartaLeap, both present members and ones who have nurtured us over the years. 1. Intergenerational Wisdom: Our coalition thrives on the wisdom shared by women across generations. As role models and experienced mentors, they nurture emerging leaders, instilling confidence and compassion. As young leaders they infuse our spaces with audacity and innovation. In a country where we are only beginning to embrace women leadership spaces, these intergenerational members enrich vartaLeap’s being, seeing and doing deeply. 2. Cross-sectoral Leadership: These women hold pivotal positions across sectors, championing diverse social impact issues - leading NGOs, philanthropy, grassroots movements, education institutions, bilateral agencies and more! Their presence and leadership influences decisions that impact millions. 3. Diverse Perspectives: Women bring in a tapestry of first hand experiences and cultural intricacies. Representing various regions, religions, castes, class, sexualities, these members help us break intersectional silos. Their unique lens helps uncover blind spots, challenge assumptions, and facilitate inclusive solutions. 3. Resilience and Perseverance: In the face of challenges, these leaders often stand strong. Their resilience - engrained through overcoming societal barriers themselves, fuels sustainable change. They persistently champion justice, equity, and social hope. 4. Empathy, Compassion and Collaboration: They lead with empathy. Their ability to listen, understand, and connect with vulnerability is invaluable. They enable collaborative ecosystems, connecting dots across sectors, organizations, and communities, with compassion. Our coalition is a beautiful, diverse and complex constellation and each of these women are stars in their own right. We are grateful to work alongside these trailblazers, who are at the forefront of youth-centric development. Durba | pranami | Astha | Bindi | Dr Nandita | Hiba | Jessica | Priyanka | Rachita | Monisha | Tiasha | Vishakha Tak | Kanika | Kavita | Lalitha | Manasa Priya | Manisha | Neha | Naghma | Prabhleen | nasreen | Dharshini | Momee | Mudita | Meenu | Sohini | Arnaz | Ashraf | Prarthana | Prerna | Priya | Prerna | Rolly | Anjani | Oshin | Sukannyaa | Malavika | Ariba | Aruna | Nidhi #womensday2024 #vartaLeap #collaboration

I specialize in empowering and guiding women who are eager to embrace their authentic selves, offering unwavering support to help them overcome any uncertainties they may encounter. Drawing from over four decades of diverse experience in management, building ventures, and working across different sectors, I provide firsthand insights into the common challenges, fears, and limitations that women often face when venturing into entrepreneurship or aiming for leadership roles in non-profit organizations and beyond. If you're a woman ready to: 🟥 Take bold strides forward, 🟥 Engage in collaborative efforts, 🟥 Unlock your full potential, 🟥 Conquer any obstacles in your path, and 🟥 Ignite your passion, The SheSteps Forward Retreat is tailored for women leaders across various domains, including ministry, non-profit leadership, consultants and executive roles. It's a space where you can recharge, reignite your drive, and connect with like-minded individuals who are eager to share their experiences and resources. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a supportive community dedicated to empowering women leaders like yourself. Early registration is currently open but will be closing soon. Don't miss this opportunity to empower yourself and connect with like-minded individuals. https://bit.ly/4diqZAT

Cheers to PerchPeek’s inspirational female Leaders this #iwd2024 🎈🎈 Today holds a special double meaning for me. Not only is it International Women's Day, but it also happens to be my birthday! I couldn’t ask for a better celebration than putting on a pedestal the incredible Women Leaders we’ve (somehow) persuaded to join the PerchPeek Leadership Team (PLT). Penelope Luksic, Victoria Mikoda, Hellie Kellett-Clarke & Francesca Thomson (nee Smith) - thank you to each & every one of you. Penny - you’re a true People guru and been an absolute game-changer for the culture of our pandemonium. You’ve taught me so much about company building, raising the bar and having some fun along the way. I can turn to you for any topic and know I’ll get a well thought through, smart response that leads to better outcomes and decisions for our business. Victoria - that was a great day when I outbound you on LinkedIn. Many Founders can attest to how hard it is to find great Product Leaders and the fact we found one who’s also relocated a dozen times was a gift sent from above. To see your relentless customer obsession and drive to move rapidly in improving our product inspires me every day. Just think how far our product has come these past two years! Hellie - You’ve been asked to do crazy things over the past three years and somehow always done them to the highest standard. From defining our operating model to building our hiring playbook to leading our finances - you’ve absorbed function after function and always left stardust wherever you’ve flown. You drive our Perchy performance culture more than anyone and help teach others so much. Thank you. Fran - the newest member of the PLT but what a gem of an addition you are. You’ve brought incredible perspective and experience from growing teams, you obsess about how we scale (which I love) and about how we can use technology to supercharge the work of our Relocation Coaches. I can’t wait to see the big things you drive for us over the coming years. One of the greatest rewards of founding PerchPeek is getting to hand-pick the best talent out there and try to persuade them to join our crazy mission to help anyone move anywhere. With these four, I’ve won the lottery multiple times over. You’re so, so much more than just Female Leaders - you’re strategic wizards, bar raisers and passionate crafters of our culture 🦜🦜 What a gift to share my birthday with IWD and what a gift to get to grow PerchPeek alongside some of the strongest Leaders I know. To all the amazing women at PerchPeek and around the world - Happy IWD.

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This is not a Tinder profile😅. Read my short #interview to learn a little more about me and my involvement with #franktalk💫 a leadership community that helped me improve my coaching skills and overall leadership abilities. We all should have our own safe space to discuss challenges and goals in the professional world and Dayna Lapkovsky, know how to assemble the best groups or talented, inspiring women. ❔Are you a part of a women leadership group? You should join us! 👇 #womeninbusiness #womenleaders

Funny how time flies; Woman of Might is six months old! As a woman of might, I've had the privilege of experiencing some incredible fun facts that have not only enriched my life but also inspired me to keep pushing boundaries. Here are a few remarkable moments: ✔ Global Network: Through Women of Might, I've connected with a diverse group of strong and empowered women worldwide. The power of this global network is awe-inspiring and fuels my determination to achieve my goals. ✔ Resilience: I've witnessed firsthand the unyielding strength of women who have faced adversity and emerged stronger. Their stories serve as a reminder that no challenge is insurmountable. ✔ Leadership: Women are not just leaders; they are transformational leaders. Their inclusive and compassionate leadership styles are changing the world for the better. ✔ Supportive Community: Women of Might isn't just a network; it's a supportive sisterhood. The camaraderie and encouragement I've witnessed are heartwarming. It's a testament to the power of women lifting each other up. Women of Might have opened my eyes to a world of possibilities and taught me that strength, resilience, and determination know no gender boundaries. Together, we can achieve remarkable feats and continue to break down barriers for future generations. If you're as inspired as I am by these amazing women, I invite you to join our Women of Might community and attend our upcoming events. It's a chance to connect, learn, and be part of this incredible network. Don't miss out—be part of this empowering community! Together, we can achieve great things. See the links in the comment section. ================================ If you are coming across my post for the first time, my name is Ese Tugele, and I help business owners scale their businesses while they do the things that matter most to their business. I am available to provide support to businesses Send me a DM Get notified when I post by hitting the notification bell 🔔 #wom #funfacts #sixmonthsanniversary

Are you picking your battles? I wish someone would’ve sat me down when I was 25 years old and explained this to me. It would’ve saved me two decades worth of frustration. Watch the video below and let us hear the lessons that you’ve learned in your career. Your mistakes/lessons could prevent someone from wasting years of their career. This community is all about allowing women in leadership to go further faster by learning from those who have come before them. Let’s rally for them my friends, and share your lessons below. #ProximityLeadershipNetwork #womensupportingwomen #womeninleadership #leadershipcoaching #managertraining

“If a board does not care about the executive, who will? And if a board uses its power just to control and not to uplift, is it even doing its job?…This story highlights how fragile the support of our leadership can be and the stark consequences that can occur when conflict resolution takes a back seat to the illusion of organizational stability.” This is why You have to be motivated by something bigger than their feelings about you. You are called and your Mandate is VISION. The signs of your Board’s reluctance and regret are clear from the beginning. When they begin with vendetta to test your loyalties or when they quiet quit your vision through their philantropthy or when they constantly remind you that a few members of the board remain dissatisfied with your leadership despite your track record - without specifity as to who and why or how you might meet their expectations without any insight - it is painfully clear that they do not care and they will not uplift. You are their experiment. Instead of trying to fix them you must figure out what you are there to do - AND DO THAT! Focus on your calling and vision and pursue that at all cost. In the aftermath, your track record cannot and will not be denied. #blackwomenlead #ICTL #ladderleadership #listentoblackwomen #getinline