Gloss april 2015 by GLOSS MAGAZINE

MARCH 2015 APRIL 2015

GLOSS

Founder & Editor in Chief JANINE GARNER | janine@littleblackdressgroup.com.au Managing Editor KATE MATHESON | kate@littleblackdressgroup.com.au Contributing Editors Melissa Browne, Nikki Fogden-Moore, Adrian Morgan, Renata Cooper, Margot Andersen Featured This Month Tracey Spicer, Rabia Siddique, Graeme Bowman, Sarah Poole, Lisa Messenger, Suzie Hoitink ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES kate@littleblackdressgroup.com.au EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES kate@littleblackdressgroup.com.au DESIGN INTERN Hayley Chiplin | lateralconjuring@gmail.com Published By: LBDGroup | littleblackdressgroup.com.au MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES AND FEEDBACK www.littleblackdressgroup.com.au kate@littleblackdressgroup.com.au

ÂŠ LBDG 2014 All content in this newsletter is protected under Australian and International copyright laws. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of LBDG is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this online magazine at time of going to press, and we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. All rights reserved.

#LBDG #bebrave #netweave #collaborate #frommetowe

ISSUE No.23

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your big word? #lbdg2015

COMMERCIAL COLLABORATION ARE YOU READY? From Me to We shows business decision makers how the ability to effectively collaborate for mutual commercial benefit is the solution to future-proofing a business. Smashing the myth of the “Me Economy,” this insightful guide explains the model of Commercial Collaboration and the mindset and think-space it requires. Expanding upon Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” premise, this book emphasizes the need for continuous professional evolution and effort, and describes why women hold an important role in effecting change. Ideas are illustrated with examples, and backed by sector-specific research and interviews with business leaders who have seen real-world results of effective business collaboration. The Seven ReConnect Principles outline methods of realizing change, providing readers a way forward that will future-proof themselves, their careers, and their businesses. Collaboration isn’t just a soft skill that’s nice to have – it’s a vital business practice that affects the bottom line. As the way we do business continues to evolve, collaboration is becoming ever more crucial to steeling an organization against the threats of tomorrow. From Me to We is a practical handbook for more robust business strategy.

If you have been programmed or conditioned by society to believe that success means achieving on your own, you need to realise that no one achieves wealth, happiness, success, long-lasting love or anything else without the guidance and support of others. Innovation starts with collaboration. I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without consciously working with people who share in my vision and desired outcomes. You are as successful as the people you are surrounded by and Janine has dedicated her whole working life collaborating with and bringing together like-minded people to ensure continued and sustainable success. --Layne Beachley, seven-time world champion surfer, speaker and author

Learn more about FROM ME TO WE at the website now Available at all good bookstores and online retailers #frommetowe

A Message From Me Welcome to GLOSS in April! And welcome to the first edition for 2015. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only fitting that we start a new year of the magazine with an issue dedicated to disruption; whether that comes in the form of personal disruption, disruptive business methods, or even looking differently at the way we date and meet future partners, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to change the game and disturb the status quo. One thing I have learned is that unless you are willing to take the time and make an investment in your own growth as a business man or woman, then you will stagnate and simply come to a standstill. Make 2015 your year of disruption, simply by gifting yourself the time to self-educate and invest in your own intelligence bank. It will make your fortune in more ways than one. Thanks to the amazing feedback we have received, here at GLOSS we are ourselves being disruptive, and going to market with the chance for like-minded businesses and individuals to advertise with us. Look within for further information. As always, I thank all of our team, including our regular contributors - in particular new GLOSS team members, Adrian Morgan and Margot Andersen. I also want to say farewell with tremendous thanks to Chris Allen, who has a new book out in his incredibly successful INTREPID series, Avenger, and is currently writing the fourth. Remember to Connect - Inspire - Succeed - and this time - Disrupt!

If you would like to write for GLOSS, please contact us via Kate or Janine

FEATURES

GLOSS 18

ENTROPOLIS - A VISION OF THE FUTURE: An Exclusive Interview With Tania Price

AN ACCIDENTALLY BRILLIANT CAREER: An Exclusive Interview With Charlie Caruso

Renata Cooper

Blythe Chidgey

MONEY MATTERS

Margot Andersen

What’s In Store For Start-Ups In 2015?

Top Tips from a Top Copywriter

Mel Browne keeps our wallets healthy in 2015

Are You Ready For Personal Disruption?

APRIL‘15 Sean Simmons

Adrian Morgan

Carol Yang

BODY & SOUL

We meet LBDG’s travel partner

Disruption, Dating... and The 21st Century Romance

In Conversation With the founder of Spring Forward

Nikki Fogden-Moore has our bodies in the best shape for the new year

30 30

Learning To Fly:

NEWS & REVIEWS

LOIS LANE LIVES

A Look Back At The Year That Was for The First Seeds Fund

The best and bravest new business books, websites & blogs

Disruption and superheroes - and possible supervillains.

YOUR GIFT FROM US ALL AT GLOSS An exclusive chapter from Seth Godin’s latest, greatest book

Your Editorial Team

APRIL ‘15 APRIL ‘15 JANINE GARNER Founder & Editor in Chief

“Togetherness – or collaboration – requires a plus and an equal sign. Togetherness can, and

does, create the momentum of greatness.”

Janine Garner is a business woman and entrepreneur who is passionate about the return to open and

transparent corporate relationships and the power of commercial collaboration in futureproofing careers and businesses.

She is the Founder and CEO of LBDGroup, a community of successful and results oriented business women and entrepreneurs working together to drive continued change and success.

Janine spent 20 years working across the world in corporate marketing roles for some of the luxury sector’s

best brands including Ralph Lauren, Oroton Jaeger, Sainsbury’s Homebase and Citizen Watches.

She is the winner of an International Stevie Award, a Top 10 finalist in the DARE Magazine Daredevil Awards and was listed in 2013 as one of Australia’s “Most Inspiring Women” by Madison Magazine.

Janine is a sought after keynote speaker, mentor and advisor. She writes every week for her own blog and

is a regular commentator in the business print and on-line media.

Janine is also the founder of Australia’s first gift giving circle, the First Seeds Fund, committed to reducing the impact of poverty and abuse amongst women and children in our Australian backyards by focusing on

education, community and employment.

KATE MATHESON Managing Editor

“A heart that loves is always young. And quite possibly perennially stuck in the 70s, but that’s a personal choice.”

Managing Editor Kate Matheson is a ghostwriter, columnist, copy writer and editor who has a

passion for all things social media and graphic design. If she isn’t living in someone else’s head, she is online or onscreen, or often both together. She is determined to bring her love of the written word, presented as beautifully as possible, to people whether they like it or not.

She is the massively excited to be a part of the launch of LBDGroup in WA this month, with the

power of the LBDG message proving to be a big drawcard for Perth-dweilling women of worth. Find her in one of her various guises on Twitter at @oskythespy, read her own writing at What Kate Did Next or e-mail her at kate@typecast.com.au if you are looking for someone to time share your brain with.

WHAT DOES A LACK OF DIRECTION, FOCUS AND PLANNING COST YOU? IF YOU ARE WANTING TO: • achieve more • drive results and levels of personal and professional success • are ready to work and commit to greater success • get the passion back in to your work • shift thinking and perspective, to change your game • reignite your business/career passion • achieve step change in your results

THEN INVEST IN MENTORING IN 2015 WITH JANINE GARNER. As a trusted advisor, and experienced and results-driven business woman, Janine is one of Australia’s leading experts on leadership, belief and collaboration to gain greater commercial success, productivity and fulfilment. Time with Janine is invaluable to your personal and business growth, your big picture thinking, identifying and achieving your goals and what’s next. Contact her now to make 2015 YOUR year. Limited Spaces Available.

APRIL ‘15 TRACEY SPICER

“I like to test the limits and look at things differently – we aren’t reinventing the

wheel, but we can do things better.”

Tracey Spicer is one of the most versatile journalists and presenters in the country, with a portfolio

spanning television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and online media.During her 25-year career, she has anchored news, current affairs and lifestyle programs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Currently, Tracey works as an anchor for Sky News, weekly columnist for Fairfax Media and The

Hoopla, radio broadcaster, and presentation trainer at the Australian Film, Television and Radio

This Month’s Gamecchangers

School.

She is best known for presenting Channel 10’s national weekend and morning news services for 14 years. She has also has written, produced and presented documentaries for NGOs in Bangladesh, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and India.

The mother-of-two is an Ambassador for ActionAid, World Vision, Life’s Little Treasures, Karitane, and Dying with Dignity, Patron of the NSW Cancer Council and the National Premmie Foundation, and face of the Garvan Institute’s research into pancreatic cancer.

As you’d probably guess from her twitter feed, Tracey is passionate about women’s rights, social justice, and equal opportunity, and a lobbyist for the voluntary euthanasia movement.

The 46-year-old has just set up Women in Media, a mentoring and networking group, backed by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance. For the past two decades, she has been a highly sought-after MC and keynote speaker.

RABIA SIDDIQUE

“Being present in the moment is a great way to engage with people who live in the moment.”

Rabia is a criminal and human rights lawyer, a retired British Army officer, a former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor, a professional speaker, trainer, MC, facilitator and published author. In 2006 Rabia was awarded a Queen’s commendation for her human rights work in Iraq and in 2009 was the Runner Up for Australian Woman of the Year UK. More recently Rabia was named as one of the 2014 Telstra Business Women’s Award Finalists and one of the 100 most influential women in Australia by Westpac and the Australian Financial Review. After starting life as a criminal defence lawyer and youngest ever Federal prosecutor in Perth, Rabia moved to the UK in 1998 where she eventually commissioned as a Legal Officer in the British Army in 2001. Rabia went on to become a Crown Advocate in the British Counter Terrorism Division, which saw her prosecuting Al Qaeda terrorists, hate crimes and advising on war crimes prosecutions in The Hague. Rabia has recently written and published her memoir, ‘Equal Justice’, which is a story about strength, resilience, courage, conviction and determination. An Australian/UK feature film is shortly to be made about her life. Rabia is currently Legal Counsel to the Commissioner of the Western Australia Police and is rapidly gaining a reputation as an outstanding motivational and inspirational speaker, facilitator, resilience and leadership coach, and champion of women in leadership.

MELISSA BROWNE Contributing Editor Melissa Browne is an author, entrepreneur, business owner, and shoe & jumpsuit lover. She has two successful, award-winning businesses - Accounting and Taxation Advantage & Business Advantage Coaching and is the author of the recently published to rave reviews business book, More Money for Shoes. She has also just branched out into a new venture with Rod Soper, thinkers.inq - go to the website to find out more about this incredibly innovative model for early childhood education. A regular contributor to the Sydney Morning Herald, find Melissa on twitter at melbrowne_ or visit acctaxadv.com.au

NIKKI FOGDEN-MOORE Contributing Editor Nikki Fogden-Moore is all about practicing what she preaches – and what she preaches is balance. Balance between work, home and maintaining your personal best. The owner of Life’s A Gym, Nikki is a motivational speaker, trainer and all round powerhouse who will help bring your body and soul together. Connect with her on twitter @nfogdenmoore or visit www.thevitalitycoach.com.au

RENATA COOPER Renata is a visionary entrepreneur who seizes the moment and is pioneering financial change through social and ethical investment. In 2011, Renata founded Forming Circles aiming to change the way we do business through the power of giving. Committed to empowering people and ideas, through Forming Circles Renata improves the community locally and globally. She has invested in over 100 local and national businesses, individuals and organisations since its inception. Collectively the Forming Circles network reaches millions of people, Australia-wide on a daily basis. A woman of inspiration, Renata is an active philanthropist contributing to a number of projects including: Livvi’s Place Ryde – an all abilities playground in Ryde, Chalk Urban Art Festival, the 2013 Sydney Writers Festival and the anti- bullying short film ‘A Cautionary Tail’.

APRIL ‘15

ADRIAN MORGAN

Adrian Morgan is a husband/father/ son/photographer/business consultant depending on his audience. With a fondness for dad jokes, he consistently frustrates the Managing Editor of this magazine as deadlines rush by.

Anointed a modern male by the aforementioned ME he brings his unique perspective to GLOSS from February onwards with commentary about life, love, and quite possibly everything that shouldn’t be discussed at the dinner table.

Margot Andersen

Margot is the Owner and Director of talentinsight Australia, a company founded on the principal that true career fulfilment and organisational success occurs when individuals and businesses talk openly and honestly about what they need, their responsibilities and genuinely work to bring out the best in each other.

As the organisation’s principle coach she brings a depth of knowledge and experience in operational and performance management, career mentoring and leading and developing high performing teams.

Sarah Poole Sarah is an Australian Lawyer, Registered Trade Marks Attorney and most recently the founder of Marquette Intellectual Property. Sarah specialises in trade marks and brand protection for the creative sector, as well as associated IP rights such as copyright and registered designs.

In This Month’s Issue

In delivering tailored advise, Sarah draws on industry “know-how” gained from an additional 3 years’ experience working for a creative branding agency.

Graeme Bowman Graeme Bowman is a freelance writer, comedian, hoax speaker and lateral thinking facilitator, with a deep commitment to social change and women’s empowerment. He is Co-Founder of the new online community, ‘Wise Women Will Save the World’. His various talents are combining in the forthcoming Melbourne Comedy Festival show, ‘Patriarchy – Where would we be without you?’ www.wisewomenwill.com

APRIL ‘15 Dr Jenny Brockis

Dr Jenny Brockis, the Brain Fitness Doctor, is the founder and director of Brain Fit.

She helps business leaders, senior managers and educators create a brain friendly working environment to nurture and develop all brains at work. She works as an international speaker, author, and mentor and is Mum to two gorgeous young adults. When not working she enjoys travelling the world with her husband, challenging her long standing fear of heights.

Lisa Messenger

Tania was a founding partner in the development of online entrepreneur training system Decisionship.com and instrumental in launching the Club Kidpreneur Foundation in collaboration with nowhusband Creel Price. Since 2009, those two businesses have trained more than 5000 adult entrepreneurs to win at the game of business and together, they’ve helped over 10,000 primary aged children launch their own microbusinesses.

She is now the co-founder of the online platform Entropolis for entrepreneurs worldwide.

Suzie Hoitink

Louise Agnew

Blythe Chidgey calls herself a writer because she decided she’s old enough to call herself whatever she likes.

Inspired by so many amazing openhearted women, Louise Agnew has fulfilled her dreams of creating a financial education academy for this century’s woman. Having been a licensed financial adviser for over 8 years, Lou has learned that often the fear of the unknown disables women from being able to live a fuller and more satisfying life.

Based in Melbourne, Blythe is not a huge fan of punctuation, but is a believer in sticking to the rules, sometimes. She knows the difference quality writing can make to any business. Her business The Wordy Girl aims to help everyone and anyone to “get it write” on social media and websites. She would love catch up with her high school careers advisor and chat about the time she told her she would never make a living out of being a writer.

She loves binge watching TV series, updating Facebook to make herself sound interesting, finding things to do in her spare hours between 1am and 3am and searching “dogs in swings” on google images.

Her passion in financial literacy is evident in all she does and Lou aims to work with several organisations on financial literacy programs in schools by trying to make them more relevant for our kids today. Her aim is to lead the financial planning industry forward, to shift “old skool” perceptions and mentality, ensuring our youth and women are more financially accountable. Her Lyfe Academy represents the very risk and reward that most fear, and a belief in oneself despite adversity, by reaching for one’s dreams anything is possible.

BECOME a part of GLOSS Advertising rates are now available for monthly, 3 monthly and yearly packages. Sponsorship and partnering opportunities with GLOSS and LBDGroup are also on offer to like-minded corporate identities and entrepreneurial ventures. Please contact Managing Editor Kate Matheson or CEO Janine Garner to discuss your involvement in one of online publishingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest voices.

APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY

Events

FEB ‘15 APR ‘15 SYD NEY EXC LUS IVE DIN 12 F NER EBR UAR Y

EY SYDN R INNE D E V USI EXCL UARY R B E 19 F

BR ISB EX AN CLU E SIV E DIN 24 F NE EBR R UA RY

MELBOU RNE

EXCLUS IVE DIN NER 15 APRI L

Calendar

MAR ‘15 MAY ‘15 Y SYDNE R DINNE E V I S EXCLU CH 5 MAR

LBD RETREAT

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MELBOU RNE

NOOSA

12 MARCH

BRIS BAN E EXCL USIV E DIN NER 31 M ARC H

BRISBANE

EXCLUSIVE DINNER 22 APRIL

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A PARTNERSHIP THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOING PLACES Sean Simmons Travel is delighted to be taking the Little Black Dress Group across the globe in our new role as preferred travel agent. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a natural fit for two businesses that are on the rise, with Sean Simmons Travel riding the wave of two consecutive finalist nominations at the National Travel Industry Awards, and LBD Group helping more and more business leaders and entrepreneurs collaborate every day. The team of travel experts at Sean Simmons Travel will smooth your journey, from start to finish, giving you the absolute confidence to focus on the success of YOUR business and leave travel to the experts. So stop taxiing around the perimeter fence, and get into position for immediate take-off. Call the team today and experience, first hand, service that leaves our competitors in the hangars!!

F I N A L I S T 2 013

F I N A L I S T 2 014

EVERY MORNING YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES: CONTINUE TO SLEEP WITH YOUR DREAMS, OR WAKE UP AND CHASE THEM.

An Accidentally Brilliant Career: An Exclusive Interview With Charlie Caruso Kate Matheson

I was introduced to Charlie Caruso by a mutual friend, after coincidentally mentioning that I had read her recently published book, Understanding Y (which again, coincidentally, we reviewed in GLOSS last year). This led to an extremely long phone conversation which was basically just babbling at each other in complete geek speak, then on to a face to face meeting which was further geek speak. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice to say, if we were looking for someone to sum up the theme of this month’s issue - which is, of course, Disruption then look no further. From deliberately grey hair (admittedly it’s a pretty chic version rather than ‘I forgot to get my roots done’) to administrating a multi-national company at 18, Charlie Caruso might as well have her name under ‘d’ for disrupter in Wikipedia along with ‘brain the size of a galaxy’. She talks at a million miles an hour and every sentence has an idea in it that Apple would probably steal if they had the opportunity. Take the book - Understanding Y - for example. She wanted to talk about the Millennial generation so she not only wrote about the subject herself, she managed to bring in luminaries such as Bernard Salt, Ryan Heath and David Burstein to the party... oh, and scored an international publishing deal. Then there’s PuggleFM. ‘I started PuggleFM purely out of being pissed off with the state of radio – it was eight o’clock in the morning and I was dropping the girls to kindy. Rihanna’s S&M was on one channel, and a sports star whinging about his wife not her losing baby weight on another – why was there no music that kids could hear, and content that I wanted to hear? How about how to help your relationship when kids are behaving badly? At the same time, I didn’t lose my brain capacity or my ability to talk about politics because I had kids. There had to be something more; there were so many niche market radio stations – so why no parent radio?’ So she did what any sensible Gen Y would do - she Googled it. And she was right; nothing existed. Therein started a two year journey into what it takes to get an FM licence. Luckily,

this never eventuated, because it’s insanely complicated and expensive - because of the miracle that is internet radio. She was quick to discover that a huge audience and demand was there – a it’s peak, Puggle was attracting 10,000 listeners a day. Charlie was busy creating podcasts at home in pyjamas which quickly reached Number 1 on iTunes. She was 24 years old. Again, her tendency towards disruption stepped in when it came to commercialisation; she wanted to keep it on her terms with quality non-commercial content vying for room with commercial space. She is now looking at a huge syndication deal irrespective of a refusal to bend. Watch this space.

When I first started itUni, literally years ago, didneed a degree Mass ‘My career is highly disruptive; basically has noten form. I don’t feelIthe to havecalled a “career” – I just Communications. have ideas. I find people to help me work on them, and I launch them. Then I get bored, and launch something else. Puggle is the exception because I am passionate about the need for the service. I did six months. I will never, ever be told by any editor what is ‘content’.

I like to test the limits and look at things differently – we aren’t reinventing the wheel, but we can do things better.

‘There’s a brilliant TEDx talk about hackschooling by Logan LaPlante – and yes, my favourite

search word is “hack” – how can we hack in life? Disruption and hacking have very negative connotations for older generations in general. For Gen Y and under however, they are simply incredibly exciting. The Baby Boomers convention is to be “good”; go to a good Uni, get a good job and work until you retire. Now though, that is not the only option, nor is it the obvious one; disruption is desirable.” Home schooling is currently her number one ambition. She admits that her husband ‘thinks it’s crazy’. But she argues this; is the point of education the job that they get? Or is it life and social skills? She refers back to another TEDx luminary - Sir Ken Robinson – who has a point that she reiterates; ‘what possible idea do we have that we can teach our children about the workforce, when we don’t even know what it’s going to look like in 60 years?’ ‘I want my kids to learn how to code, to learn Mandarin, to travel internationally, to see other cultures. Our kids deserve a bigger mind-set. It costs half a million dollars to put children through private school – why can’t I do something disruptive? Disruption is all around us – why can’t we teach it at school?’

Her latest project, Curiosity Productions, yet again takes a commercial concept and turns it on its head - while still having financial viability. Still in the testing phase, what it offers is quality - with the emphasis on quality - video production facilities, custom graphics and media training to SMEs at reasonable cost. It means businesses who previously couldn’t afford to introduce themselves by video now can. It can potentially turn the industry on its head. I repeat again a line she said during our conversation. I like to test the limits and look at things differently – we aren’t reinventing the wheel, but we can do things better. That pretty much sums Charlie Caruso - and her very busy brain - up.

The best therapist has fur and four legs.

Don't trade in your authenticity for approval.

business: /ˈbɪznəs/ noun

business

1. a person’s regular occupation, profession, or trade. “experts who typically conduct their business over the Internet” synonyms: work, line of work, line, occupation, profession, career, employment, job, day job, position, pursuit, vocation, calling, field, sphere, walk of life, trade, craft. 2. commercial activity. “firms who want to do business with Japan” synonyms: trade, trading, commerce, buying and selling, dealing, traffic, trafficking, marketing, merchandising, bargaining.

Renata Cooper

All For One And One For All: Collaboration In 2015

2015 will see us, as a society; work together more than we ever have in the past. Technology, shifting work ethics and the need to deliver greater good has seen collaborative practices going mainstream in workplaces, manufacturing, consumption, resource management, recycling and how we perceive competition. Increasingly, we are working together for our benefit and that of those around us. Beyond classic examples such as eBay and the less decorous ones such as Pirate Bay, many community driven collaborative movements are shaping our economy and culture. From 3D printing, co-creation, software as services technology allowing brands to connect directly with customers and consumption platforms such as Freecycle, our world is getting smaller and more intertwined. So how will collaboration impact small businesses and entrepreneurs this year? SOCIAL MEDIA IS AS IMPORTANT AS EMAIL AND PHONES: Research firm Gartner predicts that by 2016, 50 percent of large organisations will have internal Facebook-like social networks, and that 30 percent of these will be considered as essential as email and telephones are today. Entrepreneurs and smaller businesses will take cue from this trend and use social mediums to build brands and manage conversations. Social engagement will become an important part of their business plan and strategy. Community managers – internal employees or external facilitators such as CloudPeeps – will play a bigger role in channeling relevant information across different platforms. Likewise, the role of content will evolve to focus more on key influencers, leadership and relationships. Businesses with global footprints will also use social platforms to create more cohesive workforce across cities and countries – at a fraction of the cost. EMPLOYEE VOICE AND NEW WORK STRUCTURE: In the past, employee performance management was reliant on management teams and the opportunities they provided. Flatter work structures and access to social networks, within and outside the organisation, has given a stronger voice to employees to showcase their work, interests, skills (both intuitive and taught) and potential. Employees will be more empowered to work with entrepreneurs and businesses that fulfill not just pay check requirements, but also support them through collaboration and be part of their interests. Employers who do this

well will have a more motivated and passionate workforce that produces better results. Silos will be broken down in the pursuit of work structures that are more collaborative and accepting of how people live and their individual interests. INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND PEOPLE: Technological integration across different systems, processes and data is very much a given. 2014 saw organisations scramble to get their CRM, cloud content, ERP, social and other data management systems talking to each other. For newer businesses, it was a relatively easy process and for others such as hospitality, where legacy systems had to be integrated, the approach has been slower. 2015 will see more collaborations take place with organisations aiming to put more data into action through sharing, analysis and application. Owing to technology, last year also saw greater collaboration in areas such as resource and team management. Gone are the days where employees were brought on board to work 9 to 5 for a job, over a certain period of time, at a given location. The collaborative nature of technology has benefited entrepreneurs greatly as, with limited budgets, they have been able to pull together the most effective teams for the job – without geographic and time constraints. Small businesses have just as much access to the best personnel suited to the job as bigger organisations.

This plug and play business model will continue to gain popularity this year. COLLABORATIVE COMPETITION: Early in 2013, Harvard Business Review published an article noting that collaboration is the new competition. The article highlights how, in an effort to tackle today’s complex and interconnected problems, leaders and organisations are putting aside self-interest to build a new civic infrastructure and advance shared objectives. While competition will continue to drive many people, the nature, parameters and desire that craft it will shift to a more collaborative model. Increasingly, non-traditional partners are coming together, and will continue to do so, to embrace a new way of working together. From angel investment and funding to launching new publications, the measure of competition will be more collective. People will pool in resources to support collective and individual growth. As entrepreneur Janine Garner notes in her book From Me To We, to succeed in a ‘we’ world, we need to learn how to engage, as commercial collaboration is key to future-proofing the economy. As the economy continues to get reshaped, collaboration’s role in the new culture and the very fabric of business will continue to evolve. The above noted trends and new ones that pop up through 2015 will become a more intrinsic part of how we do business and interact with the world around us.

YOU’RE The Voice. Margot Andersen

As we celebrated International Women’s Day last month, there were so many incredible women who personified the ability to ‘find one’s voice’. Embracing the challenge to do so has seen them break new ground, blaze trails, suffer trials, shatter glass ceilings and many other tougher things along the way. Their journeys are rich in learning for those of us who are creating our own voice and determining how best to use them. So let’s take a moment to acknowledge just five women who have each made their mark, made some noise in the process, and certainly made a difference. J K Rowling: ‘It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.’ Playing it safe is more dangerous than we think. Yet we so rarely hear about the enormous cost of playing it safe. We risk the opportunities to win and or engage in meaningful work; we risk the opportunity to create those memorable moments; and we risk the

opportunities to be noticed and be remembered. If ever you needed proof that you should step out of your comfort zone and take a risk J K Rowling is it. Breaking through the poverty trap and the cycle of rejection after rejection she remained committed to pursuing her writing ambitions and in doing so not only transformed her own life but that of millions of children (and adults alike) with her writings and the Harry Potter series. In five years, she has sold over 400 million copies with the series and seen it come to life through not only print but also film and toys. She has also inspired so many children to pick up a book and actively engage in the simple past time of reading. Katherine Hepburn: ‘As one goes through life, one learns that if you don’t paddle your own canoe, you don’t move’. The ability to own what it is that we do, what we want to do and where we are is key to our success in both our professional and personal lives. Through ownership, we grow in confidence and purpose and ultimately create a range of choices for ourselves.

Remembered for her feisty independence and spirited personality, Katherine Hepburn was a leading Hollywood lady for more than 60 years. She continuously challenged herself by accepting diverse work in film, stage and television and made a point to seek out different types of characters to portray. Whilst she enjoyed much success and recognition with multiple Academy Awards she also endured a series of commercial failures that saw her at one point labeled ‘box office poison’. Her tenacity and commitment to follow her passion and talents in all seasons saw her become remembered one of the most successful actors of all time. Rosa Parks: ‘I knew someone had to take the first step, and I made up my mind not to move.’ Sometimes it is not so much what we say, it is what we don’t; not so much what we do, but what we don’t, that creates those powerful moments and leads to ripples of change.

“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” - Melinda Gates

Rosa Parks who was often dubbed ‘the first lady of civil rights’ was a pioneer in a racially segregated Alabama in the 1950s. Her refusal to both give away her seat to a white passenger on a bus and to obey the bus driver’s orders to move was at the time one of the boldest acts of defiance ever seen. These actions led to boycotts of transport systems and heated debates and protests, but it also opened the doors to constructive and collaborative conversations with civil rights leaders and politicians. More importantly it planted seeds of hope for the many who had endured years of segregation and discrimination to believe that life could be different. Emma Watson: ‘Fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it has to stop’. The ability to apply a different lens, break down stereotypes and encourage unity is a powerful combination in driving a change in attitudes and beliefs. In establishing shared commitment, open collaboration and focus we can reach heights that we didn’t see possible and create more far reaching impacts than anticipated.

Emma Watson is widely recognised as ‘The Harry Potter Girl’. At just 24 years of age she was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador and helped launch the UN Women campaign #HeForShe that calls for men to advocate for gender equality. Her inaugural speech received worldwide recognition for uniting both men and women in the fight for gender equality.

Learning how to effectively channel our energy is a huge element of what underpins much of our growth and success. Our efficiency, productivity and health all benefit when we know how and where to invest our time and efforts. We all know that when our energy levels are low, our work suffers. In fact most things suffer. Equally, failing to channel our energies in the right direction is just as problematic – distractions and frustrations abound with lots of energy expended for very little result. Garbrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was the daughter of a laundrywoman and a market stallholder. She became one of the greatest fashion designers we have ever seen and her name continues to exude style, class and grace. Her belief that ‘a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous’ inspired her to continuously design, create and produce award winning fashion and fragrances that remain the foundation of one of the most sought after female brands today. Renowned for not only her designs but also her incredible pursuit of excellence and her capacity for work, her laser like focus and commitment cemented her success. It takes incredible conviction to push through the barriers (both personal and societal) to success. So too does the ability to challenge the norm, make tough decisions, answer the critics, not allow failures and disappointments deter you from your course, to be vulnerable and allow others the space to also be vulnerable. Women who do find their voice, stand for what they believe in and remain steadfast in their inner convictions will stand apart from the masses and start seeing opportunities to simply make it happen.

Coco Chanel: ‘Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door’

The identity of a business or its “brand” is often its most valuable marketing tool. Consumers identify with a certain quality, reputation or image of that brand, and recognise it as pointing to the products or services of the brand owner. The more successful the business becomes, the more value attached to the brand. Creating a strong, legally protectable brand is therefore an important investment and can make a world of difference for businesses in leveraging the value of a brand. Obtaining a registered trade mark is often the simplest, most cost-effective way of establishing a solid brand. But it’s not always smooth sailing for all brand owners. Here are my tips on how to get it right:

Investing In Brand You: The Value Of Trademarks Top Tips For Protecting Your Brand With Sarah Poole

Where possible, obtain advice on the strength and registrability of your proposed trade mark before launching your brand. This will ensure that key considerations are borne in mind at the development stage and highlight potential pitfalls, including issues associated with obtaining registration.

Get clearance before entering a new market, local or international. Trade mark clearance searches are designed to advise whether adoption and/or use of the proposed trade mark will potentially infringe a competitor’s rights.

4 3 5 Build a fence around your brand and its “personality” by identifying all key elements and protecting them. Be it a word, phrase, symbol, logo, aspect of packaging or a combination of these, a good brand protection strategy will cover everything that makes your brand.

If you’ve got protection, don’t sit on your hands – use it!

Ward off competitors operating in your space by highlighting your protection and enforcing it.

Use, monitor and maintain your trade marks. Don’t let your protection dwindle or fall foul of forgetting to pay renewal fees. If you let your trade mark lapse, you might just find that you’ve lost the opportunity to regain it by allowing a competitor to swoop in.

Last but certainly not least, act early! Many businesses approach trade mark protection as “something we’ll get to” or an unaffordable expense, while at the same time investing in website development, printing and sometimes even packaging costs. It pays to be sure that you’re investing in a brand that’s protectable before such outlays, therefore avoiding the risk of having to back-track or potentially even re-brand later on.

Collusion Rather Than Collaboration: WHY FLAT DOES NOT YET EQUAL LEVEL

Adrian Morgan

Over the last few months the Australian headlines have been dominated with the news of the impending execution of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Our Prime Minister has been making “representations” at “the highest level” for the freedom of the two Australians on death row, however, these are being ignored, and by the time you read this as you know, their lives still hang in the balance. According to Amnesty International there are around 24,000 people on death row worldwide, but I bet our prime minister doesn’t know their names. I would suggest he has not been making these representations to the other 65 countries in the world to let them spend their lives jail rather than be executed. Chan and Sukumaran get special treatment because of their place of birth. Nothing more, nothing less. Because these drug dealers have an emu and a kangaroo on their passports, the community reacts the way we do. I think about this often - the value in the world of being Australian. I think about it when I see thousands of Australians protesting the state based executions of ‘our’ drug smugglers in Indonesia, yet not seeming to care about people escaping IS as refugees when thousands are being executed. The contrast in humanity for people due to their passport is incredible. Thomas Friedman wrote a book called ‘The World Is Flat’ referring to the level playing field of commerce where geographical divisions are increasingly irrelevant. Friedman’s’ book is written from a western perspective that can exploit the wage differences between countries, with technology closing the barriers to location. When the location of your birth continues to have such a huge impact in my our opportunities and the increasing inequality of wealth distribution it seems to me that whilst the world may be becoming more flat, it certainly isn’t more level.

F I N A L I S T 2 013

F I N A L I S T 2 014

EVERY MORNING YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES: CONTINUE TO SLEEP WITH YOUR DREAMS, OR WAKE UP AND CHASE THEM.

money: /ˈmʌni/ noun

money

a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; coins and banknotes collectively. “I counted the money before putting it in my wallet” synonyms: cash, hard cash, ready money. plural noun: moneys; plural noun: monies “a statement of all moneys paid into and out of the account”. the assets, property, and resources owned by someone or something; wealth. “the college is very short of money”. synonyms: wealth, riches, fortune, affluence, assets, liquid assets, resources, substance, means, deep pockets, prosperity.

I was recently asked to speak to a group of women at a screening of 50 Shades of Grey. Now I appreciate it may seem strange to ask an accountant to speak about money before a film that is almost completely about sex. Perhaps you’re thinking, I was the metaphorical bucket of cold water. Whatever the reason, I was so glad to be asked. Now it’s not because I wanted to watch 50 Shades of Grey. I haven’t read the book and wouldn’t have watched the movie if left to my own devices. That’s because I’d rather watch an episode of Sex and the City and I suspected the movie wasn’t really going to be up to scratch. The reason I was so happy to be asked is because of the connection between sex and money. Once upon a time sex had an almighty ick factor.

It simply wasn’t talked about and nice girls certainly didn’t want more of it. Thanks to Sex and the City and other books and movies that dealt with it irreverently and cleverly somehow sex became OK to talk about. Not just over cocktails where you hoped you wouldn’t remember the conversation in the morning but over brunch. Sure you might not talk about it with your mum but somehow the ick was removed from sex because the shame was lifted simply by bringing the subject out into the light of day and talking about all of it: not just the polite parts. Now women (and some blokes) are flocking to the movies to watch a movie that is unashamedly about sex. I, for one, would love money to be given the same treatment.

FIFTY SHAD Now some might argue it already has. The Wolf of Wall Street certainly idolised money and there have been many books and movies before and since where the making of money has been lauded. But what about the vulnerability associated with money? What about the shame? What about the ick factor that means we wont’ ask a girlfriend over lunch if she’s racking up a large credit card bill because she seems to be doing a little too much emotional spending at the moment? Or we don’t ask a beloved relative whose husband has passed away if she is going to be able to pay the bills? Or we can’t talk about how we want our business to net a profit of more than a million dollars a year and be wealthy?

A few weeks ago I met with a potential client and I think she beautifully described why we don’t talk about money. Early in the meeting it became clear she felt she wasn’t in a great place financially and was very embarrassed. She said to me that she felt incredibly vulnerable coming to see me and gave me a long explanation before she even talked finances about why that was. Eventually, just as she was about to talk numbers, she said “I feel like I’m about to get naked.” That phrase encapsulates why I was so pleased to be invited to speak before a movie about sex. Because for the same reason that so many people are leaving the lights off in the bedroom in order to have sex, we’re also leaving the lights off on our finances because we’re ashamed to have

anyone see. And often we don’t even want to see or acknowledge what a mess we’re in. I think the reason there is such an ick factor associated with money is because of the extremes. If you don’t have enough money, you’re not earning what you think you should be or you have too much debt there can be enormous shame involved. In the same way there might be with sex. Perhaps it’s because we’re worried what people would think of us if they saw the financial mess we’re in or judge us because we don’t think we’re earning enough for the suburb we live in, where our kids go to school or the people we associate with. Or perhaps it’s more to do with the other extreme. Yes it might be OK for a guy to say they want more money but is it still OK for a woman to say that, particularly if say, like me, she was choosing not to have a family? Does that make

us selfish somehow or less feminine? Is there judgement involved with wanting to have more money in the same way that some women might have felt pre-Samantha to come out and say they enjoyed sex and wanted more of it? Whatever the reason, I think we need to acknowledge the vulnerability involved with talking about money and have the conversation anyway. To begin talking about all facets of money, not just the socially acceptable parts like buying property and by talking about it, to remove the ick. We live in an age where mindfulness is embraced. I believe that when we extend that concept of mindfulness to our finances we’ll start to remove the emotion, to scrape away the ick and to see money for what it is. Simply a way for us to live

DES OF ICK

Melissa Browne

our lives, however we choose to live it: in the way that makes us happy and achieves our goals. So rather than talking over cocktails or drinks about 50 Shades of Grey this weekend why not move onto talking about money: your goals, your dreams, how you’re going with them and where you’re at now. It’s time to turn on the light in the bedroom and remove the ick factor from one of the last remaining taboos. Let’s talk about money, baby. Of course if you need a good listener like Carrie, Samantha or the girls because you don’t know where to start with your finances, then look me up at www.byata.com.au and let’s start the conversation with you.

life: /lʌɪf/ noun

l i fe

1. the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death. “the origins of life” synonyms: existence, being, living, animation, aliveness, animateness; More antonyms: death, non-existence living things and their activity. “lower forms of life” synonyms: living things, living beings, living creatures, the living. 2. the existence of an individual human being or animal.

change

change: /tʃeɪn(d)ʒ/ verb 1. make or become different. “a proposal to change the law” alter in terms of. “the ferns began to change shape.” synonyms: alter, make different, become different, undergo a change. 2. take or use another instead of. synonyms: swap, exchange, interchange, substitute, switch, commute, convert, replace. noun 1. an act or process through which something becomes different.

1 2 3

5 7

4 6

you

you: /juː/ pronoun 1. used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. “are you listening?” used to refer to the person being addressed together with other people regarded in the same class. “you Americans” used in exclamations to address one or more people. “you fools” 2. used to refer to any person in general. “after a while, you get used to it”

1 2

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h the first Pert icks off . k r e n n i D e v i s Ex c l u

THE {EM}POWER HOUR What you can do with 60 minutes Nikki Fogden-Moore Happy April everyone. Pretty much one of my favourite months of coaching and living as the year is well under way, business goals are set in place and personal goals are still fresh. If you feel that you’re wading through mud at the moment to smash through KPIs, balance your family life and still trying to look and feel fantastic, then I think I can help get you out of that hot mess with 3 top tips to integrate a real sense of vitality into your day and regularly into your week. I call it the [EM]POWER HOUR - what you can do with 60 minutes each day dedicated to you (that’s not too much to ask is it?)

There are 3 ways to work your {em}power hour -

FIRST SET UP YOUR SCHEDULE

You need to plan your week ahead to get the life you want. So grab your paper on a Sunday and your significant other and plan your 5 ELEMENTS OF A WINNING WEEK(TM) - Health and Wellbeing first, Friends and Family time, Admin and Productivity and ME time. This is a model I have been using with my corporate and individual clients for over 10 years now and use it myself. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on one sheet of paper, in an app or on a giant post it note (a personal fave).

Some days you’ll only have 15 minutes to spare in the morning and perhaps just 30 minutes in the evening before an event. The key? Don’t be fixated on HOUR time slots. It’s a complete myth that you need to work out for an hour at a time to get results. What works is consistency. So take 60 minutes and spread this into 3 time slots throughout your day. For example: • •

Schedule key deliverables and activities into your diary and agree on shared responsibilities to make the time work. If you’re in business as a start up with a partner or on your own - you DEFINITELY need to get in the habit of doing this. The tip is to schedule your health and wellbeing time slots up front and put them firmly in the agenda. These are appointments with yourself you need to keep.

FIGURE OUT YOUR TIME ALLOCATION

• • • •

20 mins: MORNING the wakeupworkout(TM) or a walk with the dog 20 mins: LUNCHTIME fresh air session - or 20 min express yoga 20 mins: EVENING - meditation, body weight exercises or a burst of cardio. OR 30 mins: MORNING 30 Min cardio with a friend and grab a coffee or juice afterwards 30 mins: LUNCHTIME or EVENING stretch and relaxation.

Alternative days when you have more time use the full 60 minutes for a combination body weight/resistance work finished off with some cardio or go to a class, head out for something outdoors, on the water or go for a bike ride.

COMMIT TO YOUR WHY

You’re smart, savvy, driven and damn good at your job. Why not run your body like your business and actually remind yourself of the bigger picture? Overall daily movement is essential for stress reduction, prevents long term illness, rejuvenates your creativity, creates fresh oxygen to your muscles, brain and entire body, regulates your hormones and allows you to live and breathe your personal best. Why would you NOT do this. It’s time to get rid of the stories “too busy, too tired, not young enough” and build in healthy living as part of being a leader and an entrepreneur. Fedex is not sending you a new body tomorrow - look after the one you have.

If you’re a leader either as a parent or within your company you’re also setting a great example. Seamlessly intreating wellness into your day without grand gestures and massive statements about big goals - but just regular, warranted and recognisable activities that you schedule in and people know this is part of your week. It becomes part of the norm and is not replacing a hard work ethic or your attention to your family or your teams.

Remember it is never too late, you’re never too busy and life is never too short. Just get started today. Personal and Business Vitality go hand in hand.

Need some extra motivation? Make good with your goals. Often we perform best when we are doing something for others - so find a charity you love or connect with something like PROMISEORPAY.

Nikki

This year I am proud to be an ambassador for Run Australia. With events across Australia, Cotton On created this non-profit mission that ensures all proceeds from each local race go to a select LOCAL kids’ charity. As a Run Sunshine Coast ambassador, for me the charity represented is WISHLIST. It’s a fantastic fun event and an ideal corporate event goal too. Want to get some top tips on the 5 Elements of The Winning Week and Finding Your Why - then just CLICK HERE. Listen to the podcast here. Want to ask me questions and get some personal feedback on fitting all of this in? Sure thing, email me on nikki@thevitalitycoach.com.au.

Next month I will be sharing my super hero no gym required workout you can do anywhere, anytime especially good on the mornings of board meetings and brainstorms! Your vitality coach

MY SMOOTHIE TIP TO REV UP YOUR WINNING WEEK

News Reviews

Digital Disruption - Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation: James McQuivey BOOK

The Disruption Project: Combined UK Universities

Disruptive Thinking: Luke Williams

WEB

BLOG

Digital is here in every industry, and it’s here to stay. Across every platform, ensure you are making the best use of all the resources available to you as a brand and a business to disrupt the status quo and maximise the bottom line.

Want to know more about disruption in the way we get around the planet? Then check out The Disruption Project, a three year study into our mobility, including travel and use of computers, mobile phones etc.

If Seth Godin likes the way you think, then chances are you are on the right track. A great way to think outside the business and personal square, Luke William’s blog mirrors the disruptive thought-leadership found in his best-selling book.

James McQuivey shows how Disney took a game app and turned in into a disruptive digital force, and how Zeo turned a $100 sleep monitor into a competitor to beat the sleep labs.

The aim of the project is create opportunities for change that will reduce the energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.

Practical, down to earth and frequently funny - call it a beginner’s guide to disruption.

Go on - disrupt yourself. Available Now Here.

Look At It Here.

Read It Here.

LOIS LANE LIVES: If The Mountain Won’t Come To... Oh You Know The Rest Kate Matheson

LBDGroup is all about helping women in all walks of business, thought leaders and entrepreneurs connect, contribute and collaborate to build their commercial success. LBDGroup is a community of like-minded women working together to drive their futures, and that of their peers, and of course, have fun along the way! Our members are corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and change makers who are committed to building success for their own and each othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; enterprises US knowledge, learnings and insight. through the sharing of connections,JOIN intelligence, BECOME A VALUED LBDGROUP MEMBER We offer three levels of membership for women who are committed to building their businesses, to fast tracking their growth, and who want to ensure they are surrounding themselves with the best in the business. PLATINUM, DIAMOND and BLACK membership levels are designed to offer increasing one to one mentoring, group mentoring, and business education and training. Based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and now Perth, LBDGroup has a simple message for women of worth. INSPIRE others in their journey. CONNECT with those who share your vision. Take the opportunity to SUCCEED alongside them.

APPLY NOW

An Exclusive Extract: FROM ME TO WE Why Commercial Collaboration Will Future-proof Business, Leaders and Personal Success

Janine Garner

ReConnect Principle 7 — Sponsor others Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. — Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Sponsorship is so much more than mentoring. It is the intentional support of another, taking action, collaborating and sharing what you know and who you know to better someone else. Sponsorship in the workplace, especially for women, is still regarded with a mixture of suspicion and ignorance — and a feeling of ‘what’s in it for me?’ from the sponsor, which to a large extent colours the relationship before it even starts. For a truly two-way sponsorship to work, then, it has to happen in the right environment — and that environment is one of collaborative thinking.

Sponsors vs. mentors Sylvia Ann Hewlet, president and CEO of the Center for Talent Innovation and a Manhattan-based think tank says, ‘Mentors advise, sponsors act.’ And herein lies the subtle and yet crucial difference between mentors and sponsors. On the one hand, mentors provide guidance, helping define visions and goals. Mentoring is more of a softly, softly approach; catching up for chats and being

a willing sounding board for thoughts and ideas. Mentoring is more about giving advice and listening to concerns than saying, ‘Yes, I will help you gain X.’ Active sponsorship, meanwhile, is far more powerful and a large obligation — but the results for those being sponsored are often far greater than for those being mentored. Usually sponsorship is from someone senior within the protégé’s own company, or a successful entrepreneur within the same field. Fundamentally, sponsorship involves the active support of another to achieve their goals. Sponsors: • • • • • • •

take action open doors make invaluable introductions give business/career leads are in it for the long haul help pave the path to success help others to achieve their visions, goals and dreams for personal and business success • help build a powerful and diverse network • influence activity and decision-making • actively build the pipeline of future game changers, entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners. Sponsorship takes collaboration to a whole new level, and this is why it is the seventh ReConnect Principle. Sponsorship does not necessarily have an immediate benefit to the sponsor, but it does: • build and support the next generation of leaders (men and women) • show through behaviour modelling the requirements of future leaders • share knowledge, insight and connection for the long-term benefit of the recipient.

Sponsorship as part of the We economy What does sponsorship mean in terms of what it brings to a sponsor and a protégé? To look at it purely from a selfish perspective, it increases the sponsor’s worth. By actively supporting someone likely to be a future leader, as Anna Benninger, senior research analyst for Catalyst, explains: [You will find] that paying it forward pays back. Developing others really increases your own visibility … essentially what you are doing is showing the company that you are not only about your own advancement, but that you are invested in the future of the organisation. What then happens makes this more altruistic than it may at first appear, because a domino effect begins, as it has been proven that people who are sponsored are more likely to sponsor others. A 2011 study from the Center for Work–Life Policy published by the Harvard Business Review found that sponsorship can result in as much as a 30 per cent increase in promotions, pay raises and stretch assignments for a protégé. Yet in spite of these clear advantages, the Catalyst study ‘The Leadership Gap’ found that many women are unaware of these benefits and lack allies among company leadership. In fact, 77 per cent of women were reported to believe that hard work and long hours, rather than connections, are responsible for advancement. The concern is, of course, that they are unaware of valuable connections that could be available to them.

From a young age, men are inducted into the world of sponsorship through their involvement in sports and clubs. Some men have access to an old boys’ school alumni network, which provides encouragement and a leg up to those identified as having talent in some shape or form. And when men enter the business world, the active sponsoring continues, with mentoring very quickly progressing to ‘Why don’t you join me on the golf course this weekend?’ In the past, women quite simply have not had access to this form of shortcut through the ranks because the women haven’t been there to sponsor each other, and generally men haven’t even considered it as an option, given the tendency to sponsor people like ourselves. In its place, the focus has been mentoring. Commercial collaboration requires a change to this established norm. The uncertain future is asking us to embrace diversity to future-proof our businesses, leaders and careers. Breaking through the old boys’ network is never going to be easy, but collaboratively we can work towards a resolution. Sowing the seeds of sponsorship is a critical part of being present in the space of We and needs to become more of a focus across the corporate arena and entrepreneurial circles. Sylvia Ann Hewlet says that sponsors ...make you visible to leaders within the company — and to top people outside as well. They connect you to career opportunities and provide air cover when you encounter trouble. When it comes to opening doors, they don’t stop with one promotion. They’ll see you to the threshold of power.

If we are to future-proof our leaders, business and personal success, active sponsorship becomes an imperative. The collaborative We space delivers learning experiences, the chance to grow, and the opportunity to promote and sponsor others. The business case for sponsoring others is there. Research conducted by the Center of Talent and Innovation found that those men and women that were sponsored felt that they were progressing through the ranks of business at a satisfactory pace — 70 per cent for men and 68 per cent for women — compared to 57 per cent of those individuals that did not have sponsors.

• your sponsor is, without being cynical, looking for some kind of return on their investment • you have to make them look good, because they are endorsing you to a very high degree.

The Catalyst study highlights businesses that have instituted formal programs charged with training a diverse group of high-performing employees in the benefits of sponsorship.

And that is possibly the biggest benefit to both parties with sponsoring. The person being sponsored gets practical help, not just advice, in terms of their career advancement — and the person sponsoring has a talented individual at their fingertips, with the potential to become a valuable resource in their own arena, business or future collaborations.

According to the study, model programs can be found at McDonald’s, Deutsche Bank, CH2M HILL and Citi. The Harvard study also applauded several companies with active sponsorship programs, including American Express, Cisco, Deloitte and Time Warner. Procter & Gamble (P&G) has historically had a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. The company has a myriad strategies, programs and activities to support its employees and embrace inclusion across locations. P&G leaders have found that women in particular may have fewer role models, especially in areas such as technology or research and development. To address this issue, the company formed several core teams of senior women within business lines and aimed to support women on their career journey in these key fields. Many regional efforts, like those in China and across Asia, link to broader corporate activities. For those who are looking to sponsor, there needs to be an understanding: • of the time commitment involved; it’s about giving of oneself and sharing knowledge and resources • that they will have to advocate on their protégé’s behalf, connecting them to important players and assignments • that as a sponsor, they will not only give advice and listen; they will actively seek opportunities for advancement for their protégés. For those wishing to be sponsored, there are important points to bear in mind too: • this is a two-way street; stellar performance is expected because your sponsor is going to go the extra mile for you in terms of promoting you to influential people

As Kerrie Peraino, global head of talent at American Express, says: Trust is at the heart of this relationship … when I put my faith in up-and-coming talent and become their sponsor, I need to know I can totally depend on them — because they are, after all, walking around with my brand on.

Sponsorship isn’t restricted to the corporate arena. Sometimes the biggest success stories come from a pairing between the business, entrepreneurial and outside world — and this is where the collaborative and the commercial mindsets really do come together. An example of this is giving circles, which are growing in popularity in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the South-East Asia region and in Australia itself. They are based on the US and Canadian model whereby groups of individuals — mainly entrepreneurs — donate their own money or time to a pooled fund, deciding together to give to several charity or community projects rather than a single entity and, in doing so, seek to increase their awareness of and engagement in the issues covered by these charity or community projects. It leads to wider engagement over a larger number of issues and also a greater coverage of needs. The First Seeds Fund is a singular achievement for its founders in Australia. It is based on a US giving circle and, in addition to donating their money, members also contribute their time and skills to support local causes. For First Seeds, their concentration is on giving back at a grassroots level to women and children in neglected communities in urban Australia, such as Warwick Farm, just outside of Sydney. Three generations of unemployment, child prostitution and lack of formal education had previously made this a ‘forgotten community’; now, with the guidance of strong community leaders, First Seeds is making a tangible difference. Part of what First Seeds does incredibly well is sponsor young women and girls in starting their own businesses and selling the resulting products at local markets. Every aspect of the business is covered — marketing, business plans, budgeting, design — in order to teach essential skills to girls who otherwise

would have absolutely no exposure to any kind of mentoring or future-proofing.

A laser-sharp focus on sponsorship Sponsorship, whether within the corporate environment, as an entrepreneur or in a philanthropic capacity, is a serious undertaking. It: requires an active collaborative attitude where talent fosters talent rather than like fosters like • is a commitment to evolutionary learning, sharing knowledge and insight and actively opening doors and making those all-important introductions to drive commercial success for another • involves commitment on a long-term basis and it will reflect not only on the protégé but also on the sponsor’s reputation • is a two-way investment for both parties • is future-proofing success for the protégé but also ensuring higher visibility for the sponsor • is about actively pursuing your goals and enabling others to pursue theirs, which means it is a truly engaged collaborative relationship and provides a value exchange for both parties. Essentially the final and seventh ReConnect Principle — Sponsor others, is about securing the present and ensuring that the pipeline of the future generation of business leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists is solid. It is about ensuring that the future leaders and pioneers have effective role models now, sharing all they have learnt along the way and opening the book of their contact base. Fundamentally, that they see the power of working as We.

Megan Larsen is an inspiration to anyone who is not prepared to do things the ‘cookie-cutter’ way, or

Case study: Organic leadership

accept things as being good enough simply because that’s the way they have always been. Her pioneering approach to chemical-free skincare has paid dividends, with her ‘chemical-free’ brand, Sodashi, stocked in luxury hotels and spas across the globe.

Megan is a huge believer in the value of giving back, and sponsoring and mentoring employees and staff members as well as others who she feels have a flair for the industry is of vital importance to her. She embodies the true spirit of commercial collaboration, and ReConnect Principle 7, Sponsor others, in that she has sponsored up-and-coming people who will one day be competitors — knowing that this will only enrich the industry and drive her on to further innovation. This is Megan’s story. I’ve always been passionate about natural therapies, health and wellbeing. It’s this passion that has underpinned my own personal success and the global success of Sodashi, and why I love to encourage and draw out the passions of others! Sodashi was born from pure passion — a desire to provide an exceptional skin care product that would really work, be joyous to use and include the amazing goodness of nature. I was inspired after spending time in Provence, in the south of France, studying advanced aromatherapy and because I had spent so many years (and dollars) trying to find the perfect products for my sensitive skin. I wanted to create products that would be balancing, nurturing and anti-ageing for the skin. It all began on my kitchen bench and at the time the natural health store I owned was the perfect platform for me to sell the products and get feedback. Quickly the demand became overwhelming and my

home-made skin-care products flew off the shelf. My first batch of 50 moisturisers lasted just three and a half days! From the start, I’ve done things quite differently at Sodashi, being a pioneer in the chemical-free skin care and spa industry that delivers exceptional results. And importantly, from the start I’ve focused on investing in people first. After all, it’s a team that builds a brand. I went on to inspire a change in the global spa industry, educating people about the benefits of chemical-free skincare. I was a pioneer at the time, breaking down barriers about the efficacy of therapeutic-grade natural skin care products in the spa industry. Sodashi products are now in available in over 70 luxury hotels, resorts and stand-alone spas, in 25 countries globally, including the prestigious Four Seasons George V in Paris, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in NSW and The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. But being a game changer is not always easy. You have to know how to deal with adversity, as things don’t always go your way!

I learnt to deal with adversity from an early age. I grew up in New Zealand in a single-parent family and watched my mother set up a pottery business and turn it into a financially successful venture to support us. At a young age I observed how her positive mind brought a positive outcome in many challenging business situations and that has helped me so many times in my own business career. The driving force in the success of Sodashi however has always been our people and why I am committed to investing in people first. I believe the health and wellbeing of each individual team member is paramount to having an engaged and dynamic team to move the business forward. Over the past 14 years I have financially supported over 40 employees to learn transcendental meditation, giving them a tool to remove stress. This has been fundamental to creating a collaborative, caring and cohesive work environment. We have group meditation at the office every afternoon. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve shared my passions of natural health and wellbeing, using outside consultants to inspire with their knowledge and engaging a resident Bowen therapist who provides the opportunity for each person to book their own personal treatment. Not only do I find supporting the growth and development of others heartwarming, but it also encourages passion both professionally and personally and provides a wonderful working environment. The ultimate reward is to see people achieve their own potential and develop their own greatness. I also believe the growth of the business is closely aligned to my own personal growth. A deep understanding of myself allows me to understand others. I value my ability to work with highly creative individuals that can excel in their own brilliance. Trusting is vital, but also using my innate ability to guide others without constricting, taking the time to care and listen, and also giving and sharing with others the tools and experience to help them succeed and reach their own potential.

Someone once told me I have an eye for talent. An example of that is a staff member that came to work for me at the age of 19 as the company’s third employee. She had first been inspired to work with me after listening to a presentation I gave at her beauty therapy school. For me the responsibility of employing someone so young, that potentially you would influence their whole career, never left me. After she showed great initiative as an administration assistant, I appointed her as the company’s international spa trainer. She travelled the world training spa teams and together we developed Sodashi’s world-class training program. Some years later I offered her the position as Sodashi’s general manager, which she accepted. She went on to manage the company’s day-to-day operations for over five years.

My own commitment to personal growth and learning means I’ve had many people in my life who inspire and motivate me. I’ve also been very lucky to have had a range of inspiring and supportive mentors during the company’s evolution to date, and I now find myself mentoring others more and more, which I love to do! I worked with Kim Morrison to launch her brand, Twenty8 — a range of aromatherapy and skincare products — and it was an invaluable experience for me. It was evident from the beginning that Kim’s energy and enthusiasm for natural skincare echoed my own. Working with others to help them support and develop their businesses is such a joy for me, and in helping others I have learnt so much more about myself. Being acknowledged as an ‘inspiration and mentor’ to Zoe Foster Blake on her journey to launching her own product range was also a great privilege. It has been wonderfully enriching, exchanging insights and

knowledge with such a dynamic player in the beauty industry. Ultimately, in putting people — your employees, your peers, your colleagues — first, I believe you generate a highly engaged and motivating community that can’t help but create success. It’s about futureproofing your business by paying it forward. And of course I continue to have tough days, but I learn more and more that often these are about collecting the strength and energy for what’s coming next. I dare people to think blue sky. It is possible; anything is possible that you really put your mind to and dig deep for. Fifteen years ago I could never have imagined Sodashi’s global success today. Dare to be a game changer and a thought leader, and don’t be scared to break rules!

Case study: Making a difference one person at a time For Kate Sutton, founder of UberKate Jewellery, being involved with the First Seeds Fund was a completely new experience. She had never actively mentored or sponsored anyone previously, despite nurturing talent in her workshop on a staff level. UberKate is an internationally successful brand, worn by celebrities around the world, as well as beloved of women from Perth to Penrith in Australia.

This is Kate’s story of how important sponsoring can be in making a difference to ‘just one’ person at a time, and in terms of collaborative ways of working. I started my sponsoring journey last year, when I received an invitation as part of a group from the First Seeds Fund to go out to Miller High (in Sydney’s outer south-west) and teach a group of year 11 female students about jewellery making, and to basically look further for their futures, to see there were more opportunities out there than just working in the local fish and chip shop or going on unemployment benefits — if they were willing to look outside the box. To be honest, my first visit there left me not only taken aback, but very shocked; there were only four girls present in the class, with no real discipline. It started off extremely rocky, and my whole plan for what I was going to take them through was thrown out the window, because I could see that they weren’t ready for it and weren’t going to listen. But then, once I had unpacked all the beads and jewellery-making kit out on the table, and started to talk … there was a turnaround. Interest picked up, and over the unpacking, the girls started to talk. They explained their lives. I watched these girls, some with scars on their wrists from failed self-harm attempts, talk about the unhappiness in their families, the feeling that the future they wanted was ‘never going to happen’ because of their circumstances. I saw a sisterhood emerging. This was when I saw just what my sponsoring would mean to these girls, and what it was beginning to mean to me. Watching the girls piling bangles up, making them for friends and family, and seeing others becoming involved, uplifted me. For people like me at a certain level in business, and with a busy family — to step outside and mentor, to be able to inspire just one girl — this was something I wanted and needed to do. I was invited after this initial workshop course to graduation. The girls I had mentored were styled by other First Seeds participants and dressed up, and did a runway show. To see the transformation in them — to see what I saw from beginning to end, that incredible difference in confidence, just from some self-belief and promotion — they were ready to take on the world. There were many dreams that had evolved with the First Seeds program — including a would-be journalist running around interviewing everyone.

For me, my sponsorship journey culminated in a girl called Jasmine, whom I connected with during the beading workshop. I became her one-on-one sponsor — taking her on beading selection trips, teaching her about purchasing and marketing, setting up a business plan, and helping her create her own jewellery in the school library. Jasmine brought her own culture into the jewellery; she wears the hijab, and is very traditional and very unassuming. So I set her a very tough challenge: having a market stall on International Women’s Day at Warwick Farm. This was in conjunction with CBA Women in Focus. She made over $340. Her mum, who was also previously incredibly quiet and uninvolved, saw what was happening for her daughter; that this wasn’t just about purchasing and stringing some beads together, that it was about a future, a viable opportunity. She ended up getting very involved on the business management side — or she will be, once Jasmine finishes her HSC. Previous to this experience, I had struggled with sponsoring as I was concerned about over-committing — I had my own business, children, staff, and I felt if I half-did anything I would let everyone, including a protégé, down. This time I had the time and energy. For all women out there, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders alike — if you only make a difference with one person — imagine the chain! I will definitely do it again. This time, I will work with someone who is ready to go, go, go — perhaps someone with young children, or an adult who is ready to work in the field full time. But help just one person and the flow-on effect is enormous. Make a difference, and collaborate. It will push you on to new ideas in your own business.

Checklist — ReConnect Principle 7: Sponsor others Sponsoring others is a critical part of the commercial collaboration process — an engaged and active two-way investment of skills, connections and knowledge, a value exchange to future-proof both parties.

Do you have a sponsor? Who are you sponsoring? Are you actively sharing knowledge and connections, opening doors of opportunity for others? Are you enabling others to pursue their goals and dreams as well as pursuing your own? What is the value exchange of your sponsorship collaboration? Is the nature of your sponsorship open and diverse — are you sponsoring against type, against inbuilt prejudices, against sex?