The Future of Work for Women

Facilitated by Freelancing Gems CEO Fleur Madden, Leanne Kemp, Susannah George and Georgina Lewis had the audience captivated for the one-hour panel discussion about the future of work for women.

Leanne Kemp is the current Queensland Chief Entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Everledger, a tech platform using Blockchain technology to improve supply-chain transparency of high-value assets such as diamonds, art and wine – the good stuff! She is a prominent figure in the technology sector and was recently listed in the Top Most Influential Female Founders for 2020.

Susannah George is a fifth-generation entrepreneur who founded Urban List from her bedroom in late 2011, with the goal of inspiring millions to find and do more of what they love – and she has done just that. Urban List has since grown to become Australia and New Zealand’s largest independent media brand.

And a lady who needs no introduction, Georgina Lewis has been part of our daily news in Queensland for over 20 years as a reporter, weather presenter and our nightly Ten News anchor since 2007. This year has delivered a change in direction for her career, one which she has handled with resilience and grace.

Fleur led discussions with a conversation about the impacts COVID has had on businesses and industries and what creative solutions we’re seeing to help women get back to work.

Leanne says that it’s up to us, the women in the room, and the pathways we forge for the women to come.

“Whatever you’re accepting in your own jobs, careers and pathways, choose women first and make that a part of the budget decisions that you pen-off on,” Leanne said.

“Choose women first and make that a part of the budget decisions.” Leanne Kemp

Earlier this year, the Urban List produced a survey that showed 75% of women doubted their abilities at least once a month, more than three times of their male counterparts. Now, as we begin to emerge from the COVID fog, could imposter syndrome be an even bigger issue, especially for the women who have lost their jobs?

Susannah explained that imposter syndrome is when you have a small perception of your abilities and yet everyone else in your circle thinks they’re much larger, and then you live in that perpetual fear that you’re about to be exposed as a fraud.

“It’s so real, and I don’t think that there is anybody in this room who hasn’t experienced it,” Susannah said.

Susannah revealed that her imposter syndrome was at an all-time high coming into COVID, off the back of 5-years struggling to surround herself with the right people in her executive team.

“I just kept getting it wrong over and over and over.” Susannah George

As leaders, we have a responsibility to push through these moments of imposter syndrome, to not hold ourselves, our workplaces and our families back.

“I do believe it’s within our control, as long as we recognise that every single person in the world is basically faking it,” she said.

Georgina has experienced her fair share of changes this year when recently made redundant from her 20-year career with Channel Ten. When asked how she handled the changes with enormous resilience and grace, Georgina said it all came down to her network.

“I actually found it quite liberating,” Georgina is now embracing her newfound freedom, after being in the public eye for such a long time. No longer does she need to watch what she says, wears, or how she acts and could even now get away with a sneaky roll in the gutter – could you imagine? 😆

“Everyone that I had spoken to said redundancy can be the best thing to happen to you in your life as long as you embrace it,” said Georgina.

“If you have a really good network, and can network, you will find that jobs will pop up for you.”

“If you have a really good network, and can network, you will find that jobs will pop up for you.” Georgina Lewis

On the topic of the recent budget and 0.38% allocation to women, Fleur asked the panellists what we can practically do to champion women in this new world.

Susannah wants us to educate ourselves on the issue of universal childcare. She believes one of the great shining lights of COVID has been a real increase in awareness of childcare.

“Everything has either been shit or silver, depending on the lens.” Susannah George

“For every dollar we invest in childcare in this country, we get two dollars in return from workplace participation from women.” So if there are such strong social and fiscal benefits of free childcare, why isn’t at the top of the agenda?

Leanne believes it is all about next-generation thinking in everything that we do. “We need to be looking at the next generation, the digital natives, as there is a lot we can learn out of their lived experiences.”

Georgina said that women should celebrate each other more in the workplace, bread confidence instead of competition and find a good mentor to support your growth.

This is a time in history we never thought we would see as women, where we have to fight harder for that seat at the table than ever before, and even harder to ensure there are other women seated beside us. So, looking back, what would our panellists tell their future selves?

From Georgie, “Don’t be complacent.”

Susannah, “The future starts today and every day is the start of an opportunity.”

And Leanne, “Who needs to try to get a seat at the table when you built the table?”