Current role: Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer
Current organisation: LükBook
Last role at PwC: Senior Consultant
Time at PwC: 2012 - 2022
What’s the one career achievement you’re most proud of?
The career achievement I’m most proud of whilst at PwC was my secondment to the Human Capital Specialist team whilst I was working part time and completing my MBA at USYD full time.
The secondment enabled me to directly apply the learnings from my MBA studies, specifically design thinking methodologies. I’m proud to say during this secondment I successfully digitally transformed the graduate induction training to be rolled out nationally whilst COVID restrictions were in place. This involved the project management and coordination of pre-boarding and onboarding of 200+ new graduates nationally.
Outside of PwC, the career achievement I’m most proud of was taking LükBook from a mere idea on a page to a full-fledged business.
What’s been your biggest career challenge and how have you overcome it?
Starting LükBook has meant countless pitch nights in front of thousands of people, interviews with journalists (including several live TV interviews), and hours of talking to camera.
This was certainly very challenging at first as it was something I had previously had limited experience in. Delivering in this medium is certainly very different to commanding space in a board meeting.
To refine my presenting skills and confidence on stage and TV, I undertook rigorous training as part of an accelerator program through USYD called ‘Incubate’. My business partner is also a professionally accredited public speaker, so her coaching was invaluable to this learning process.
I would be lying if I didn’t also mention the countless hours practicing in front of the mirror, recording myself and practicing in various stages and spaces.
What’s the most valuable lesson you learnt during your career at PwC and how has that helped you get to where you are today?
It’s very difficult to pinpoint one lesson as I think my entire 10-year career at PwC has put me in the best position possible to get me to where I am today.
Of course, there is all the technical training and exposure to the operations of cross industry businesses. However, for me the most valuable lessons were the soft skills I gained.
Over my time with the firm, I was fortunate to work with hundreds of different people across my teams and my clients. This not only gave me the opportunity to quickly learn how to work with different people but also enabled me to develop and solidify my own leadership style through observation of what worked and didn’t.
At the end of the day the firm is a people business built on strong client relationships and internal relationships and networks. This has also led to the development of my own leadership and business coaching business, a mechanism where I can share all the knowledge I have gained through my long-standing career.
What was your dream job ‘growing up’ and why?
My dream job growing up was to be a professional dancer. When I’m dancing, I’m the happiest I can be. For me dancing is an escapist experience.
As a child I thought if I could do this then I would always be happy. Although I’m not a professional dancer today, it still is my escapist hobby. I attend dance classes when I can and of course go dancing with my friends. Dancing helps me to find balance in my hectic schedule.
If you could have an hour lunch with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be and why?
Definitely Nelson Mandela. I’d love to talk to him about how he so fearlessly lived his life to serve a purpose that he so wholeheartedly believed in.
How are you and your business making a difference for your customers, employees and society?
Despite the fact that 66% of Australian women wear a size 14+, we often feel left out of the fashion equation.
LükBook is a one-stop fashion destination for size 14+ fashion that is redefining what it means to be ‘fashionable’. We aggregate small to medium designers who specifically cater to the size 14+ market.
We’re saving women time, enabling access to 14+ fashion and assisting the growth and expansion of Australian small to medium designers.
In our world, fashion has no size and is a pleasure everyone can experience.
What inspired you to co-found LükBook?
Since I was a child I’ve always wanted to own and run my own business. My goal going into the MBA at USYD was to find a business partner who shared my core values of diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
Through the MBA network I met my business partner Katrina Van De Ven, who shared not only the same core values but also the same lived experience as a size 14+ woman in Australia.
It was that shared experience of struggling to find fashionable clothing for size 14+ bodies in Australia that was the catalyst to us starting LükBook.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
There is no better time to enter the entrepreneurial space.
Unlike when I started my career, there are so many amazing support networks, start-up accelerators and incubator programs that can be invaluable in guiding you through the initial stages of starting your own business.
My advice would be to first work for a scale-up to learn as much as you can and receive the right mentorship to apply to your own business. Learn from others' mistakes and be a leader who listens.
You’re also on the Board of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. What events and initiatives should our Alumni Network keep an eye out for this 45th anniversary year?
Well, this is a big year for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as it’s also the year that World Pride will be hosted in Sydney.
All the official events can be found on their website, and I’d encourage everyone to check it out and attend as many events as possible. This is going to be a big year!
