07 March 2024
The leadership legacy we build and inherit
By Cherie Mylordis
Old Parliament House in Canberra holds stories in its walls, marks of history where decisions were made, and foundations laid that have shaped Australia.
On a recent trip to Canberra, I visited its heritage corridors, a journey through time sparked by curiosity and the company of two lifelong friends. Among them was my good friend Wendy Pavey, whose mother served within these walls until 1960, when she got married.
You see, within these timber panelled halls, women had their careers cut short by a rule known as the marriage bar. Though this policy ended in 1966, its legacy reflects the progress we've made and the advancements still to conquer.
Introduced at the beginning of the 1900s, the marriage bar banned the employment of married women in the Commonwealth Public Service. The marriage bar was also commonplace with other employers, as government and non-government employers often followed the example set by the Commonwealth. The marriage bar wasn’t removed until 1966.
The roots of change
As Old Parliament House whispered the secrets of its former life, we were taken back to the days when progress for women was a slow-turning wheel.
The framed photographs and the stories of the women who once filled these halls remind us that change often stems from subdued courage and unyielding resilience.
What became clear to me while discovering these stories was the link between the propagators of past changes and the torchbearers of today's leadership evolution.
Wendy’s mother Margaret's career, cut short by societal expectations, now serves as a potent reminder of the boundaries crossed and the grounds yet to cover.
My own mother Elaine, worked at the dawn of the technology era operating a Burroughs adding machine, the predecessor of Burroughs computers. Her career also ended when she became a mother in 1965.
In 1960s and 70s Australia, childcare was more challenging to access than it is now. For most families, including mine, the mother stayed home to manage domestic duties and childcare while the father went to work.
A few years before she died, my mother said to me, ‘I wonder what I might have achieved if I’d been born in your time’.
The stories of Wendy’s mother and mine, etched in the fabric of time, are profound examples of workplace and societal change.
What became clear to me while discovering these stories was the link between the propagators of past changes and the torchbearers of today's leadership evolution.
Generational progress and the role of women
Women like mine and Wendy’s mothers laid the groundwork for our world and our workplaces. It’s uncanny that Wendy and I pursued careers related to our mothers’ vocations, as decades later, Wendy worked in Parliament House and I studied computer science.
Their era's constraints contrast sharply with the present, where the limitations of yesteryear give way to boundless technological and leadership opportunities for women like Wendy and me, and more importantly, for the generations that follow.
Yet, with the advancements and accolades, we find remnants of the old battles.
Gender disparities in leadership roles, persistent wage gaps, and sectors where female representation remains scant paint a complex picture.
Here in Australia, recent findings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal there remains a large workforce of women who cite caring responsibilities as a major factor in limiting their availability to get a job or work more hours.
The debate around flexible working continues to ruffle feathers. While some employers mandate the return to office, this brings concern about the impact to the lives of working parents, with the biggest brunt often felt by women.
The journey is clearly unfinished. And it demands not just recognition but active participation from each of us.
The contemporary change maker
I’ve noticed change is often whispered before it’s declared.
The difference is palpable in today's transformation of our workplaces ignited by the pandemic and the embrace of inclusive leadership.
We’re now in an era where change-makers aren't just riding the wave of transformation; they’re creating it.
Yet alongside the strides, inertia and outdated practices remain, beckoning leaders today to challenge, innovate, and lead by example.
The legacies of those before us resonate with pressing relevance.
We, as leaders, are being called to action. Can you hear the whispers?
It’s time for us to acknowledge the legacies we've inherited. It’s time to nudge the world ever closer to a future where our potential is unhindered by dated traditions and overlooked equity.
“We’re now in an era where change-makers aren't just riding the wave of transformation, they’re creating it.”
Stepping up in 2024: The charge for current and future leaders
With 2024 well underway, it’s imperative as leaders to rise and extend a hand, not to elevate ourselves, but to uplift all.
It's a charge that calls for stepping out of comfort zones and out of the norm into a future rich with diversified thought.
Being a change-maker is about the dogged pursuit of progress. It’s about tangible actions that thread through the fabric of your day, ensuring that change is mirrored in every facet of leadership.
The path of change can’t be achieved in isolation. This is where leadership coaching steps in.
Through coaching and mentorship, leaders can forge their legacy with collaboration, innovation, and shared conviction.
It's a charge that calls for stepping out of comfort zones, out of the norm, out into a future rich with diversified thought.
The crucial role of leadership growth and coaching
In the march towards progress, leadership coaching ensures no stride is misplaced, no effort unguided.
Leadership coaching is never a luxury. It’s a strategic instrument tailored for those poised to sculpt tomorrow's leadership narrative.
Within the collaborative compass of coaching, leaders shape their aspirations into reality.
As a leadership coach, I've witnessed people harness their potential and morph challenges into triumphs.
Women striving for equity in leadership find in coaching a pillar, with the assurance that each milestone reached is not the end but a catalyst of the journey that lies ahead.
Unlock your potential with Cherie’s leadership coaching. Book a consultation today.
The journey continues
Back from Canberra to the hum of my office, I ponder the shared history we've all inherited, the path we continue to sculpt and the calling of 2024 that demands not just dreams but action.
The legacy of today’s workplace is an intricate weave, threads of the past firmly intertwined with the promise of the future.
But we stand today at the frontier of change, each with the power to act, inspire, and make an impact.
Let this be the year we break new ground.
If you're ready to make an impact, contact me to learn about my leadership coaching. Today is the perfect day to start.
nextgenify’s executive and leadership coaching programs enhance leadership skills, transforming leaders and organisations into agile, innovative powerhouses. Find out more.
Cherie Mylordis is the founder of nextgenify, and a Sydney-based work futurist, speaker, transformation and innovation coach, on a mission to help organizations reimagine the world of work for a better future.
Cherie’s ambitious approach is founded on her belief that now is the time for bold leadership and business transformation – the traditional ways of working are no longer fit-for-purpose in our post-pandemic world.
With more than 30 years of experience in delivering groundbreaking initiatives in consulting, large corporates, government and non-profits, Cherie credits her five years working on the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with shaping her approach to purpose-driven leadership and collaboration on a massive scale.
Wendy Pavey is a brand and career strategist who works with business leaders to build their personal brand and win executive and advisory roles.
She is the Founder and Principal of Executive Brand and the creator of the ExecutiveCadence™ storytelling methodology. Her clients include CEOs, Board Directors and senior leaders from major companies across the listed, public and private sectors.
Wendy is a speaker for The CEO Institute’s global Certified Manager Program and regularly presents to executive organisations and professional bodies. She is a university guest lecturer at QUT, a Mentor for Elladex and a judge for the Australian Business Book Awards.
She writes a popular blog for LinkedIn and is the author of the best-selling book Personal Brand 101. For more information, go to yourexecutivebrand.com