'Inspiring Women in Conversation' series
(aka Leaders on the virtual lounge – as real as virtual gets!)
The 'Inspiring women in conversation' series is an initiative to connect our future female leaders with today’s senior women Transport leaders, via an interview-led, informal and personal conversation via MS Teams. As audiences will quickly learn, the backgrounds and life journeys of Transport's women leaders are as diverse and varied as the (virtual) lounges we meet them on.
Informal, personal, honest conversations
Over 45 minutes, one of Transport’s senior leaders chats with host Jacqueline Linke, Associate Director Leadership Culture and Innovation, about their own leadership journey.
The interview style is informal, lively and focused on sharing of personal insights, challenges and reflections – how they’ve carved their own pathway, overcome any set-backs and what they’re doing today to make things work.
At the end of the interview, audience members are then invited into the ‘room’, to open their own cameras and microphones and engage with the leader for questions, comments and conversation.
This series is open to all women at Transport who have aspirations, or who demonstrate their potential, to grow their career as a leader.
A unique opportunity to connect
Jacqueline Linke says that the series provides a new and different way for today’s and tomorrow’s Transport leaders to connect and engage.
“We all have a story of a leader who inspired us to take some positive action with our own career, based on something they’ve said or done. So we’d love to connect more of our women with our great leaders at Transport, to inspire more of those outcomes.”
The series schedule
Each session runs on a Thursday, from 4pm – 4.45pm.
- 23 July: Carol-Anne Nelson - Deputy Secretary Regional and Outer Metropolitan
- 6 August: Suzanne Holden - Acting Chief Executive Sydney Trains
- 20 August: Rebecca McPhee - Deputy Chief Executive Sydney Metro
- 3 September: Daniela Fontana - Executive Director Customer Operations STA
- 17 September: Elizabeth Mildwater - Deputy Secretary Greater Sydney
- 8 October - Kathy Baker - Executive Director People Experience
- 22 October: Brenda Hoang - Group Chief Financial Officer Corporate Services
- 5 November: Karen McCarthy - Chief Customer Officer Sydney Trains
- 19 November: Pamela Henderson - Executive Director Technical Services IP
How to participate
To join an ‘Inspiring Women in Conversation’ session, send an email, copying your people leader, to jacqueline.linke@transport.nsw.gov.au nominating your preferred session/s.
People leaders are also encouraged to nominate women in your team who you think would benefit from the opportunity. Send an email to jacqueline.linke@transport.nsw.gov.au or pass this information on to them.
What others have said
The series launched in June and to date has hosted conversations with Peta Gamon, Executive Director Insights and Engagement SER, Veronica North, Executive Director Learning and Development and Deputy Secretary Safety, Environment and Regulation, Tara McCarthy.
Read about our interview with Veronica North.
Read about our interview with Peta Gamon.
Read about our interview with Tara McCarthy.
Read about our interview with Carol-Anne Nelson.
Read about our interview with Suzanne Holden.
Here’s a sample of attendee feedback:
“Insight into the experiences of a leader and their advice was very interesting and helpful. I also liked the interview style questions which really structured the conversation.”
“I felt it was quite personal and I was able to take away messages from Veronica’s responses to the questions asked. I also thought the questions asked were real and that Veronica responded honestly and thoughtfully.”
“I felt the conversation was more real and honest than if we had received it in a professional setting.”
“I loved its raw honesty. I’m normally quite tired by this time of the day so it was very refreshing.”
“A very raw and honest conversation – inspiring and more than worth the time investment.”
"I loved hearing from a female leader about what she is doing to support women."
"I love how casual it is - how you get to see the real person - not just the professional image."
"This forum encourages me to reflect on my own career, after hearing someone reflect on theirs."
"If you need energy and inspiration, just join this webinar series - thanks, Jacqueline!"