Four careers in twelve years - yes I am a millennial!

From receptionist to business owner: sharing my career experiences and the people that made the difference along the way.

When I think about my leadership journey over the past 12 years, I'm reminded of the people I came across, both managers and colleagues, who helped shape my career. When I reflect on it, although I've never had a formal "mentor", I've had people in my professional life who inspired me, invested in me, and most of all believed in me.

My career started as a fresh-faced 21-year-old working as a receptionist for a not-for-profit training organisation. I was incredibly ambitious (still am!) and had my sights set on a career in marketing. I was fortunate the managers I had during this time fostered my ambition and supported me to manoeuvre myself through the organisation to create a new role for me. This was the first business development position the organisation had ever had, and I know it made the CEO at the time very nervous. I was 22-years-old and became the face of the organisation complete with a company car and mobile phone.

After a couple of years, I was promoted to a management position, leading a team of ten people and managing a business unit turning over a million dollars in Government-funded revenue at the tender age of 24. When I reflect on it, it was a lot of responsibility for someone so young and a brave move on the organisation's part. I feel grateful the leadership team at the time thought I was a safe investment and believed in my skills, knowledge and abilities.

From there I decided I wanted to help people and went to university to complete a degree in Psychology; the beginning of career #2. Yes, I'm a typical millennial! This move meant I had to start again. I became a student and was working in direct client support roles to build up my skills and experience.

After four years, I completed my degree and accepted a Consultant role with CommunityWest, cue career move #3. I didn't realise it at the time but the women I would meet over the next two years were the most influential and inspiring of my young career to date. I had the honour of working with a team of brilliant and successful women who were doing amazing work in the aged care sector in WA. It's here I met my business partner and over many conversations (and glasses of wine), My Care My Choice was born.

So now I'm on career move #4. The last eighteen months of being a business owner and a freelance Consultant have been exciting, anxiety-provoking and downright exhausting. But I have combined my two loves of business and helping others, and feel so lucky to have had the opportunity.

LOOKING BACK, THERE'S NO WAY I COULD HAVE ACHIEVED WHAT I HAVE WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ME, DESPITE MY AGE AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE. THEY SAW MY POTENTIAL, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

LOOKING FORWARD, I HOPE ONE DAY I CAN HELP SOMEONE ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.