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What if the life you really wanted was on the other side of one brave decision? At 22, Maria Perry packed up her life in the UK, moved to Australia completely on her own, knew not a single person, and decided to build on her recruitment career.  7 years later, she's built successful recruitment careers across two continents, stepped into leadership, helped grow a business from the ground up, and perhaps most importantly, she's done it without ever losing sight of who she is. When I created Women Who Recruit, I wanted to represent women at every stage of their careers. Not just those looking back on decades of experience, but those still in the middle of building something extraordinary. Maria is exactly that. What struck me most about this conversation wasn't how much she's achieved by 25. It was her perspective.  We spoke about building a career around your own strengths instead of someone else's blueprint, navigating the uncertainty that comes with backing yourself, and why some of the biggest lessons are learned while you're still finding your feet- especially as a woman. Maria leads her life with her heart. She trusts her intuition. She says yes before she feels completely ready. And in doing so, she's created opportunities most people only ever talk about. I'm incredibly grateful to have watched part of that journey unfold, and even more grateful that she shared it so openly on this episode. I think so many people, whether you're just starting out or years into your career, will see a little of themselves in Maria's story.

This week on Women Who Recruit, I'm joined by Jill Ryder, Founder of Precision Sourcing. Now, lets start by saying, I am a bit of a fan girl of Jill's. She has built what is in my opinion, one of the most progressive, modern, successful and values led Agencies in Australia. And as I learned, none of it started with a grand master plan. From moving to London as a graduate who was kind of "winging it", to building one of Australia's most respected Tech Agencies that's now in its 21st year, Jill shares the honest story behind the success.  We talked about building a business while raising two daughters, caring for ageing parents, losing her mum, and how your definition of ambition changes through different seasons of life.  One thing Jill said really stayed with me: success stopped being about buying things, and became about having options. The ability to be there when life needed her most. We also had one of the most honest conversations I've had on the podcast about menopause, motherhood, and why we need to do a better job of supporting women to build long, sustainable careers in recruitment- not just in their 20s and 30s, but well beyond. Jill is thoughtful, humble, incredibly self aware, and refreshingly open about the parts of leadership we don't often hear. I am so grateful she took the time to share all of this with me. I absolutely loved this conversation- we have a lot to learn from the introverts of our industry!

In this episode, I sit down with Sophie Lane for a conversation that feels like catching up with a friend who tells it like it is, and makes you laugh deliciously along the way.  We talk about wanting to quit recruitment every week in the early days, earning her first commission cheque of just a few dollars, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up when success feels a long way off.  Sophie also shares the leap from a secure, successful career into starting her own business, all while navigating the deeply personal realities of fertility, ambition and the question so many women quietly ask themselves: can I really have both?! What I loved most about this conversation is Sophie's perspective on success and leadership. We explore why people remember how you make them feel, why one-size-fits-all leadership never works, and the importance of cheering for other women rather than competing with them.  It's honest, funny and incredibly human, a conversation about careers, courage, friendship and backing yourself, even when the path ahead is unknown. Sophie is incredible, I hope you enjoy this chat as much as we enjoyed filming it!

Some podcast conversations leave you thinking about them long after they finish. This was one of them. I'd followed Emily's journey for years before we sat down together, but what struck me most wasn't just her success. It was just how open, warm and incredibly humble she is. We spoke about building a business while building a family, and all of the messy, complicated bits that don't usually make it onto LinkedIn. The reality of preparing a business for maternity leave. Coming back after having a baby and wondering if you'd ever think the same way again. Navigating the exit of a business partner while trying to find your feet as a new mum. Learning financial literacy, taking ownership of the numbers, and why more women need to feel confident talking about money. And perhaps the moment that stayed with me the most, Emily sharing that, in those early weeks of motherhood, she genuinely wondered whether she wanted to shut the business down altogether. I know there will be women listening who have had thoughts like that and never said them out loud, and that's why I loved this conversation so much. It's honest and real. And it's a reminder that behind every successful business is a person navigating seasons of growth, uncertainty, change and self doubt. Thank you, Emily, for trusting me with your story and for speaking so openly. I know this conversation is going to resonate with so many people.

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Christine Wright, whose 30+ year career in recruitment has taken her across four continents, into boardrooms around the world, and through some of the industry's biggest transformations.  But beyond the impressive titles and achievements is a deeply grounded, thoughtful leader who shares what it really takes to build a meaningful career in recruitment. The resilience to keep going, the courage to back yourself, and the importance of never losing sight of the people at the heart of what we do. Together, we talk about ambition, leadership, loneliness, imposter syndrome, and why success often looks different in different seasons of life.  Christine opens up about moving to Japan alone to lead a business, the lessons she's learned as a female leader, and why hard work, authenticity and having the right support around you matter more than anything else.  This is a conversation full of wisdom, honesty and warmth- one that will leave you feeling inspired to trust your instincts, embrace change and define success on your own terms. Christine and I connected 6 months ago, and I feel deeply honoured that she decided to take the time to record this episode. She is a legend of our industry and has so much value and wisdom to share!

Recording this episode felt like a soul chat. It's one of those conversations I could listen to again and again. Bec is one of the standout leaders of our generation. She embodies modern female leadership with a wisdom, authenticity and perspective that is rare.  In this episode, we explore her remarkable journey—from leaving home at 16 and earning a place at Cambridge, to finding her way into recruitment and becoming one of the most influential leaders in the Australian recruitment industry. But we also go much deeper. We talk about family, living far from the people you love, the friendships that ground you, navigating ambitious careers alongside meaningful relationships, and how to show up for others without losing yourself in the process. What strikes me most about Bec is her approach to life and business: be yourself, do the work, stay grounded in your values, and never lose sight of what matters most. It's a philosophy that has shaped both her success and the way she leads. This conversation will resonate with women at every stage of their career, and I'm so grateful for the honesty, warmth and wisdom Bec shared with us. This one's a real heart episode. Enjoy.

This episode is extremely special to me, and not just because Michelle is one of my best friends in the world, but because watching her professional and personal journey over the last 12 years has been nothing short of inspiring.  Michelle is testament to the fact that hard work, commitment, and a willingness to learn and grow will bring you boundless success in our industry.  And the journey has not been without its challenges along the way. In this episode we dive into Michelle’s early career in recruitment, how she almost walked away, and what caused her to stick it out to become one of Australia’s highest billing temp business support Consultants. We talk about her transition into leadership and the identify shifts that came with it, her adult ADHD diagnosis, pushing outside of her comfort zone and the deep personal work she has done to get her where she is today.  Michelle is an incredible human who continually challenges herself to grow, shows up wholeheartedly for others, and has intentionally built a life she loves. I'm so grateful she shared her story with such honesty and vulnerability. Alongside the deeper conversations, we also had plenty of laughs, and I hope you find this episode as uplifting, inspiring, and enjoyable as I did.

Introducing the incredible Danielle Johnson as the very first guest on Women Who Recruit. Danielle is someone who truly makes it happen. As a business leader and mum of two, she navigates the complexities of running a multi-brand recruitment agency while still showing up for the people who matter most- her family, friends and children. It's no easy feat! In this episode, we go behind the scenes. Danielle shares an honest look at what it takes to be a passionate and successful leader, while managing the many competing demands of work and home life. It's a real, vulnerable and heartwarming conversation that reminds us it's possible to pursue your professional ambitions without letting go of your personal ones. We talk about her career journey and what led her to Sirius, what a typical day in her life actually looks like, the priorities and boundaries that help her create balance, and how she manages the many spinning plates that come with leadership and motherhood. She may even surprise you with her Mother's Day plans. Danielle is proof that women don't need to fit into a predefined box. We can build careers we're proud of, create family lives that work for us, and define success on our own terms.