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How To Create A Vision That Transforms Your Life

How To Create A Vision That Transforms Your Life

by | Dec 1, 2025 | Career Change Over 50, Female Leaders, Leadership, Transformational Change

As former CEO of Bevilles Jewellers, Michelle Stanton led her family’s 80-year-old business through crisis and transformation, turning it into a remarkable story of reinvention and eventual sale to a global multinational.

Now, as the founder of Complete Success, she teaches others how to do the same, by aligning mindset, vision, and values to create lasting transformation.

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Michelle and Di Gillett unpack what it means to take a “quantum leap”. To move beyond the logical and step into the life you would love to live.

 

➡️You’ll hear:

  • Why fear is the border guard between the familiar and the new
  • How to design a vision that feels both daring and doable
  • The difference between goals and visions and how both shape momentum
  • A five-step test to ensure your vision aligns with your core values
  • Why patience with results and relentlessness with action is the secret to lasting change.

 

Michelle said:

“Be courageous. Don’t wait. We never know how long we have here or the difference that it could make in people’s lives… Now is the moment.”

“A vision should be expansive and it should not be based on what’s real or realistic or logical. It should be based on a whole new version of yourself in a way that you would absolutely love.”

“Fear is the border guard between the known, the familiar, and the new way of being or the new life that we would love to create.”

📖 Read the full transcript of this conversation here 👇

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (00:02)

So we want to be a little unrealistic, we’ll call it. However, there’s a caveat to that. If that feeling of ⁓ feels like there’s no possibility whatsoever, then my recommendation is just to reduce it a little bit, not give up on it, and then learn over time to expand in that believing power.

 

I believe that life is not linear, that a quantum leap is absolutely available for each and every one of us. And when we decide to say yes to it and we take the action steps for it and really think the right way, anything is possible for each and every one of us. I also believe and know that two people can have the same experiences in life, the same conditions or similar, and have

 

two very different outcomes from it. And that is by what we decide to release all of those old stories and limitations about ourselves and our willingness to adopt a new identity, a new belief system. And the two people, similar circumstances can have a wildly different trajectory. And what I know for sure is that for women, particularly in our beautiful ages,

 

have a ready and ripe to step into their fullest potential because they’ve got the wisdom, the experiences, the challenges that they’ve had and the combination of all of those has really primed them ready for all of us to take a quantum leap and have the impact that we would love to have and doing it in a way which feels life-giving and having the freedom of time, money and mind at the same time.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (01:53)

I’m Di Gillett and welcome to the Power Of Women Podcast. And what I love about this platform is the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the strength, resilience and achievements of women from all walks of life. Because this is where the real stories are told and where we remind you to never assume. We talk resilience, reinvention and breakthroughs and the moments that don’t often make the headlines.

 

absolutely should. So join the conversation and please subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts and help propel the power of women community. Imagine if one simple alignment between your mindset and your vision and your values could create the kind of transformation most people spend decades chasing. Would you take that leap?

 

Michelle Stanton knows what it takes to reinvent at any age. As the former CEO of her family led business, Bevels Jewelers, she led the business through a crisis to a very successful global sale. And now as founder of Complete Success, Michelle teaches leaders and individuals how to align mindset, vision and values to create lasting change.

 

Many of us reach midlife realizing that life or the career that we’ve built isn’t the one that we imagined. With Michelle’s help today, we’re going to unpack an awareness around that and how to turn it into action. A true quantum leap of reinvention. Michelle Stanton, welcome to the Power of Women podcast.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (03:40)

Thank you, Diane. Thank you for having me back.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (03:44)

Michelle, could we start with reflecting on your own journey because you led bevels through crisis and you needed to in reality evolve overnight. How did that experience shape your understanding of transformation in midlife?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (04:01)

I think it’s shaped everything about me now. that experience was incredibly difficult. You know, I leading a highly successful business that was 80 years old. And during that time where we were losing, you know, a lot of money, people’s jobs were at risk. It did require for me to find the courage and the determination to literally shift how I saw myself and to then

 

lead the business in a way that would allow it to grow. So how has it affected me today? mean, my late fifties is in a few ways. One is that I really came to discover that there is a power inside of us, each and every one of us, no matter how challenging the circumstances are, how long they’ve been like that, the stories that we’ve been telling ourselves up until that moment.

 

we can find within us a power that is far greater. And if we tap into that, we can transform and rewrite a whole new story going forward.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (05:10)

brilliant. And I look forward to doing that in our discussion today for the listeners, because I think women often feel torn between the comfort of the familiar versus the discomfort of the unknown. And I think like all of us, change can be disarming. What’s the mental shift that helps somebody make that move from I should to I’m actually ready to take the action?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (05:40)

Yes, well, I actually, you I think it’s a bit of a misnomer, the word comfort zone. Although it’s familiar, it’s actually usually pretty uncomfortable. So firstly, we’re just recognising that any change is uncomfortable because it’s not familiar. And fear is the border guard between the known, the familiar and

 

the new way of being or the new life that we would love to create. So it’s always, it’s not an if, it’s always a part of the journey. And so we can build a different relationship with fear and thinking about it, ⁓ it’s good news. It means that I’m wanting to cross the border of the known life into the unknown. But what actually helps someone to make that decision to go from what I like to teach is moving from interested

 

I would like to have that, but you know, I’m going to wait, use all of our excuses to why we’re going to prolong that to I’m committed and I’m making that decision now. And I think there’s two essential ingredients. One is a burning desire. You must feel like A, that the place that you’re at, the stuckness is uncomfortable enough to propel you to want to move.

 

But you also need to know where you would love to move to and what you would love to create. Because without the pulling power of what you would love to create, there is not enough like engine pull to move you from the familiar because it’s a very heavy place to be in. It’s very sticky. And so we do need the help of a really powerful vision. And the second thing is a really committed decision like

 

I’m doing this. this, I’m no longer waiting. And I want to be the person who’s living this life and creating all that’s inside of me to create.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (07:46)

And sometimes that can be difficult because if you’re stuck in a point and you don’t know how to get out of it, what do you do if you haven’t got that bigger picture desire of where do you want to be and you’re just stuck with I can’t move?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (08:05)

Well, I mean, of course, I would say engage with someone who’s an expert at helping draw that out of you, because it is hard to do it on your own. But in addition to that, I would suggest this. We are all capable of dreaming. It’s actually our innate nature to use our imagination and to its life force, always wanting for us to grow and be a better version of ourselves. And so if we can start to trust that,

 

and do a process where we allow ourselves to imagine ⁓ it’s three years from now. And the reason why I love three years is because it’s not too close where our limiting beliefs are going to say, well, that’s not possible. But it’s not too far out where we think, well, I who knows what I would love in 10 years. And so three years seems to be the sweet spot where we can allow. ⁓

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (09:00)

favorite number.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (09:02)

Excellent. I’m born on the third. mine too. One of mine. And so we allow ourselves to imagine a life in four areas that I really train people and help people with. Firstly, our health and well-being and our mindset, our relationships, our vocation, which is really about our expression in the world, whether we get paid for it or not, and then our time and money freedom. And we tune into the

 

master tool that or one of them that I wrap this codified way of bringing about results with this beautiful question and it’s what would I love? Not what I think I can have, not what I should have, not what other people expect me to have. It’s really what.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (09:51)

I- picture dreaming.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (09:53)

Yes, big picture dreaming. What would I love? And we go to work with starting with what we know for sure and then adding to it. What else would you love? And giving ourselves the most precious gift of allowing ourselves to dream.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (10:09)

That sounds like a good place to operate from. And as I understand it, and we’ve talked about it before, Michelle, when we’ve been together on the podcast, you’ve worked with mentors like Bob Proctor and Mary Morrissey. How much did their teachings shape the programs and the ideas and what you’re bringing to life now? And in fact, shape

 

how you got past your own journey.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (10:41)

Well, yes, and I’ve invested, you know, over 10,000 hours of studying this work under amazing transformational leaders and thought leaders. ⁓ And to go to your first, you your second part of the question, there is no way I know this, no matter how hard I was trying, that without the awareness that they brought to me through their teachings, would have I ever have created

 

such an amazing result with Bevels, so 100 % for sure. It shaped everything that I am and how I believe and what I teach, but it’s the combination of their teachings and a few others that I’ve gone very, very deep with. And then I think the biggest gift has been being able to apply it. ⁓ You know, my time at Bevels was such a great teacher.

 

of actually not just about knowing about it, but actually the system to apply it. And it’s that combination of all of those factors that truly influences everything that I teach my clients, but also apply to my life today. Every single day, I’m still working these principles, codifying how does it actually help people move from where they are because transformation is really just transforming our current

 

way of thinking and being and our results into something way more expansive and beautiful. And there is a system to doing it. It’s not just by chance or random. Unfortunately, we’re not taught it at school or in workplaces or generally. And it’s really my passion to help people ⁓ understand it, but most importantly, apply it to their lives. So they too, and I’m seeing it at such incredible rates of

 

people transforming their lives in ways that they love, of course, and what I call accelerating, accentuating what’s already good in their lives. So they’re feeling more joy for what is fantastic, because most of us are very blessed with lots of good, and then transforming the parts that we would love to change into a life that we would love to have. And yes, it’s rapid, what’s happening for people. It’s amazing.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (13:02)

And I’ve had some interesting conversations of late with executives who’ve made that transition from ⁓ on the tools within a business that they’re either working for or is actually their own to then the world of consulting and teaching others like you are doing. Where’s the satisfaction level on the Richter scale of that, of actually doing that for a business that is ⁓

 

part of your DNA versus now doing that and helping others where you can teach but you can’t necessarily walk them over that final line.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (13:43)

It’s a great question and in fact it bevels our purpose for being, which was from me, was to inspire, build confidence and transform people’s lives through beautiful jewellery. So really actually my belief of why I love my family business and that heritage was for the very transformation that we could help take people on.

 

Really, this for me is just an extension of that, ⁓ and a multiplier of that, of course, because rather than doing it in, I believe beautiful jewelry can help people amazingly, but really these principles and a way of being and living and taking that action not only just transforms their lives on a permanent basis, ⁓ but it has a ripple effect to their family, to the people that they lead.

 

This is, you know, this was my calling. Actually, I knew this a couple of years after the restructure, you know, that Bevels came through about eight years before the sale. I actually even bought, you know, the domain name Complete Success because I knew, knew that I was going

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (14:57)

There you go. With

 

power of women, had a forward vision of where you’d end up. I love that. Yeah. So with that in mind, Michelle, for anyone who is listening and feeling a little bit stuck, they’ve either got a career plateau or the kids have left home or there’s been some significant life change, which is inevitable that things change.

 

What’s the starting point to create a vision that feels both exciting, yet realistic to achieve?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (15:33)

Yeah, well, I think firstly that if any of those things are happening, which, as you say, is inevitable, it’s actually the exact conditions that you need to start this work. Often we can do it when things are good, but mostly it is those moments that it’s actually the right perfect timing to happen. The second that I would say is a goal.

 

Goals are very important and I’m a very passionate goal setting person and really teach my clients how to set them and achieve them. Goals should be realistic. Goals should be stretchy, but they should be achievable so that we can move the energy and keep having completions. However, a vision is a whole different thing. A vision should be expansive and it should not be based on what’s

 

real or realistic or logical. It should be based on a whole new version of yourself in a way that you would absolutely love, keeping the things that are already working but expanding on it. And so as an example, in 2019, know, the wrestle, I’ll call it, or the calling that one day I wanted to be doing this work full time was getting so strong that I knew that

 

needed to answer it. I wanted to answer it and I thought well if I can design a life I love I might as well make the exit of Bevels being one that I truly love and so I designed a vision for that sale and at the time in 2019 the business was only actually worth 10 % of what I wrote down as that vision. So it was completely unrealistic, it was completely, there was no evidence supporting it or facts.

 

And yet I believed in that vision so much. Over the next four years, every day I would be spending time, you know, being in the vision, but of course, thinking from the vision and taking, you know, a lot of action. And four years later, literally down to the T, that vision came to fruition in in 2023. And for the exact number, 10 times the unrealistic number.

 

Now did I tell anyone about that vision? Uh-uh, because I wasn’t going to have their doubt.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (18:00)

Yeah, and what’s interesting about that is if you had set that as a goal, would that have been demotivating versus setting it as a vision being aspirational?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (18:20)

Yes, well, I think that a vision, the magnetic energy, energy that is in a vision that is beyond the familiar or beyond the known is essential because it has this life force that is beyond your, you know, limiting stories and limiting ways of being. And so we are igniting this magnetic energy with it. We actually, if a vision’s not big enough, it actually doesn’t have enough pull often to get us unstuck.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (18:49)

Hmm. Yeah.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (18:50)

The goals along the way, and I had many, you know, were then more what I call concrete. And, you know, what were my 30 day or 90 day steps to take that? You know, when was I going to engage?

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (19:04)

stuff.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (19:08)

So we want to be a little unrealistic, we’ll call it. However, there’s a caveat to that. If that feeling of feels like there’s no possibility whatsoever, not even a corner of your mind open to it. You only need a corner. But if you can’t even have that, then my recommendation is just to reduce it a little bit, not give up on it.

 

or say, well, that’s impossible, I’m not going to actually go for it. But just bring it back a little bit so that your mind and your believing power can say, there is a possibility. And then learn over time to expand in that believing power. And there are ways of which to do that, of course.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (19:54)

Yeah. So what is one question you actually ask your clients to see whether their vision is actually aligned with their deeper values? Is there a ⁓ magic question to crack that open?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (20:11)

Yes, and in fact, as part of our process, when people are creating their vision, I have a five step ⁓ test to ensure that the vision is not, most people actually ask the wrong question. They think, ⁓ you know, am I good enough to bring this vision to life? I actually like to phrase it as a completely different thing. Is this vision big enough and good enough for you to trade your life for? And we have a five step test.

 

Yes, and a five-step test in it. And the first of two, which I’ll just cover, does, when I think about this vision, if it’s all worked out, bring aliveness to me? Like, you know, am I coming to life in my energy force just even by thinking about it?

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (20:58)

I’m playing my own over as you’re going through this.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (21:02)

So that’s the first one. And the second one is a must question. Is it so imperative? Does this vision, as it all comes to life, align with my core values? And even if you don’t know your core values, which I believe is a very important exercise for everyone to do and live by, but even if you’re thinking about, well, you know, my health, my family, my ⁓ expression in the world, how would I rank them?

 

in importance. Now, I’m a big believer, I’m a mother of two children. I’ve been married and, you know, am married to love of my life for 30 years. So they are, you know, my highest priorities as well as my health. But I do believe that if I was, for example, dreaming up complete success, that meant that I was on the road for 10 months of the year and doing this work in the world, but missing out on my, you know, time with my family.

 

that definition of how to bring it to life wouldn’t be in harmony with my values. So it’s not necessarily that bringing this work to the world would be against my values, but if I designed it in such a way that would require me to be away all the time, then it wouldn’t be. So we can get to refine it and then match it back to what’s our priorities.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (22:24)

Yeah, fantastic. Well, I’m here with Michelle Stanton, former retail CEO and now life mastery consultant, and talking about how to design and manifest a life in harmony with purpose. Coming up, we’re going to explore how you can create that too. If you’re loving the Power of Women podcasts, be sure to jump onto our YouTube channel and hit that subscribe button to ensure you never…

 

Miss an episode.

 

So Michelle, before we went to a break, were talking about goals versus visions and ensuring that the goals aren’t a demotivator and the visions are that beautiful blue sky aspirational draw. How can leaders clarify what they truly value rather than what might be being imposed upon them around what they should value?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (23:25)

Well, I could probably talk all day about leaders and values. It’s good and bad. Well, I’m going to say it’s really my passion point for businesses, you know, talking about leaders in business for the moment. ⁓ Because I truly believe this, that the thought that someone else can do your values for you, even your team or Google,

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (23:33)

True.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (23:53)

I do not believe that for a moment. The values that lead a business govern the behaviors, the heart and soul of the business. And it must be inside, you know, aligned completely to the, call it the founder or the leader of the business. And if it’s not something that they are going to be willing to live from,

 

I live from in difficult times because I believe that they help govern the decisions that we’re making. And so when they’re in challenging times, you must lean on the visions to help guide you to take the step that’s most in alignment. And it builds the culture of the organization, the fabric, the decision making, the people that you attract. And if that’s not inside that leader, that they’re speaking to it, living from it, walking the talk of it,

 

Bringing it to life, then they’re just going to be mere words that sit on a piece of paper in a drawer and that company will never reach its potential.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (24:58)

So with that in mind and once you have defined those values, what is the process then to bring those forward to be part of the daily lives?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (25:11)

Yeah, well, I mean, read, you know, every day I read complex successors values, I read my own personal values and I did it every day at Bevels as well. So that they’re inside of me, they’re not something that’s outside. And in bringing it into an organization, it’s literally the same thing. You can never talk enough about them. So as an example,

 

at Bevels the way to bring it back and we had people across the country, not all in the office or anything like that. We had them, I mean our office had them everywhere on the walls.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (25:51)

I’m

 

to ask that because so often you see them plastered but never talked about it, simply decor, but this is much deeper than that.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (26:00)

much deeper. I would do a five minute, a three minute, you know, a five minute post, like a video post, podcast to my team every day. And I would be talking about, you know, a value, how we can bring it to life with our customers, how we can bring it to life within ourselves. We would celebrate each week across the organization, the team members would nominate people who have been living beyond.

 

you know, the values and doing something extraordinary and focusing on one value that they brought to life. And literally it was so much a part of our DNA. And of course, I brought that to complete success and the people that we’re coaching. But I’ll give you just some examples of how we did it. So one of our values was be proud. And that really actually came to existence at the restructure at the time of

 

where I’ll call the business was in shame and same with me for what had happened. And as we were bringing the new version of Bevels to life, I felt that that was a very essential value, that we were always going to be proud of who we are and what we did. And during those difficult times, you know, my business advisors and consultants were saying that I didn’t need to pay the suppliers back in full.

 

I could negotiate a lower rate to pay them back and that would be a good outcome for them. And so when I ran that down my value, you know, the values of Bevels of being proud and saw myself walking at the trade fairs, visiting those suppliers, what would be the answer to that, you know, very important question. It cost me millions of dollars, this particular answer. And I said, no, I said for me to be an integrity of my value of be proud, I want to walk.

 

my head up high, be super proud of what I’ve achieved. I’m paying every single dollar back even if it takes me years to do it and that’s exactly

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (28:02)

Lovely example. Thank you. So what’s the most common blind spot then that you see between external success and internal fulfillment in this stuff that we’ve indicated visually on screen today?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (28:19)

⁓ Well, I mean, external success, which we all want to have. You know, we want to have the things and be able to have the experiences that and create the out of success that we’re wonderful to have. So it’s not an either or, but external success without internal fulfillment is empty. And I truly believe that for people, they will find themselves bumped up to difficult

 

circumstances, whether it be a life of regret or the family’s fallen apart or their health’s deteriorating because they believe that they can only have external success at a sacrifice for all the other parts that are meaningful in life and I do not believe that.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (29:08)

That’s

 

very, but I bet that’s a common thought that it comes with sacrifice.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (29:13)

Yes, absolutely. And it does come with sacrifice, what I call, maybe a different way of considering it. I call it, we must sacrifice the greater, the things that we would love to have and what’s important for us, for letting go of the things that are no longer serving us. can’t bring in the odd. Yes, we can’t bring in all, you know, yucky thinking and expect to have amazing results. It doesn’t work that way.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (29:33)

sacrifice.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (29:42)

And that’s why I called my business Complete Success, because it’s an inner journey of feeling fulfilled because you’re living life fully, you’re loving, you you’re being loving to first to yourself, but also to the people that matter most to you. And you’re leaving a lasting legacy of positive impact. And that’s in the work that you do, but it’s actually every day with way people feel in the supermarket after seeing you.

 

If you do that on the inside and look after those four areas of your life, your health, your mindset, your relationships, do what you love to do and do it in a way that you’re passionate about it and brings good and joy to other people. ⁓ You know, I believe that you are going to live and have that fulfillment on the inside as well as the outside.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (30:31)

So not to play on the negative, but more on the realistic. you’re on a transformational journey, such as what we’re talking about and setting some really ⁓ clear and aspirational ideas to move forward. Doesn’t always move at the pace that we want. Sometimes things, you know, go forward, go back, go forward.

 

How do you stop that feeling of self-doubt or fear creeping back in at the momentums, not quite as you want it to be?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (31:09)

I love this question, Di. And I’ve got a few different ways to talk about it. First is I like to explain the time that the gestation period, let’s call it, of the vision, you know, of the full seeing and feeling and having the vision that you’re looking for is different for everyone and different in every situation. And no different, you know, to birth a child for a human is nine months and for a, you know, a tomato tree to birth.

 

its tomatoes is, you know, whatever months it is. And so nature has its different gestation period and we’re not always in control of that. So we must have patience. And I describe the time that it takes a little bit like this. Some things come like an espresso, really fast. Some things are a little bit like a cup of tea that needs some brewing. So take a little bit longer.

 

Some things are a little bit like having, you know, that you incorporate a fresh juice as the way to start your day and you don’t really see the benefits and the changes but six months later you’re like, wow, things have really started to shift. And some things are like a fine red wine and take years to percolate and to come into form and all of them are beautiful. We wouldn’t want to have life without any of those four. And so we appreciate

 

that everything has its time and to be patient. I call it to be patient with the result, but be relentless with your action.

 

Most people are the opposite, impatient with the result and are delaying and not taking enough.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (32:49)

Yeah, with the action. Yeah, I can imagine that. So when life does throw a curve ball and life does, and it might be a job loss or something far more personal and confronting, how do you turn that catalyst, or how do you turn that experience into a catalyst for change?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (33:13)

So I’ll say two things here. One is that you must have a belief system that, you know, things are happening for us, even when they’re uncomfortable. And so it’s very hard to do, but it is the power shift. So when we think that life’s happening to us, then we’re a victim at it. And we’re not looking for the good and the potential that can come from this adversity.

 

⁓ And I believe, know, like even in the fact, you know, the bevels going into voluntary administration and all of those things, it was the greatest gift that ever happened to me, as painful as it was. And I would never want the repercussions for other people because of it. But what it’s actually given me has been the biggest gift ⁓ of life. And I believe that all challenges are there. They’re available for us to

 

really reveal our greatest potential ⁓ if we’re willing to go looking for it.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (34:15)

Yeah. And that’s absolutely been what’s played out with so many of the incredible women that I’ve had over the course of this year and last on Power of Women. I reflect Hannah Asafiri, who had a very challenging start in life with a forced marriage at age 15 and has turned that into a life of advocacy and supporting others. And latterly, Joe Tonarski, who

 

⁓ had the experience within the biggest workplace or the most prominent workplace on the Hill in Canberra of being a toxic workplace that could have broken her and nearly did, but she has come back out of that after a time of recovery and reflection ⁓ to being an advocate to help others who have experienced that. And she used exactly those words, Michelle. She sees it as a gift.

 

not as anything to the negative.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (35:15)

Yeah, but the other thing I would add to that, Di, and you know, I believe in every story is that difficult moment of when you see someone having powerful transformation. ⁓ But is that to do it alone is difficult. And you really do have that you can have that belief system, but it’s hard to hold without a support structure and a system to help you. ⁓

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (35:31)

Yeah.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (35:44)

navigate the doubts and the fears because they’re going to be there. Those difficult moments are absolutely going to be there. So if you don’t support yourself during that time, then it’s going to be very, very, it’s not impossible, but way more difficult than it needs to

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (35:57)

  1. And you’re exactly right, both of those examples that I played out also talk through exactly where that support structure came from, not always from where they expected it come from, ⁓ but they did build a ⁓ considered support structure that assisted them to get beyond the issue that they were both facing at the time.

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (36:21)

I think it’s imperative, know, it’s just part of that hero’s journey that you do need the mentors and the structures to support you.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (36:30)

Michelle, finally today, if I could ask you for every woman standing on the cusp of her next chapter, what’s the message that you’d have for her around taking that lady?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (36:44)

⁓ Well, be courageous. Don’t wait. We never know, ⁓ A, how long we have here or the difference that it could make in the people’s lives, not just because of the work in the world, but even the people we love most. ⁓ know, so we never know when we’re really going to require it. And we think we have all this abundance of time, but really, you now is the moment. be in my words was be courageous. It’s so good when you are living a life that you love and expressing yourselves in the way that you know is yours to do. It truly is the best place to be.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (37:29)

Michelle, thank you for reminding us that midlife isn’t a plateau. In fact, it’s a launch plan pattern and absolutely now is exactly that right time. Tell us, how does somebody find you and complete success?

 

MICHELLE STANTON [Guest] (37:46)

Yes, they can just go to complete success.com and very simple. And on there they can read a bit more about me. But I also have a gift for your listeners, which is. Fantastic. Yeah, if that’s OK. It’s a system that I codified and made for helping my clients, help them.

 

be courageous and to take the actions that they want to take and have the mindset so that when those doubts and fears are coming, are running wild, there is a practice, a proven system that really helps people move forward at a quantum leap. And so they can just download these planner and journal, it’s digital, on the website or pop up, it’s easy to do. And literally, it gives you the complete system to help you navigate life’s challenges and continue to

 

you know, advance confidently.

 

DI GILLETT [Host] (38:41)

brilliant, hence complete success. So we’ll add that into the show notes and also if you’re watching this with us on YouTube, you’ll see that run across the screen with the website. Michelle, again, thank you so much. It’s wonderful to have you back and join for a second time. know you joined. We said before we started recording today that it’s about 12 months since we last caught up and

 

and both of us have progressed our businesses ⁓ even more so in that time by having this big picture and self-belief of what we want to do and where we want to be. So if anybody is interested in following Michelle’s guide around that, it is a fantastic template for success.

 

Please be sure to follow what I’m doing on LinkedIn. I do have the newsletter Power of Reinvention where I share a little bit more about me than I do on these podcasts, because this is more about amplifying the stories of the guests that join me. You can follow the podcast on all of the Audible platforms, Apple podcasts, on Spotify. And we put a lot of time in curating it also for you who prefer to watch.

 

And we’ve got our own YouTube channel, the Power of Women podcast channel. So until next time, thanks for joining us.

 

Connect with Di:

Connect with Di on LinkedIn

Follow Power Of Women on LinkedIn

Follow Di on Instagram

The Power Of Women Podcast Instagram

Contact Di

 

Find Michelle at:

Website https://completesuccess.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-stanton-91a8555/

 

This is the home of unapologetic conversations and powerful stories of reinvention. New episodes drop every Monday to fuel your week with insights on leadership, resilience, and success. Subscribe and join a community of women who are changing the game.

 

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Why Courage – Not Confidence – Is Underrated – At Any Age

Why Courage – Not Confidence – Is Underrated – At Any Age

by | Nov 23, 2025 | Career Change Over 50, Exemplar, Female Empowerment

From ICU nurse to CEO of one of Australia’s most complex healthcare infrastructure projects, Di Mantell has spent her career proving that leadership has no expiry date.

In this episode, Di joins host Di Gillett to explore why courage matters more than confidence and how purpose and perseverance create real impact. She shares how saying “yes” before you feel ready can change your trajectory, what it takes to lead through complexity, and why visibility for women over 50 isn’t fading – it’s evolving.

 

➡️In this episode you’ll hear:

  • Why bravery is the most under-rated leadership skill
  • Lessons from delivering the world’s largest healthcare sustainability loan
  • How to step forward before you feel ready
  • The truth about visibility and ageism in leadership How mentorship and legacy shape the next generation of leaders

 

Di Mantell said:

“If you step forward and you don’t like it, step sideways. Just don’t wait.”

“Leadership isn’t about titles – it’s about purpose, perseverance and partnerships.”

“Never say never. If someone sees something in you that you can’t yet see, trust them and step up.”

 

💥 New episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

📖 Read the full transcript of this conversation here 👇

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

DI MANTELL [Guest] (00:02)

think it’s about being brave. ⁓ If you look at all of the things that have got you to where you are right now, and you toed up what those skills are and what those roles are and what the things that you have achieved, both personally and professionally, most people are pretty special. And you’ve got the skills and you’ve got the ability to do things. You have to decide that you are going to take that next step and no one else can do that for you. You need to be brave.

 

And If you step forward and you don’t like what it is, well next time maybe you step sideways or maybe you step in a different direction. But it’s not, you can’t sit there and wait. The world doesn’t know you were living.

 

I’ve always believed that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about purpose, perseverance and partnerships. Purpose gives me direction, perseverance keeps me focused on when things get messy, and partnership, that’s how you actually make things happen. When you lead with your heart, you stay curious and anything is possible.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (01:06)

I’m Di Gillett and welcome to the Power of Women Podcast. And what I love about this platform is the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the strength, resilience and achievements of women from all walks of life. And this is where the real stories are told and where we remind you to never assume. We talk resilience, reinvention and breakthroughs, the moments that don’t often make the headlines, but absolutely should.

 

So join the conversation wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts and be part of the power of women community. So let me ask you, do you ever feel invisible? Is purpose a question that you’re grappling with? And do you believe ageism, subtle or not, is still shaping how women are seen, valued and heard in the workplace?

 

Because today’s guest has lived those questions and answered them boldly. Di Mantell isn’t your typical CEO. She’s the pink-haired powerhouse behind Australia’s biggest healthcare milestones. Her leadership philosophy is built on purpose, perseverance and partnerships and a belief that the best decisions are often the ones you’re not quite ready for.

 

From ICU nursing Wagga Wagga to the boardrooms of billion dollar infrastructure and that’s billion with a B, Di’s story is proof that courage compounds and that visibility doesn’t fade with age. In fact, it deepens with purpose. So joining me to challenge a few societal views and share her story, Di Mantell, welcome to the Power of Women Podcast.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (02:55)

Thanks, Di,

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (02:57)

I,

 

you’re known as I said as the pinkhead powerhouse. We might share that pink in common. Who delivered Australia’s largest healthcare sustainability loan and what people may not realise is that your leadership story started a long way from the boardroom. Di, what was your first job?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (03:18)

My first job was a ballroom and Latin American dancing teacher.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (03:23)

Here

 

you go. What age, Di?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (03:27)

I was about 14, 15, I think, when I started. Yeah.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (03:30)

And

 

still able to throw it out on the dance floor.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (03:36)

⁓ not as good as I was, but yeah, I can still do it, I think.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (03:40)

Brilliant. So if you look back now, what were the moments that set your leadership DNA?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (03:47)

thought about this a lot. I think I was initially quite reserved and I definitely wasn’t a cool kid at school. Definitely that wasn’t me. I think when I started nursing that gave me the skills and courage to stand up for what I thought was right and how things would work. But I never ever thought of being a leader. I had twins at 22, quite young, because I had endometriosis and it was then or never.

 

So that teaches you a lot about being organised and getting your act together, I think. But for me, think deciding that if I wanted to make changes and do things, then I had to get on and do them because I was a young mum, went back to working. ⁓ I knew what I didn’t want to do, but I don’t think I was quite as clear about what I did want to do.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (04:39)

enough. So Di you often talk about achieving the impossible which sounds like you started really early in doing that. What’s the drive behind that view?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (04:52)

For me, think Having a really clear purpose enables you to drive an impact. And I think if perseverance is about delivering with heart, I love a shiny ball as much as anyone and a challenge that pops up and then you think that looks really cool and then work out how the hell you’re actually going to do it. And I love proving people wrong that they say, you couldn’t possibly do that. I know when I worked on the Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth,

 

We put out a services contract for 25 services to support the new Fiona Stanley Hospital and everyone went, you will never get someone that will subcontract that, that’s too big. It was the largest services contract let in the Southern hemisphere. ⁓ And we did get it and we did prove that we could do it and we got a successful candidate for it and we put them in place. When we did the green and social loan, no one had ever done that before.

 

There was no green and social finance framework, so I had to write one. It wasn’t something I ever thought I would do. But I think once you decide you’re going to do it, you just need to buckle down and work out, what does that mean? What do I have to do now and how do I get there? And for me, I love that challenge and I love proving that I can do it, even though I don’t necessarily think I have the skills when I maybe start that decision.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (06:13)

You’ve

 

done a lot of first-offs by the sound of that Di. A lot of startups, a lot of leading initiatives, because I would take it that the Fiona Stanley Hospital came out of the Bali tragedy. Is that right?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (06:27)

It, no, so part of it was, I think they decided after they did a big review, ⁓ the READ review in WA, that they needed to have a new hospital. What is quite unusual is to have what they call a greenfield site, where you basically aren’t knocking down one hospital to build another one, which is often what happens, which is what we’ve done in Adelaide. But it was building a brand new site that would have more services and would be state of the art. And most teaching hospitals last about

 

you know, good 50 odd years, you know, before you get another one. So you need to do them well. But it did enable us to take pieces from a number of hospitals and bring that together, put a whole new culture into that facility, put a whole, do a services contract with the private sector and then be able to still build up the services in the other hospitals that remain. So it was, there were only two greenfield sites being done at the time worldwide when we did that one. yeah.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (07:25)

So

 

if we just wind back to sort of your career build, Di, because you said you didn’t have that much sort of confidence and here you are leading these extraordinary initiatives. So if I look back, you became a nurse unit manager at 23 and if I’m right, you said you didn’t actually even apply for that job. So how did that shape your, that early experience in that scenario, shape your self-confidence and belief in yourself?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (07:55)

I knew that I was clinically strong and I really loved ICU and I would still do it today if I went back to doing clinical work that’s where I would go back to. And I really, really loved ICU at the time. In nursing and in clinical work, certainly in nursing, a lot of the time you are promoted because you’re very good and strong clinically. You’re not good because you’re necessarily a manager but you get promoted to a management role.

 

So you’re right, I didn’t apply. Other people in the unit did apply and I was asked to take on the role. And after I’d said no three times and then said I would do it for six weeks.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (08:32)

Why

 

did you say no, Di? What was holding you back at that point?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (08:36)

I think it was more that I knew other people had applied for it who had been there for longer than me and I thought that’s fine, that works for them. I had young children so shift work sort of worked for me but I didn’t think, I hadn’t thought that I had those skills that I thought you needed to be a nurse unit manager.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (08:55)

So you were doubting yourself more so than thinking you had time to do it? Yeah.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (09:00)

Yeah, it was a combination because most nurse unit managers at that time were like 55, 60, they’d been there forever. They were a very different sort of design focus than what I thought I was. And so for me, it was like, no, no, well, I’m happy for them to do it. I hadn’t really thought I would ever want to do that. I was very clear on things that I didn’t want to do. I wasn’t probably as clear on what I wanted to do. But for me, when I took on the role, ⁓

 

for my six weeks, I decided that I would definitely wanted to be exceptional in doing it. So what I wanted to go and do was to go and get the skills to do it. So I put myself through a Bachelor of Health Science Management, which was an external studies program that ran over six years, which ⁓

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (09:45)

top of twins, on top of the extra responsibility. Yeah, yeah.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (09:49)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I was insane, absolutely insane and going to Bathurst twice a year for residential school. So, ⁓ but I was determined that if I was going to do it, I would have the qualifications. So there was no disputing that I was actually qualified to do the role. So ⁓ I’m glad I took it. It was an amazing opportunity. It was a very cool job to do. And I didn’t want to fail. Once I decided I was doing it.

 

Failing was non-negotiable, so I just had to move forward and make it work.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (10:21)

How’d you juggle everything? What was the stress level like?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (10:24)

I never studied before 9.30 at night when I put the children to bed. ⁓ So, and I worked my day shift and whatnot, but whenever we were busy on a long weekend, a weekend at work, I would still go and cover. So yeah, was a pretty crazy period of time.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (10:42)

even going to ask you to to ⁓ to tally up the hours there’s no point so it was a lot yeah. So you’ve said growth happens when you take a leap and that was absolutely ⁓ a leap but have you ever done that before you were you felt that you were ready was was that your thinking behind the I’m taking this but I’m going to catch up with the with the ⁓

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (10:48)

I’m

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (11:11)

the education as I go along. It will.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (11:13)

Yes,

 

think I’ve done, yeah, I think I’ve taken a leap a few times and not thought about it. I made a decision to leave New South Wales and go to Kalgoorlie, full disclosure, I’d got divorced and I decided that I needed to be in a different town. So I went from Tumut in Snowy Mountains to Kalgoorlie, so I probably couldn’t have gone much further within Australia.

 

I took on the role there of the executive director of nursing for Northern Goldfields Health Service and it was an incredible opportunity and it serviced from Leonor and Laverton which is about 300 odd kilometres north of Kalgoorlie, 600 kilometres from Perth for those who don’t know and all the way down to Esperance at the coast. I didn’t know anyone there, I didn’t even go there for the interview, I had the interview done in

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (12:04)

⁓ wow, that’d be a shock culturally of arriving there.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (12:09)

Yeah, yeah. And a number of my friends had said, but what if you don’t like it? And I said, well, I’ll go and do something else. And the advantage of having a skills base of nursing was you do have opportunities to go and do other things. So that’s all fine. But for me, you should never underestimate the skill base that you’ve actually got. Like if, you know, what got you there will get you to somewhere else.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (12:35)

That’s a brilliant point of self-belief that a lot of people don’t have. So your take on that is if it all goes to mud, there’s another opportunity around the corner. Yeah.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (12:50)

Yeah, yeah. mean, so many people don’t take a role because they go, but what if I don’t like it? Or what if it doesn’t work for me? You’re not signing up for life. Like if you should give it a red hot crack and you should definitely do it for a good 12 months or more to see unless it’s really catastrophic or toxic, but you should give it a really good run. And if it doesn’t work, then go and do something else.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (13:07)

Yeah, great advice.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (13:16)

You’re not there. It’s not like you know, folks who used to get a job that would take them all the way through. So take the opportunity to come up and to see what happens.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (13:25)

Brilliant. So you’ve done quite a few pivots along the way, Di, from leadership to big infrastructure roles with these hospital builds. What have those shifts taught you about leadership and risk?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (13:39)

⁓ When I first started my career, ⁓ I was deciding between whether I was going to be a nurse or I was going to be a home economics teacher, which I just started out now. ⁓ And I came from a family of nurses, so I was probably fairly destined that I was going to be a nurse. ⁓ As I said before, I knew what I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to do midwifery and I didn’t want to be a matron, which shows how long ago I trained.

 

⁓ So I was very clear about what I didn’t want to do and when I had my twins I had this idealistic view that I would never have to work again, that I would go and have children and I would swan around and do whatever I don’t know what

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (14:18)

So you weren’t ambitious at that point or had you just been… Okay.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (14:24)

I think I just thought, no, no, I’ve done that. I’ve had the children. Twins is pretty full on. I’ll do all of that stuff and be a mum. I don’t know why. I’m not a parents and citizens sort of, you know, social mum group type of a girl. But I thought about that. But then I thought, I’ve now worked out I’ve done 27 roles in my time. So I figured that when interest rates went to 18 % and my husband’s business wasn’t doing much,

 

that one of us had to make a move. So I went back to work, which is when I then got the opportunity for ICU. ⁓ But I think it’s not necessary. I haven’t been one of those that said, I’m here and now I want to be there. That was never me. I’ve got a number of friends who’ve been very clear about that. Like they wanted to do midwifery and then they wanted to do something else and that was all fine. For me, it was more, we’ll just see what happens.

 

And I think I had a real advantage working in regional centres. Working away from metropolitan areas gives you so many more opportunities than you necessarily get when you work in the Metro, especially in health care.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (15:33)

And I guess there’s a talent pool who’s not prepared to move to those locations too.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (15:39)

Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, and it’s interesting when those areas are sort of staff and say, would you like to go out there? They oh no, I couldn’t do that. So you do get a lot of opportunities to step forward and step up. And one of the opportunities for me was I had only been at Kalgoorlie for five months and I was asked to go and represent 22 rural health services to negotiate the nurses wage case on behalf of rural health. And I said to them, are you sure you’ve got the right person? I’ve only just got here.

 

And they said, well, you’re the perfect person because you’re not tainted by anything that’s gone on before. And it’s like, ⁓ OK. And again, they said, it’s about a six week process. ⁓ It wasn’t. It was six months. And then it took about two years to roll it out. But it gave me the opportunity to now go and negotiate and sit at the table on behalf of the Director General of Health and represent 22 rural health services. Like, I would never have thought I would be doing

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (16:35)

Yeah, but the marketplace knew you were capable. What’s coming through, Di, is you’ve been headhunted on multiple occasions based on proving yourself in ⁓ the positions you’ve undertaken.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (16:48)

Yeah, and you don’t think of it like that at the time. Like when they said to do it and go to Perth, I went to Perth 35 times in 12 months to do these negotiations. But as a result of doing that, I then got a role in Perth. I then eventually met my husband to a friend I met at the hotel I stayed at.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (17:05)

was

 

going to say, how’d you have time? Fortunately he was at the hotel.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (17:09)

Yeah, yeah. And then, yeah, but then the opportunities just then open up to be able to roll it out and then go and see all of West Australia ⁓ and visit sites and see them and develop strategies and processes that are now embedded in WA Health for things. But that was never something you could have even envisaged to do it. And then because of the work that I did, the Director General for WA Health,

 

invited me into his office and he said, I need to talk to about what’s happened. And I thought I’d done something wrong. And he said, I’d like to congratulate you on how well you’ve negotiated for the rural health services. The general managers are really happy. And I would like to thank you by sending you to a conference and I’d like to send you to Edinburgh. And I thought, it’s not Edinburgh, it’s WA. What? And he goes, no, no, no, in Scotland to attend a CEO conference on my behalf to go and do it. And it’s like,

 

wow. And I got to that, the other lady got sent up the coast to a site, so the Metro, so I felt very privileged. But it wasn’t something you could plan to do. But if you’re prepared to say yes when the opportunity comes up and providing it sort of within, you know, sounds reasonable or semi reasonable, you just don’t know where that will take you. Like that changed my whole pivot and direction of what I’m doing right now.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (18:33)

Just that point alone, being prepared to say yes and take a chance and back yourself. mean, let’s pause on that for a moment, Di. You were speaking to some of the up and coming executives who might listen to this Podcast for inspiration. What would you say to them about that?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (18:52)

Never say never. And if somebody says something to you about, would you consider this? And you go, if inside you’re going, no, I couldn’t possibly do that. I don’t have those skills or whatnot. Don’t say that. Say to them, could I just ask you, what do you see in me that clearly I don’t see in me that makes you think I can do this role? And then you may find something about yourself that you’re not even aware of or that you, that

 

makes you suitable for this role.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (19:24)

And if I listen to what you’re saying and put my executive search hat on, I mean, you’re not out there overselling yourself. You’re simply out there delivering and your performance is being recognised. But you are still probably one of the most humble people sitting on the other side of the interview table, given all the achievements you’ve had, which is fantastic. Di, you’ve been the first to achieve

 

global sustainability milestones in the work that you’ve done. What does it take to keep breaking new ground in sectors that traditionally do resist change?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (20:02)

I think it’s really important that you have a really clear direction in your head. So you need to know what your purpose is and where you’re going. You may not necessarily know how you’re going to get there, but you need to have that clarity around where you’re going. Because if you’re leading a team in this process, then you need to be able to articulate to them what it is you’re doing so that they can go with you. Because otherwise they’re sitting there going, well, I don’t know.

 

I don’t know what you’re trying to say or what you’re trying to do. So I think it’s important that you can articulate that. You shouldn’t ask anyone to do anything that you won’t do yourself. ⁓ And for me, that’s always been really important. I’m happy to sit down and write frameworks and do structures and get it all set up and then talk to people about how we do it. But I will never get someone to do something that I haven’t done. ⁓ When we did the Green and Social Finance Framework at the time,

 

There’s this group called the Asia Pacific Loan Managers Association, very exciting group of people who write these loan, social loan principles. And when they had written them, one came out in, the green ones came out in April 21 and the social principles came out in May. And we just, one of my board directors asked you if we could do this particular loan. So we were using a commercial advisor at the time and it became apparent early

 

that they’d done a bit on green loans, but they hadn’t actually done a green and social loan. So I had a choice that we could either keep getting all the information and handing it to them and then they would put it in a PowerPoint and give it back to me or I could do it myself. And I don’t come from a finance background, clearly. So I decided that it was silly me briefing them to give them me something back that I’d already written. So I sat down and wrote a green and social finance framework on the floor of my apartment.

 

over two nights and then gave it to the board and gave it to our commercial advisors and said, this is what I think we need to do. And then we got it assessed. So you have to actually get an assurance piece done by an independent assurance group, which we did. And they made some minor changes to it. And then we adopted it. And then you put it out to the market. This was mid COVID. So going to the market to do a refinance to start with in COVID was insane.

 

But we went to the market not knowing whether we would get the acceptance of what we were putting out there and we were doubly subscribed. So we had over $4 billion on the table and that’s been publicly noted to us on a secret. That’s pretty cool position to be in when you need 2.2 to be able to say, right, we do have it and the green and social finance framework is what drew people in because it was new and it was different.

 

and we committed that we would meet certain criteria to meet the loan. ⁓ But if somebody had asked me that six months before that, I would have never thought I could do that. Like, just never.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (23:04)

However, this thread of stepping up and doing something that you hadn’t done before and stepping out of your comfort zone plays all the way through your career.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (23:16)

Yeah, it’s a level of craziness I think that has been consistently…

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (23:19)

I’ll call it a level of confidence, Di, but maybe crazy given the scope and the amount that you’ve tacked on. So I am talking with Di Mantell, leadership powerhouse in the healthcare sector, and stay with us because coming up we’re going to talk about visibility, ageing and owning your next chapter.

 

If you’re loving the Power of Women podcasts, be sure to jump onto our YouTube channel and hit that subscribe button to ensure you never miss an episode.

 

So, Di, you’ve said leadership’s got no expiry date, but you and I both know that society is telling women, particularly us women over 50, that visibility kind of begins to fade with age. albeit I’m not sure that that necessarily applies to you and I when you take a look at us. But that being said, Have you ever felt that pressure personally?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (24:22)

Yeah, I was actually told I was too young for one of my early roles and they said, no, no, you’re not experienced enough to go and do that. So ⁓ from very early on, I’d had that. ⁓ So I haven’t been told that I’m too old for doing the things, but I’m very well aware that women don’t talk about their age. So ⁓ they don’t.

 

I don’t personally go, So I’m 60 plus GST. I’m very happy and proud of that. But we, yeah, but We don’t, and we don’t tend to talk about that a lot. But if you ask a man, you never ever hear anyone when somebody, when a man is applying for something about what their age, it just is never ever in the conversation. And I think that’s okay, but I don’t know why women obsess about it. And I know that at times we are judged much more harshly.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (24:54)

You and I both.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (25:18)

⁓ in lots of professions for that. And I just think it has no role. For me, you are either good enough to do the role or you are not. That’s it. ⁓ I don’t care whether you’re black, blue, green, what your religious status is, sexual ⁓ favors, whatever. I don’t care about any of that. I only care that you’re good enough to do the role. The technical skills and the cultural fit are what works for me when I’m looking for someone for a role.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (25:47)

of that of the female doubt and questioning the age bit, do you think we put upon ourselves versus society?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (25:58)

A lot, a lot. I think, ⁓ you know, if you put two or three males up against two or three females in any picture and whatnot, you will see who’s, you know, worked really hard to be where they are and what they look like. ⁓ But I think we are very quick to…

 

denigrate what we’ve done or say that you know we’re not good enough or play down and you know there’s that story that’s gone around for long time about you know if you look at a job description women see all the things they haven’t done and men find two things and know that it’s true.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (26:29)

I mean it’s been going around a long time but it’s absolutely true.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (26:33)

Yeah, and that victim mentality is definitely alive and well. I did a webinar earlier this year for a group that was about 350 people, of which about 80 % were female. And the number of people who commented on there about, oh my gosh, thank you so much for giving me things to talk about and be confident in what I’m doing. I’ve never felt like that before. I always felt that I wasn’t good enough. And it’s like, why? Why are we so harsh on ourselves about it?

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (27:03)

Why do you think that is? What do you think it is? Is it conditioning? Upbringing?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (27:09)

I think, yeah, I think part of its conditioning, I think it’s part of the way that people are represented in the media. I think, you know, there’s a lot of, ⁓ there’s a lot of movies and ⁓ social media things out there that definitely play to that. And I think while ever we don’t say it’s not okay, we’re adding to that. So for me, I’ve never thought it like that. ⁓ I’m clearly not a conforming person necessarily, but

 

But I don’t consider that I’m actually a rogue or really radical. It’s just, I don’t accept that that’s how you have to be. So, ⁓ and it is a choice, but there are a lot of people who definitely have a victim mentality and want someone else to keep telling them they’re okay. That’s not someone else’s job. You have to sort that out for yourself. You have to decide what your standards are, what matters to you, what your values are, and what you will tolerate.

 

And if you want to sit there and be sad in the corner and think the world as you were living, then that’s entirely up to you. But you won’t get opportunities that are out there if you’re prepared to step forward. But I don’t understand it, but I can’t.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (28:17)

Yeah, and if you think back to your point about film and we’ll call it Hollywood, not that it’s necessarily Hollywood, but there were lots of subservient role models of women played out on the screens when you and I were growing up, but there equally today is some fantastic ⁓ films and series and footage out there of women being the powerhouse and the go-getters and dynamic and we will see that.

 

play out in society and how women present without question because you can see it, you can believe it and you think you can do it.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (28:53)

Absolutely, absolutely.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (28:55)

So with that in mind, What’s your advice to women in midlife who do feel invisible or underestimated, be it professionally or personally?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (29:06)

I think it’s about being brave. If you look at all of the things that have got you to where you are right now, and you toed up what those skills are and what those roles are and what the things that you have achieved both personally and professionally, most people are pretty special. And you’ve got the skills and you’ve got the ability to do things. You have to decide that you are going to take that next step and no one else can do that for you. You need to be brave.

 

And If you step forward and you don’t like what it is, well next time maybe you step sideways or maybe you step in a different direction. But it’s not, you can’t sit there and wait. The world doesn’t know you were living. And it’s important for you to take the skills that you’ve got. Be a role model for the people around you, whether it’s your children or your grandchildren or your nieces or your friends or whatever. People are looking for good role models of people that will step up and…

 

and show the skills that are important for people to thrive and be good members of community. You need to find your tribe and it may be a small tribe or it might be a really big tribe, but find people that are like-minded. And it can be in your friend group or your local community, or it can be through podcasts like yours. This is so powerful for people to get confidence and learn new skills about what is out there and what you can and can’t do.

 

The number of amazing people that you interview, there will be somebody in there that you find aligns with what you want to do. Someone for… Yeah, so use those skills. And also, if you’re working in an organisation now and you’ve been sitting in the same little role and you want to do something else, tell your boss what you want to do. Because if you’ve set a little period and they don’t know and you’ve never put your hand up for an acting role or a second man or whatever,

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (30:39)

everybody it’s such a mix.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (31:02)

They don’t have ESP. Lots of bosses are really clever, but they won’t necessarily think that you want that if you’ve never told them. So put your hand up and say, next time there’s an opportunity, I’d really like to do that. And they might be really surprised and go, that’s amazing. I never knew that’s what you wanted to do. But use those opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and find something different that might inspire you.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (31:27)

They

 

are all such invaluable points, Di, and I love every one of those. So coming back to you for a moment, when you look back and in fact when you look forward at the legacy you want to leave in leadership and in life, what might that be?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (31:45)

First of no one’s ever asked me that before, so the great question. I want to be a really good role model for my children and my grandchildren. I have got a powerhouse granddaughter. I’ve got three gorgeous grandsons as well, but I have a powerhouse granddaughter and I want her to really know that the sky’s limit for her. She’s named, her second name is after my mum and my mum is definitely in this little lady, so she will be a powerhouse.

 

I want to, I really, really hope that, ⁓ so I’m finishing my CEO role at the end of this year and I’m moving to do more board roles and keynote speaking and mentoring. Yes, very exciting, very exciting next phase. I’m hopeful that the culture that I have embedded in this organisation outlives me. ⁓ I think we’ve worked very hard to have a really well respected organisation that does a lot of really good things.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (32:25)

stick stick.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (32:42)

contractually for what we need to deliver, but also within the community that we serve. So for me, that’s really, really important. And I hope people just see my passion ⁓ and maybe that that inspires someone else to want to do things. I’ve got a lot of things that I still want to do. ⁓ And for me, being passionate and really caring about the things that I believe in are really important. So hopefully that will continue.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (33:09)

Fantastic. So if I sum that up, there’s another young Dai mental coming through in the next generation with a dose of grandma, which is clearly where you got some of your spirit and drive from being your mother. And without doubt, the legacy that you’ve left behind in the role that you’re stepping away from will endure because that’s what good leadership does. So well done, Dai.

 

As we come to a close, my final question that I would love you to respond to today, Di, and you’ve mentored countless women along the way, particularly in the industry in which you’ve specialised and through mentor walks and leadership programs and going forward you will in your board roles. What do you see that is holding women back so significantly today and how do we change it?

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (34:10)

⁓ I think it goes back to being brave. think it’s interesting. I went to mental walks this morning. So we met Bright and Shiny this morning here in Adelaide. ⁓ And all of these women were very accomplished people and whatnot. And a lot of it ⁓ is just about being brave. They’ve got the positions that they have because they are good and they’ve earned them. So that’s why they are where they are.

 

What you choose to do next is now a decision that you need to make and that’s a matter of either saying, no this is it, I’m happy to plateau out here and this works for me and I’ve got my dream job.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (34:48)

And it’s okay, yeah.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (34:50)

Yeah, absolutely. And not everyone wants to be a high achiever. I mean, that’s perfect.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (34:55)

It gets pointier at the top, Di. There’s not enough room for everybody to be there.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (35:00)

If you want to be the person who runs the school canteen or the community groups or the things, they are all important ⁓ in our organisations and in our communities. But for me, if you want to go and step forward, the only thing holding you back is you. You’ve got access to a large amount of skills. Places like LinkedIn have amazing opportunities for leveraging and learning off really clever, intelligent people.

 

If you don’t put your hand up and tell people you want to do things, then people won’t know. And you need to take those opportunities. And like I said before, if you take it and you don’t like it, go and do something else. That’s okay. But you are in control of your next step.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (35:46)

Beautiful. And it is why I am taking ownership of the hashtag Never Assume because if you don’t try, you don’t step forward, you don’t put yourself out there, you just might never know. that’s great. That’s great, Di. So heading into the world of board roles, I imagine that’s still going to be a meaty ⁓ part of your career journey because I can’t see you sitting back and

 

and watching the water every day.

 

DI MANTELL [Guest] (36:21)

Absolutely not. No, no, I could think of nothing worse than not being able to give back. ⁓ And board work for me is a real opportunity to take all the things I’ve learned up until now and be able to give back in a really positive way. ⁓ The Silver Chain Board I’m on currently and the Australasian College of Health Service Management State Council, which is a mini board, are both amazing opportunities to continue to make a difference. And so for me, reaching out

 

further to do more of those types of roles in infrastructure or in sport or whatever comes around. I think the skills I’ve got I would really like to be able to use them to give back and hopefully make a difference for some other organisations.

 

DI GILLETT [Podcast Host] (37:04)

the job ad, So we’ve got that bit out of the way. well done. If anybody is looking for a damn dynamic CEO with C-suite leadership and specialisation in infrastructure development, Di is your woman. So well done, Di. Di, thank you so much for joining me on the Podcast. It’s such an inspirational story of a career of somebody who probably thought they were going to spend their life being a

 

a home mum to being such an inspirational CEO and leader and with a fabulous board career in front of you. And I know Dai is active on LinkedIn, so if you’re looking to get in touch with Dai or have got a board opportunity that you’d like to talk to her about, I know that you’ll be able to find Dai there. And equally, follow me on the socials and I too spend a fair bit of time on LinkedIn. So if you want to learn about what I’m

 

doing. am also there and I publish a weekly newsletter now, Power of Reinvention. Please be sure to follow the Podcast and share this episode because Dai’s career experience and leadership advice is invaluable. Until next time.

 

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Find Di Mantell at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-mantell/

 

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Ep.36 Amanda Balcombe | A Burnout Wake-Up Call

Ep.36 Amanda Balcombe | A Burnout Wake-Up Call

by | Nov 25, 2024 | Blog, Burnout, Career Change Over 50, Health & Wellbeing

Burnout management strategies: Check-in with yourself, monitor your wellbeing with stress-tech and build in micro-breaks throughout your day.

This week on the Power Of Women podcast, a candid and revealing conversation with Amanda Balcombe about the crushing weight of burnout after work demands left her emotionally and physically drained. How the impacts of ‘hitting the wall’ saw her walk away from a career that no longer served her well-being. Amanda didn’t just stop at healing herself; she turned her experience into her own consulting practice, guiding other professionals in finding balance and fulfillment, helping them to avoid the burnout she endured.

Whether you’re experiencing burnout yourself or want to learn how to balance ambition with well-being, Amanda Balcombe’s story will inspire you to review your approach.

Ep.34 Colleen Callander | How To Create Balance In Your Life

Ep.34 Colleen Callander | How To Create Balance In Your Life

by | Nov 11, 2024 | Blog, Career Change Over 50, Fashion Industry Leader, Female Empowerment, Female Entrepreneur, Female mentoring

Are you working all hours? Do you prioritise everybody else ahead of yourself? Listen up – this episode is full of fantastic advice for the self-confessed martyrs, the A-Types, the ambitious, the parents, the multi-taskers amongst us.

So, let’s talk about a life in balance. What do we mean by that? Just part of the rich conversation on this episode of the Power Of Women podcast when Di connects with former retail CEO and founder of Mentor Me Women, Colleen Callander.

They discuss the willingness to try, to learn and build skills, confidence and resilience as we experience life. Not all leadership learning & knowledge is gained in an academic setting. They also explore self-sabotage, self-awareness, a sense of purpose and explore how we bring more women through the ranks of leadership. An inspirational episode full of practical leadership advice.

Colleen Callander

Ep.33 Tonia Bastyan | Textile Waste Crisis & Australia Tops Offenders List

Ep.33 Tonia Bastyan | Textile Waste Crisis & Australia Tops Offenders List

by | Nov 4, 2024 | Blog, Career Change Over 50, Change Makers, Fashion Industry Leader, Female Entrepreneur, Innovator, Women Over 50

Textile waste is a global issue and Australia is now #1 per capita for textiles consumption, surpassing even the US. What does this mean for the environment and the future of fashion?

In today’s episode of the Power Of Women podcast, Di sits down with Tonia Bastyan, a fashion industry veteran and pioneer in sustainable design. Tonia’s impressive career has seen her serve as the Creative Director and Founder of fashion brands in both Australia and the UK. Now, she’s pivoted her focus to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: textile waste.

Join us as we discuss how Tonia’s innovative work on the front-end design framework will ensure garments can be repurposed. We discuss pioneering technology and practical solutions for reducing waste and creating a more sustainable fashion industry. Tune in for a conversation that could change the way you think about the clothes you wear!

Tonia Bastyan

Ep.32 Shirley Wardle | How To Navigate Your Way From Burnout To Balance

Ep.32 Shirley Wardle | How To Navigate Your Way From Burnout To Balance

by | Oct 28, 2024 | Blog, Career Change Over 50, Female Empowerment, Female Entrepreneur, Female Leaders, Health & Wellbeing, Managing Menopause, Women Over 50, Women's Health

We’re diving into something so many of us have faced at some point in our lives: Burnout. It can creep in and take a serious toll on our health and well-being as well as impact those around us. In this episode of the Power Of Women podcast, I engage in a candid discussion with Shirley Wardle, an Australian-born, UK-based female executive who has navigated a remarkable career across multiple industries—including telecommunications, media & broadcast, and cybersecurity. Despite her impressive achievements, the relentless pace and high-stakes demands of corporate life took their toll, leading her to the brink of burnout. Shirley opens up about her journey through the corporate ranks, the warning signs she ignored, and the turning point that forced her to reset. The turning point is still raw & still elicits an emotional reaction when talking about it. After stepping away from her executive role, she discovered a new path to balance and well-being. Shirley has just launched a rejuvenating Pilates oasis in the heart of Kent, UK—a project that symbolises her commitment to both physical and mental health.

Tune in to hear how Shirley transformed burnout into a fresh start, what she learned about maintaining well-being in high-pressure environments, and how she’s using her experience to help others find balance in their own lives.

Shirley Wardle