Female Leaders - Power of Women

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Are Women the Future of Politics?

by admin | Mar 9, 2026 | Change Makers, Exemplar, Female Leaders

In this episode of the Power of Women podcast, Di Gillett interviews Kellie Sloane, the leader of the Liberal Party of New South Wales. The conversation is centred around the evolving role of women in politics.

Kellie with her optimistic outlook, embodies the spirit of resilience and strength that many women bring to the political arena. The conversation delves into the reasons behind this shift, emphasising the growing expectation for accountability and higher standards from leaders.

With a significant representation of women and younger voices in her team, Kellie believes that the political landscape is shifting towards a more inclusive and balanced environment.

This conversation serves as a powerful reminder of the impact women are having in politics today.

➡️You’ll Hear :

Why community must come first

Leadership lessons from crisis

Why voters value empathetic leadership

Why Kellie believes that kindness is a strength in leadership

The importance of bipartisan cooperation

How diversity in politics brings different perspectives to public policy

Why integrity is non-negotiable.

Key Takeaways:

Voters value empathetic leadership
Kindness is not weakness
There is rise of women across the political spectrum
Bipartisan cooperation is healthy
We need a strong opposition to hold the Government of the day to account.

📖 Read the full transcript of this conversation here.

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

DI GILLETT [HOST] (00:04)

Kellie when you hear the words power of women, what comes to mind?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (00:09)

and optimism and all my girlfriends and just generations of great energy.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (00:15)

Leadership is tested most clearly at moments of disruption. And when we’re talking about politics, women are at the center of that shift. I’m Di Gillett and this is the Power of Women podcast. And what I love about this platform is the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the strength, resilience and achievement of women from all walks of life. Today, I am joined by Kellie Sloane, leader at the Liberal Party of New South Wales.

and in fact one of the most consequential figures in state politics right now. Kellie leads at a moment when expectations of political leadership are changing, greater accountability, deeper scrutiny and higher standards. And as the events of December 2025 in Bondi Beach in Australia revealed, at a time when we have never experienced such volatility in the community.

Callie has spoken publicly about issues left to the margins. Men’s health, Australia’s declining birth rate, economic participation, infrastructure, and importantly, access to healthcare. And only a few weeks ago, she announced a new shadow ministry, positioning her team as government ready as we approach 2027. This is a conversation about why women are changing politics.

At a time when change is a daily headline. Kellie Sloane, welcome to the Power of Women podcast.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (01:47)

Thank you, Di. It’s so great to be with you.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (01:50)

Great to see you, Kellie. And for those listening who feel somewhat disillusioned by politics, we’re trying to put pay to that in today’s conversation. Kellie, love to reveal a backstory of where somebody’s come from and what brings them to current day. You’ve built an incredibly successful career outside politics. Why the shift and why now?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (02:18)

first job was as a journalist, a television journalist. I worked for Channel 9 primarily for about 14 years. And I had the great privilege of standing with people in moments of crisis, moments of loss, and moments of opportunity and celebration. And in those moments, there was a real privilege in reporting on that, telling their stories. But I guess I increasingly got frustrated by

The fact that I couldn’t play an active role in the change that I wanted to see. So telling their story was important, but being an active participant in the change that I wanted to see in our community became something that was really motivating for me. So I left journalism and moved into the not-for-profit sector.

worked with Life Education was the CEO of that organization and your listeners might be familiar with Healthy Harold, the giraffe. That was the icon of that organization. Got me deeply involved in policy around children’s and young people’s health, their mental health, their physical health. So I started to get an itch to do more. And I guess there was a point where I thought,

You know, I’ve told people stories, I’ve advocated for them. Now let’s jump in and see if I can make an even bigger difference in politics. And here I am.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (03:37)

Fantastic. And I know there is a personal cost in stepping forward into public life and in particular in politics. And I know a lot of people would wrestle with what that looks like. How have you come to terms with that part of the decision to step up into politics?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (03:57)

I have my eyes wide open, have to say, having covered politics for so long as a journalist and interviewed lots of prime ministers and engaged with the political process. So I knew that going into it, it would be tough. And I had to be okay with that. I had to be okay with giving up a level of privacy, giving up a lot of family time, because as a member of parliament, people probably don’t realize that you’re up very early and you’re going to

community events every night, which is really terrific. And I really enjoy that part of the role, but it means less time with friends, less time with family. And so guess I’m, you know, had that chat with my husband and our boys, our boys are now teenagers. So they understood and they were very supportive. And so I’m really lucky to do that. And can I say, I have to say there’s so much more that’s positive about this role than negative and

I thought there would be a greater deal of skepticism, a greater deal of anger, a greater deal of hate. And I have to say, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the warmth in the community. People who were inclined to vote for me, people who won’t vote for me, who have said, you know, we really respect what you do and what you’re putting your hand up for. So I think we have in Australia that healthy skepticism of politics and politicians, understandable. But there’s also a lot of people who say, thanks for what you’re doing.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (05:18)

Kellie, was there ⁓ a political figure either in Australia or globally who has influenced your decision to step forward or in fact your views?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (05:31)

strong strength and inspiration from a variety of different figures. Sometimes they’re very different. As an example, if you were to go back a number of decades, Margaret Thatcher, who had this steely determination even when opposed and just pushed through based on her values. I find that incredibly inspiring. But on the other hand, someone entirely different, like Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand, whose policies I may not agree with, but I really respect her for showing a

kind of leadership that really resonates with me. One that says that kindness is a strength and not a weakness. And then I also in more recent times and closer to home, Gladys Berejiklian, who, you know, through COVID really steered our state, gave us ⁓ comfort. And that came through her diligence and her work ethic. And I really admire that too. And she’s someone I check in with from time to time to get a bit of advice.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (06:30)

that’s wonderful, having mentors. I found this wonderful little booklet the other day in memorabilia from my late father who was also a state politician for a short period. And it’s a little book for 30 cents that says quotations from the chairman Henry Bolte. Now none of them are repeatable because they’re almost all sexist, but it’s the most hysterical little booklet that ⁓ probably should be in the political archives now that I…

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (06:59)

Yeah

DI GILLETT [HOST] (07:00)

Yeah, incredible one. So on more serious note, Kellie, ⁓ we were really shaken in December 2025 with the tragedy at Bondi and you were front and centre at that event. What did that moment clarify for you about leadership?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (07:26)

I had been the opposition leader for less than three weeks ⁓ when the terrorism attack happened at Bondi Beach. I’m also the local member for that area and I was nearby at a separate Heineken celebration about to deliver a speech. I was standing on stage when the crowd started running and the place ended up in lockdown and I went to find out what was happening for my own safety. ended up having to jump into a

what’s called a Hatsola ambulance. was a community ambulance and the driver said there’s been a shooting at Bondi. My colleague has been shot. I’m going down there and I said, well, look, I’m coming with you. And we tore down to Bondi, arrived within minutes and as the shots were still being fired but was finishing up and we ended up parked under that bridge.

⁓ not knowing that the gunmen were above us still wrestling with the police and I went in ⁓ as did the ambulance driver and we attempted to help people and

In terms of what, you know, the moment of clarity from that, I think it’s something I always knew that community and all our decision-making community must come first, their safety, their, you know, a sense of bipartisanship was really important to me in the days and weeks after that attack that I felt it was very important to be working with the government to make sure that we were providing the resources locals needed, that we were there in lockstep when it came.

to supporting their grief, attending funerals, attending memorials, ⁓ an incredibly difficult time, incredibly difficult time and moments that I will certainly never forget my entire life.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (09:20)

How do you manage your own mental health having been fronted, etc. and then try and make clear headed decisions as part of that experience?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (09:32)

You know, I guess my answer is I just, really don’t know because there’s no one, there’s no textbook that can tell you how to manage that. So I think you draw on your own resolve and there are moments I’ll admit where, you know, I find it incredibly tough. And those moments often hit me out of the blue where I’ll stop and there’ll be just intense sadness. And I’ve talked with some of the other people that were there. ⁓

in the immediate aftermath of that shooting, the other first responders. I’ve got a lot of comfort talking to people like our surf lifeguards and lifesavers. We all went through that together and I find great comfort in that. And then I also feel, you know, it’s been important for the community that they knew I was there, that I understand and that I’m motivated only to support them.

in everything that I do. But I need, you know, it’ll be an ongoing process for anyone that was there. And in fact, even, you know, community members who weren’t there, but are feeling that secondhand trauma. And this is going to be a long process of healing and recovery for the community. I just have to channel those very real emotions I have into making sure that the decisions I make are empathetic, that they are putting people first.

that politics doesn’t come into it when we’re dealing with a national tragedy. But that I feel I’ve shared something with the community and in some ways that’s helped me because we all feel so helpless. it’s, yeah, exactly.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (11:19)

point of connection. Changing tack if we may. ⁓ Politics has been criticized and probably fairly so for toxic cultures up on the hill and outdated power dynamics. What’s your experience been?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (11:41)

I understandably politics has had a bad rap, politicians have had a bad rap. A lot of the people who observe through their TVs and online ⁓ feel like some politicians are in it for themselves, that they’re out of touch. And I understand all of that. My experience has actually been a pretty positive one. I entered parliament only three years ago. I think a lot of work had been done by my predecessors in terms of

calling out some of the bad behavior and addressing it. And in New South Wales Parliament, the Liberals Party Room is ⁓ almost half made up of women here. And we have a lot of young people. There are 10 millennials in our group. So we have a really balanced ⁓ party room. And I think that helps as well. There used to be a culture of a lot of drinking in Parliament, when there were the late night sittings. That just doesn’t happen anymore.

So I feel like it’s been incredibly positive that that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of work to be done. But perhaps we’re also fortunate in New South Wales maybe compared to federal parliament where there might be bigger Stouches and maybe bigger Egos.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (12:55)

You may well be right. You may well be right. So Kellie, ⁓ do women in politics need to operate like the boys or is there an opportunity to elevate leadership and lead by example?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (13:12)

Maybe in the past they had to be a bit like the blokes. Look, I have to say though, there is an appetite for empathetic leadership. ⁓ Voters like voting for women because they see that we are pragmatic, that we are values-based, that we’re perhaps a little more consultative. By and large, a little less ego. ⁓

DI GILLETT [HOST] (13:16)

federal mob.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (13:40)

And I say that as a broad sense, of course there are exceptions, but I believe when women bring their true selves to politics, when they are authentic, when they are speaking on behalf of communities, driven by their lived experience, that makes us powerful. And they are values and leadership qualities that the community is crying out for.

So that is where if we bring our authentic selves to the chamber, to our public life, that is why people are wanting to vote for us. I think gone are the days of having to be like the boys to compete with the boys. These days, women are valued for the qualities they bring. And that’s not to diminish the values of men either and the qualities that they bring that are sometimes different. We work best when we’re in partnership.

And we have a variety of different skills. you know, I, but I do think that these days leadership isn’t about being combative. Leadership is not about clashes in the chamber. Leadership isn’t about opposing for the sake of opposing. True leadership in my mind is about reaching consensus, putting people at the heart of every decision you make and bringing your authentic self.

the life that you’ve lived into public life. And when you do that, people resonate with that. And I think that’s very positive for politics and public life.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (15:16)

And may that resonate beyond politics into every boardroom around the country because they’re great values. Thank you, Kellie.

You’re listening to The Power of Women podcasts and I’m talking with Kellie Sloane, Liberal Leader for New South Wales in Australia. And coming up, we’re going to explore if women lead differently.

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. Kellie, the rise of women across the political spectrum and including the Teals has really disrupted that traditional pathway to power. In your view, does gender matter in politics?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (16:07)

Gender matters only in so much as it brings different perspectives into the chamber and into the development of public policy. I equally think that diversity of cultures and experience, ⁓ geographies is as important as well. So where we have almost half of our party room in New South Wales is females, so that’s a really good thing, but I’d like to see more diversity in terms of experience and upbringing and background as well. And that’s something that we have to consistently work on.

And I think if we have more voices at the table testing our ideas, challenging our ideas, that is really healthy for democracy.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (16:45)

That’s the ultimate boardroom, isn’t it? Testing and challenging. like that very much. Kellie, how do you actually describe your leadership style?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (16:55)

I like to think of myself as an empathetic leader, that I will be bipartisan when it matters, bring people together, but equally I can be tough. But I can be tough in the same breath as being kind. And I think, I hope that’s the kind of leadership that I’m bringing that people see in me. That someone who will always seek solutions before combat. ⁓

but that when the government needs to be held to account and when we have better ideas, we will forcefully prosecute those ideas. ⁓ So tough but kind. I hope that’s what people see in me.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (17:37)

We like that very much. you’re, am I right in saying would be the third liberal leader for, female liberal leader for New South Wales Parliament? was someone who preceded Gladys previously was there?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (17:55)

there was Christina Keneally ⁓ was a female premier. ⁓ And then look, we’ve had a long history though of women in the New South Wales Parliament. The first woman and her name was Millicent Preston Stanley was elected 100 years ago. And she was also the member for the Eastern suburbs. And she was a firebrand conservative woman, right? And she got into that parliament with all the blokes and she advocated strongly.

⁓ for women to have access to their kids in divorce, ⁓ a whole lot of social issues. That’s Incredibly groundbreaking and quite inspiring. So ⁓ we’ve had a long line of conservative women in politics. ⁓ But yeah, until sort of the last couple of decades, not as many women as we might have liked.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (18:31)

at that time.

Yeah, so if you look to more recent times, what do you think are the most significant changes women have brought to the fore over the last decade?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (19:00)

think women in leadership have made us feel safe in times of crisis. ⁓ I’m thinking particularly about Gladys Berejiklian as the New South Wales Premier during COVID, her work ethic, her diligence, turning up every day and we watched her on the TV every day looking at those numbers. That was an incredible strength and comfort to the people of New South Wales.

I also think that we have demonstrated more broadly, ⁓ females in leadership everywhere, that sort of willingness to bring people together to find solutions, ⁓ that understanding of community and the value of community and decision making. And there are plenty of blokes who recognise that as well, but women bring a different voice to it sometimes. And we bring an experience of

I guess raising families, the challenges of paying the bills, the juggle that we bring. And often, I think my observation has been whether it’s women who ⁓ have achieved ⁓ significant promotions in business as CEOs or in media like yourself or have gone into politics, we’re often really ready for those roles because

It’s a problem that we doubt ourselves so much in the lead up to it. We’ve had to work so hard to overcome so many things or juggle so many things, family and work and the mental load and all the rest of it. That by the time we jump into big roles, we battle hardened, we’re ready, we know how to juggle, we know how to prioritize and we know how to get the job done with as little messing around as possible.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (20:45)

think if you look forward to the Millennials who are in your rooms, do you think they’ll be having these same conversations about women at the table as we are or do you think it will have been put to bed by this?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (21:01)

I have to say we don’t even talk about it in our party room ⁓ as an issue. In fact, I stood up when I announced my first shadow cabinet and all my new shadow ministers. One of the journalists asked me, what’s the gender makeup? And I had to stop. And I can honestly tell you, I had not even thought about gender. And afterwards I reflected on that and thought,

That’s pretty good that we’re not talking about it in our party room. And I wish that for our federal colleagues and for other party rooms. But the conversations that we’re having are not about whether you have ovaries or not. They’re about how can we help families ⁓ get ahead? How can we help young female entrepreneurs succeed and get rid of the red tape? How can we provide more flexible work and home solutions so that women can get ahead without having to put family last?

⁓ They’re the conversations that we’re having. Women have told me, business women that I’ve met with, that they want better economic conditions, they want ⁓ better workplace laws, they want less government interference, they want to make sure that transport infrastructure is being developed so that they can get home faster.

And these are all things that Liberal governments have done successfully over the last few terms and will continue to advocate for in our policies.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (22:22)

Yeah, fantastic. So, March 2027 is approaching at a rate of knots. It is. And you’ve described your new shadow ministry as government ready. What would you like your constituents to understand around what that actually means?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (22:42)

Well, it means that we’ve got an incredible team ⁓ of former government ministers who know how government works, who have that experience that’s really important. But equally, we have a group of young people coming through that understand the real concerns of young families and communities who know where the state’s heading, not just where it’s been. And I think that that mix in our party room is incredibly important.

And we are all inspired by our predecessors who built an incredible legacy in New South Wales of transport infrastructure, of metros, of new hospitals, ⁓ and that we want to be ambitious for our state too. So we will be an ambitious team with great experience, ready to govern, and ready to ⁓ remind families in New South Wales who are finding it really tough that there is a better way forward.

because right across our country, cost of living is declining, ⁓ government bureaucracy is growing, union influence is increasing and small businesses are closing at a rate of knots. So we will present a policy platform over the coming months that we hope will be hopeful, ⁓ that will be ambitious and that they’ll see in my team.

not just me as leader, as a capable leader and a future Premier, but a team that will be incredibly strong for New South Wales.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (24:08)

Yeah, wonderful. Kellie, I appreciate the first few weeks of your role were certainly ⁓ extraordinary. Outside of that, the shift to politics lived up to your expectations?

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (24:28)

It’s probably exceeded my expectations. I have seen the power that can come from good opposition. So it’s not just about jumping in and trying to get into government. We have developed policy that the government has adopted from the opposition benches. That’s really satisfying. We’ve also produced amendments to government legislation that have succeeded.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (24:51)

And that’s what a good opposition does.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (24:53)

It’s so healthy for the state. I have equally worked in a bipartisan fashion with the government to get good legislation through and to make what I’ve thought is ordinary legislation better. ⁓ I want the Premier and his team, every time they produce a policy, to be looking over their shoulder saying, what would Kellie think? What would the opposition say about this?

and sure that they dot the I’s and cross the T’s and sharpen their pencils and make sure that they are delivering the best for New South Wales. So at the very minimum, my job is to make sure that we hold this government to account, that they become a better government because of a tough opposition. And at the very best, then I hope to be in office in a year from now. But I’ve been incredibly satisfied by the work we’ve done in parliament, but also I have to say,

You know, nothing prepares you just for ⁓ how much you care for your community as a local member of parliament. And I get incredible satisfaction out of the small community events, out of going down to the surf clubs, about speaking to locals and trying to make a difference on the everyday issues that matter to them. And it’s a real privilege. I have to say it’s an incredible privilege.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (26:08)

Kellie, I’ve got a couple of rapid fire questions to throw at you as we wrap up today’s conversation. One issue you believe politics has underestimated for too long.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (26:21)

Social cohesion, we’ve taken that for granted. We need to try harder. We cannot say she’ll be right when it comes to our multicultural communities.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (26:32)

And leaderships treat Australia needs more of right now.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (26:37)

at courage to make tough decisions even when they’re not popular. I think we need that right now. We can’t please everyone.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (26:46)

and one decision principle you’ll never compromise on.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (26:51)

Integrity. Yeah, you have to stick to your values. I want to leave politics with my integrity intact and hopefully that will serve me well while I’m in the job.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (27:02)

Yeah, fantastic. Kellie, what a ⁓ refreshing and resounding positive take on life in politics and what your views are. I commend you on that and thank you for that and I have no doubt you become a role model for other women considering a path in politics. I know I grew up

As a school kid, if you asked me what I wanted to be, for years it was a politician and somehow it fell off the radar and I commend you on making that decision because it is a huge sacrifice. You’re a wife, you’re a mother, you’ve got the role of opposition which I sometimes think is tougher than the role of leading and you are doing it with such grace and conviction. It’s so impressive.

KELLIE SLOANE MP [GUEST] (27:54)

Thank you, Di And can I just say we need women like you in politics. It is never too late to step up. Can I also say to your viewers and listeners that we need more people in politics, whether it’s front and centre like me, whether it’s behind the scenes, whether it’s joining parties, whether it’s my party, the Liberal Party or the Labor Party, have a voice, have a say, because we need more people contributing to our democracy right now.

valuing our democracy and making sure that we hold every politician to account. So ⁓ thank you and thank you for the community that you provide for women.

DI GILLETT [HOST] (28:29)

Thank you Kellie and thank you so much for joining me today. I know that the time of a politician is scarce and heavily scheduled so much appreciation. Until next time.

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of Women in Politics

02:21 Kellie Sloane’s Journey to Politics

04:52 Navigating the Challenges of Public Life

07:04 Leadership in Times of Crisis

12:55 Empathetic Leadership: A New Approach

15:16 Leadership Styles and Gender Dynamics

12:55 Empathetic Leadership: A New Approach

28:29 The Future of Women in Political Leadership

Connect with Di:

Find Kellie Sloane MP at:

Website https://kelliesloane.com.au/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-sloane/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kelliesloanemp/?hl=en

Want more fearless, unfiltered stories that showcase authentic leadership?

💫 Subscribe to the Power Of Women Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts

Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter where I share raw reflections and thought leadership on the Power Of Reinvention.

Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

Lead Through the Power of Your Story

by admin | Jan 19, 2026 | Female Empowerment, Female Leaders

Own your voice. Build networks that empower. Create a legacy that lasts.

The Power Of Women Podcast opens the 2026 season with a defining conversation on influence, voice, legacy and understanding the power of YOUR story.

In this episode, host Di Gillett sits down with global brand strategist and Powerful Steps founder Tory Archbold to explore the new rules of influence. Why women must own their voice, how empowered networks shape opportunity, and what it takes to build a legacy rooted in purpose and alignment.

Drawing on decades of experience building iconic brands and advising women globally, Tory shares the moments that shaped her leadership, what she attributes her success in business to, and why influence is no longer about noise, but about clarity, truth and impact.

You’ll hear :

How influence has evolved and what that means for women in 2026.
Why owning your voice changes how you lead and how you’re seen.
How to build networks that empower rather than diminish.
What legacy leadership looks like beyond career milestones.

Tory said:

“Your voice isn’t something you earn. It’s something you choose to use.”

“The right network doesn’t make you smaller, it expands who you’re becoming.”

“Legacy is built when influence is grounded in alignment, not approval.”

📖 Read the full transcript of this conversation here 👇

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (00:03)

And I had the opportunity to go and work in some of the biggest entertainment companies in the world in London on the working holiday visa. So I was exposed to George Lucas films, 20th Century Fox, MTV, Nickelodeon. Leaders listening right now lead through the power of your story. But don’t just put it there and go, ⁓ I launched Zara. That was such a long time ago, Di. People always ask me about it. But that’s not my story anymore.

DI GILLETT [Host] (00:29)

A moment that changed everything for you.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (00:32)

Mind Age Eth Experience.

DI GILLETT [Host] (00:34)

The most underrated skill for women in leadership. A belief you had to let go of to rise.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (00:37)

Self-belief.

People pleasing. You know, they were saying, but men judge us. I said, but you’re not putting yourself in the shoes of the men. Men also have stories. Men also have challenges and they feel that they’re going to be judged too.

So the top 1 % of female leaders around the world stand in their authentic truth. A happy heart is a magnet for miracles. Self-belief is your superpower.

DI GILLETT [Host] (01:12)

I’m Di Gillett and welcome to the Power Of Women Podcast. What I love about this platform is the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the strength, resilience and achievement of women from all walks of life. And that tapestry is getting richer as the community grows as we enter our third year. Can’t believe it. So join the conversation if you haven’t already.

Jump on to YouTube and subscribe to the channel there, or you can listen to us on any of the audible platforms. I am super excited though to start the new year with a very special guest. She hails from Sydney, but she is truly a global citizen these days, jumping between Riyadh, the US and Australia. She’s a woman whose name is synonymous with influence.

visibility, alignment and unapologetic leadership. But before I introduce her to you, let me ask you this. If you could change one thing in your life that stopped downplaying your voice and truly stepped into your power, what would that be? So every week I sit down with women who change the narrative in business, in leadership,

and in life. Women who don’t just rise, but more importantly, women who bring others along with them. And today’s guest is an exemplar of all of the aforementioned. Tory Archbold is the founder of Powerful Steps, a global platform activating the purpose, voice and leadership of high performing women across the globe.

She has built international brands, shaped cultural moments, and transformed the way women see themselves and their voice. And she does it in one unmistakable step of heart-led, high-impact truth. She’s a global strategist, a keynote speaker, and author of Self-Belief is Your Superpower, and the host of top-rating podcast, Powerful Stories.

Her mantra, lead with truth, partner with purpose, and build a legacy that outlives you. And today we’re going deep. We’re going to talk about how to elevate your voice, how to build networks that empower, and how to own your story with clarity, conviction, and alignment. Tory Archbold, welcome to the Power of Women podcast. ⁓

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (04:01)

so grateful to be here and what a welcome. Thank you Di.

DI GILLETT [Host] (04:05)

It’s taken a while, Tory, and it is so good to have you in the studio. Could we kick off today with your story because your story is pretty rich in its own way. Can you take us to some of those early defining moments?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (04:22)

I love this question because everyone’s like, tell me your story, Tory.

DI GILLETT [Host] (04:30)

I’m sorry I didn’t quite get the string of that right.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (04:35)

So my story really started with rejection, if I’m completely honest with you, and a little bit of judgment thrown into the mix. So I like to say that I am a woman who jumped out of the box of expectations at a really young age and into a global world of opportunities.

DI GILLETT [Host] (04:43)

Mmm.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (04:59)

And I say that with my hand on my heart because I think when you reflect on the journey of who you are and where you come from, you really need to look at the highs, lows, and those game-changing moments. And one of the defining moments for me was when I started my first business, Tourstar, at 24 years of age. Very young. Very young. And I backed myself through self-belief. But also, I knew that I could ignite change.

And I wanted to create and build really powerful brands because, like many Australians, when you’re young in your early 20s, you’re schooled by the University of Life, not necessarily a degree, and you go and you explore the world. And I had the opportunity to go and work in some of the biggest entertainment companies in the world, in London, on the working holiday visa. So I was exposed to George Lucas films, 20th Century Fox, MTV, Nickelodeon, you know, the whole portfolio of Viacom.

And I fell in love with the power of storytelling. Absolutely loved it. And I thought, if there’s one thing that I can do that’s going to ignite change in this world, it’s going to be able to tap into the power of storytelling, but also take people on a journey. And I loved that. Like I was always an avid reader, you know, all the magazines, and I always loved the movies. But most importantly, I loved connecting with people.

And so when I came back to Australia, no one wanted to give me a job. Absolutely no one. I think that I was a little bit ahead of the times, but people didn’t recognize the depth of my knowledge and my capabilities. And I was actually okay with that because I always believe in life, you forge your own path. And so when it had coffee, because I couldn’t afford to take people lunch.

DI GILLETT [Host] (06:29)

You put that down too.

Of course.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (06:48)

And I always remember the advice like coffee not lunch because in those days coffee dates were $2 right? Yeah. It’s now some places in world. Yeah, $25 in some parts of the world to just buy someone a coffee but it was like a $2 exchange of energy and listening into what people needed and what I really recognized was that no one was tapping into what was happening on a global stage.

DI GILLETT [Host] (06:58)

be the price of lunch.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (07:14)

And I saw my laneway and I thought to myself, imagine if I could actually use the knowledge and the frameworks that I had been taught by what I would call wise souls who took me under their wing for those short stints in those incredible entertainment companies and actually transformed that into a business. And so I did. And it was called Tour Star. Started when I was 24. No money in the bank.

DI GILLETT [Host] (07:39)

Where does self-belief come from, Tory? Because that’s, you you say you come from, one of the words you said you come from is judgment. So how did you tap in and identify that self-belief so young?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (07:52)

the judgment came from rejection over when I went for coffee dates and it was actually an ex-boyfriend, so let’s get really serious here. Who ended up running one of the biggest advertising agencies in this region for quite some time. He was more of a hero and a legend in the industry, but he just couldn’t see what I could see at that point in time. And when I went for the coffee date and said,

DI GILLETT [Host] (08:02)

I had that rejection.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (08:17)

team I’ll never forget it was in Bills in Crown Street and I said look I think I’m going to start my own agency I’m going to call it Torstar and it’s going to be a branding communications agency and it is going to attract the world’s top performing brands celebrities and influencers and he kind of looked at me and wanted to put me back in the box that my parents had placed me and he’s like I think you should go and you know finish that interior design degree so that you can go and be a really good homemaker.

DI GILLETT [Host] (08:42)

We wanted to keep you small.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (08:45)

Absolutely and white picket fence and that’d be it but I’d already said no to that by going to London. Yeah. And so I remember walking out of that coffee date so clearly in Crown Street and kind of like putting my hand in the air as a bit of a fuck you. ⁓

DI GILLETT [Host] (08:59)

And thank you for the momentum.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (09:01)

Thank

you and thank you and I’m going to use that to actually drive forward my idea and so I did and no one in Australia would give me the opportunity to work with their brands because of course I didn’t have a track record and so I called a friend in London and I said to her look this is my idea this is the agency that I want to create what do you think and she said to her it’s brilliant I’m going to introduce you to someone who actually became my first client you always need a marquee client when you step out on your own

And my first client was launching Megan Gayle’s The Face of David Jones. And from there, I mean, it was all just based on referrals because I anchored every decision that I made in that business and my three values, passion, integrity, delivery. I had the intent to create and build powerful brands, but most importantly, I was the woman that delivered. And so if you deliver and you’re magnetic and you’re

years are so creative and outside of the box and anyone else’s, what’s going to happen? You’re going to attract. But also when you attract, how do you retain? So my clients on average stay with me for eight and a half, nine years, which is unheard

DI GILLETT [Host] (10:02)

Cool.

That’s

know even if I had the good fortune of holding on to a client for three or four years in the search space before somebody knocked you off your perch, you’ve done well. So that’s incredible.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (10:24)

And I do want talk about knocking people off your perch because I remember when I was pregnant with my daughter Isabella and I went to see a client and I saw that someone had basically looked at my website, looked at the clients I had because these were in the early days of, know, my gosh, you’ve got to have a website, how do you promote yourself because you usually used to go in and hand over a presentation presented. I’m about to give birth.

And another woman who had started an agency, I remember it was this one client, then I went to the next client, then the next client, and sitting on all of their desks was a presentation from her saying why she was better than me.

DI GILLETT [Host] (11:03)

and she saw your pregnancy as a moment of weakness.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (11:06)

Correct, but it actually was a moment of strength. What is that? Give it back, you know. All of the things.

DI GILLETT [Host] (11:14)

What is that in the world of sisterhood? Because that is very blatantly taking the decision to stamp on somebody’s parade.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (11:25)

It absolutely is and that same woman used to come up as a plus one to my events with the media and hand out her business cards at my events. I mean, I looked at that situation, I thought, okay, she wants what I have. Yeah.

DI GILLETT [Host] (11:40)

So she’s already on the back foot she’s chasing?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (11:43)

She wants what I have, but she’s not me. And for anyone listening to these podcasts, always remember, like, you are unique. You have a unique footprint. She can’t be me. And it didn’t dampen what was a stellar career. And I ended up attracting the best of the best.

DI GILLETT [Host] (12:03)

And I love that you say that because there were a few critics when I first decided to call my podcast Power of Women because I had actually secured the domain name Power of Women 10 years earlier with an idea that I was going to build some purpose-led female platform. And I said, well, that’s true. If I Google Power of Women, there’s a few in the marketplace, not as many as you might think.

But there’s only one power of women with diagelate.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (12:34)

Correct. And you are the star of the show. You are the leader of your own destiny. And you know, as Oprah said, I saw her in Sydney last night. She said, lead yourself. Lead yourself. Rise up as yourself. And so I’ve always lived by that motto as well. And I was an Oprah fan, you know, I’m sure you were as well. We were young. She leans into the heart, not ego.

DI GILLETT [Host] (12:45)

Mmmmm ⁓

Absolutely.

Yeah.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (13:02)

And so I think that if you believe in an idea and you believe that you can step into it, that’s your intent, that’s your purpose. All you need to do is anchor it back to your values and it’s the ripple effect.

DI GILLETT [Host] (13:13)

With Torstar, it was incredibly successful, but you walked away after what was it, 20 years. not because the business was on a downward trajectory. You walked away at the top of its power. What led to that?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (13:30)

my intuition. The secret whispers of life. ⁓

DI GILLETT [Host] (13:35)

⁓

One of my favourite things that so many women don’t acknowledge or listen to.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (13:42)

the secret whispers of life. So I knew that I had a story that I wasn’t telling. And while I was really good at creating and building brands and obviously telling the stories of global businesses, but also CEOs, board directors, founders, like the best of the best, I like to call them the top 1%, at the same time I wasn’t being honest about who I was. And so there was this niggly feeling inside of me,

And I remember it actually came from the movie, Hard Loser Guy in 10 Days.

DI GILLETT [Host] (14:17)

As distinct to my pretty woman experience in Sydney only recently of not being allowed into a luxury boutique. See, we’ve all got a movie.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (14:24)

We’ve all got a baby. So my daughter and I, Bella, we’re in LA and I had just won the keys to freedom through standing up and winning full custody in a non-contact order in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. So I think I’m one of three percent of women that self represent and actually successful, successful in the sense that it was 12 years. It almost broke me.

But I came through that tunnel and saw the light and was completely happy. And my daughter was young at the age and we’d been watching on repeat this Matthew McConaughey movie. And I said to I think it’s ready, well it’s time for me to start dating. But I only had five days free in my diary.

DI GILLETT [Host] (15:08)

And was Matthew your pin-up of what you wanted do? he wasn’t! Because he would have been mine!

He actually wasn’t! have been mine!

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (15:15)

Before we were due to hop on a flight back to Sydney from LA, we actually bumped into him in the park. Like this is like serendipity, the way this all turns out. And it was all about my daughter saying, Mom, I want a picture with Matthew. And I said, well, that’s not what you really do, because I work with a lot of people like that. If you never take photos with them, it was my golden rule. And ⁓ she said, well, can you ask him? Can you ask him? And I felt so uncomfortable. So I asked him and he said, no.

Sorry, no. And then we kind of, no, he was just like, no, photos, no photos. But then do you know what the crazy thing was? Then this paparazzi guy comes along and takes his photos. And I looked back and I was like, you’re saying no to like my daughter is under 10 and yes to the paparazzi. And then of course it was like Matthew McConnachie on Venice beach working out. And I thought that’s, that was the reason. And I was okay with that. But anyway, we actually decided to use that for fuel to the fire.

DI GILLETT [Host] (15:47)

A southern drool?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (16:14)

And when I came back to Australia, I was on Bumble and I decided that I was going to date six guys in five days and learn about myself die. And I learned more about myself from dating five different guys than I did in a lifetime. And so I started to understand the power of is tour style what I really want?

Do I really want to be around all of these so-called celebrities and power brokers who sometimes aren’t showing the heart and the empathy and they can disappoint us? And what if I actually dug deep and looked at what my story was and how that can help other people? Now, ironically, Matthew went on to do Greenlights and it’s a book I absolutely love.

DI GILLETT [Host] (16:48)

And they can disappoint you.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (17:05)

And I do think that that moment in time where our paths crossed, it was maybe not a great time for him. And I was actually coming out of the tunnel into the light. So I was stepping up into what he is. Ultimately, he’s done so much for so many people by sharing the power of his story. But I look at that time and I think to myself, who have I not worked with? What are the things that I want to wrap up? What am I going to do with the 22 staff that I have? How are we going to pay forward my…

DI GILLETT [Host] (17:11)

Yeah

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (17:33)

knowledge and what’s the legacy piece going to look like. It wasn’t TORSTAR and I was 44 years old and I shut the doors. I had an offer on the table to sell and I said no to the money and yes to myself. Best decision of my life.

DI GILLETT [Host] (17:36)

and it wasn’t tossed.

Because selling meant you had to go with it. And cuffed.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (17:51)

Handcuffs?

And I don’t like handcuffs. I like creating and delivering impact.

DI GILLETT [Host] (17:55)

Everyone

And neither does our audience.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (18:00)

Through the heart, not the ego. And, you know, my last three clients were Drew Barrymore, Steve Madden, and Victoria’s Secret, three of the top brands out of the US. But they each taught me something about myself to give me the confidence to walk away because I was no longer afraid of judgment.

DI GILLETT [Host] (18:21)

Yeah, you got there at 44. I think I said to my husband earlier that day, and I did have a guest on the show last year who said she was a late bloomer. And I actually think I’m a late bloomer too. I’m now early 60s, but I think I really stepped into who I am visually, emotionally.

in every respect when I hit 50.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (18:54)

I mentor so many incredible women and right now I’m mentoring a beautiful lady who’s about to turn 70. And she’s worked with every major star you can think of in Hollywood. And she’s looking at me as her mentor to show her what does her legacy piece look like.

DI GILLETT [Host] (19:14)

because she’s done it for others and she’s done nothing for others. I remember that lesson, Tory. You mentioned something not dissimilar to me.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (19:16)

nothing for herself so she’s gone back to her

Yeah.

Tap into the power of your story and who would have known that it had a naked chairman. You know, your story, there were all of these twists and turns to who you are as a woman. And one of the gifts of LinkedIn for me is connecting with women like you, who now have the confidence to share their story. Because now when you look at who you’re interviewing, you look at the caliber, you look at the vibration.

DI GILLETT [Host] (19:47)

Absolutely.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (19:48)

It’s

because you actually stood in your power and owned it. Because when we first met, you didn’t own it. You didn’t.

DI GILLETT [Host] (19:56)

was giving it away. I had it, but I actually think I was giving it away. were. I don’t know whether that’s generosity or stupidity, but I’m not going to ask you to answer that. It’s It was a decision.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (20:01)

But now you’re owning it.

Yeah, it’s generosity. But I know since we have that time together and watching your journey now and the impact that you create, it’s extraordinary. And you are one of those top 1 % women that I talk about because you’re in alignment, your soul’s happy, your heart’s happy. Absolutely. And your voice means something to other people. And that’s what we call the ripple effect. That’s the legacy of who we are as women.

DI GILLETT [Host] (20:40)

But does it still surprise you, because I know it still surprises me with some of the feedback that comes back of thanking you for sharing and putting it out there. That still feels very new and unfamiliar to me. Does that dissipate or change with time or is that revelation a revelation every time?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (21:02)

It just makes me happy. It makes me so happy that you can crack open the hearts of female leaders. And that when you meet them, and then when you see them a few years later, I mean, last night after Oprah, I had so many women I hadn’t seen that I mentored through COVID, even from regional Australia, coming up and hugging me and saying, Tory, you’ve changed my life. And I always say, no, you just called me. And all you did.

was follow the frameworks and you did the work, which is why you are there. But I always say, thank you, you know, thank you for acknowledging that, but it was actually you.

DI GILLETT [Host] (21:41)

Mm. Mm. I love that. Now, you have a book, Self-Belief is Your Superpower, that you released some time ago. I believe you’re working on a new book. Can you tell us anything about it?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (21:53)

I am.

My legacy, my way. Because, Di, I feel that when we get to the halfway mark of our lives, like so many of the listeners as well, we’re looking at how can we give back? How can what we’ve been taught or we’ve learned along the highway of life apply to the next generation? Or how can we actually give others the confidence to navigate challenging situations? And so when I teach others, I also teach myself.

DI GILLETT [Host] (21:58)

I love it.

Mmm.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (22:24)

And I realized that this year that there was a big milestone in my life when my father died. And I was estranged for many, many years from him, not because I didn’t love him, but because our values didn’t align. And integrity is one of them. Integrity is really important to me. And he knows the reason why I walked away. And he asked for forgiveness in front of my daughter, which was a really big healing moment for me.

And so when he passed and I did a post on Instagram saying that, you know, this is why he was in my life for some time, but this is what I’ve learned from it, everyone started commenting and they jumped in and I had a phone call from the CEO of the time of Hello Sunshine when I was in West Hollywood hosting an event a couple of weeks later for Powerful Steps. And she said to me, Tory, that’s what we call the ripple effect.

DI GILLETT [Host] (23:04)

jumped in.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (23:20)

Honesty from women is such a rare thing and I’d met her a few years beforehand.

DI GILLETT [Host] (23:26)

extraordinary. Honesty from women. What’s the decision to hold back?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (23:32)

They’re afraid of the truth. They’re afraid of what people will think of them. It’s a judgment piece that we spoke about. And she knew the back end of my story of how I’d won full custody, how I’d created this business, how I’d attracted all of these brands. And she said to me, you know, that story is pretty extraordinary. She said, but I think you’ve got another story. Tory. And I said, ⁓ I think I do. And she said, I think it’s time to tell it.

And I was going to Saudi Arabia, my husband’s based in Riyadh, I now live there with him. And she said, I want you to go to the desert and ride it. And so I’m about to wrap it up. And yeah, my story will go into film and a whole lot of vertical. I’m very excited.

DI GILLETT [Host] (24:15)

Very exciting.

Brilliant. I look forward to being at the launch, could be in Riyadh ⁓

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (24:25)

all around the world. It’s manifested.

DI GILLETT [Host] (24:28)

There we go. I will clear my diary. Now, Forbes wrote, she leads with heart and healing what corporate women crave right now. What do you think corporate women are missing? Because there’s a lot of leadership issues going on in the marketplace and there’s a lot of business women who listen to this podcast.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (24:52)

Women are afraid of standing in their truth when they’re in corporates for fear of judgment, fear of not getting that promotion, fear of what their team will think, fear of if they actually think someone discovers something about them that doesn’t align with company values. But actually it’s the opposite. It is the complete opposite because I explained this when I was doing the opening keynote for the Salesforce Female Lead Program the other day in Sydney.

And, you know, they were saying, but men judge us. I said, but you’re not putting yourself in the shoes of the men. Men also have stories. Men also have challenges and they feel that they’re going to be judged too. So if you strip it all back and you’re honest with each other, imagine the magic you can create. One of my biggest posts on Instagram, it went viral. It’s sitting at about 80,000 organic views right now. And it’s me crying.

And it’s me finding out that my dad’s ashes had been left at the crematorium. After four and a half months, my sisters had left him there. After they uninvited me to a funeral, we might…

But I give this as an example because my intuition at the time was like video this moment when the New South Wales government on compassionate grounds gave me access to 1,030 medical documents so that I could actually access the truth of what happened. And so when I found out, it wasn’t because my sisters told me how my dad passed, it wasn’t that the executives of the will told me how my dad passed even though I was next of kin.

It was through the kindness of this incredible man ⁓ from the New South Wales government and I just watched myself just film this moment. It was just like my intuition saying it and I was spot on and I’m sharing this because it’s related to corporate women in Australia. That did not change corporate women or corporate businesses booking me into the next year for keynotes around the world.

DI GILLETT [Host] (26:54)

Mmm.

how they.

Because it wasn’t seen as weakness.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (27:07)

It wasn’t a weakness, it was a strength because I was in my authentic truth and I was distressed. I was crying. But I’ve actually pinned that to the top of my Instagram because I think it’s a powerful reminder to any female leader anywhere in the world that the raw and authentic moments are the most powerful. Gone are the glossy days when you turn up with the airbrushing, which you and I have both done.

because of course that we you know we grew up in magazine media and you know all of those things

DI GILLETT [Host] (27:41)

The

real power is in vulnerabilities.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (27:44)

want it. And then on LinkedIn, you know, I might be in different parts of the world and saying I’m going on a coffee date and people would be like, but Tory, you’re wearing your workout gear. I’m like, so what? Some of the most powerful coffee dates in my life have been with women like Shelly’s Alice, who created the female quotient and who through acts of kindness and coffee dates says to me, Tory, we can create magic together.

DI GILLETT [Host] (28:10)

and you’re in your gym gear.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (28:12)

And so is she. And she’s like, Tory, help yourself to coffee in my house and I’m going to fly to Australia and I’m going to see what you’ve created with Powerful Steps. Now, she wasn’t judging me on what I wore. She wasn’t judging me that my skin might have been a little bit blotchy. So for corporate women who are struggling right now, don’t be afraid to share those moments because every strong woman in the world has those moments.

DI GILLETT [Host] (28:38)

We’ve come a long way from the 1980s power suit. Thank God for that. ⁓

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (28:44)

Mine were all given away.

DI GILLETT [Host] (28:48)

Well, coming up, we’re going to shift gears into two big themes that every woman in leadership needs right now. Firstly, how to elevate your voice and how to build networks that empower. Back soon.

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 you’re listening to the Power of Women podcast and if you’re enjoying the show, jump on and follow us on any of the podcast platforms. I’m joined today by Tory Archbold, brand builder, cultural activist and powerful advocate for women owning their voice. Tory, when a woman says, I want my voice to be heard, what’s the step to do that?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (29:43)

The first step is getting out of your own way. It’s like, get out of your own way. Well, I knew you had such an incredible story, but it was getting it in writing. So when you own your story, you own your power. It’s pretty simple. But most women don’t hit pause and they don’t give back to themselves to truly know the power of their story.

DI GILLETT [Host] (29:46)

There you go. think that’s what you said to me.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (30:08)

So the ones that actually hit pause, invest the time in getting to know themselves, right from the start, are the ones that are the high vibrational women that can walk into any room anywhere around the world and people will say yes.

DI GILLETT [Host] (30:23)

That’s a really interesting point and I know I came out of a de facto relationships a couple of years before I met my husband 20 years ago. And I had to really stop and that was the first time I truly paused because I’d gone from one average relationship to another and it was like, just a second, what’s wrong? Because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me. There’s something wrong with what I’m doing.

And of two years of purposely staying single, I recognised that I had allowed men to choose me rather than me to do the choosing. And that was the turning point. And it was early 40s actually. So I say I didn’t step into my parents until I was 50, but I didn’t get to know myself until I was 40, which then gave me the foundations to step up.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (31:21)

Jitko Queen, I am with you.

DI GILLETT [Host] (31:24)

There you go. You

too got married later in life like I did.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (31:28)

Yeah,

46 for the first time.

DI GILLETT [Host] (31:31)

and I was 41. Yeah. Highly recommend holding off.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (31:34)

I know. And just, you know, about telling your story. I remember when I had a copywriter when I was first starting Powerful Steps and she said, Tory, you need to do your bio. And she actually put in it that Drew Barrymore ended my career. And I thought, oh my gosh, I can’t say that, but it was actually true. But in a good way. When he clicked on it, it was a good way. But she also said in there, and I got married for the first time at 46. And I said, why are you putting that in there?

And she said, you watch the women will slide into your DMS and you’ll build a business. And I thought no one commented, but we did talk about corporate women and being afraid of the truth. And my DMS were jam packed with women saying, I can’t believe that you got married for the first time at 46. How is that possible? And if you actually

DI GILLETT [Host] (32:27)

wasn’t a criticism.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (32:28)

It wasn’t. was like, how did you meet your match? So it actually opened up a whole lot of other conversations. And if you Google my name now, normally one of the top three things that come up is Tory Archibald’s husband. People are desperate to know like, who’s the husband? but my husband’s name is Craig. And he’s my soulmate.

DI GILLETT [Host] (32:39)

at 46.

Isn’t that interesting? That’s how you take control of the narrative.

I love you.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (32:56)

And hopefully we have this happily ever after scenario like you and George.

DI GILLETT [Host] (33:01)

Well, I think so because we’ve done the work before we embarked on them. So how does a woman begin to own her story in a way that’s, and importantly, because there’s so much ⁓ unauthentic information out there. mean, think social media is allowed for it. How does she do it in a safe and authentic manner?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (33:26)

She actually clears her diary and she says to herself, I’m going to open a Google Doc. I’m going to follow Tory’s five-point story framework. And it’s really simple. So you are writing your own hero’s journey. Yeah. So point one of your story when you’re writing is like, who are you? What kind of a family did you grow up in? What were the dynamics? Where were you living? What are your core memories? The second part is, well,

DI GILLETT [Host] (33:43)

Mmm.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (33:56)

When you left school, what did you want to become? So I always talk, you know, in interviews or when I’m coaching people now, and I said it in this interview as well, everyone wanted to box me. And I jumped out of the box and I went to London and I worked with the world’s best entertainment companies. But then in part three of your story is how you’re using that to step into your success story. So your success story is always, you know, what are three things that you became so brilliant at that nobody can take away from you?

But give me some facts. Give me some juice. So I always talk about the fact that, you know, Zara, I launched Zara into Australia. 22,000 people, a million dollars on, you know, the day of launch. But it wasn’t about me, it was about the collective team, right? So when I’m writing in the story, I give examples like that. Then it’s always success with a little bit of survival. So what people don’t realize about me, and when you’re thinking about writing your own story,

is well, what did you survive when you’re at the top of your game? Because everyone had a child. Yeah, your naked chairman. So mine was an ex-partner like the father of my child where I was stalked, harassed and intimidated for up to 100 touch points a day. I was one of the first women in New South Wales to get an AVO around people that actually target you online. And so when you look at all of these things, no one knew that part of my story because

DI GILLETT [Host] (34:59)

And that’s my naked chairman.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (35:25)

part four of my story, is a game-changing moment, which I like to call like the fuck you from the universe. So when you’re writing it, it’s like, well, what is it? You had burnout, I had burnout, I had a near-death experience. And so, you know, 72 hours before I was due on a flight to London to host some global media, my appendix burst. I ended up with septicemia. I lost eight kilos in five days. I had 12 rounds of antibiotics.

and I did not get better until that surgeon said to me, Tory, you don’t know how to be happy. I said, what do you mean? What is happiness? And he handed me a piece of paper and on it was a happy heart as a magnet for miracles. So when I’m writing a magnet, he handed that to me. And it’s now because I share it with everyone.

DI GILLETT [Host] (36:04)

We it.

I know it’s a phrase you use but it was given to you.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (36:12)

from the surgeon who saved my life. And it’s also helped thousands of women around the world because I share it willingly. in that Google Doc, when you’re writing a story, think about those moments. Who helped you navigate them? I also recognise in point four of my story that I was an ultimate people pleaser. And also, was surrounded by takers who did not believe in a mutual exchange of energy. So if I was going to get better, if I was going to get that happy heart, what was I going to strip out of my life?

to it into alignment, to listen to my gut instinct, to shut my business, to say no to the multi-million dollar offers to buy my tour star, and to actually go, well, I deserve love. So part five of my story was fast-tracked really quickly. I found my soulmate, thanks to Matthew McConaughey.

DI GILLETT [Host] (37:00)

And it wasn’t Matthew McConaughey.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (37:02)

What’s

it? What husband’s name’s Craig? And I shut my business and I stepped into my power. So how do people own their story? It’s taking the time to do that, but your story’s not over once you’ve written it. So I know my story really well. I’m able to articulate it in business, in social settings, on coffee dates, everywhere. And I’m so crystal clear and I’m known for certain things.

Like storytelling, yeah? Coffee dating. I’m also known for my survival story. There are so many parts to it, but I know it inside out, which makes me a brilliant leader. Because I can meet anyone and I can see what is going to touch their heart and their soul and take them to the next level, because it’s likely I might have experienced something because I’m tapping into my story that relates to them.

Now a couple of weeks ago I went back to a place called Kamalea in Thailand, Koh Samui, and it was actually a place that I’ve now been to nine times. And believe it or not, I’m coached by this amazing Buddhist monk called Sujay. And he is, I mean, he has my heart on so many levels. And during the two weeks that I was there working on my book and what I’m going to do with my story writes,

I actually went back to my five point story framework because my story’s not over.

DI GILLETT [Host] (38:27)

must agree that because this is being augmented all the time.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (38:32)

So leaders listening right now, lead through the power of your story. But don’t just put it there and go, I launched Sara. That was such a long time ago, Di. People always ask me about it. But that’s not my story anymore. My story is like who we are here. so don’t forget that you walking, talking encyclopedia, who is a female leader.

DI GILLETT [Host] (38:53)

So keep writing.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (38:58)

who can create and deliver impact around the world, but you can never do that if you don’t own the power of who you are.

DI GILLETT [Host] (39:05)

I was asked the other day how people would describe me when they first meet me and potentially it’s aloof or distant. And there is something in, and I suggest even in your own story with Tour Star, you were successful and people put you at a distance on a pedestal unattainable. But once you started to share your story, you’ve humanised

the individual and now people want to engage and reach out. And ⁓ I’m finding that in releasing these drip feeds in my story and there’s much more to come. Not all of it’s probably fit for publishing, but there’s a lot more to come. But in humanising the name and revealing something about yourself, people want to engage because you’ve humanised the brand.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (40:00)

course. I’ll give you a really good example. When I had that near-death experience back in 2013, there was only one photo of me that was actually taken by an ex-boyfriend at the time. And his dad actually saved my life before I got to the hospital. So I will always be very grateful for that. But I never wanted to share that picture. And so…

many media publications when I started sharing the power of my story would say to me, you have a photo? And I’d say, no, I don’t have one.

DI GILLETT [Host] (40:31)

Knowing full well that you did.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (40:33)

I had a double chin in the photo. I thought to myself, and I was like carrying extra weight, which actually, by the way, saved my life because losing eight kilos in days. I needed the fat, right? So I look at it all now and I can see why ⁓ that was a positive. But I just thought I can’t share a photo of me with a double chin. Then when I was going through what was happening with My Legacy My Way and the family dynamics that came after my father died, when I was actually given permission,

DI GILLETT [Host] (40:43)

something in

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (41:03)

to actually share the truth of my background and my story, which will obviously come out next year, I thought to myself, Tory, honestly, get out of your own way. Who cares that you have a double chin? And so I decided to post it on LinkedIn. And it’s now had almost 60,000 impressions. There’s over 270 women and men from around the world actually sharing their own stories of burnout.

But what I did with that story, and I think this is really important when you do share parts of your story that are real and raw, you have to be authentic. So I said I didn’t want to post this because I had a double chin. Now in the comments, people are like, but I love your double chin and I’ve got a double chin and this is what happened to me. I thought this is earlier. But I also, when you share a personal story, I always include three

DI GILLETT [Host] (41:52)

My tonight party!

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (42:01)

leadership lessons. So I said, what you may not know is at the time I had this top agency, these were my clients, these were the brands, these were the results that I was living and breathing and investing all my time in. I was also a single mom in the family law court system. And I was really in the battle of my life. So I was going back to that five point story and I was setting up the hero’s journey

so that it would actually land in people’s hearts so that they could actually take affirmative action. That’s what leaders do, right? But then the three takeaways I said, and what you may not know is while I was lying in this hospital bed in the ICU afterwards, is that three men did these three separate things to me. Number one, my data access, my financial records without my permission, which is illegal in Australia.

Number two, the man who saved my life asked me for $6,000 to pay off his credit card. And number three, the father of my child sent me a text saying, I thought I’d see you’re a bit sure in the city morning, Harold. So I am at my most vulnerable. The battle of my life and these three men kept going and no one knew. So when you’re giving your story to the world,

DI GILLETT [Host] (43:07)

And they can’t go.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (43:20)

Give it with intent. And my intent was to show, sure, I’ve worked with all of these incredible people around the world, but I’m human just like you.

DI GILLETT [Host] (43:29)

And shit has happened. Shit.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (43:31)

has gone down. But guess what? Through that shit has come the greatest gifts of my life. And when I look at those three men, actually said in that post, thank them.

That was like I thanked them and I still am grateful for them doing what they did because I would not be here today on your podcast if they didn’t.

DI GILLETT [Host] (43:53)

And that is a little like my story, Tory, with the alopecia journey where I lost all my hair and the cruelness of, ⁓ and I referenced it in some of my storytelling of my then line manager, when on the one day I rang in and said, I can’t do this because I looked, I felt like I looked like a freak show with a few strands of hair left. And instead of saying, take the time you need, he said, why?

Aren’t you coping? Which nearly drove me off the edge. But it was the absolute anger out of not letting somebody else define where I was at that I pulled myself back and found some purpose in the whole thing, similarly. And isn’t it interesting what nearly kills us makes us stronger literally.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (44:26)

Of course.

does. Literally. want to share what Sujay said to me a couple of weeks ago because I was coaching a few women in a group the other day and I remember Sujay saying to me with everything that I’d been through this year, I was still showing up on LinkedIn. So the first thing he said to me is, he said, we’ve all been following your journey and we’re so inspired. And I said, thank you. But why? And he said, you always show up. And I said, but Sujay, this is what’s really happening behind the scenes.

And he said, oh my gosh. And he’s known me for a very long time and helped me through some of the darkest times of my life. And he started by saying what I’d been through was a nine out of 10. And when we finished, it was a 9.75 out of 10. And I thought, oh my gosh, but what is the key learning here? And he said, Tory, you need to learn to get angry. And I said, I’m not angry. I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed that humans behave like this.

And then a couple of days later, something came through where I had to prove my value.

DI GILLETT [Host] (45:49)

you stop for a second? A Buddhist monk saying you need to get angry. Now, because they probably normally say to me you need to temper the anger.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (45:54)

I’ll explain.

Yeah, no. He said to me, ⁓ anger is confidence and confidence is going to fuel the legacy that is going to transform your story into helping millions of people, Tory, and I you to get angry. ⁓

DI GILLETT [Host] (46:13)

I just kept saying to you, I’m disappointed.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (46:15)

But

then something came through where I was asked to prove my value of something that I contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to. made me angry because I thought, how am I supposed to explain that this is my contribution? is just not okay with me. And I went back in and I sat on his chair and I said, I’m angry. And he said,

DI GILLETT [Host] (46:26)

make you angry?

She can’t

Hallelujah

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (46:44)

Yeah,

he said, good. He said that is the confidence that is going to carry you forward. ⁓ Anger is confidence.

DI GILLETT [Host] (46:53)

How do women build networks that empower them and know that they’re in a safe space and who they’re surrounded by?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (47:01)

So number one, you’ve got to go back to your story, which is what we’ve just talked about. Because why would people connect with you if they don’t know who you are? How are they going to know that your values are aligned? How are they going to know that what you’ve experienced in business or life is a match for where they’re at? Because networking is about a mutual exchange of energy. It’s not about, ⁓ I want you to do this for me, but I’m not going to give you anything in return.

DI GILLETT [Host] (47:25)

And we’ve all experienced those people, we still do.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (47:28)

Correct, it’s not life, it’s not life. networking for me started with that $2 coffee date philosophy. And I’ve been doing this for 25 years now.

DI GILLETT [Host] (47:38)

euro in Paris, but that’s okay.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (47:40)

It’s okay, that’s wild, right? Wait until you come to Riyadh and visit us, the Evian is $40. $40 in a nice restaurant for Evian Water, because it’s like their wine. So here you go. But going back to networking, at a young age, I recognized the value of helping others without asking for anything in exchange. And so all my life, I’ve had three coffee dates a week.

DI GILLETT [Host] (47:48)

⁓ my god.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (48:10)

One with someone I know, one with someone I want to partner with, and one with someone completely outside my comfort zone, which is how I’ve landed the biggest opportunities of my life. Because what I’m doing is I’m placing my energy, my story, and what I can give to others, asking nothing in return into the energy and the aura of others. It’s magnetic. It is magnetic. And so it’s very rare that I get ghosted.

DI GILLETT [Host] (48:29)

But it’s a very clever BD strike.

Mm-hmm.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (48:41)

The last person that ghosted me was my sister. It wasn’t a business person. She ghosted me when I’m like, how did our father die? Refused to tell me. Still to this day, refused to tell me. So I’m okay being ghosted by people like that. It doesn’t bother me. ⁓ But I also think that when you understand the power of your story, you can connect with anyone in the world. You can walk into any room anywhere in the world and people will say yes. And I will tell you this one thing about networking. LinkedIn is your best friend.

I agree with over a billion impressions per month. The most extraordinary opportunities landed my DMs every single week. Every single week. I am so thankful. So Yeah, we did. Because I saw what you were doing. Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, I want to know this woman. And you were like, me too. And so I wanted to know you because I could see what you were doing with the podcast. Yeah. And I could see the kinds of questions, the type of women you’re attracting. And I was like, this is someone I’d like in my orbit.

DI GILLETT [Host] (49:39)

Hmm.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (49:39)

But it’s very rare for me to reach out like that. takes a special woman and you are one of those. thank you. It does. Thank you. But put that in other people’s shoes as well. Yeah. Think about when people that are working in a high vibration want to have something to do with you. about.

DI GILLETT [Host] (49:57)

How do I be accessible?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (49:59)

How do I be of service? How can I help them?

DI GILLETT [Host] (50:04)

Now that ⁓ is a really interesting thing because coming up ⁓ on Two Weeks Time is an episode with Maddie Dijkveld. Now Maddie is one of the top ten futurists in the world and specialises in ageing along with her husband and ageless ageing. She’s mid-70s, looks younger than me and it’s not through

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (50:19)

incredible

DI GILLETT [Host] (50:33)

potions or surgery, it’s through a life ⁓ well lived and lived with purpose. But when I reached Aunt Maddie, who I also engaged with through LinkedIn, she said, absolutely, I’m there. And when we did and we prerecorded because we don’t do this show live as much as we like to, but we don’t. But I said to her, are you comfortable

with the line of questions that we’re going to cover off today. And she said, I’m here to service what you need. Of course. And I nearly fell off my chair.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (51:11)

Yeah. But why would you say yes to a podcast if you’re not going to share what you know? Yeah. But that is the only reason.

DI GILLETT [Host] (51:17)

It was so like, and I’m in awe of this woman and it’s like.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (51:23)

She’s a high vibrational woman. And you know, high vibrational women know that the more you share, the more you receive. And so there’s this thing, and we did touch on it earlier about the sisterhood and people not wanting to share because they’re afraid that someone’s going to take a slice of their pie. That’s actually not true. The more you give without any expectation in return, the more you receive back. And the more you can then reinvest in other people.

DI GILLETT [Host] (51:32)

Absolutely.

Mmm.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (51:52)

and create a ripple effect. So anyone wanting to go on your podcast and they’re listening to this and they’re thinking, I want to be a leader, having conversation with Dai, my question to them is, what are you giving? And do you understand Dai’s audience? Is it an energetic match? Because you don’t go on a podcast unless you know that that audience is going to receive something from you. Because energy is time and time is money. ⁓

DI GILLETT [Host] (52:18)

Absolutely.

Absolutely. And that has been a learning curve, Tory, without question, because unfortunately not everybody thinks that way, but we are getting better at identifying that. So tell me, you’re living really in a global sense. You’re based in Riyadh, but you’re between the US, Riyadh and Australia. Spending time in…

in those different regions. What is different and what is similar in the women that you are meeting across those three regions?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (52:52)

Women want to have a voice no matter where they are in the world. I mean that’s the biggest driver and it also gives me the greatest happiness to know that because I can contribute to them having a voice. That’s really important to me. ⁓ Look, we’re talking about coffee dates. In Riyadh in Saudi Arabia a lot of people have cake dates. Cake dates. ⁓

DI GILLETT [Host] (52:55)

Hmm.

I saw you write about them.

sugar-free

world that’s not going to work.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (53:22)

They do have some sugar-free cakes over there well. ⁓ for them, it is around the art of conversation. They’ll have coffee dates up until 3 a.m. in the morning because it’s a big coffee culture. So I love being in Riyadh because there are some, what I would call, some exceptional leaders over there that understand that it’s the art of conversation. How can we help each other? And most importantly, they’re saying to me, Tory, how can we have a voice around the world and how can you help us get it? So happy to be a part of that equation.

⁓ In LA, look, people don’t dress up. Like I said, I met Shelly when we were both in workout outfits.

DI GILLETT [Host] (53:58)

Well, I don’t think they do here now. COVID was the tipping point.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (54:02)

Yeah, and I find in LA as well people don’t drink, which is fantastic. love so coffee dating or tea dating, you know, that’s definitely the way to go to connect. They’re definitely time poor because it takes so long to get between places. So you really want to be somewhere or be at a point where you meet someone and they just invite you into their home. You always know when someone invites you into their home in LA that…

Genuine. is going to happen and that’s happened to me a lot of times. Yeah. This past year and I’ve been greatly appreciated of that. Yeah. ⁓ Then Australia. Look, we are massive drinking culture and being in different… clearly because in Saudi we drink no alcohol. Yeah. And your mindset is so clear and you can go…

DI GILLETT [Host] (54:44)

You can see that by contrast.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (54:55)

and really use that mindset for the greater good. Whereas I find it this time of year and even going into the new year when this podcast comes out. pace yourself. If you don’t pace yourself and hit pause and give back to yourself, you will burn out. I’ll tell you one thing, when I’ve arrived back in Chichester, everyone’s like, can we have a drink with you? And I’m like, I’m not drinking. And then I’ll only coffee date before 11 o’clock because I don’t like being wired after then. So I’m quite happy to have a tea date.

DI GILLETT [Host] (55:08)

without question.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (55:24)

Or I’ll say, come for a walk and talk. I need to get my body moving. So the way people network in different parts of the world can go anything from a cake to a home networking experience with, and normally their assistant will take notes while you’re in the meeting with them in their home. And then everything just gets fast tracked or they’ll be on WhatsApp connecting you to all the moves and shakers and this is what needs to happen. And then you will do that for them.

⁓ But I think in Australia we all need to pause.

DI GILLETT [Host] (55:55)

And I think we also, I mean, I know I had five, I got back from Sydney last week and I’d had five events. Now five nights out knocks most people off their perch. But the difference was I only drank at one of those events and not a lot. just had one or two glasses. And you wake up completely refreshed. in Australia, unfortunately, it takes confidence to say, thank you, but I don’t drink. Could I just have a sparkling water or?

whatever it may be and people still look at you and there’s a judgement in that, I don’t care. But we need to get on board with this idea and as I learnt from talking with Maddy Dijkveld and ⁓ I suggest you listen to that episode coming up in a couple of weeks time, unfortunately we now know there is no good amount of alcohol.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (56:50)

No, that’s not. all bad. It’s terrible. So I was lucky enough many years ago to work with a man called Ben Branson and he created Seedlip, which was the first non-alcoholic drink in the world. I, when I always had these international guests,

instead of having a driver drive them around, I would always drive them around because I always knew that the conversations would be so dynamic. I remember we were driving to one of the media interviews together and we going through the city and I said, did all of this start? And I mean, he had some wild times, know, some incredible stories with Kate Moss and, know, that whole hard partying time.

you know, in London during those wild years and I understood it and he just said to me, my life had to stop. I had to hit pause. But he said, but he said to me, I created this drink so people would think that I was drinking a gin and tonic. People would think that I was drinking a dirty martini. And he was very clever with his marketing because he went to all of the Michelin star restaurants around the world.

DI GILLETT [Host] (57:40)

who killed himself.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (57:58)

And he said to them, I want to create a difference in the world. Can we create bespoke cocktails with my product and serve them to your clients and see if they can notice a difference? And a lot of them didn’t. And that’s how it started. And I think the business ended up selling for close to a billion to GRGO. But the words of wisdom from him, and I really want everyone to take that forward is,

that if you’re afraid of judgement, just order it. I mean, there’s so many non-alcoholic drinks out there. No one knows it differently.

DI GILLETT [Host] (58:31)

I know, I know and I discovered that in the events of last week. Tory, such a generous conversation. I’ve got a couple of rapid fire questions to wrap up. We could. A moment that changed everything for you.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (58:45)

We need you.

Mind Age Eth Experience.

DI GILLETT [Host] (58:52)

The most underrated skill for women in leadership. A belief you had to let go of to rise. A daily ritual you never skip.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (58:56)

self-belief.

People-pleasing?

my morning shower ritual and my evening shower ritual which ends with gratitude.

DI GILLETT [Host] (59:09)

one message you want every woman to hear today.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (59:13)

You are enough. That’s very powerful word.

DI GILLETT [Host] (59:18)

There we have it. There

we have it. So when’s the book out, the new book and all of this exciting stuff that’s going on?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (59:26)

So we can’t actually put a date on that right now. Okay, it’s coming. we are in negotiation phase and I always say that it’s about the right partners. Yep. And we are speaking to several people, but it needs to be an energy match. Yes. And I don’t want anyone to butcher my story, my truth, my authenticity for clickbait or dollars. It’s not about that. The reason why I’m sharing it is to create a legacy.

and an impact and an opportunity for others to view challenges as opportunities.

DI GILLETT [Host] (59:58)

Brilliant.

So if somebody wants to engage your services like I did, how do they find you, Tory?

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (1:00:06)

powerful-steps.com or DM me on LinkedIn. Tory Archibald. Like I’m on LinkedIn. I answer. I am not a bot. I turn up for half an hour religiously every single day on LinkedIn. There we go. And I like comment and engage with people. Yeah. Yeah. But don’t spam me and sell me something because that’s just not for me.

DI GILLETT [Host] (1:00:27)

I’ve had enough of SEO spamming. ⁓

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (1:00:30)

don’t get it anymore because I think I’m so brutal with archive delete box. It doesn’t come. I’ve got the aura.

DI GILLETT [Host] (1:00:36)

that it just doesn’t come in.

Brilliant. Well, Tory’s joined us from Riyadh and I’m sure she’ll be heading back there in not too distant future. But what a fantastic way to start 2026 with such an insightful, impactful and powerful conversation. Thank you, Tory. Lovely to have you in the studio. It’s been an absolute pleasure.

TORY ARCHBOLD [Guest] (1:01:03)

Thank you. I just for you and your listeners, the impact that you are creating with what you have actually put forward to the universe to uplift other women and to teach them new skills and to teach them to get out of their own way is extraordinary. And I just want to take a moment to say thank you for doing that because I would not have hopped on a 6am flight to be here if I didn’t believe in the power of what you have created. And I say that

authentically and genuinely and be proud and go forward and conquer because this is just the start of something special. you.

DI GILLETT [Host] (1:01:41)

Thank you so much.

We’ll see you again next week.

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership

04:05 Defining Moments and Self-Belief

10:10 Navigating Rejection and Building a Brand

17:48 Walking Away at the Peak: Intuition and Legacy

24:52 Authenticity in Corporate Leadership

29:03 Elevating Your Voice and Empowering Networks

31:34 Owning Your Narrative

39:05 The Power of Storytelling

47:01 Building Empowering Networks

55:51 Cultural Differences in Networking

58:50 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Connect with Di:

Find Tory Archbold at:

Website https://powerful-steps.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-archbold-b8542715/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/toryarchboldofficial

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The Audacity To Be Free: Why Women’s Lives Must Never Be Negotiated

by admin | Jan 12, 2026 | Change Makers, Exemplar, Female Leaders

What does it mean to be free, really free, when freedom has never been guaranteed?

In this rerun episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, I sit down with Hana Assafiri OAM: activist, entrepreneur, author, and founder of the iconic Moroccan Soup Bar. Hana’s story is not framed by victimhood, but by defiance, clarity, and conviction.

Born to Lebanese and Moroccan parents, Hana grew up between cultures, navigating deeply gendered expectations. At just 15, she was forced into an arranged marriage in Australia. A decision enabled by cultural deference and systemic failure. What followed was violence, isolation, and a brutal lesson in how easily institutions abandon women when silence is prioritised over safety.

Yet this is not a story of despair.

Hana speaks powerfully about the small, human acts of kindness that changed her path: a shop assistant, a teacher, a stranger who treated her with dignity when the system would not. Those moments became the foundation for her life’s work.

In 1998, she founded the Moroccan Soup Bar, not as a charity, but as a radical, self-sustaining model where women find safety, skills, income, and community. Twenty-five years on, it stands as proof that real change is possible when women are trusted to lead it.

As Hana makes clear: freedom is not survival. Freedom is choice, dignity, and the audacity to create something better, for ourselves and for others.

We explore :

Why freedom must mean more than survival

Arranged marriage, violence, and institutional failure

The life-changing power of kindness from strangers

Why women don’t need charity – they need pathways

How the Moroccan Soup Bar became a blueprint for change

Why solutions must be driven by women and supported by men.

Hana said:

““Life doesn’t come with a trigger warning.””

“Women don’t need pity and charity. They need opportunity.”

Chapters:

00:00 Defining Meaning and Purpose in Life

04:39The Journey to Freedom: Hannah’s Story

07:32 Cultural Expectations and Gender Roles

10:45 The Impact of Arranged Marriages

13:31 Navigating Violence and Trauma

16:32 Empathy and Understanding in Relationships

19:33 The Role of Kindness in Healing

22:37 Systemic Failures and Women’s Services

25:32 Creating Safe Spaces: The Moroccan Soup Bar

28:38 Addressing Gender-Based Violence

31:23 Empowerment Through Intuition and Community

34:27 Building a Supportive Environment for Women

37:26 The Importance of Education and Skills Training

40:28 Challenging Societal Norms and Attitudes

43:20 The Role of Men in Supporting Women

46:24 The Audacity to Be Free: A Call to Action

Connect with Di:

Find Hana Assafiri at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-assafiri-oam-293560173/

Moroccan Soup Bar https://www.moroccansoupbar.com.au/

Want more fearless, unfiltered stories?

💫 Subscribe to the Power Of Women Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts

Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter where I share raw reflections and thought leadership on the Power Of Reinvention.

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How To Create A Vision That Transforms Your Life

by admin | 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)

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.

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