Boardroom hustle #6
Prioritise your passions and learn to say ‘no’
Episode 6 was a first for this podcast as I’d never met my guest, Penelope Tremlow.
That didn’t matter as we got stuck straight into her passions, her work ethic (Penelope has to be one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met!) and her journey from the Australian Defence Force to her portfolio career as an executive and non-executive.t the age of 17 when she joined the United Nations Youth Association.
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Penelope has a lengthy list of positions and accolades. Just a few include:
CEO, Energy Skills Queensland
Project and Change Manager, Glencore
Co-Founder and Chairperson, Women In Power
Ambassador, White Ribbon Australia
2016 Queensland Telstra Businesswoman of the Year (Social Enterprise & Not-For-Profit)
2016 APAC Insider CEO of the Year
Penelope spent almost 11 years in the Australian Defence Force before transitioning to a ‘civilian life’. Whilst the myriad of skills and qualifications she’d built up in the ADF didn’t directly transfer, she was able to lean on a few key mentors that helped her apply the abilities she’d developed and quickly climb the ranks. In recent years, she has flourished, winning multiple awards and being appointed to new positions.
In this episode, we dive into topics such as:
The current ‘No’ crisis
How we can avoid being pulled in too many different directions
How to be more selective in our approach to what we choose to do (or more importantly, NOT do)
Giving others the ability to step up and take on greater responsibility
Tools and tips for time management & productivity
Scheduling time for yourself to clear your mind and get some space to do some thinking
How her medically-diagnosed insomnia has helped her think strategically and put new plans into action
The TRUE role of a CEO (hint: it doesn’t begin until 5:30pm when everyone else has gone home)
The importance of professional mentors and advisors
Breaking out of your pigeon hole and broadening your experience
And much more!
Actions you can take:
“When you have time to yourself, you not only have the freedom to think and strategise, but you also have the ability to start putting things into action and build some momentum leading into the next day”. Schedule time for yourself to clear your mind and get some space to do some thinking.
“Mentors were a key for me in getting my first board role”. Surround yourself with mentors and advisors who want to help you on your journey, because they believe in you.
“Your job as CEO doesn’t start until 5:30 when everyone else has gone home”. During the day you’re directing and delegating as per usual, but the true strategic thinking and the true operational requirements actually start after 5:30 when everyone else has gone home.