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The Canberra Business Podcast
A podcast about all things Canberra Business.
The Canberra Business Podcast
The Next Generation of Leaders Needs a Community to Thrive
Jane Brownbill stands at a crossroads many of us dream about – after decades in high-powered roles as a CEO and senior manager, she asked herself what she truly wanted to do when she "grew up." Her answer became See Yourself, a coaching practice specifically designed for young adults and neurodiverse individuals who need support finding their unique path forward.
See Yourself offers a suite of tailored programs including one-on-one success coaching, "Get Unstuck" for directionless young adults, "Spicy Business" for neurodiverse entrepreneurs, and fractional operations management for organisations. The power of this approach comes through in the testimonials from volunteers Blanca and Supre, who describe finding not just professional development but genuine belonging. Their enthusiasm speaks volumes about the need for such spaces in our business community. As Jane puts it, Next Gen Leaders is about creating a place for "misfits and outliers" to thrive together – where walking in and feeling immediately comfortable is the norm, not the exception.
Want to experience this unique community yourself? The Next Gen Leaders program launches its monthly gatherings in September at Ambrosia Gin Distillery. Visit www.seeyourself.net to learn more or reach out to Jane directly if you're a business professional interested in supporting this remarkable initiative through mentorship, prizes, or running a masterclass.
Hello and welcome to the Canberra Business Podcast. I'm Greg Harford, your host from the Canberra Business Chamber, and today I have a studio full of people. I'm joined by Jane Brownbill, who's the coach and founder of See Yourself, and we're joined by Dr Supre Panapa and Blanca Barraras, who are coaches and volunteers, alongside Jane in one of her programs. So, ladies, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1:It's great to have you here and, jane, let's kick off with you. What is See Yourself?
Speaker 2:Thanks, greg. Well, I have spent the last nearly 30 years working in high-level jobs from an industry CEO National Industry Association. Senior management roles operations general management association. Senior management roles operations general management and last year I had an opportunity to take six months off and just sit and think and wonder what I actually wanted to do when I grow up.
Speaker 1:And did you do that here in Canberra? Yeah, in Canberra I've been back in Canberra since gosh 1998.
Speaker 2:Had babies and then just hung around and I'm happy. I in Canberra since gosh 1998. Had babies and then just hung around and I'm happy. I love Canberra. So I was able to just sit and think and what I decided is I wanted to be able to use the skills and knowledge I've gained over my career to work with, specifically young adults and small organisations and people who might have some sort of neurodiversity, for them to be able to realise their dreams. So see yourself is literally about success and it's about achieving goals, whatever they are. And when I decided to start See Yourself, I had a little think about what was important to me. So I'm at a place where my kids have grown, but I want to be available to them all the time. So for a day, I wanted every day to be fun, family, I wanted to be autonomous, I wanted flexibility and I wanted to be honest. So that's what See Yourself brings.
Speaker 1:So what sort of things do you do at See Yourself?
Speaker 2:Well, thank you for asking. See Yourself has a suite of products. Obviously, there's the one-on-one coaching, which I call myself a success coach. I call myself a success coach, I call myself a success coach. So what that means is I work with people to find their success, and I don't really care what that is. It could be finding a new job, it could be finding a girlfriend, and that's the one-on-one coaching.
Speaker 2:I have a couple of other products which I'll just skip on, and one of those is See Yourself and Get Unstuck. That's a specific program for our younger people probably 18 to 25, who are lost, just stuck in the mud and really don't know what they're doing with their lives. Now, I could go on and on about that, but I won't because I want to focus on a couple of other things. I could go on and on about that, but I won't because I want to focus on a couple of other things. The other one is Spicy Business. Again, it's a really tailored program for people who might be a bit neurodiverse and they're running their own business. So I work with them to be able to set in place operations, processes etc. For the business to be as smooth as possible, but also for them to realize their their needs and to be able to look after their health as they're growing a business.
Speaker 2:I specifically want to talk about next-gen leaders, but my other really important thing is I call it. Let's get rid of the drama now. In America they call call them fractional coups, and no one in Australia knows what the hell that means. So it basically means you can have an operations manager on contract and that person can just come in whenever you need them and do whatever is needed. So, for example, I've been working with an amazing charity called Women with Disabilities ACT and we've worked on their strategic plan, business plan, fundraising plan. Redone their governance, redone their governance training and their human resources. So that's the sort of thing I can offer a business anything from working on policies, looking at teams and what you're doing in a HR space, but also, more importantly, strategy, business planning, fundraising.
Speaker 1:So neurodiversity is obviously something that runs through a lot of what you do. What is it that's drawn you to that as a focus, and how has your background set you up for that?
Speaker 2:So it is a focus, because I worked for six years in the NDIS space and I also have a lot of people around me who are somewhat on the spectrum and I just love working with them because it is spicy, it is interesting and I feel that there are a lot of specifically young adults out there who are on the spectrum or neurodiverse and they have incredible talents but need some sort of direction and assistance just to be able to see those strengths and then channel them. And a lot of the time that channeling works in a small solo business because of not being able to work within a company or that sort of structure. So it's those people being empowered to work where they work and how they work and not have to mask or be in a place that they're not comfortable. So that's where spicy business comes in, to really give those people a lift.
Speaker 1:So how did you build your expertise in this?
Speaker 2:I've been a senior manager for well. I spent nearly 10 years of my life working in national industry associations as a CEO for nearly four years and a senior manager for about five, six years. So as a senior manager, I worked on national projects. I've worked on training. I worked on fundraising, strategic planning, business planning because always in associations you're looking for funds. I've also been general manager and operations manager for community organisations in Canberra. So again, fundraising, strategy, building teams, and I think why I decided See Yourself in Young Adults is because they're the people I love working with.
Speaker 2:Fair enough, and building them up and giving them, empowering them to really grow, and I've done that all throughout my career.
Speaker 1:So how does seeing yourself differ from other sort of coaching or mentoring platforms that are out there?
Speaker 2:I'm not a traditional coach. Look, I I'm not a traditional coach but I am, I think, quite good at it. I'm good with working with people to find what they need to find and also, if they need a bit of a kick up their bum, I'm not scared to do that. The other thing that does stand out for see yourself, greg is no one specializes in younger people in Canberra. There's not a coaching service or success or strategy people in Canberra who specialises with young adults. So I think that's where my difference is and that's why NextGen Leaders, which I know we'll talk about, is so important to me.
Speaker 1:So just let me ask you, before we move on to talk about next gen leaders, I want to ask you about the kind of the diversity of issues that you're dealing with with these young people with some challenges and some of these neurodiverse folk, because you talk about everything from finding a job to finding a girlfriend to sort of everything in between. Where's the balance of issues that you're helping people with? Is it in the personal space or is it in the professional employment space?
Speaker 2:I think when you're coaching someone, they may come to you with a professional issue and it may be I need to find a job, but as you get into the relationship, there are probably many more things going on in their life as well. So mental health is a big one. I think loneliness is a really important, which I could talk for this whole podcast about, and I don't want to. But I feel that for our young adults especially, covid hit them hard and a lot of our young people were locked up when they really learned how to be social beings, how to actually form long-term relationships and, you know, trying to go through college in Canberra online or starting university without O-Week. So I feel that that community and that being able to actually just feel safe with other people and trust is is something that's coming out as an issue.
Speaker 2:Obviously it's careers, because everything is changing so quickly, so you might go to university and, you know, study at commerce, but at the end of the day you'll come out and go. Actually, I really like to do this. So for me, it's about empowering people's strengths and their values. Mental health is obviously another big one, greg, because again, our younger adults were hit hard If they already had a mental health issue. Covid came along and it exacerbated it a lot. So those are the sort of things we deal with.
Speaker 1:And it's really interesting that you peel the onion back and you have lots of issues under the surface. Potentially, how long does a program like this take? How long are you typically coaching someone?
Speaker 2:that's a hard question because it it a lot of the time we're coaching as well. I'm not a psychologist and I'm not a doctor, so I can only go so far with people and I will obviously refer on because it's dangerous for somebody to go outside of their skill set. A coaching should only no, I don't know, is the question.
Speaker 1:So it varies from person to person. It varies.
Speaker 2:Some people might have come along. One person I was working with came for only three months. Others it's a longer process. It would be like asking me how long do I need to go to a psychologist for to get better?
Speaker 1:Indeed, all right. Well, let's move on and talk about the Next Gen Leaders Program, which I know is something you're very passionate about. So tell our audience what is the program when does? It kick off and what are you aiming to achieve?
Speaker 2:So something that I've realised is um, our young adults don't have a I'm going to call it a professional community where they can be comfortable, fit in where they're, we're crazy or being different is celebrated. So I, next gen, grew out of an idea that young adults need that community which I've talked about before place to belong and a place to be celebrated. But also when I did a focus group a while ago and what came out of that was really, we also want we're time poor, we also want skilled building, but not like just, but not have to go online or whatever. So part of NextGen is the ability to look at masterclasses where they can learn about interviewing and career development, or a community of practice where they can get together with peers and discuss things like well, my manager is giving me a really hard time, I'm being micromanaged, or when I do a piece of work, she takes all the credit for it, and that could be a community practice of how to deal with difficult managers when you're trying to build your career.
Speaker 1:So where are you at with the program You've launched already or you're about to launch?
Speaker 2:So we have had an event and membership is open. Please go to wwwseeyourselfnet. Um and we are very excited to announce that um next gen leaders will be back up and running monthly gatherings um first week of september, because I love spring and I thought that would be a lovely time. That would be a lovely time to start again. But also excitingly and I think this could be a member of yours as well is that ambrosio gin distillery have said that we can hold our first spring gathering there fantastic venue, fantastic time of year.
Speaker 1:So look at this point. I'm going to turn to Blanca. Thank you and tell me, blanca you know you were volunteering, I think, in the first session what drew you into the Next Gen Leaders programme?
Speaker 3:Yeah, fantastic Greg, and a wonderful question. Honestly, I met the incredible Jane and I truly do think that of her. I think very highly of Jane. She's helped me both through coaching services, through my own difficulties in my career and giving me also that sense of purpose and involvement in Next Gen leaders. We met at the Back to Business event held by the Canberra Business Chamber, which I highly recommend. Everyone attends these events.
Speaker 1:They're great events, they're phenomenal events.
Speaker 3:It was a lot of fun. I met a lot of incredible people who all have boosted me up already in the short time I've known them. Jane and I just had an off-the-cuff conversation about ourselves. I told her some very personal stories I'm a very open individual and she reciprocated telling me about this phenomenal idea. She had to bring all like-minded people, maybe with even slightly lesser social skillset than I, together to build upon that and where people like myself, who certainly have had their own difficulties, may be able to champion those greatly affected by COVID.
Speaker 3:I couldn't imagine have been a youth during that time. I would be a very different individual if I'd gone through that experience at a younger age. So upon this discussion very off the cuff again still all at this one event I looked her in the eye and said how do I sign up? I'd love to volunteer. Where do I sign? When do I join? And she just goes oh, it's only an idea at the moment. And looking her dead in the eye, I said let's make this happen.
Speaker 3:I believe that I've got some strong Canberra connections through my own world in the recruitment sphere. I have some very, very close friends, such as the owners of Ambrosia Distillery and Lounge. I thought that we could probably, between the two of us, pull together a bit of a game plan, some sponsorship and, yeah, a path forward, not only for myself to give me that added purpose I really needed earlier this year, but also to give something back to the community and maybe to the areas of community that feel shunned a little by society or frightened to venture to the business chambers events. In such a formal forum, I really wanted to see there be a space for slightly less formality and a coaching experience to where, one day, our members of NextGen leaders will feel fully confident walking into the Canberra business chamber, back to business events and having a conversation with somebody who may be incredibly different, whether that be in skill set or neurodivergency levels, etc. I think that it could be an incredible opportunity for us to be able to blend society in a very wholesome, seamless fashion back together.
Speaker 1:Fantastic. And look, I have to say that the Canberra Business Chamber aims to make its events really inclusive and we want everyone to come along. So you shouldn't feel that if anyone's listening to this, you shouldn't feel that it's some sort of highbrow event. But of course it is a networking event. They are networking events for business people and everyone's welcome. But, supre, let me turn to you. How did you come to be involved with the program?
Speaker 4:That's a very interesting question and thanks for asking that, greg. It was Blanca who invited me for the first time to meet Jane. Interestingly, blanca and I didn't meet until then. We were having a phone conversation. She's into recruitment space and I work for various departments in the past. So we're having this discussion and she comes up with this beautiful idea of like hey, you're going to meet someone really special and you're going to enjoy the event, so you should tag along as normal, me being skeptical, have no clue how the event is going to be, just turn up and meet this fantastic person, jane, and I happened to notice she was speaking about next-gen leaders in there, and then I happened to meet some really interesting people out there.
Speaker 4:That conversation was the word misfits was the big term for me which made me feel like this is the place for people who consider themselves, you know, really don't fit into the very typical environment, is where you find a place to be there. And because I have worked in public service all my life and I come from a senior management level to a mid-managerial level, so what I do understand is you need someone's as Jane said in the very early conversation a bit of a kick in the butt. You need that at times to you to pull your strings, and then you know, direct you and then keep moving forward. So for me that's something really motivated to you know, be a part of it. And when I had further conversation about you know how are we taking this forward or what are we going to do about it, and then I was just surprised and thrilled when she offered me a free coaching.
Speaker 4:And I'd love to bring this up today because I have been meeting her since a couple of months now and I've never felt so good about myself or the direction, the strategic path that she's actually helping me out. And the beauty is we come from very diverse background, like me working in a public policy space and she, you know, from an our industry. So bringing those amalgamation and directing and having that very honest, brutal conversation is extremely important. So my own experience taught me that it's important to be open and honest and as genuine as you can. I think Jane in here, she's happy, she's the one who's going to provide that. So, yeah, I think I'm urging for her because it's purely coming from my own experience and working with her.
Speaker 1:Excellent. So, Blanca, come first week of September we're going to have a Next Gen Leaders event. What does the evening hold for people who might come along?
Speaker 3:Yes, certainly so. The idea at the moment is a lot of laughter, a lot of fun, certainly so. The idea at the moment is a lot of laughter, a lot of fun, certainly. Another fantastic prize giveaway. I very much thrive in the event space. I'd like to think and, again with the help of my friends, I think we'll pull something very meaningful together. We're putting together a panel of about three different personnel, all from diverse backgrounds, panel of about three different personnel, all from diverse backgrounds, all with their own little bit of a personal story I suppose, to share with our members of community, to speak on important topics such as personal branding, being an entrepreneur and also how to navigate the general workspace and, I suppose, the hierarchical structure of a typical corporate organization. That might not come naturally to all. It'll be a very light night, full of fun, as it's totally just a launch versus any type of seminar, but we certainly aim to have some very key takeaways that give people a sample of what we'd like to elaborate further on in the future.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Jane, this is going to be the first of many sessions. Is that the intention?
Speaker 2:So, yes, my vision is that we would have a NextGen gathering monthly and that these sessions would be partly guided by our membership, or probably mostly guided by our membership, and what topics they might want to look at or you know what they want to, you know talk about, but with NextGen Leaders and it's actually I'm so thankful for my friends each side is I do talk about misfits and outliers, um, and you know, if you don't completely fit a mold, so you know that's what our, our community is, is very much about. But with the gatherings they are very much. You know, you walk in and you do feel comfortable straight away. And I can say that because when we did have our gathering in June, everyone went away saying they felt comfortable, they learnt something, et cetera.
Speaker 1:And is that what success is for attendees? It's coming along learning something, feeling comfortable.
Speaker 2:And connected, but also learning something new, or being able to talk to someone or myself about what a masterclass might look like or what a community practice would really be useful. So that would be part of your membership would be the ability to participate in different, very sort of fun but informative groups where you actually learn skills that are hands-on. You know that are hands-on skills that you need but might not have got the opportunity to get in your workplace and you'd be with peers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you talk about outcasts and misfits. I wouldn't want to sort of throw that label around too wildly, but you know how many people are you expecting to sort of get involved and be there come the event in September.
Speaker 2:I Blanca, how many people can we fit in Ambrosio Lounge?
Speaker 3:Exactly that, jane. I reckon probably about 60 at a little bit of a jam. But our last event, I felt, was a great success. We weren't in high hopes for numbers. We wanted quality over quantity. We wanted to really instill that level of comfortability in everyone who attended, regardless of what walk of life they were from, and we were very enthusiastic about the numbers we saw. I believe that there were about 45 attendees and this was without any external marketing necessarily.
Speaker 1:And that shows, obviously, that there's good, solid demand for this kind of service. Supra, how big do you think the market is? Well, the market the whole of that younger generation. Is that what I'm hearing?
Speaker 4:Well, let's not talk about ANU, just as isn't it? So there are so many universities, so many, because I started something called Higher Degree Set Students back from QUT. So I understand the crowd who would be very interested with what Jane is doing. Sorry, jane, right, I shouldn't be doing this right now. I am expecting at least, if it's a 60-blank card, then can we aim for 59?.
Speaker 3:I'll have a bit of a chat with the wonderful Andy and see what his restrictions on building code allow.
Speaker 1:Excellent. Well, look, I'm sure it's going to be a great event and I look forward to hearing how it goes. Thank, you. Come your debrief and look forward to catching up then, but in the meantime, look, thank you so much, ladies, for coming on the podcast. It's been great having a bit of a chat. Jane, just to confirm, if you're a young person wanting more information about this, where do you go to find it?
Speaker 2:My website at wwwseeyourselfnet or my LinkedIn, just Jane Brownbell or Insta Jane, see yourself.
Speaker 1:Fantastic.
Speaker 2:And just if I can do a shout-out See yourself is actually a social enterprise. So the other thing that I just wanted to say is and I will be sending something for the members' newsletter and I will be sending something for the members' newsletter, but if there are members of the Chamber who want to get involved, to run a masterclass, provide prizes, be involved and be seen as supporting next-gen leaders, please reach out to me, because we really want people to get involved.
Speaker 1:Fantastic, all right well. Jane Brownville, dr Supre Ponapa and Blanca Barreras. Thank you so much for joining me here on the Canberra Business Podcast. It's been great hearing about See Yourself and the Next-Gen Leaders Program and to our audience. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen. Don't forget to follow us on your favorite podcast platform for future episodes of the Canberra Business Podcast. I'm Greg Harford from the Business Chamber and I'll catch you next time.