1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a dedicated single mother and the Managing Director of a private higher education institution, where I combine strategic vision with a passion for shaping future-ready learners. Guided by a growth mindset, I value lifelong learning and personal development. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and connecting with nature.
2. What work do you do?
As Managing Director, I lead a team across strategy, staff development, academic excellence, institutional advancement, and finance. We aim to provide our almost 30 000 students with a personalised and enabling environment to become citizens of change. We continuously strive for excellence in learning and teaching, scholarship, and community engagement.
3. How long have you been in the industry?
Nearly 30 years
4. Has your work always been your passion? Tell us why.
Yes, I’ve always believed in doing work that makes a difference, even if the path hasn’t been linear. Every role I’ve taken has taught me something valuable, and that journey has shaped a career I’m genuinely passionate about today. It has also helped me develop and grow my skills to ensure that I can contribute meaningfully to this critical sector, one that underpins not only the individual success of our graduates, but also the broader economy in which we live.
5. Being a woman in the industry, what does it take?
Being a woman in the education industry, particularly as a mother and leader, takes clarity of purpose, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Leading a higher education institution means making tough decisions while always keeping people at the centre.
As a mother, I bring a nurturing yet firm approach to leadership, creating environments where both staff and students feel seen and supported. It’s about balance between strategic thinking and compassionate leadership, between professional ambition and personal values.
It also requires continually investing in my own growth so I can empower others to rise. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly meaningful work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
6. What has been the most difficult challenge of your career?
The start of my career was rooted in operations, and as I progressed into more strategic roles and began leading more senior staff, my key challenge became developing the right organisational culture within a growing institution that enabled individual accountability and empowered staff to take ownership of their roles.
7. What advice do you have for other women in your industry?
Most importantly, make sure that you are passionate about education. And then ensure that your direct team is committed to staying up to date with educational technologies that are evolving fast. The student journey needs to be at the centre of decision-making.
8. Who inspires you in your industry?
Education is an industry that spans across all corners of our society, from the very rich to the very poor. I am inspired by those teachers who, despite very few resources and assistance, manage to achieve great results with their students.
9. What’s the best advice / key learnings have you received from your industry peers?
A key learning I have adopted in my experience as an educator is to listen carefully before making decisions.
10. What is your leadership style?
I have embraced the servant leadership philosophy since my early days as a leader. I am a firm believer that a culture of collaboration and shared purpose ensures higher employee engagement and retention. It is important for me to empower and enable my team to make sustainable and ethical decisions that are always in the best interests of students, staff, policy, and institutional reputation.
11. Have you experienced failure in your career? If so, what lessons did you learn from that?
During the early stages of COVID, as all organisations grappled with finding a new norm for operating, I found myself reflecting on how so-called ‘known realities’ were not the case.
Pre-COVID, I believed I was agile as a leader, and the COVID journey certainly showcased a few blind spots of preconceived ideas not holding up under all circumstances. This experience stretched me, as we implemented student and staff care initiatives whilst ensuring that our academic delivery and policies were upheld.
12. What are your plans for the future?
Currently, I am in an exciting chapter of my career. We are evolving the IIE’s Varsity College and IIE MSA under a new name with five faculties, and positioning IIE Vega School as a niche provider of design and creative strategy. This brand transformation marks an exciting new era, pioneering a better way of teaching and learning that will enhance operational efficiency and educational effectiveness.
Beyond my professional plans, my future includes the privilege of spending time with my daughter, Kelsea, and expanding my life experiences through travel. We have a winter road trip planned in our beautiful country, and I am equally excited to be exploring Greece later in the year with a friend.
