#CareerFocus with Sarah Derry, CEO of Homeward Bound

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1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in Sydney Australia, am married, and have two daughters, 18 & 16.  I love to travel and have been fortunate for many years to work in travel and tourism, meaning I have worked in many places around the world, from Europe to America, China, the Middle East, and Asia.  I have over 30 years of experience in various industries.

My last role before Homeward Bound was as CEO for Accor Hotels in the Pacific region, responsible for leading over 21,000 people, operating over 400 hotels and I have also owned and operated my own successful business for 10 years.  My purpose is to connect people through their potential.  I lead with a people-first approach, using heart-led leadership to achieve exceptional individual, team, or organisation results. 

I believe everyone has unique strengths and that they should have the opportunity to succeed in whatever way is meaningful to them. I am a passionate advocate for positive change, particularly in the areas of education and social impact, and as such I am involved in organisations that make a difference.

2. What work do you do?

Currently CEO of Homeward Bound.  Homeward Bound is a global transformational leadership initiative dedicated to supporting women with STEMM backgrounds to lead with impact and influence for a sustainable future. Through innovative programs including its flagship online leadership program and leadership expedition program to inspiring destinations like Antarctica, Homeward Bound supports and engages participants and alumnae to lead with impact and drive positive change on a global scale for the benefit of everyone.

Since 2016, it has supported and connected leaders across 55 countries through our alumnae, Busara Circle, supporters, and global network, building a powerful community of change-makers from 100+ STEMM fields.

3. How long have you been in the industry?

Working in the NFP sector is new to me and I have just completed 2 months, heading into my third.  I have however over the last few years contributed to several NFPs, from a Board advisory or committee perspective.  These organisations have been focused on working in the areas of family and domestic violence and education, to create opportunities and change people’s lives for the better.

4. Has your work always been your passion? Tell us why.

I have been very fortunate to have always had the opportunity to do work that I enjoy and feel that I can make a difference in.  The work I have done in my career was not always planned, I started working in hotels when I left university and I just fell in love with such a dynamic, caring, and people-orientated business. 

Once I decided to stay in hotels, I focused my attention on where I could make the most difference and it was leading and developing people.  So, I went back to study and specialised in human resources, organisational development, and executive coaching.  About 17 years ago I started my own HR Consulting & Coaching business and worked in all different industries which was a game changer as I expanded my knowledge and experience.  My business was called People Reaching Potential and that sums up my passion.

5. Being a woman in the industry – what does it take?

I get asked this question quite a lot and I would say what does it give?  Not what it takes.  Being a woman and just a human gives me my unique approach.  I believe in embracing who you are and being true to your purpose and values.  So, what does it take?  It takes you time to understand who you are, what your strengths are, and how you are going to show up. 

Once I got absolute clarity on my leadership approach and beliefs and why I did what I did I just centred everything around that.  That gives you confidence and a consistent way of being, so you don’t lose sight of who you are and why you’re doing what you do.

Having said that women are still facing challenges of discrimination, harassment, lack of opportunity, and harsh scrutiny and I am not immune to that.  I just keep going one step at a time and do the best I can.  I do this by believing your best is different from moment to moment, day to day, so be kind to yourself along the way.

6. What has been the most difficult challenge of your career?

Earlier in my career, I was in a hostile work environment, and I had to decide to leave, however not before I spoke up about the experience and the behaviour. The easiest thing to do would be to just walk away.  However, I shared my experience with the company and senior leaders.  The reality is they listened but did not act to make any change. 

I know these things still happen in workplaces, which is why I am so committed to bringing about change in leadership and getting more diverse voices at the table.  That is the only way we are going to make positive change for everyone. 

7. What advice do you have for other women in your industry?

Don’t focus on perfectionism; strive for excellence instead. Excellence sets high standards that are attainable, allowing you to celebrate your achievements. Perfectionism, on the other hand, is unattainable and can make you feel inadequate. Excellence can vary from day to day or even hour to hour, so what I do today can still be great, even if it’s not perfect.

8. Who inspires you in your industry?

People who are working so hard to create change, care for others, and have a genuine focus on purposeful work.  The people who work in these fields are giving their time, energy, and resources.  They focus on others, not themselves. 

9. What’s the best advice / key learnings have you received from your industry peers?

Take it day by day, you can’t know everything all at once, and make sure you listen widely to understand the organisation and the community. When you work in the NFP space there are many stakeholders, many who give of their time freely and volunteer so be respectful of that, understanding that positive intent is behind everything.

10. What is your leadership style?

I say people first, heart-led.  I am competitive and want to achieve great results I just believe that is through and by people.  I lead with trust first knowing that others will do a great job, failing is okay, just keep learning.  I believe we should measure our success by performance, and we should equally measure our success by our positive impact on people.  By combining these two elements’ leaders and their teams are unstoppable,

11. Have you experienced failure in your career, if so, what lessons did you learn from that?

Yes, several times, not getting that promotion, not winning a piece of business, making the wrong choice about who I trust, investing in the wrong thing.  However, failure can be your friend.  When things don’t go as planned, I step into what I call courageous discomfort.  Lean into it and see what you learn and how you can grow.  I find when you do this, it is hard, but amazing opportunities can come out of it.

12. What are your plans for the future?

I am excited to be leading Homeward Bound as we evolve and become even more global and diverse, as well as venture to a new destination beyond Antarctica for our experiential program.  I am eager to ensure more people have access to our leadership programs including our flagship online program and the experiential program, as well as extend our offering to new programs and learning opportunities for our community. 

To do this we need more support from partners, especially to provide scholarships to support more participants from all parts of the world participate.  By changing how we lead globally and by providing more inclusive and diverse thought at the leadership table we can make positive changes for everyone.

For more information or interviews please contact: Catriona Loughran, Communications Manager, and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at +971 56 722 548 or email catriona@homewardboundprojects.com.au