She may share a name with the world’s most famous royal, but by her own admission, Australia’s Kate Middleton could never be described as a princess.
At 36, she is the only female CEO in Australia for a building and engineering consulting firm, Censeo – you might say Kate, below, knows a thing or two about how to slay career goals.
In celebration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, Kate shares her top tips to help you take ownership of your own career and get to where you want to be!
“To all women out there working hard to be the best they can be both professionally and personally just remember that no one’s career has ever looked like an elevator, so buckle up, straighten your crown and be ready for a bumpy ride,” implores Kate.
1. Be tenacious but learn from your mistakes
Tenacity, persistence, determination and perseverance all encompass what you need to stand out in a workplace. Kate came from a rural upbringing and held no undergraduate degree and no corporate experience when she first entered the financial Services industry at the age of 23.
Kate was rejected for her first job that she applied for at a large company; AAMI, however landed a job in a different department within the same company after calling the HR Manager for feedback after her interview.
“There are no handouts in life and facing career rejection early on has always shaped my thinking. You have to be tough, tenacious, humble and willing to learn from mistakes to get ahead,” adds Kate.
2. Time is precious so spend it wisely
This includes your personal life, too. Kate says the three questions to ask yourself are:
Is what I am doing important?
Will what I am doing add value to the overall result?
Is this the best use of my time?
For example, Kate applies this thought pattern to the business leads she pursues, the way she approaches emails and social media (as in what and when she might prioritise these things) and most importantly who she devotes time to both a professional and personal setting.
“I invest in the projects and in people that are most important and will yield the most reward which includes financial, emotional fulfilment, joy, learning and personal and business growth.”
3. Face your day with purpose
Daily rituals and morning habits can really effect how productive and centred you can be during the day. Here’s an overview of Kate’s typical day:
- First thing in the morning: I meditate, practice gratitude and do deep breathing exercises.
- NEVER check emails until I have had a big glass of water, a stretch and set my intention for the day.
- I allow for a few hours of flexibility around lunchtime for exercise – or to ‘put out’ unexpected operational fires (which let’s face it, always happen).
- At the end of the day, I like to watch business interviews online, read business articles and then reconcile all new sales and orders across both businesses. For me, knowing where the business is sitting at the end of each day helps me frame what activity is important for the following day.
- To wind down, I like to cook a healthy meal with my hubby and I am a sucker for a weekly bubble bath (with wine of course!)
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