This June, we celebrated an incredibly special group of women at the EmpowerHER Women in Manufacturing Leadership Program Graduation.
As part of ManufactHER Cohort One, these women leaders spent six months developing their leadership skills together through workshops, networking and peer connection, facilitated by Lysander. At the graduation, they came together to reflect on their journeys, and it was clear how far they’d come.
Reflecting on the journey
One of the themes that kept surfacing throughout the day was what modern leadership actually asks of us.
As Samantha Swain from Profence shared:
“Modern leadership asks for something different from us. It asks for resilience and empathy. Accountability and compassion.”
Peta Ingall from Chamberlain Group spoke to the spark the program had lit:
“It really has sparked a passion in me to be a stronger leader.”
Monique Preston from Mars Food Australia reflected on how much more the program had given her than she’d expected:
“An absolute journey”, and one far more impactful than she’d anticipated going in.
Kate Gilbert, also from Mars Food Australia, described a shift in how she leads day to day:
“Before ManufactHER I had a one-style leadership. When I look at myself after ManufactHER, the biggest thing for me is now adapting my style and putting it into practice every day.”
And Amanda Bloom from VanHomes captured what so many in the room were feeling:
“This course has helped me see the potential I have and has also given me the tools to start being the leader I need to be today.”
These leaders showed immense support for one another as they reflected on their growth. Looking back on where they started and what they’d gained, the impact was hard to miss.
Congratulations to our graduates
A huge congratulations to the graduates from Profence, Baltimore Aircoil Company, Grifco ANZ, Mars and VanHomes, and to everyone who contributed to making the inaugural EmpowerHER program such a success, including Lysander, Aurora Aritao, and our partners at Central Coast Industry Connect.
This graduation marks the end of EmpowerHER for Cohort One. For the participants, it’s the beginning of the next stage of their leadership journey.