How to succeed as a 21st century woman

From Crows captain Erin Phillips to beloved author Mem Fox, these are some of Australia’s most accomplished women — and they’ve shared their secrets for women to succeed in the 21st century.

Frances Adamson

First woman to head the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Don’t assume the world will always be like it is today.

Be engaged as a lifelong change agent, even in small ways. If it doesn’t look or sound right, say so – respectfully, of course.

You can have more influence for good than you may think!

Frances Adamson, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Catherine Branson

Australia’s first female Crown Solicitor

1. Be courageous – but not foolhardy. Remember that your male colleagues are likely to over-estimate their abilities so don’t underestimate yours.

2. If you seek professional success, choose a life-partner who is also ambitious for you.

3. Develop a logical career plan – but at the same time retain the flexibility to run with an unexpected opportunity if it seems right for you.

Elizabeth Cameron Dalman

Founder of Australian Dance Theatre

Know yourself. Create your life. Work hard especially on the things you believe in. Trust your intuition and meet every challenge with courage. Be strong, be kind and generous in spirit. Life is a great gift so live your life with grace and gratitude.

Anna Meares

World champion cyclist and Olympic gold medallist

Sometimes giving advice isn’t the answer. Sometimes listening is more valuable than anything. Often when people speak they hear themselves, resolve a problem or at least come to a point where they have a question. And it is here that I can then offer help and support.

So, my advice is: look for the person with that ear, that sounding board that will let you speak and hear yourself, and guide you when you need it.

Monica Oliphant

Renewable energy scientist and pioneer

Aim to work in an area you have a passion for and gives you meaning. Life is so much happier if you enjoy what you are doing. It is helpful to seek work experience in your chosen area to find out whether it is really what you want to do. It may take a while to find one’s niche, whatever it is. Opportunities may come “out of the blue” and the challenge is to recognise them and be ready to take the risk and grab them.

Good health is often taken for granted when you are young, unless dealt the hand of not having it. Maintaining wellbeing and doing what you love will go a long way towards having a happy, healthy life, which most of us aspire to.

Monica Oliphant.

Marjorie Jackson-Nelson

Olympic champion sprinter, cancer fundraiser, former Governor

Don’t surround yourself with negative people. “Can’t” isn’t a word in my dictionary, don’t let it be in yours. Believe in yourself and everything is possible.

Erin Phillips

World champion basketballer and AFLW star

Just have fun. With all the social media that people have to deal with, all the online pressures – it’s OK to just be themselves. You don’t have to be anybody else. Just try to enjoy life. I think it’s hard to be a young person now, looking at social media and wishing they had this and that, and looking at people’s lives and thinking they’re all perfect when it’s actually not.

 The reality is, life is hard and you have to make the most of it and enjoy it. And doors are opening and times are changing, and football is not just a man’s sport anymore – not just AFLW but soccer and cricket – so many opportunities for young women in sport are opening up. It’s exciting.

Maggie Beer

Cook, businesswoman, food legend

It’s not always obvious what’s going to make you happiest in life, in terms of where you’re going to find your niche, particularly in work. And you just have to keep searching and trying things until something resonates. Because when you love what you do it’s just so rewarding. But the other thing is, relationships are the most important things. And work at that.

Mem Fox

Best-selling children’s author

Girls: believe in yourselves. If you don’t, how can others believe in you? This belief will take a battering from time to time. It will take courage to fight back but fight you must. Don’t be walked over by anyone. Call them to account. Stand up for yourself. Walk tall, literally. Think boldly. Speak boldly, preferably at a lower register. Don’t use your gender to score points, use your talent. Storm through the world as if it were yours, girls, not theirs.

Choose your partner wisely, someone who will barrack for you forever. No matter what you do, or how hard you work, make children understand they are the centre of your loving world or else don’t have them at all. Please.

Children are humans not trinkets for display. Read to them. Fill the world with attractive qualities like love, warmth and grace, but don’t let that fool anyone. You are not pathetic. You’re made of steel and you shine.

Mem Fox.

Geraldine Cox

Cambodian orphanage founder

For young women not sure what the future holds I would urge you not to be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. It is not until your back is against the wall, that you actually discover who you really are and what you can achieve. It’s a big, wonderful world out there.

Do not limit what you desire. Disappointments can so easily be turned into areas where you can find the most unexpected happiness and contentment. I know this for a fact.

Do not waste your precious time and energy worrying about things you cannot change. Concentrate on what is presented to you and do your best to make the changes needed. Never take no for an answer and trust in the universe. And when things are not going well, then remember that everything will be all right in the end, and if it is not, then it is not yet the end!

Jan Stirling

Basketball star and world championship winning coach

The best foundation of our motivation is embracing all opportunities as a privilege for which you can demonstrate your respect of that circumstance by paying it forward – so who can you help?

Success can look and feel differently for each of us. When it happens never forget where you have come from, nor those people who have guided you and shared your journey.

Importantly, the greater significance remains in always being humble. It is never just your journey!

Natasha Stott Despoja

Our Watch chair, former senator and leader of the Australian Democrats

I am a great believer in sisterhood. Support each other. Develop networks and friendships. Recognise that a lot of what you have in common so often outweighs your differences.

Competition for roles and positions can be healthy, but does not have to be disrespectful or discriminatory. Support networks are essential, especially in professions that may be tough or traditionally male-dominated.

Believe in yourself but do your homework! I was always confident that I knew my work; I may have been occasionally criticised for superficial reasons, but few people could doubt my passion, commitment or knowledge.

Support others: there is no point in gaining success or power or whatever unless you are making it easier for the next young woman or girl.

Natasha Stott Despoja with her 10 year old daughter Cordelia.

Bruna Papandrea

Hollywood producer of Gone Girl, Wild and Big Little Lies

My advice is expose yourself to different things and sometimes it becomes clear what you should be doing.

Also, just be truthful to who you are, and truthful to your opinion, because what else is there?

Trailblazers, 100 I nspiring South Australian Women, by Carolyn Collins and Roy Eccleston, Wakefield Press, $70.

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