How a divorce at the age of 36 turbocharged this leader’s career

It is not often that a leader points to a divorce as being a pivotal moment in their career, but in the case of Toni Meath, the principal of Melbourne Girls Grammar, it meant she started investing in herself.

Toni Meath is a self-confessed introvert. It is part of her secret sauce. Eamon Gallagher

Sally Patten and Mandy Coolen

Updated Jul 29, 2025 – 3.30pm, first published at 5.00am

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In her mid-30s, Dr Toni Meath, principal of Melbourne Girls Grammar, was a teacher-cum-corporate wife with two young children.

But then her marriage broke down. It was devastating, but at the same time gave her a new lease on her career.

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Sally PattenBOSS editorSally Patten edits BOSS, and writes about workplace issues. She was the financial services editor and personal finance editor of the AFR, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. She edited business news for The Times of London.