Mentor Walks: chance for women to exercise and learn at same time

The founder of Mentor Walks Australia plans to roll out monthly morning walks for women around the nation.

The founder of Mentor Walks Australia plans to roll out monthly morning walks for women in all capitals and major regional centres after large numbers attended events in Brisbane, Sydney and Wagga Wagga.

Bobbi Mahlab, who runs content marketing agency Mahlab and founded Mentor Walks Australia late last year, says women appreciate the chance to exercise and learn from mentors concurrently.

Mahlab and co-founder Adina Jacobs saw Australian businesswoman Michelle Garnaut running this concept in China and introduced it locally as a way of women giving back.

The monthly walks involve a mentor teaming with three to four proteges, and they are asked to come with a burning question about their work-life or career.

“Mentor Walks is a simple idea that combines what comes very naturally to women — helping each other by workshopping issues while walking,” Mahlab says.

Walks start at 7.30am on Fridays from prime locations including the Sydney Opera House, with a stroll through the Botanic Gardens.

Details: www.mentorwalks.com.au.

TIME TO REFRESH

Businesses are being encouraged to review and refresh their workplace practices and culture as the financial year begins, with international human resources think tank Reventure devising five strategies to address organisational challenges.

As part of its A Future that Workscampaign, Reventure lead researcher Lindsay McMillan says workplaces should talk about purpose instead of results, articulate a narrative, create goals rather than restrictive roles, establish good leadership and bring back creativity. “Increasing productivity is no longer viewed in archaic terms such as longer working hours but how the workplace can effectively understand and harness employee’s individual talents,” McMillan says. “Each year, the bottom line is the focus of reporting and the measurement of success — leaving little time for visionary thinking or employee development.”

WE WANT YOU

Recruitment firm Hays says civil engineers, change managers and internet designers will be in demand this financial year, with 45 per cent of organisations saying they are likely to increase staff in those areas.

Operational management departments are tipped to lead the jobs growth, with 56 per cent of employers indicating they will add to their headcount. Engineering departments followed with 51 per cent, project management at 49 per cent with purchasing and procurement, sales and human resources on 47 per cent. Hays’s quarterly jobs report found civil engineers with project management experience will be the most in demand.

EXECS STAYING ON

The Watermark Interim Executive Survey for 2017 has found executives are saying no to retirement and considering portfolio careers instead.

The international search company found 32 per cent of interim executives are not planning to retire in the near future, and 34 per cent will retire but not for at least a decade.

Of the 500 executives surveyed, 28 per cent are actively choosing a portfolio career and adding to their skill base.

Watermark partner Jacinta Whelan says more than a quarter of respondents thought buying in top skills was a strong trend in shaping the workplace and enabled them to offer sophisticated skills in a flexible framework. “Even though Australia has been behind the rest of the world in adopting the interim executive concept, it’s quickly catching up to places like Europe, the UK and the US.”