International Women’s Day (IWD) began in 1911, and was first observed on March 19th in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.  This momentous event blessed us with a legacy to celebrate that is enriched by fierce, independent and admirable women.

114 years on, and now globally celebrated each year on the 8th of March, IWD is a time to reflect on the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women over time and an opportunity to foster actions that will bring about gender equality and address the ongoing challenges faced by women.  This year, there is a call to action for us to “Accelerate Action,” and “March Forward”.

As a woman often described as a go getter and one that does not do things in halves, this year’s IWD theme, “Accelerate Action,”/ “March Forward” is one that excites me and resonates with my progress, mindset and key drivers, which is what I wish to talk about this year.

My progress

In 1994, I was a little girl walking around correcting people’s pronunciation of my name.  At the ripe old age of 4, I was proud of my identity and fiercely protective of it.  This was part personality, part learned behaviour.  My father had made it his mission to cultivate a fiercely independent daughter.

In 1998, I found a way to burn all my energy and found my love for squash which would become an integral part of my life and growth. I went onto play squash for the state of Victoria 8-years in a row, be selected as a Victorian Institute of Sport athlete and for an Australian talent squads and had experience playing squash in New Zealand and Malaysia.  Through squash I met some of my key mentors, closest friends and also learned to combat the challenges of rivals and health and unhealthy competition.  My time as a squash player is a pivotal part of my success and character.

In 2003 I started at an all girls high school by the name of St Columbas College in Essendon.  The fierce independent 4 year old girl and tenacious stop at nothing squash player was attacked, bullied and ostracised by her peers and sadly some of her teachers, who on reflection may have been intimidated by her.  High school was hard, until I found Kylie, who would go onto become my year 10-to-12-year level co-ordinator.  Kylie was my teacher, my mentor and became my friend.  She protected me in the staff room, she gave me the tools to face the unkindness of my peers with empathy and kindness, and she had an unwavering belief in me, which reinvigorated my confidence.  Kylie showed me the power of empathy and kindness.

In 2009, I was a young woman, I finished high school and was entering my twenties. My taste with men was as shocking as my year 12 enter score and like most 20-something year old women, I was influenced negatively.  Suddenly I felt fat, or too masculine and not beautiful or confident.  And through experience, and the support of my mother who has gifted me with resilience, I found my way through that stage of my life and boy do I have so much to advice for my 20-something year old self.

In 2010, I started my tertiary education in an Advance Diploma of Public Relations.  I went onto study a Bachelor of Business and then a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws.  I was stimulated and excited and in turn, I exceled in my studies. Going full circle, I now take pleasure in teaching at Australian Catholic University.

In 2017, I entered the legal profession.  Before opening my own law firm in 2022, I went through 6 jobs.  In one workplace, I was so badly bullied by the other women and one male colleague in the office, I would often spend my lunch breaks crying in an ally way on the phone to my Mum.  In another job, I worked interstate and was fired for travelling back to Melbourne at the start of COVID and labelled a liar and deceitful by my boss.  And in another job, I had a peer, who was my boss and friend so envious of me that on me being promoted into an equal role to her, she tried to unsuccessfully have me performance managed out of the business.  During this time, I hated being noticed and I felt like I had lost my voice, so I turned to my Mum, and she carried it for me.  She lifted me up and assured me that I would always be noticed and that I should carry that with pride.  She gave me the courage to be disliked.

In 2022, I quit being an employee and I went out as a sole practitioner.  I learned to back myself, surround myself with the good friends, sit in the right rooms, exit the wrong rooms and focus solely on my own growth.

In 2025, I can proudly introduce myself as the most confident version of myself since that little girl in 1994, and as the Principal lawyer, and owner of a boutique law firm which I have proudly called Grazia Legal, which employees 6 incredible staff.

By 2030, I hope to be a wife, a mum and an established author and a motivational speaker.  I never stop dreaming.

My mindset

1.      Success looks different on everyone, but happiness looks the same, so look for the happiest person in the room for inspiration.

2.      Find the courage to be disliked.

3.      If you are smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.

4.      Make work, work for you.

5.      You can have it all, just not all at once.

6.      Surround yourself with people that champion you.

7.      Be the identifier of your own strength and the master of your own courage.

A reflection on inspiring women and what we have achieved

In my own profession alone, there have been significant changes in recent years including that more than half of all lawyers are now women, surpassing men in both number and percentage. Around 55% of solicitors in Australia are women.  Women are becoming partners in firms at higher rates than ever before, and legal education is increasingly welcoming diverse, talented female students. These shifts are important milestones.

My team is an almost all-female team, with one young man, who is an absolute gentleman and a testament to how society has evolved.

If I were to name the women that have inspired me this year it would have to be:

1.      Gisèle Pelicot

2.      Jelena Dokic

Accelerating Action

The good news is that we’re already taking steps in the right direction, and we must keep up the momentum. And in light of this year’s IWD and into the future, some steps I’d like to see within the legal profession, and law firms are:

1. Set goals and always have something to strive towards.  The only way to march forward and accelerate action is to have a plan and a purpose and set tangible goals in place to achieve that.  Even if your primary goal is extravagant or seems unreachable, you will be surprise how many mini goals you achieve along the way that in fact accelerate you.
2. Aim to be as inspiring as the people that inspire you.  Bottle up the energy and feeling that you take from those people and pay it forward.

I’m proud of the positive steps I’ve taken for my female employees at Grazia Legal. I’m focused on creating an environment where women can not only succeed but lead. Finishing with a quote I love and use every year: “Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”