Finding a new job is hard, particularly if you don’t currently have one! My recent experience in Singapore taught me that networking is so important in securing a new role. This is what I learnt.
Read morePersonal Branding Shoot (behind the scenes) - Part 2: The shoot!
Checking out how the make-up looks
Have you ever done a personal branding shoot? No? Me neither. Back in April the wonderful Prue Aja came to Singapore and took photos for my blog and social media accounts. It probably sounds a little narsisstic but with the rise of the internet and social media, our online presence and images are becoming more important to manage, particularly when managing your career. Here is my second post on behind the scenes on a personal branding shoot.
Read moreNetworking with a difference
Most of us hate networking. The word, the thought. The bad canapés.
This is networking with a difference.
Read morePersonal Branding Shoot (Behind the scenes) - Part 1: Preparation
Ever wondered what personal branding is, and what happens behind a personal branding shoot? In this post I tell you about my experience working with the fabulous Prue Aja on preparations for my shoot.
Read moreCareer Story: Personal Brand Photographer Prue Aja
Prue is one of Australia’s prominent portrait and lifestyle photographers, and I got to sit down with her and understand how she built her career as a Fashion Stylist and now photographer! It’s a great story about taking a risk and understanding your purpose, that ultimately paid off.
Read moreWhen you really should listen to your gut. Really.
I am a big fan of listening to your gut, or your heart, or contemplating your navel. I'm big on working out what your values are and ensuring you work with those. I believe in working out your purpose and aligning your work and life with that.
Read moreThe wrap up: International Women's Day
There is something wonderful that happens when you put a whole lot of women in a room, with a beautiful outlook, fabulous food, glasses of cold prosecco and inspiring stories. The barriers are down and people start connecting and being curious and well...
Read moreStories that connect and inspire
I love hearing people’s stories. And stories are great because they help us remember concepts and themes (usually through the emotions they make us feel) and they connect us as humans. And we all need to connect on a human level.
Read moreConnections and inspiration - International Women's Day Singapore Style
Connection with others is a funny thing, isn’t it? Most of us are surrounded by lots of people at any one time. I live in an apartment surrounded by at least 1,000 people in a fairly small area but do I connect with them? Do I truly know them, and do we have meaningful conversations? I can’t say that the few conversations at the playground or pool fall into this category. What about if you work, or are involved with your children’s school or maybe a sporting or community group? How often is there time and space to stop and be present with the people we come into contact with every day? Not that often I say.
This is why it’s important to take a little time out every now and then and do something (on purpose) that makes us stop and breathe and connect. It's why I decided to organise an event for International Women’s Day in Singapore. As well as wanting to recreate the events I have often attended in Sydney , I wanted to reconnect with my Singapore network after moving back here in January and meet some new people.
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. What could be a better excuse then to come together with others, enjoy a beautiful lunch and relax amongst the greenery and orchids of the Singapore Botanical Gardens, while hearing from two unique and remarkable women contributing to the Singapore community?
Carolyn Milligan (Global Head of Mobility, Kantar Group), and Annette Tillbrook (Board Member, AustCham Singapore) will share their unique stories on how they have developed their career and are making their mark in Singapore. It’s through sharing stories that we all grow.
British born Carolyn heads up the Global Mobility function within the Kantar Group (part of the WPP Group , the world’s largest communications services group comprising over 179,000 employees globally). Her main achievements include supporting and partnering with the business to enable their Talent Agenda with the 300+ relocations that take place every year.
In addition to working full time and raising twin daughters, Carolyn supports, mentors and organises Singapore ‘Foreign Domestic Worker’ beauty pageants. She takes pride in supporting these women who find themselves away from their support networks, often vulnerable or lacking in confidence, and requiring coaching and support on everyday matters that others take for granted.
Aussie Annette has a long history of helping Australian businesses through her work with AustCham, the Australian business community in Singapore. AustCham fosters, and provides a forum for business links between Australia and Singapore by connecting members to business and government through hosting, facilitating and providing events and services for members. Annette will talk to us about her role in developing AustCham into the organisation it is today, and her challenges and successes throughout her career.
Along with lunch, great company and inspiring speakers we will be raising money for aidha, a Singapore based charity who do great work in providing financial literacy programmes such as money management, computer literacy, leadership and entrepreneurial skills for foreign domestic workers and lower-income women.
Sounds good doesn’t it? Grab a friend and come along. Get your tickets here
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Who wants to look like they stepped out of Vogue?
Me! Me! *hand waving madly in the air*
'strike a pose, there's nothing to it'
Hands up who hates getting their photo taken?
Sigh. Yep me too.
Maybe it’s not so much the photo being taken as the end result. Do you think?
You see I don't think I'm particularly photogenic and more and more I wish I had better photos of me, for my blog, and my social media profiles, like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. I’m also asked to provide headshots for marketing purposes, when I speak at events. My favourite headshot was taken by one of my friends and all-time great photographer AndreaThompson nearly six years ago! I’m sure when people meet me in the flesh now it’s a bit of a disappointment because I probably don’t look like that anymore!
So last week while wasting time perusing my Facebook feed, up popped some recent photographic work by Pru Aja. You should check out her work here. Go look. I can wait. Don't you wanna look that good? I do.
I met Pru at the Business Chicks Movers and Breakers conference in Byron Bay last October and starting following her on Facebook after that. She has a great career story and I just love her work. She does a range of work in the fashion and corporate space but I particularly love her personal branding work. It is glamorous and beautiful and colourful and seems to really capture the personality of the person she is photographing. I want some photos like that. Ones that reflect my style and my fashion sense.
We got chatting on Facebook and then had a Skype call (cause she is in Melbourne and I’m like not) and well, I think I may have convinced her to come to the little red dot and take some photos of me. I’m redesigning my blog and working on other bits and pieces and need some good shots. Ones that are a bit sexy and cool and fun and fashion-nee. You know?
I'm sure there are lots of women in my network in Singapore who would like the same. Beautiful photos for work and business purposes or maybe just to have some photos that make you look and feel great. So here’s your chance. She's coming in April and if you are interested you should contact Pru for more information. She has a few different options she can discuss with you as well as how the process works. I’m already pulling together a pinterest board with some looks I like!
Lisa xx