You are now leaving Centuria Australia
and entering Centuria New Zealand.
International Women's Day 2021
This International Women’s Day we celebrate the many achievements of women around the world and the journey towards gender equality. The 2021 official theme is #ChooseToChallenge – encouraging all to challenge the status quo, as challenge leads to change.
We are proud to introduce you to a some of the inspiring women at Centuria who help to make a difference in our organisation. They are determined, driven and motivated. Find out more about these incredible professionals by clicking the plus ‘+’ signs below.
Katheleen Nuyda – Deputy Company Secretary
Meet Katheleen
Share with us three things about yourself.
- I was born in the Philippines and raised in Sydney.
- I started my career when I was 19yrs old, working in tourism for an airline company.
- Unashamedly, I have an extreme love for sweets.
What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?
Women of Asian origin, such as myself, need to break through the bamboo ceiling and ignore the sense of pressure to conform to Western norms. Over the span of my career, I have learnt to embrace who I am and play to my strengths. I will never be the most outspoken person in the room but I regularly remind myself what my purpose is and what I am trying to achieve. This has helped me to succeed while being comfortable in my own skin.
How have you managed to balance your career and personal life?
Prioritising, staying grounded and knowing what is important to me keeps things in perspective.
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
During one of my early roles, working for an Investment Bank, the environment was pretty cut-throat. I quickly learnt what kind of person I wanted to be in the workplace, and more importantly, what kind of person I did not want to be.
What challenges has the global pandemic created for you in the corporate world and how have you overcome them or continue to overcome them?
Dealing with uncertainty was a challenge during the pandemic. I knew I had to keep an open mind, embrace change, and adapt quickly. I focused my energy on things that I could control rather than dwelling on the unknown.
Which mentors or role models have positively impacted you in your career, and what is one lesson that they taught you?
Fortunately, I have worked with and known many inspiring and successful women during my career. Many of them juggle the demands of raising a family while forging a successful career. Some faced significant health issues but had the strength, courage and determination to continue to show up every day. The biggest lesson I learnt from each one of them is to know your self-worth and never underestimate what you, as a woman, are capable of.
What advice would you give to another woman who is starting out their career?
Three pieces of advice I gave my daughter when she recently got her first job were: Firstly, setbacks are inevitable in both career and life, so make sure to master the art of resilience and composure. Secondly, learn from other people’s mistakes. And last but certainly not least, stay humble and always be kind, respectful and empathetic to everyone, no matter what their position is in the organisation.
Sophie Monsour – Investment Director
Meet Sophie
Share with us three things about yourself.
- I have my own Instagram cooking channel.
- I grew up speaking three languages at home.
- My dream job would be a Broadway musical theatre star.
What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?
The greatest challenge has been to maintain my female traits and personality in a male dominated industry where inadvertent bias occurs daily. I have not yet learnt to fully overcome this challenge. However, I think an important step is to be yourself and demonstrate (over-time) that not everyone has to fit the mold to be perform.
How have you managed to balance your career and personal life?
Balance to me means creating two clear distinctions. At work, I am focused on work and I try not to focus on my job when I am at home with my friends and family.
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
The most pivotal moment in my career was changing it when I joined Heathley in 2017. I was provided with a world of opportunities and experiences that have materially shaped my career, provided me with a better work/life balance, and allowed me to advance quicker than I ever imagined.
What challenges has the global pandemic created for you in the corporate world and how have you overcome them or continue to overcome them?
Establishing and maintaining professional relationships at a time when travel is limited and not everyone is back at the office. I do not think that there is a perfect solution, however, persistence helps!
Which mentors or role models have positively impacted you in your career, and what is one lesson that they taught you?
My boss, Andrew Hemming, is my biggest mentor to date. He has taught me to always challenge the status quo, to never stop asking questions and to be more creative in my problem solving.
What advice would you give to another woman who is starting out their career?
As best said by Betty Jean Newsom and James Brown, ‘this is a man’s world but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl…’
Thomasina Ralston – Digital Campaign Marketing Manager
Meet Thomasina
Share with us three things about yourself.
- I have lived in the same house for almost 20 years.
- I was a geologist and geophysicist before I moved into Digital and Marketing.
- I play football (soccer).
What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?
I’ve worked across several male -dominated industries and the challenge is to stand up and be noticed. Sometimes this means pushing the boundary of what is expected of you.
How have you managed to balance your career and personal life?
It was a really a struggle when the kids were young, but I was lucky to have a great boss who refused my resignation when I felt my family and I were not coping. She asked me to drop team management and just focus on operational duties while working from home – that was a game changer. It allowed me to keep working, learning and adding value to the business while also spending valuable time with my kids during their early childhood.
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
Probably when I was made redundant from the oil and gas industry as a geologist while working in the UK and told I could re-apply for my position but it would be based in Chennai, India (ex-Madras). Instead, I returned to Australia and redefined myself and my career. Outplacement services really helped to identify transferrable core skills, which led to a career in Digital Marketing
What challenges has the global pandemic created for you in the corporate world and how have you overcome them or continue to overcome them?
Learning to switch-off while working from home was a challenge.
Which mentors or role models have positively impacted you in your career, and what is one lesson that they taught you?
I had a great boss a while back who intimately trusted his team. He enabled me to make autonomous decisions and taught me to put the onus back on my team and trust them to do their jobs effectively. By placing trust in them, the team was able to develop more experience.
What advice would you give to another woman who is starting out their career?
Don’t be pigeon-holed into what you studied or thought you would do early in your career. As you grow, let your career grow and trust your instincts.
Belinda Cheung – Senior Finance Manager
Meet Belinda
Share with us three things about yourself.
- Though I’m ambitious and driven in my career, I’m very chilled out outside of work.
- My amicable personality lends itself to engaging with many different people in my role.
- I’m an advocate of playing your part to make this world a better place.
What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?
Several years ago, I realised I wanted to work with real estate and agribusiness companies. At the time, it was a competitive space and there were predominately male teams servicing these industries. My manager highlighted my complementary experience and good work ethic, which could make me a perfect candidate. So, I listed the skillset and technical knowledge needed and worked towards developing these. Needless to say, I am now happily working in the industry I thoroughly enjoy.
How have you managed to balance your career and personal life?
What helps is ensuring I make time to do what I find rewarding and gives me a sense of achievement. I don’t find it every day, but I am getting better.
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
Learning about mindset and how to take control of it. They say we are our own harshest critic, and this statement resonates with me – failure terrifies me. Harnessing that inner voice and finding alternative, fool-proof solutions helps me to accomplish what I needed to do.
What challenges has the global pandemic created for you in the corporate world and how have you overcome them or continue to overcome them?
Working from home meant there was more flexibility and less routine and, as a result, I found it harder to find balance and truly disconnect. Like many others, I had to build a routine and consciously take regular breaks. Subsequently, my cooking skills drastically improved!
Which mentors or role models have positively impacted you in your career, and what is one lesson that they taught you?
If you want something enough, you will find a way to achieve it.
What advice would you give to another woman who is starting out their career?
Define your success. Build criteria for your success and make sure it isn’t just about your job. Most will agree that a successful individual is well-rounded.
Therese Scott – National Lease Administrator
Meet Therese
Share with us three things about yourself.
- I am number three in a family of seven girls (no boys).
- I grew up on a farm in the Riverina and still maintain strong rural connections.
- I was a keen runner but have now swapped my running shoes for hiking boots!!
What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?
After establishing in my early career, I left the workforce for 10 years to raise my family and when I returned, I had to virtually start my career again. Though I studied during those 10 years, my skills and experience were not recognised and I often found I was not taken seriously.
How have you managed to balance your career and personal life?
It’s a work in progress and I constantly assess whether I have everything covered. During the week, it’s all about work and making sure there’s food in the fridge for the family. Squeezing in some daily exercise also helps maintain the balance.
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
There are so many things I have learnt and still have to learn so it’s hard to pin-point a particularly profound career moment. However, I believe we must always challenge ourselves and push beyond the status quo to make real change.
What challenges has the global pandemic created for you in the corporate world and how have you overcome them or continue to overcome them?
Being an effective communicator in the online environment. What was initially an interesting challenge, transformed into a very effective and time efficient way to work.
Which mentors or role models have positively impacted you in your career, and what is one lesson that they taught you?
My parents were my greatest and most positive role models. My mother undertook further education while raising a young family, which allowed her to re-enter the workforce. She believed there’s always room for self-development and demonstrated how to manage multiple priorities. My father was incredibly proud of all his girls’ varying achievements. He believed gender should not restrict ambition and openly encouraged the women in his life to push beyond all boundaries.
What advice would you give to another woman who is starting out their career?
All young women should be constantly reminded to believe in themselves and the value they bring to the table. In any career it’s important to build your own team by surrounding yourself with mentors and colleagues whose ideas and opinions challenge you to enhance your knowledge and mindset.
