Three women. Three very different journeys. One room filled with stories, connection and the reminder that leadership doesn't always look the way we expect.
There is something incredibly powerful about a room full of women sharing stories.
Not the polished versions. Not the highlight reels. But the real stories. The ones shaped by love, loss, courage, culture, determination and those moments in life when everything changes.
Earlier this month, The Just Saying Project brought women together for Leading Ladies: Quiet Strength, Loud Impact, an afternoon of storytelling, honest conversations and connection.
De Rae, was our first speaker of the afternoon.
And if there was one thing that became clear, it was this: every woman has a story worth telling, and sometimes the right words, from the right woman, at the right moment, can change everything.
Deb Rae: When Life Changes the Plan
There are moments in life that change not just our circumstances, but the direction of everything that follows.
For Deb Rae, losing her first husband was one of those moments.
In her thirties, at a time when life might have been expected to follow a certain path, Deb found herself navigating unimaginable loss and the reality of a future that looked very different from the one she had planned.
Her story was one of grief, change and finding a way forward.
It was also a reminder that becoming the woman we are today isn't always the result of choices we wanted to make. Sometimes life makes those choices for us, and we have to find the courage to write a different chapter.
Deb's reflections reminded us that strength isn't always loud. Sometimes it's simply finding the courage to keep going, to embrace a new direction and to discover who we can become along the way.
Nicolette Ffrost: Permission to Be Yourself
In conversation: Nicolette inspires her all female team to be extraordinary.
If Deb's story reminded us about navigating change, Nicolette Ffrost brought a different perspective to the room: the freedom that comes from being unapologetically yourself.
As General Manager of The Neighbourhood Hub, Nicolette leads an all-female team with a belief that women should have the opportunity to bring their extraordinary selves to work.
Through a series of questions exploring the professional and personal sides of Nicolette, something became wonderfully clear.
There really isn't a different version of Nicolette.
The quirky girl who thinks outside the box, challenges traditions and isn't afraid to do things differently is the same woman leading an organisation and supporting her community today.
And yes, her love of Taylor Swift is very much part of that story!
But beyond the humour and personality was an important message about leadership.
We spend so much of our lives trying to fit expectations, separate our personal and professional selves, or become the version of a woman we think others want us to be.
Nicolette reminded us that leadership doesn't require us to leave our individuality at the door.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is give ourselves, and the women around us, permission to be exactly who we are, even when that might disappoint others.
Melanie Kemp: The Stories We Carry
Melanie Kemp, spoke with passion and nostaglia for her family and culture.
For Melanie Kemp of Younga Yarns, the stories that shaped her leadership began long before her professional journey.
They began with her grandparents.
Melanie spoke about their generosity of spirit, the wisdom they shared and the First Nations cultural stories and teachings that became such an important part of her life.
These weren't simply stories from the past. They were lessons that continued to shape her values, her work and her commitment to sharing and educating others about First Nations culture.
Her reflections opened an important conversation about the quiet stories we hear as children. The words, values and lessons passed down through generations that stay with us, often shaping the people we become without us even realising it.
Melanie's determination and work ethic were equally memorable.
In a moment that brought a very real picture of her dedication, she shared that she was making work calls while in labour!
It was one of those stories that made you smile, while also revealing the tenacity that has helped shape her journey.
Her commitment to her culture, her community and our region was inspiring.
And her story left us with a question worth considering: What stories were we told growing up, and how are they still influencing the way we live and lead today?
The Leading Ladies Weren't Just at the Front of the Room
While Deb, Nicolette and Melanie each shared very different journeys, something special happened when their stories came together.
Their experiences opened conversations about grief, identity, culture, courage, expectations, community and the many ways women lead.
A wonderful afternoon filled with women and stories, what more could you ask for.
And those conversations didn't belong only to the women speaking.
They belonged to every woman in the room.
The women raising families. Building businesses. Supporting communities. Starting over. Leading teams. Caring for others. Finding their voice. And learning, sometimes, to put themselves on the list of people who deserve care too.
Because leadership isn't always a title or a position.
Sometimes it's the woman who quietly encourages someone else.
The woman who shares her knowledge.
The woman who creates space for others to thrive.
Or the woman who finds the courage to take a different path.
Quiet strength can create a very loud impact.