We can all probably pinpoint a memory from our childhood or early school days of feeling a connection to a particular subject – that little spark that lets us know we’re onto a good thing. For Caroline Carabott, that spark was for tech drawing.
Unfortunately, at the time, it wasn’t seen as the norm for women to pursue studies in male-dominated subjects, let alone careers in the sector:
“Although I really loved learning about technology, specifically tech drawing, I was encouraged to pursue more ‘suitable’ subjects for a woman. Women today have greater opportunities to choose the paths they want to pursue. Sometimes the paths we set for ourselves are not the right ones, and allowing yourself to change can lead to new and exciting career opportunities.”
Now Project Manager Development with Main Roads Western Australia, Caroline reflects on the remarkable career opportunities that have come her way and allowed her to get back to her passion.
5 key steps that led Caroline to her passion
Chatting with Caroline, it’s clear that a powerful mix of personal perseverance and professional opportunities has led her down the road of success with one solid foundation: her employer.
After almost two decades working at Main Roads, Caroline shares how instrumental they have been in her journey:
“The opportunities I’ve been given and the network I’ve developed through Main Roads WA have been incredible. Since joining almost two decades ago, I’ve never looked back. I took every opportunity and made the most of what felt right for me at the time. That’s helped me reach where I am today.”
Below are five of Caroline’s top takeaways from her experience that will definitely inspire you to reflect on (and hopefully go after!) your own career passions:
1. Take calculated risks.
After starting her career in teaching and transitioning into marketing, Caroline reached a point where she was ready for a new opportunity. She didn’t realize that the next step would be an equal mix of necessity and fortuity:
“It was almost two decades ago that I moved from the eastern states to Western Australia to be closer to my family. This led me to discover and accept a business support role with Main Roads Western Australia, which enabled me to take on a full-time carer role without taking a career break.”
She continued to grow her experience in business support, eventually taking on new roles in HR using transferrable skills—first as a Customer Service Coordinator, then as a Project Manager.
“Taking risks is part of life; it challenges the person we are. When someone asks me to take on a task, I usually say ‘yes’ and see how I can contribute. When our now Managing Director asked me to take on the role as Austroads Network Program Assistant, I grabbed it without hesitation. The new role allowed me to travel Australia and gain exposure to the technical side of the business, reviewing research technical papers and assembling guidelines—I loved it! I’ve always been driven to build new and existing relationships; connecting with these communities and growing stakeholder relationships impacted my career growth.”
This further sparked her interest and set her on a trajectory to develop her technical skills:
“As my role as Austroads Network Program Assistant was nearing an end, I received two new career opportunities. One as a Business Manager for the Office of Road Safety and the other as part of the Main Roads Engineering Associate Program. While the latter involved 3 years of in-house training and a salary decrease, I accepted it without hesitation. It gave me practical, hands-on training and opened the door to new and exciting opportunities for my career moving forward.”
This opened the door for Caroline to pursue career opportunities in Traffic Services, Project Development Civil, and Project Development Major Projects.
“So, essentially, I’ve gone from a completely non-technical background to fully immersed in technical work, which I love. Reflecting on my journey – from being a shy girl, hesitating to raise her hand in school to where I am now – I feel fulfilled and extremely fortunate. The support from my home and work family and believing in myself has made all the difference.”
2. Own your learning and development journey.
Whatever your career passions, one golden rule will support your success: take ownership of your learning and development.
“Don’t wait for permission from others to tell you what you can or cannot do when it comes to upskilling. I didn’t wait for learning opportunities to be offered to me. Rather, I invested in my skills and career by taking extra-curricular studies in my own time, which included road construction and bridge design for non-structural engineers. Gaining additional qualifications and knowledge has allowed me to communicate effectively in meetings and understand what other technical professionals are saying.”
For Caroline, these experiences made her realize our careers are never set in stone:
“Going from teaching to marketing to business support to technical roles – I never would have imagined this path for myself. I’m grateful for all the new challenges I’ve said yes to. If you’re passionate about something, give it a go. As your environment and personal growth change around you, it’s easy to see why your career can also change. I am passionate about what I do and how I can make a positive impact through my career choices. “
Join an organization that supports and promotes career development opportunities:
Discover open roles with Main Roads and compare their benefits and policies.
3. Meet life’s challenges with flexibility.
Organizations that embrace flexibility can support you to meet life’s challenges. This support has been particularly important for Caroline in her capacity as a full-time carer:
“When I was young, my mum was involved in a car accident. No matter how tough her health condition was, we were always together, and that was what mattered. She was and always will be the biggest influence on both my career and personal growth. Her encouragement always meant so much to me. The flexibility and support I’ve received from Main Roads WA to provide ongoing support and care for my mum has been invaluable to me.”
Throughout her time at Main Roads, Caroline’s managers have always supported and understood her situation. She adds that many across the teams she works with value flexibility (work-life balance):
“Whether you need to start early or late or work from home, Main Roads recognizes that you have outside responsibilities, the business makes it possible. Supportive managers can make all the difference. Main Roads has and does support others in similar situations to mine—whether it’s caring for children, elderly relatives, or others. They understand individual needs.”
4. Develop relationships and grow your network.
For those looking to pivot or progress in their careers, organizations that provide opportunities for relationship-building and networking can make a significant difference:
“When you join Main Roads, you become part of a family, and building those work relationships has helped me through tough times – professionally and personally. It’s given me the strength to help others in similar situations, like being a carer or dealing with loss. Helping someone else through their struggles is incredibly rewarding.”
Caroline believes in caring for others, loved ones, the community, and her work family because of her own experiences:
“My mum did not have the opportunity to experience the corporate world or attend work events, so I took her on mine. One of our corporate events was in Perth, and another was in Sydney, Luna Park. I booked extra leave and flights for her at my own expense, and she had the most amazing time. It was so rewarding to share those experiences with her, allow her to be part of my career, and introduce her to my colleagues – who all loved her, of course! It was meaningful for me to share those experiences with her and have my work family meet her.”
There are many other ways, too, that Main Roads supports networking of their people, such as through volunteering opportunities:
“I feel very privileged to be a volunteer for committees past and present, such as the Australian Institute of Traffic Management and currently NAWIC – Reconciliation Action Plan. Volunteering roles and opportunities have allowed me to build my confidence and helped me grow professionally.”
“I also believe taking on a volunteer role within the community is also important; it made me realize how fortunate I am, and to ‘give back’ or ‘pay it forward,’ as they say, is very enriching. Helping others with a simple act of kindness goes a long way!”
5. Seek leaders, mentors, and feedback.
Another way Caroline has achieved success switching from a non-technical to a technical career is by surrounding herself with great leaders and mentors and seeking feedback:
“I have mentors in my work and personal life whom I hold in high regard. So, in addition to trying new things, it’s important to learn from others. I work in a male-dominated environment. Yes, this can be challenging, but how you deal with these challenges builds your resilience. Observing leaders is invaluable, and learning from their success and their faults builds on my strengths to become a good leader. If you aspire to leadership, consider evaluating what you need to do to reach those future roles too.”
Caroline acknowledges that feedback is vital for your growth and development:
“Never assume you know everything – because… you don’t! It’s impossible to know it all, especially for younger or less experienced professionals, but even for tenured individuals. It’s crucial to seek feedback, understand your strengths, and use this to advance beyond your skill levels.”
Caroline also believes in empowering each other:
“Fostering an environment that is inclusive of everyone. Women empowering women to succeed; remembering and acknowledging who helped you to get where you are today is what matters. Those relationships cannot be replaced, and understanding how you can influence without a power play is invaluable. We are all professionals; we all want to succeed.”
How can others make their move a success?
Caroline is passionate about helping others and showing women that no matter where you start your career, there’s always a way to work towards your passions—even if it means working backward sometimes!
“During my early career with Main Roads, there were not as many career moves or opportunities on offer. That’s all changed now! Internal mobility has evolved, people are encouraged to upskill and make career changes, and Main Roads supports you to do so. Take it from me – you don’t need to have a technical background to move into a technical role. Take the initiative to upskill and make a change. Grow your network, seek feedback, and, most importantly, be authentic and believe in yourself.”
