For one senior leader working in a fast-paced, technical industry, achieving success isn’t just about solving engineering challenges. It’s about how you treat people.
Louise Murphy, Senior Asset Manager with Alinta Energy, tries to remember this at work and in life. This is not always easy, especially since she wears many different hats: engineer, leader, and parent:
“Being new to leadership and having two little ones, I think it’s important to treat others how you’d like to be treated. For me, that means holding myself accountable, keeping promises to others, and being consistent when you say you’re going to do something.”
What has her journey looked like so far? It’s involved relocating to a new country, switching industries, and growing into parenthood.
“I built my career experience in power generation in the U.K. Ten years ago, I relocated to Melbourne and shifted to the oil and gas industry. When I discovered a role with Alinta Energy as an Asset Engineer, returning to power generation felt like a natural progression.”
Her initial responsibilities included outage scheduling, managing the company’s five-year capital expenditure budget, and service bulletin management.
“I suppose you could say, I ‘get value out of adding value’. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. I love figuring out how to improve systems and processes so they run smoother. Alinta has grown quite fast, so there’s been a lot of areas to make improvements. I enjoy working with others in different teams to do so.”
Over time, her role expanded to include more responsibilities, keeping her work engaging and challenging.
From blueprints to baby steps to leadership
When Louise first joined the organization, she was a mother of one. A year and a half into her tenure, she prepared to welcome her second.
“I remember feeling hesitant to share that I was pregnant since it was so early in my role. But those feelings were unfounded. My managers and team were so supportive. While the majority of smaller organizations in Australia don’t offer parental leave, Alinta’s policies are great. I received 14 weeks of paid leave, which was such a relief. It really took the pressure off.”
She values Alinta’s parental leave policy, which enables the primary carer the same amount of leave regardless of gender. Additionally, upon her return, flexible work made her transition much easier.
“I returned part-time two days per week, then four. Eventually, I worked back up to full-time hours with a very flexible schedule. This allows me to be there for my kids, managing day-care pickups, appointments, extra-curricular activities, and other responsibilities when I need to, without stress.”
Interested in finding out more about Alinta Energy’s policies and support?
Explore their benefits and policies and discover current job openings.Being able to work from home has also been a wonderful advantage:
“Flexible arrangements mean I can fulfill family responsibilities, focus better when I’m at work, and achieve better work-life balance. Reflecting on these opportunities, compared to when I started my career – I’ve noticed such a positive shift in its adoption throughout Alinta and other organizations.”
Shortly after returning from parental leave, Louise had the opportunity to progress into a leadership position with a direct report. Now, she’s tailored her approach to being a good mentor, supporting others in their career development, and applying the ‘Golden Rule’: treating others as you’d like to be treated.
“What does this look like in practice? I think about what I would have valued—having someone who supports me and has my back—and act accordingly. I try to be generous in sharing knowledge and a strong supporter.”
Final tips for working parents
Whether you’re a working parent, a woman in a male-dominated industry, or looking to succeed in a technical career, the Golden Rule is always a good rule of thumb.
But it’s also a balancing act. As Louise shares:
“Treating others with respect doesn’t mean you can’t be assertive. Talk to your manager about your circumstances – because they can’t help you if they don’t know! Let’s normalize flexible work arrangements! I encourage it for everyone.”
