Commonwealth Bank asked some of their leaders what “owning their careers” means to them and uncovered some great insights and advice on developing a meaningful career. Discover how these women have owned their careers and achieved their professional goals by bringing their unique perspectives, insights and ideas. Get inspired!
‘”Own it’ to me means you carefully consider the role your career has in various life stages, actively make decisions and forge connections so you can take the right steps at the right time for you. My husband and I committed to sharing the parenting load when our children were born, so neither of our careers took a back seat. We both chose to work four days a week until our children started primary school.”
“Now we’re in a different life-stage and my focus is on showing my network and team the care to understand their strengths, give them feedback, introduce them to people who can make a difference and generally support them to achieve their career development aspirations.”
Jane | Executive General Manager, Human Resources
“For me, ‘owning my career’ has meant working out what really matters to me – and acknowledging that this may change over time depending on circumstances. It means being open to change and opportunity, and having the courage to step out of my comfort zone to take up new challenges – some of my most rewarding (and scary!) times have been through doing that. It also means having the courage to ask for help or advice – there are always people around to support you.”
Julia | Executive General Manager, Operations, Technology & Corporate Services
“‘Own it’ to me means to expect the unexpected and embrace the change, even if it’s scary or challenging. It’s important to have a plan, but I’ve had to be prepared for that plan to be thrown out of the window and “roll with it” more than once – and I’ve learned so much each time.”
“The key to “owning it” is to work out the kind of people you want to work with and go after the culture that’s best for you.”
“Joining a great team and following an inspiring leader makes “owning it” that much easier and sweeter.”
Nicola | Executive Manager, Business Optimization
‘I love the concept of “own it” as it challenges us to take accountability for our career development. At CommBank, we actively encourage giving and receiving constructive challenge. Personally, whenever I’ve received constructive challenge it’s always come from a good place, and I know it helps me be better at my job, even if it’s sometimes hard to hear.
‘To support my development goals, I practice both giving and receiving constructive challenge as a learnable skill. It feels good to take action that has a positive impact on myself and others.’
Diona | Chief Controls Officer
“For me, ‘owning my career’ is about being committed to what I do while having the courage and curiosity to explore my passions and growth opportunities. My move to CommBank was driven by this curiosity, and it certainly required courage to leave my comfort zone after so many years as a private practice lawyer. But I’m delighted to be in a space where I can continue to explore career possibilities.”
“Working part-time as a mother of three, I’ve certainly experienced my share of hurdles as I’ve been pulled in multiple directions over the years (literally – as I have twins!). So, I’ve also learned to be kind to myself, to take setbacks in my stride, and to keep having fun (thanks in great part to my wonderful colleagues).”
Irem | Senior Legal Counsel
“To me, ‘owning my career’ means taking the time to reflect on what I want to achieve, and then putting a plan in place to get there. It also means understanding yourself – what you’re really passionate about, what your strengths are and where you need to continue to focus and grow.”
“I often talk about that pit in your stomach, and how you should embrace that feeling – whatever is causing that pit is something that’s going to stretch you and take you out of your comfort zone.”
Nicole | Regional General Manager, Customer Service Network
“‘Own it’ means being dynamic and flexible, as your career is not linear – things can change. It’s important to periodically review your development plan to make sure it stays current. CommBank has supported me to get to a level that I’d never dreamed of – leading large teams, managing IT services and delivering programs that have long-lasting impacts.”
“Because the bank is so big, there are so many career and development opportunities to explore. And there are so many amazing people who you can reach out to for support.”
Lingzhi | Executive Manager, Community of Practice, Chief Data Office
To own you career, head to commbank.com.au/careers and check the benefits that make them a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women
