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To mark International Women's Day we asked colleagues across IP Group to tell us about women who inspired or influenced their lives. Here are their answers.

 

Nicola Tin, Operations Assistant

One of the most influential woman in my life is my nan, who last year celebrated her 90th birthday in the throes of lockdown and recovering from a broken back. Her biggest concern that day: whether or not she had enough sherry in case people wanted a drink at her afternoon tea celebration.

My Nan was born in 1930 in Hackney. She can recall with great clarity what it was like to be evacuated as a child with her siblings during WWII. As per her mother’s orders, the three of them were to stay together—and that they did. She was the eldest of the 3 at the time with a younger brother and sister, but nobody wanted all three children. Thanks to my garndmother's character and stubbornness (and fear of her mum), she stood her ground and managed to keep her group together. They were the last children at the station until they were finally taken in by a lady in the village who was able to house them.

Summer holidays spent with Nan and Grandad saw all the grandchildren participate in several activities. Everything we did with her was a learning opportunity. It was important to her that we were able to have lots of different experience and that they didn’t have to cost a fortune to do so.

She is a fiercely independent woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, often without a filter! Something that has had a lasting effect on me. She had 60+ wonderful years with my grandad before he passed away, this has resulted in her now living alone for the first time, which she sees as the next adventure. She has always been supportive of my endeavours, but in the last 10 years watching her go about her days doing what she wants and not being afraid to do it alone showed me that I could do it to. She can strike up a conversation with anyone, a trait she has passed on to me as most of you know, which in turn can make situations all the more interesting.

This last year has been tough especially for her generation but she has remained positive through out, in her words, ‘I survived the war, I can deal with this.’ She has always embraced change and progression – granted trying to teach her to use Facetime didn’t take but mastering navigating Netflix during lockdown has been a game-changer, a true millennial through and through.

Kelsey Lynn Skinner, Partner Technology

I’m very lucky to have had exposure to many amazing inspiring women through my life. Women who kept telling me that I could do it, and being role models and examples of ‘doing it’ – both in awesome fashion but also honest about the bumps and bruises and challenges (and shortcomings!).

One woman who stands out is Candice Eggerss, one of the senior GPs (and only woman partner) at my first venture capital firm in California. She came from an investment banking background and had an amazing track record around technology trends, garnering deep respect from colleagues. She was keen to help me get exposure to both the public and private investing side of the business, and she was also keen to help me develop – she aspired to be the best manager and leader she could be in addition to being a great investor, which is an extremely valuable (and not-that-common) combination!  Even though, ironically, she wasn’t my actual manager! She wasn’t shy about areas where she thought I could improve, and then helped me create a plan (a ‘plan of attack’) to improve them. In 2018, six years after I’d left California and that firm, I received an industry award and called her up to share the news… and she flew halfway around the world to attend the celebratory event with me. Thank you for all the support and inspiration, Candice!

Anonymous

It’s a cliché but my mum has been a huge influence in my life, instilling a sense of curiosity and love of learning that stays with me to today.

Growing up in a small town in rural Western Australia (Katanning, population 4,000) my natural sphere of experience was pretty limited. There was no cinema or local bookstore for example, and many of the other things that city people take for granted were at least 2 hours’ drive away. Mum was always focused on ensuring that my siblings and I were exposed to the world through the reading of endless books and pushed us to work hard at school and do well academically. There was never any question that we would go to university and do well.

As a child, your parents are the centre of your world, but as I’ve grown and got to know Mum as an adult I’ve continued to be inspired by her selfless dedication to her family, and the strength that she has shown throughout her life from moving to Australia from Holland in her early teens and adapting to life in an entirely new country with five younger siblings, to becoming a central figure in maintaining and creating opportunities for culture and learning in a small town.

I can only hope to live up to her example and do her proud.

Lara Austin, Office Manager IP Group Australia

It has been a near impossible task to choose just one woman who has influenced my life.  So, International Women’s Day 2021 with the theme “Choose to Challenge”, is a chance to reflect on my very good fortune to be surrounded by so many strong, amazing women, each of whom has been a positive force in different aspects of my life.

There is the tight circle of friends who provide unwavering support whenever life throws a curveball, bolster confidence when doubt creeps in and are always there to celebrate the wins, big or small.  They lead by example with selflessness, gritty determination and show phenomenal grace under pressure.  

And my running buddies who inspire me to crawl out of bed before dawn regardless of the weather.  They have challenged me to run or walk further than I believed was possible: from the very first time I ran 5kms without stopping many years ago, to the 100km trail walk for charity, and all the wild adventures in between.
There are so many remarkable women I have had the great opportunity to work with.  They have forged rewarding careers by displaying enormous persistence and fierce intelligence.  Their depth of their wisdom and ingenuity is equalled only by their generosity in sharing that knowledge. Throughout my working life they have encouraged me to adapt, learn and to strive for the next challenge.   

My resilient, enthusiastic, optimistic, courageous, funny 14-year daughter who taught me how to kick a footy, inspires me to dance in the kitchen and is unashamedly proud of her aptitude for maths and sport.  Every single day she challenges me to work hard at being a better person. 

And finally, Kelly at the coffee shop close to the office who keeps me caffeinated and who, after nearly a year of lockdown, still remembered my name and coffee order.  

Ellen Gorissen, Investment Director Physical Sciences Australia

There weren’t any women who I would consider to have been role models or professional influences. A sad situation in itself, but hopefully one that is improving for younger generations. Luckily, there were many supporters on a personal level

There are women who I find inspiring in public life: Julia Gillard (Australia’s first and to date only female PM), Christine LaGarde (President of the European Central Bank), Angela Merkel, and Kamala Harris to name a few.

I’m also inspired by the belated accolades going to women who have achieved greatness historically and have never been recognised until now:

 

• Pauline Menczer, who only received a broken trophy when she won the 1993 World Surfing Championship, latently receiving a crowdfunded cash prize
• Ada Lovelace now being celebrated globally as a pioneer in computing
• The 72 Australian women hired in the early 20th century to measure the stars for the Astrographic Catalogue–incidentally the first women in the country to work in computing
• Ann Moffatt, an Australian technologist with a career spanning over 50 years.

In future, I’d love to see more timely recognition on women’s contributions.