Adelaide Education Group Newsletter Voulme 15 Issue 3

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Adelaide Education Group Newsletter

March 2024, Volume 15, Issue 3 [Special Edition]

Happy Women's Month!

Celebrating Women's Month is an important time to honor and acknowledge the accomplishments, contributions, and challenges faced by women throughout history and in our modern world.

As part of our celebration, we've conducted interviews with empowered women, delving into their sources of inspiration and the individuals who have profoundly influenced their lives.

Fatima Reyes, AIHE

1. Who is the most influential woman in your life? How does she inspire/made an impact on you?

"I am fortunate to have not one but several women who have been great role models. Both my maternal and paternal grandmothers were feisty, and smart, and managed their households with grace and creativity with available resources. I have a keen interest in history and women throughout the ages have been inspirational – Livia Drusilla, the other half of the first and longest-serving emperor of ancient Rome; Cleopatra with her political astuteness, wit, and aplomb; Queen Elizabeth I who ruled England without a consort for 45 years and Frida Kahlo who celebrated her life with art notwithstanding her enormous physical challenges."

2. How do you empower yourself and the women around you?

"By encouraging myself and the women around me to be kind, to be open to possibilities, seize opportunities, provide spaces for growth and advancement, and give each other a boost where we can."

Christa Viljoen, AIHE

1. Who is the most influential woman in your life? How does she inspire/made an impact on you?

"I will have to mention four special women, my mom and three sisters. They have all had a profound impact on my life, mostly because I always know that no matter what happens in life, I will always have their backup and support. They are all strong women who have (like so many other women) had to keep a lot of glass balls in the air simultaneously, and have managed to raise great kids, achieve success in their careers, and are kind and compassionate people that I feel honored to call family."

2. How do you empower yourself and the women around you?

"Never stop learning. I try to ask myself at the end of every day, “Did I get the most out of today, because this day, I will never have again”. Not every day will be a good or a big day, that is life, as long as we make the most of what we have, each day will matter. This can be as simple as enjoying a good coffee or finishing a marathon! I try to instill this in my children, but I am still learning every day."

Selina Cui, Corporate Services

1. Who is the most influential woman in your life? How does she inspire/made an impact on you?

"This person will be my mum who has shaped my values. She profoundly influenced my behaviour and approach to life. She was a successful businesswoman who treated her employees with support and respect, fostering their career growth and earning their admiration. My mum taught me to be kind and a person with integrity, to help others as much as possible within my ability, and not to do things that hurt others for the sake of money. She taught me the importance of earning wealth through my own efforts and hard work, rather than depending on others to obtain it for me."

2. How do you empower yourself and the women around you?

"I would like to give a piece of advice to the young girls around me, which is also a summary of my experience over the years: There is no shortcut to becoming an independent and capable woman. You must always maintain a learning mentality, look at the strengths of the people around you, and then examine yourself to see if you can learn from them to improve yourself. You must give your best to everything you do, rather than sit back and enjoy short-term success. Only in this way, you can become an excellent woman."

Ann Grenci, AIBT

1. Who is the most influential woman in your life? How does she inspire/made an impact on you?

"My mother who turned 97 years old in February this year and still has her full capacity is the most influential woman in my life. She embodies positivity, stressing the power of self-belief as our greatest asset. Through various activities like painting, baking, and gardening, she champions mental and physical well-being. With a remarkable life story featured in radio, TV, and a published book, she inspires others through her talks, drawing from her experiences to promote positivity and resilience. As a survivor of domestic violence, she empowers others to seek help and live fulfilling lives. She is my mentor and my rock. She always has a smile on her face and a funny story to share."

2. How do you empower yourself and the women around you?

"My work at corporate level training has given me valuable insight into both small and large businesses and I actively share these experiences by organizing many group activities such as weekend dinners and social events to link women with other successful women and men. I encourage women to attend workshops, continue with education, move out of their comfort zones, and invite them to join me in activities that help build their self-confidence and self-esteem and give them exposure to positive environments and social interaction activities. I am passionate about seeing other women become successful."

Zara Phillips, AIS

1. Who is the most influential woman in your life? How does she inspire/made an impact on you?

"With red hair, bright blue eyes, endless energy, and a drive to be independent, my mum challenged, led, and pushed both my sister and me to not follow the crowd. This edict was true for personal and professional growth – the resounding “just do it” was advised from our many questions relating to travel, study, occupation, family, and being open to ideas. She was certainly an influential woman in our lives. Mum would not be contained and certainly not defined as a housewife or subscribing to a dependent life. Strong responses came from her to our primary school principal whose teachers sent home schoolbooks promoting stereotyped women’s roles. Even stronger responses came in discussions about messaging in the media about the role of women. The responses were consistent – “Don’t tell women what they can and can’t do – if you underestimate and under expect, underperformance is what you’ll get.” We were lucky to grow up with such a headstrong mum who believed education and independence are the keys to carving a path for the future. Equally lucky were we that our dad supported… not insisted that this was the right path – the most influential man in our lives supported and provided an equality message consistent with mum’s. From my parents, I know equal opportunity will not be due to negative impetus with a drive from women, but from men and women inspiring all young people and that the combined push for equality will benefit everyone."

Adelaide Education Group: ABN 29 649 618 762

Adelaide Institute of Business and Technology | Adelaide International School CRICOS Provider Code: 03133G | Registered Training Organisation Code: 40312 | School Number: 398 | ABN: 85 132 879 086

Adelaide Institute of Higher Education TEQSA Provider Number: PRV14326
TEQSA Provider Category: Institute of Higher Education | CRICOS Provider Code: 03763K | ABN: 54 618 241 802

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