~5 minute read.
Associate Professor Carmel O’Brien is a Senior Program Manager at the CSIRO where she currently leads an ASEAN partnership initiative to deploy emerging low emission technologies. Carmel is a Principal Scientist and accomplished leader in the field of regenerative medicine (adjunct appointment Monash University), diversifying to lead multiple STEM Innovation programs and teams in career roles spanning public, private, Government and not-for-profit sectors. She is a passionate advocate for accelerating science solutions to national and global challenges through fostering divergent ideation, science-government-industry collaborations and diversity build in STEMM organisations. In her downtime, Carmel is an avid green thumb, easily occupied somewhere in the garden.
Join us as Carmel shares her stories of courage.
How would you describe workplace courage?
Workplace courage is making decisions that require boldness, honesty and sometimes discomfort, where there is a sense of personal or professional risk.
Workplace courage creates an environment to test new ideas, to display vulnerability, where mistakes are valued as learnings. At all levels in an organisation, workplace courage is being a voice and champion for setting the tone of culture, ensuring you and those around you feel safe to bring differing thoughts and experiences.
Workplace courage also means backing and lifting others up – growing confidence in others around you to forge their own path. Courage is paying attention to when you or those around you are not thriving in the workplace, acting on this with respect and empathy.
What does courage look like in your workplace?
Innovation organisations require their workforce to question current knowledge or approaches, be curious and brave in trying new things, in an often high-performing and competitive environment.
In my workplace, I see courage in leadership to set progressive strategies and new approaches that enable greater impact from science but are driven from a core focus on all staff being able to contribute to this impact. The implementation of this vision in the workplace requires courage at all levels. Respect and encouragement enable a diversity of ideas and discussion of thought; everyone has a voice, is empowered to make decisions, and able to bring their whole self to work. Encouragement when practiced well, creates a safe environment where everyone feels valued and able to grow from learned experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic period has changed traditional ways of working. My workplace has embraced the opportunity to capture the benefits from this learning, knowing that we can work effectively in new ways that are flexible and assist employees to thrive. The roll out of work-from-home equipment packages, platforms and regular staff check-in forums during the extended pandemic lockdown periods displayed exceptional leadership that simply put people first for the benefit of longer-term organisational resilience and growth.
In my workplace, I see courage in leadership to set progressive strategies and new approaches that enable greater impact from science but are driven from a core focus on all staff being able to contribute to this impact.
Please describe 1-2 examples in which you have been courageous. What did you do? Who/what enabled you to be courageous? What was the outcome?
For me, connection to core personal values and a sense of purpose in the world are strong drivers that take me to places of courage in decision making. Examples that come to mind, are the decision in my early 30’s to exit the clinical health workforce and sell up a first home to take up PhD studies in the then emerging field of stem cells; More recently I have made a significant pivot away from an established science career, leveraging leadership and management skillsets in a way that would bring me closer to impact work in current global decarbonisation activities.
Both change decisions came from recognising a need at the time to re-align workforce contribution and ‘good output’ with my personal values, remaining curious to learn, but with some trepidation growing into a space less known. The first of these was financially impacting, and held a great deal of unknown for what would follow for personal life and work choices. In making the second change, I needed to take a much deeper look at what was important to me for my senior workforce years and in the context of the wider needs of my husband and family as we navigated the pandemic period with the loss of a new business.
In both situations, there has been an immediate sense of thriving, being in the right spot, being fully me, the decision point has dissipated as fulfilment and life trajectories changed only in positive ways. My PhD studies took me to beautiful Scotland and into an exciting stem cell biotech career, then on to leading cross-organisation and global innovation science R&D programs. That decision point has continued to present so many awesome avenues over the years – I have met and worked with science trailblazers and inspiring thought leaders. Equally, I have been able to give back through early career mentorships, professional citizenship and charitable organisation roles from these networks. In my current role, I am challenged by a new set of complexities for establishing a program that spans national boundaries and encompasses the multiple stakeholder sectors that can enable renewable energy economies. In moments where I might feel uncertain or overwhelmed by the task ahead, instead I feel energised by being part of the exciting global momentum to transition towards ‘net zero’ living.
My own enablers when faced with life and work decisions that feel big or carry larger unknowns and sense of risk are, self-trust to embrace change when an opportunity truly resonates, and simply recognising that I have had many moments of courage before. External enablers have been the people who really know me and are sources of inspiration, opportunity, and support at each time I have called on courage to navigate change or difficult situations. In every courage instance I can think of there has always been someone to back me, offer advice, open a door or simply listen.
For me, connection to core personal values and a sense of purpose in the world are strong drivers that take me to places of courage in decision making.
From your point of view, to what extent are Australia’s leaders leading with courage?
More than ever, Australia’s leaders are being called upon to make bold strategic decisions for the longer-term benefit of country, communities, and the planet. The energy transition period of the next two to three decades is critical and will be accompanied by disruption and financial challenges as market economies and societal behaviours adjust. Strong united decision making, leadership integrity and a trust of science are pivotal to taking the Australian population through this transition. It is encouraging to see leaders across the spectrum of governments, public and private sectors stepping up to act urgently amid differing public opinions, as the right thing to do for future generations and global sustainability. In the corporate sector I see inspiring examples of innovators, investors and leaders who are driven by an ethos to address key societal challenges, implementing bold decisions that disrupt the status quo.
Underpinning the courage required to navigate societal change mechanisms, I see trust, authenticity and empathy have become more valued leadership attributes in Australia, brought to the fore during the challenging pandemic period.
If you’d like to connect further with Carmel, you can do so via her LinkedIn profile.
This thoughtfully written piece demonstrates many different aspects of courage which are tangible and inspiring. No doubt, you – the reader – are already translating Carmel’s stories into your own worlds. I am grateful for the opportunity to share Carmel’s stories of courage.
Additionally, I am grateful for the work that Carmel does. Sustainability of our planet is of paramount importance. I am grateful for the opportunity to share this message here. Thank you Carmel.
@CourageChick
Leading with courage 