Big news folks!!

The winner of the AITD’s Dr. Alastair Rylatt award for

L&D Professional of the Year Award is…..

ME!

It’s me! Truly. I still can’t believe it. This is the Australian Institute of Training and Development’s highest individual accolade and I am beyond thrilled to be this years’ winner.

In my Women@Work programs, we talk about how women are conditioned to be humble, to downplay accomplishments, and to defer compliments, or risk a social backlash of being seen as ‘bragging’ or ‘tooting their own horn’. 

And that makes celebrating an award win, especially one you’re very proud of, kind of tricky business as a woman. (Not sure what I mean? See page 15 of my whitepaper ‘Do women need help to progress?’)

Thank you team

So, on one hand, I want to thank my amazing team (Jenny, Grace and Julie). I truly could not deliver the work I do without my pit crew. 

To Renate Harris and Mel Machin for supporting my application with such strong testimonials, and to all my other amazing clients, I feel so lucky every day to work with you all.

And finally, to my husband Jason and daughter Sienna, to the moon and back my loves!!

Thank you ME

AND, on the other hand, after answering all the questions, gathering all the testimonials, results, and putting my case together for this award, I realised something… something really important to me… I am doing well. 

Win or lose, I am doing well. Win or lose, I am proud of myself. Win or lose, I am proud of my business. 

I am proud of my team and my clients and the results we have achieved together over the last 15 years. I love my work and at the risk of tooting my own horn, I finally feel ready to acknowledge (out loud) that I’m good at what I do. 

Win or lose, this is what real winning feels like - an inside win, supported by an outside win. ;)

Yes, there will always be more to learn, (a fact that constantly delights me), but for right now, I want to honour this very special moment.

Celebrate out loud

I hereby, officially and formally, break the humble brag barriers and declare out loud (#notsohumblebrag) that I WON! And it feels great! And I am so proud! ;)

Drinks are on me everyone!!! ;)

P.S Check out all the AITD award finalists for 2021. Tough competition!!