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A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Leadership Collective Australia's event (I chair a CIO group for them), meeting lots of new faces and hearing the formidable Kate Roffey speak.
If you don't know Kate, she is an Australian businesswoman, sports administrator, and public speaker. She is best known for her role as the President of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), a position she took up in 2021. Roffey has a background in sports administration and has held various leadership positions, including serving as the CEO of the Committee for Melbourne and the Director of Deals, Investment & Major Projects at Tennis Australia. She is recognized for her leadership, advocacy for women's participation in sports, and contributions to the community and business sectors.
Kate also is a keen horse women and woodworker.
I got the sense that she leads both a public and busy life and then a quiet one tucked away in the countryside where she spends time with her horse and woodworking.
Kate shared some some of her leadership wisdom and had the audience mesmerised.
Three key themes she shared were:
1. Leading is not about me.
2. Have the courage to step outside your comfort zone.
3. Be present so they know you are there.
And importantly 'what is the best decision for the entity?'. Not yourself.
Leading is not about me.
Similar to my newsletter last week. Kate shared that leading the team is not about her. (Gosh haven't we seen a few leaders that make it about them.)
It is about the team and getting the best out of the team and making the best decisions for the group or the entity and not for her. Even if it impacts her.
This for me is true leadership when you can think beyond yourself and see the group as a whole. Have the courage to step outside your comfort zone.
Have the courage to step outside your comfort zone.
Throughout her career Kate has tried many things and grown her career over many years in multiple countries and multiple organisations.
She has always been willing to try new things and step outside her comfort zone. This has allowed her to create a very exciting career.
Be Present for people
With Melbourne football club - Kate mentioned that she is often by the side of the ground and ready to greet the players when they come off the field.
If she is not there now - they often ask her where she is.
She may not be necessarily be doing anything in particular but she is there and around if the team need her. They know that she is present and that she has their back.
This is about showing up for the team.
Warm regards,
Sam McIntyre
Lady Leadership xx
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