The Enduring Power of Being Seen
There are certain names that are woven into the very fabric of Australian culture, and Carla Zampatti is one of them. She was more than a designer; she was a pioneer, an entrepreneur, and an icon whose legacy transcends fashion. She was a natural, inspirational leader, quietly spoken with well chosen words - people listened deeply. So, when I was invited to be part of the Carla Zampatti ‘Female Forces’ series, I felt a profound sense of privilege and responsibility. It was a chance to reflect on the enduring power of role models and the very human qualities of leadership that matter now more than ever.
During my conversation with the wonderful Sally Obermeder, she asked me about the impact Carla had on me. It took me back to one of the most pivotal moments of my career—the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.
Let me set the scene. I was one of many finalists, moving through a rapid-fire "speed judging" process. In a series of five-minute interviews, I was pitching my business to a room full of esteemed judges. The conversations were, as you can imagine, focused on the business—the numbers, the strategy, the metrics. And then, I sat down in front of Carla Zampatti.
In a room buzzing with pressure and performance, Carla did something different. She paused. She looked past the pitch deck and saw me. She commented on the red I was wearing and our conversation shifted from business metrics to a shared love of colour, creativity, and art. In those few minutes, she saw beyond the entrepreneur to the person—my creativity, my passion, my raw humanness. Of all the judges I met that day, hers is the conversation that has stayed with me. She was the one who truly saw me.
This is a lesson I carry with me every day, especially now. In an age of AI, algorithms, and data-driven decisions, we have an incredible array of tools to make us more efficient. But efficiency is not the same as impact. Carla’s moment of genuine human connection had a more lasting impact on me than any analysis of my business ever could. It’s a powerful reminder that the new leadership playbook isn't written in code; it’s written in empathy, intuition, and the ability to connect with people on a human level. Algorithms can analyse data, but they cannot look someone in the eye and make them feel seen.
This is the enduring power of role models. They show us what’s possible. My own entrepreneurial journey was sparked by my mother, who worked for a trailblazing female tech founder, Lindsay Cattermole. My mum would tell me, “If she can do it, you can do it.” Seeing a woman leading a major company made the idea of starting my own feel possible. Carla Zampatti was that role model on a national scale for countless Australian women. She demonstrated that you could be a creative, a mother, and a formidable business force, all at once and with impeccable grace.
In a beautiful, full-circle moment, I now have the privilege of serving as the Chief Judge for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards. As I sit in that chair, I am deeply conscious of the legacy Carla left. My goal is not just to scrutinise business plans, but to look for that spark of creativity, that raw humanness, and that unwavering purpose in the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what truly matters. We can have all the data in the world, but it is our ability to connect, to inspire, and to truly see one another that defines the most impactful leaders. Thank you to the Carla Zampatti team for allowing me to share this story and for continuing to champion the female forces shaping our future.
