MEET THE MAESTRO: Fractional Expert Melbourne

Rebecca - Change advisor, facilitator and coach

At Maestro, we know there’s more to life than work. In fact, it’s the experiences, relationships and pursuits we have outside of work that can often give us an edge in what we do each day. We are kicking off an interview series called “Meet the Maestro” where we interview our Maestros and get an insight to who they really are and what makes them tick - beyond the CV.

Rebecca is all about creating workplaces where people actually want to show up. As a change advisor, facilitator and coach, she helps leaders and teams have the real conversations, build confidence and spark the kind of growth that sticks.

Her superpower is genuine connection. She connects with people, connects people to each other and helps leaders connect the dots so they can turn challenges into action. With that gift, she makes navigating change feel less daunting and a whole lot more empowering.

Right now, she’s also writing a book for early-career professionals; sharing the guidance and tools she wishes everyone had at the start of their journey.

We couldn’t be more excited to feature Rebecca as our Maestro of the Week. She’s the ultimate proof that when you put people first, everything else follows.

1. Tell us about a career highlight to date…

I love working at scale, mobilising people across organisations, regardless of their role, to drive change. I led an exciting continuous improvement project harnessing the power of social media when I was working in state government. It tapped into how we could make things work better for all of us everyday. It built amazing momentum and engagement from the frontline to the Executive team and everywhere in between and resulted in the implementation of lots of simple suggestions that made a real difference to peoples’ worklives.

2. Talk us through an unusual career choice you’ve made along the way… 

My career has not followed a linear path. Sometimes people see things in you that you don’t see in yourself. Early in my career when I was working in local government, I had a manager who recommended me for a strategic planning role that I wasn’t sure was right for me. It gave me the opportunity to work on developing the organisation’s Corporate Plan with staff and community which was a big ticket item that gave me great exposure to all parts of the business.

3. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I’ve always enjoyed writing and saw a potential path into journalism. This evolved into a passion for communication which was when I found my groove at university and has been a key chapter in my career. Communication skills are fundamental to being successful in any role.

4. What are your passions outside of work and how do you make time for them? 

I would have to say yoga is a big one for me. I’m seriously addicted! I attend up to 5 classes a week and it’s such a powerful way to maintain wellbeing and find balance amongst the busyness. I literally feel sad every time I go away and need to put my membership on hold, because it’s become such an integral part of my life. 

5. If you could instantly master any skill or hobby, what would it be and why?

I’ve recently started exploring more creative outlets and would love to be able to produce some beautiful paintings like still lifes. I’ve attended a few Paint & Sip classes and there’s real skill required to master fine detail that I’m yet to accomplish!

6. What’s a personal value or belief that guides the way you live your life?

That’s an easy one! Integrity every time. Alignment between words and actions counts for a lot in life. Whether it’s in our work lives or our home lives – what we say and what we do speaks volumes to the people around us. Being clear on what you stand for and not being swayed by what’s convenient or popular is so important, both as a professional and as a parent.

7. What’s a challenge you’ve overcome outside of work that shaped you?

I’ve lost both my parents in the past five years which has been tough. Working in the space where I support people means that I need to ensure that I’m also managing my own wellbeing. The grieving and healing process has definitely made me stronger and given me greater empathy for people who are navigating difficult situations. 

8. What do you think your job will look like in 10 years time?

Great question! Right now, there’s so much talk about the impact of AI and already I’m seeing that the competitive advantage here is people skills – what makes us human! So based on the current trajectory I see that there will still be a need and demand for a nuanced approach to leading change – leaders will still need support to navigate this with the additional challenges that advances in technology bring.

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and what would you do?

That’s a tough one! The first destination that pops into my head is Africa, where I could go on a safari and see all my favourite animals up close in their natural habitats.

10. What does success look like to you?

It’s all about creating positive impact – changing the world one person at a time, so thinking big but making practical progress through helping people be and do better.