If you’ve been following along, over the last few weeks of our “Superwomen Series”, we asked some of the women shaping Australia’s media landscape, from Rising Stars to CEOs, Entrepreneurs and Power List inductees, to speak honestly about ambition, identity, fear, leadership, and what it really takes to thrive in an industry still evolving to meet the needs of women.
Last week on B&T’s Superwomen Series we spoke to Women In Media Sustainability winner, Charlotte Berry, highly commended Creative, Michelle Walsh and Women In Media Power List Inductees Imogen Hewitt and Clare Pickens about navigating motherhood and health challenges and valuing creativity in a world shaped by AI. To view last week’s instalment click here.
Throughout the weeks, a powerful theme emerged: women are no longer asking for permission to belong, they are redefining what leadership, confidence, creativity and progress look like. In this op-ed, Jane Huxley, CEO of Are Media, tries to distil these weeks of remarkable wisdom into ten “lessons” we can all reflect on — not as rules, but as fuel.
These lessons are reminders, truths, and provocations to help professional and emerging women navigate their careers with greater clarity, courage, and self-belief.
1. Confidence grows through action — not the absence of doubt.
Imposter syndrome, career transitions, and new technologies all create uncertainty, but confidence is built through doing: speaking up, experimenting, failing, learning, and trying again. Momentum — not perfection — is what propels women forward.
2. Your voice, perspective, and lived experience are strategic assets.
Whether you’re young, returning from parental leave, navigating menopause, or leading through technological disruption, your unique viewpoint adds clarity, creativity, and depth — especially in rooms not designed for you. Distinctiveness is more valuable than ever in an AI-driven world.
3. Progress matters more than perfection — in creativity, leadership, and life.
Stagnation is more damaging than mistakes. Growth happens through iteration: taking risks, redefining success during life transitions, and allowing priorities to evolve. Excellence emerges from progress, not flawlessness.
4. Self-belief is a practice you must train — especially when the inner critic gets loud.
Confidence is developed through daily habits: recognising wins, challenging negative self-talk, acknowledging hard seasons, and celebrating how far you’ve come. Self-belief is not a destination — it’s maintenance.
5. Vulnerability builds trust, connection, and leadership impact.
Being honest about not being okay, asking for flexibility, or sharing difficult personal circumstances fosters deeper relationships and more human workplaces. Openness transforms teams and shows others they, too, don’t have to hide.
6. Women don’t need to fit systems — they can reshape them.
From advocating for equal pay to creating sustainable AI practices, from redesigning team structures to supporting carers and parents, women are repositioning how the industry works. Leadership today requires courage, allyship, transparency, and a refusal to shrink.
7. Authority comes from clarity, empathy, values, and emotional intelligence — not being “less.”
Whether asserting yourself in a room, navigating creative disagreements, or leading teams, authority is rooted in conviction and humanity. Being labelled “too much” often reflects power, not a flaw.
8. Support networks and inclusive workplaces are essential to sustaining ambition through life’s transitions.
Parenthood, menopause, caregiving, and health changes are not career derailments — they’re life. Organisations that provide flexibility, psychological safety, and meaningful support enable women to maintain momentum without sacrificing wellbeing or ambition.
9. Celebrating your wins is not bragging — it’s visibility, advocacy, and resistance.
Women have long been conditioned to downplay success, but owning your achievements normalises female excellence, combats systemic minimisation, and inspires others. Visibility fuels industry change — and future leaders.
10. Boundaries, sustainability, and values must shape the future — in life, work, and technology.
From protecting your time and mental load, to using AI responsibly, to prioritising creativity and environmental impact — long-term success depends on purposeful choices. Boundaries and values don’t limit ambition; they safeguard it.
The Future of Media Leadership Is Being Rewritten — By Women, These lessons reflect a powerful truth: women in media are no longer navigating the industry quietly or alone. They are shifting culture, reshaping structures, challenging outdated norms, and modelling new ways of leading with empathy, conviction, and humanity.
For those rising through the industry now, these insights offer both encouragement and challenge: your voice matters, your ambition is valid, and your impact can be transformative — not just for yourself, but for every woman who follows.
This is not just a moment of progress. It is a movement — and every woman who steps forward adds momentum.
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge all those superwomen who made a contribution during the series, take a bow Superwomen!
Melanie Aslanidis, Natalie Taylor, Haley McDonald, Rose Herceg, Belinda Drew , Jo McAlister, Anathea Ruys, Laura Nice and Mandie van der Merwe, Sian Whitnall, Maria Grivas, Leisa Williams, Shivani Maharaj, Dee Madigan, Beverley McGarvey, Carly , The Aunties, Nat Harvey, Jacquie Alley, Vanessa Liell, Jasmin Bedir, Jessica Brackstone, Charlotte Berry, Michelle Walsh, Imogen Hewitt and Clare Pickens.
Looking forward to seeing you all next year at the Women in Media event – they just get better each year!
Have a safe and restful break, 2026, we’re coming for you.
Jane
