B&T believes that women should be recognised for their inspiring everyday efforts – they should be given a fair shot and a seat at the table; someone for younger, aspiring female leaders to look up to.

So come one, come all, because in celebration of our annual Women in Media Awards, we’ve created a Women in Media Profile Series!

Our last profile featured the ever-inspiring Lisa Sheehan, founder of Incite Consulting. And now it’s time for you to meet Naomi Shepherd, group industry director at Facebook!

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Be yourself, no one does it better.

What’s your proudest professional moment?

I try to keep them all in the same bucket – professional and personal moments.

For me, graduating with an MBA during the most professionally challenging yet satisfying year of my career was a high point. Using that achievement to make more of a contribution to my organization has been extremely rewarding.

Quirkiest attribute?

I often repeat myself. I’m also known to repeat myself.

Guiltiest pleasure?

Living the dreams of my seven year old self and eating giant bags of potato chips for dinner. And sneaking in on my children to watch them sleep (while they can’t answer back).

What women do you find inspiring?

The women who…

• Hustle
• Support other women
• Make the unpopular choices
• Do it themselves
• Want it all
• Go for it even when they think they don’t have a chance

What advice would you give to young aspiring women?

Don’t wait for your circumstances to be perfect before giving it a shot. The timing will never be perfect. Don’t wait – now is as good a time as any.

The best thing I ever did was apply for a new job when I was three months pregnant – it changed the course of my career and set me on a new path. And I built a human while doing it! Women are amazing.

Why are women vital to your industry?

Why wouldn’t we be? We account for more than half the human race.

It wasn’t long ago that an Australian employer could legally refuse to employ a woman, simply because she was a woman. When you look at how far we’ve come since then, it’s encouraging.

But what is disappointing is that with all the positive conversation and fresh energy being brought to the cause, there is still not an observable accelerated rate of women making it into senior executive roles, into the c-suite, or onto the board. We can do better in our industry, but it’s going to take all of us to see it right.

B&T‘s Women in Media Awards 2018 will be held on Friday 17 August 2018 at Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf. Grab early bird tickets to the event here and find all other info on the website.