Elizabeth Shaw: Diversity and Inclusion, Knowing Your Worth, The Power of Sponsorship

This week's guest is Elizabeth Shaw, Partner responsible for diversity, equity and inclusion consulting at PwC Australia. Elizabeth has spent her career at the intersection of gender equality, workplace culture and social impact, from chairing UN Women Australia in her early thirties to advising the Prime Minister and representing Australia at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. She is one of Australia's most respected DEI practitioners, and her career story is anything but conventional.In this episode:What a partner at a big four consulting firm actually does, and why the role is as much about people and collaboration as it is about expertise.The work Elizabeth does in workplace culture reviews, including why she is drawn to the high-stakes moments when something has gone wrong.How Elizabeth's unconventional early career, from an arts degree and a nomadic NGO role to representing Australia at the UN, shaped the skills she draws on today.Why Elizabeth has consistently failed to see opportunities for herself, and why having people who could see further for her has been career-defining.The difference between a mentor and a sponsor, why women are over-mentored and under-sponsored, and what sponsorship actually looks like in practice.What Elizabeth has learned about wellbeing, outsourcing the domestic load, and building a life you do not want to escape from.Why Elizabeth leans into what she is good at rather than trying to fix everything she is not, and what it feels like when you finally do that.Elizabeth Shaw's insight on sponsorship: “I had people who can see further for me than I’ve seen for myself, and they’ve tapped me on the shoulder and encouraged me. And I think about who in my life can I be that person for.”All opinions are the guest's own.New episodes on a Wednesday, with interviews with leaders or experts every week and a monthly discussion on what we've heard in the last week of the month.We'd love to hear from you.  Share your thoughts on recent episodes or questions you would like Luella and Michelle to answer to [email protected]. Support this podcast by becoming a member and get access to bonus episodes containing work related advice from Luella, Michelle and expert guests as well as a monthly newsletter with access to tools and guidance from this week's advice episode. Help other people find this podcast by subscribing in your podcast app and leaving a review.Career Stories is brought to you by The Career Library.