Meet Marion Burchell, a trailblazing woman in the business world who has defied odds and overcome gender-related obstacles to create a successful and empowering career. As the captain of her own destiny, Marion shares her inspiring journey, the challenges she faced, and valuable insights for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
1. Embracing Freedom and Kindness:
Marion’s journey in business has been liberating and empowering, giving her full license and control over her endeavors. When asked about her occupation, her response is simple yet powerful, “Whatever I want.” Marion believes that true success lies in the ability to decide how one spends their time. However, the journey wasn’t without challenges. One of her biggest obstacles was learning to be kinder to herself. Transitioning from being a supportive leader for her team to becoming her own cheerleader required her to overcome self-doubt and take a leap of faith. Thankfully, her unique value proposition and unwavering dedication led to exponential growth, even amid the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Inspiring Leadership:
What inspired Marion to enter the business world and pursue a leadership role was her belief in challenging oneself and stepping out of the comfort zone. Marion’s successful career in government motivated her to seek new challenges and contribute beyond her previous achievements. Regardless of the sector one operates in, she believes it’s essential to stand for something greater than oneself and leave a positive impact on the world for future generations.
3. Witnessing the Changing Landscape for Women in Business:
Throughout her career, Marion has seen significant changes in the landscape for women in business. Initially, the workplace was dominated by middle-aged men, and professional women were often misunderstood and underappreciated. Maternity leave policies were primarily targeted at women, leading to demotions for many upon their return. However, Marion highlights that there has been progress, with a greater focus on choice and flexibility in parental leave, paving the way for more equal opportunities for both parents. Despite the progress, the pandemic has also had adverse effects, impacting women disproportionately in terms of layoffs, unemployment, and childcare costs. Nevertheless, Marion acknowledges the rise of female-led businesses and investors, signaling strong market opportunities and significant growth potential.
4. Overcoming Gender-Related Obstacles:
Marion shares specific instances where she had to overcome gender-related biases in her professional life. She realized that women can sometimes hinder their own progress due to learned behaviors from societal norms. To combat this, she set clear boundaries and expectations, ensuring she was treated with respect and fairness. In male-dominated industries like cybersecurity, she confronted assumptions and stood up for herself, setting the tone for what it means to be a woman in leadership.
5. Advice for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs:
As a successful woman in business, Marion offers valuable advice to aspiring female entrepreneurs. She emphasizes the importance of staying true to one’s purpose, focusing on solving problems, and making a positive impact on people’s lives. Profit, while essential, should not overshadow the primary reason for starting a business. She urges aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace the freedom of running their own business and to take action without overthinking.
6. Approaching Gender Biases in the Workplace:
Marion’s approach to overcoming gender biases is rooted in fostering high performance and unity. While acknowledging the importance of gender advocacy, she believes that focusing solely on gender can potentially widen the divide. Instead, she prioritizes building diverse and inclusive teams that leverage each member’s unique skills and capabilities. For Marion, diversity should be an integral part of an organization’s DNA, resulting in better outcomes and continued success.
7. Strengths and Qualities of Women in Business:
Marion passionately acknowledges the remarkable qualities that women bring to the business world. She believes that women are truly incredible, though they may not always recognize their own strength amidst their busy lives. Traditional workplace structures designed around outdated norms often hinder women’s confidence and potential. However, Marion sees a richness in women’s skill sets beyond typical workplace expertise. Women’s life experiences equip them with expert multitasking abilities, crisis management skills, and a strong focus on task prioritization for delivering results. Their resilience in facing life’s challenges further enhances their value in the business world. Marion highlights that women’s productivity is exceptional, as they effectively manage their time and contribute more to the workforce, offering invaluable insights and practical knowledge for organizations seeking a competitive advantage.
8. Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment:
Marion emphasizes the urgent need for businesses to address the shift in population dynamics and workforce challenges. As populations stagnate and decline in many countries, businesses face labor and skills shortages. To remain competitive and successful, workplaces need to be reimagined to accommodate various cohorts eager to work, including women, young people, and older workers. Discrimination and ageism pose significant barriers for these groups, hindering their contributions to the workforce. Marion believes that successful businesses of the future will be those that courageously reevaluate their workplace practices, design new ways of working, and become more inclusive and supportive of a contemporary workforce and workplace. Empowering women will be a crucial aspect of attracting and retaining skilled talent in this changing job market.
9. Female-Led Innovations in Marion’s Industry:
Marion provided a range of examples of female-led innovations or initiatives. A clear commonality among them was a problem that they identified and decided to do something about. Their ability to be successful was a result of perseverance, focus and a dedication to show an alternate and better solution. Marion’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity means she actively encourages and recognizes such initiatives, as she believes everyone benefits when all boats rise.
10. The Importance of Mentorship and Networking:
For career advancement, Marion acknowledges the value of having a mentor or coach at specific points in one’s journey. Mentors offer valuable advice based on their experiences, helping individuals navigate workplace challenges effectively. She emphasizes the importance of giving back, as successful women should lift others behind them and form mutually beneficial relationships with their mentors or coaches. Networking is another powerful tool for building one’s brand and reputation. Marion advises that networking goes beyond exchanging business cards; it is about forming meaningful connections and seeking opportunities for collaboration. In addition to mentors and networking, Marion highlights the significance of sponsorship for career progression. Having advocates who recognize and support an individual’s potential and create opportunities for them can be the key to career advancement, especially when combined with consistently delivering results.
11. Unique Opportunities and Advantages for a Female Leader:
Marion humbly states that she cannot identify any unique opportunities or advantages she has received solely due to her gender. On the contrary, she has encountered situations where people falsely assumed that gender played a role in her success. Marion acknowledges the complexity of achieving diversity in the workplace, where some may misinterpret opportunities given to women as tokenism rather than acknowledging their skills and experience. However, she credits her blessings and unique opportunities to her reputation, strong network, and a track record of delivering valuable outcomes. Marion believes that genuine success comes from staying true to one’s purpose, delivering value, and continuously solving problems, which eventually leads to more opportunities and advantages.
12. Steps for Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Environment for Women:
For organizations to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for women, Marion emphasizes the importance of understanding the reality within the workplace. Assumptions and biases can hinder progress, so it is crucial to conduct thorough investigations and seek input from staff members to gain insights into their experiences and needs. Identifying and rectifying systemic biases in recruitment and workplace practices can lead to a more balanced and inclusive workforce. Simple yet impactful initiatives, such as creating spaces for working parents and offering flexible work arrangements, can go a long way in supporting employees’ work-life integration. Marion emphasizes that prioritizing a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for maintaining high productivity and attracting and retaining top talent.
13. Leadership and Tough Decisions:
As a leader, Marion understands the importance of making tough decisions and navigating complex environments. Her gender does not influence these choices; rather, it is her ability to provide clarity and steer the organization through challenging times that defines her leadership. Leadership effectiveness, according to Marion, is best assessed during turbulent periods when the true capabilities of a leader shine through.
14. Balancing Work-Life Integration:
Marion admits that balancing work-life integration has been an ongoing challenge for her. In the past, work took precedence, often at the cost of her well-being and personal relationships. However, she has learned to integrate practices like meditation, exercise, and personal time to maintain her health and performance. Working smarter, not necessarily harder, has been a key strategy for her. Taking breaks from the workplace environment helps her gain fresh perspectives and insights, ultimately contributing to her success in both professional and personal spheres.
15. Envisioning the Future for Women in Business:
In Marion’s vision, the digital age presents a new frontier full of opportunities for driven and visionary individuals, regardless of their background. Technology is the enabler that can disrupt markets and create new opportunities. Women, in particular, are uniquely positioned to provide fresh perspectives and create new market opportunities previously ignored or underestimated. Marion believes that women can be masters of their own destinies in the digital age, designing products and services that meet market needs and making a significant impact on the business landscape.
Marion Burchell’s journey as a trailblazing woman in business showcases the power of perseverance, self-belief, and a commitment to creating a positive impact in the world. Through her leadership and achievements, Marion inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace their freedom, overcome challenges, and make a lasting difference in their chosen fields. Her dedication to uplifting others and fostering a supportive environment paves the way for a future where women can excel and contribute their invaluable skills to create a better world for all. Marion’s advocacy for diversity, inclusivity, and genuine leadership sets an example for businesses to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world, ensuring that women can recognize their potential, overcome obstacles, and leave a lasting impact in their respective fields. Her journey exemplifies the strength, determination, and vision that women bring to the business world, inspiring and empowering women to embrace their unique strengths and shape a future where they thrive in every aspect of business and beyond.
“Marion Burchell is a seasoned executive delivering pragmatic and practical solutions that deliver impact. Her unique value proposition is humanising strategy, processes and procedures so they work for both the customer and the organisation. Her experience across strategy, policy, innovation, digital, data, science and sociology makes her highly adaptable, insightful and sought after. Her multi-skill and interests continue, being involved in the entertainment industry, technology companies and Boards. She is the Managing Director, Azolla Holdings Pty Ltd, a bespoke consulting company putting people at the centre of the modern age.”
Find out more: marionburchell.com