What inspired the development of your business concept?

After three decades in the fashion industry, with 13 years leading two iconic brands, Sportsgirl and Sussan, it was time for me to embark on the next phase of my life. This led to the establishment of my business, Callander & Co, where I now serve as the Founder, Colleen Callander.

In this new chapter, my purpose remains unchanged, but what excites me the most is the opportunity to pursue it in a broader, deeper, and more expansive manner than ever before. Whether it’s through initiatives like my Mentor Me Women Program, the publication of my book “LEADER BY DESIGN,” masterclasses, podcasts, coaching, or keynote speaking engagements, my goal is to inspire and empower individuals, particularly women, to lead with confidence both in business and in life.

What sets you apart as an exceptional keynote speaker and business coach?

Growing up in Geelong within a business-focused family instilled a strong work ethic in me from an early age. Engaging in various roles within my family’s enterprises, I had my inaugural experience in retail at the age of 16. Little did I know, this summer job would mark the commencement of a career in fashion retail that would extend over three decades, with 13 of those years spent leading two of Australia’s iconic fashion brands.

As an award-winning CEO with a proven track record in brand-building, fostering winning cultures, and creating environments that inspire and empower individuals, I now draw upon not just my 13 years as a CEO but also the wealth of industry expertise and leadership knowledge accumulated over the past 30 years.

Provide an overview of the services your company provides and highlight any significant milestones and recognitions achieved.

Callander & Co has achieved success beyond my initial expectations, experiencing substantial growth in the last two years and expanding its offerings across various business streams.

Under the Mentor Me Women platform, I engage with diverse groups of women from various backgrounds and generations. This includes executives, mothers, startup professionals, students, young women embarking on their careers, senior leaders, CEOs, and educators. My passion lies in reshaping leadership norms, empowering women to lead in their own lives, and instilling the confidence to step into leadership roles.

My book Leader By Design – Be Empowered To Lead With Confidence In Business And In Life was published in May 2021 and has had incredible success.

I firmly believe that leaders are not born but made. We all possess the capacity to evolve into Leaders By Design—individuals who can become the leaders they aspire to be, the leaders they wish to have, and leaders whom others willingly follow.

As a Business and Leadership Coach, as well as a Keynote Speaker, my profound enthusiasm lies in motivating not only the present generation of leaders but also those yet to come. I am dedicated to aiding organizations in recognizing growth potentials through cultural transformation, strategic direction, and brand differentiation to achieve unparalleled business success.

In my keynote presentations, I aim to inspire audiences to adopt leadership as a deliberate lifestyle choice, instill faith in their own capabilities, and evolve into leaders whom others willingly follow. Exceptional leadership stands as one of the most potent advantages an organization can possess, and this journey towards greatness commences with individual commitment.

How do you cultivate a fitting corporate culture?

Creating a great culture is not easy – but it is worth it. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, senior executive, board member or head of buying, a great culture starts with you. If you are responsible for people, you are also responsible for culture.

There are so many things we can do to create a great culture: welcome new thinking, encourage relationship building, cultivate open, honest communication, live and breathe your core values, treat people equally, celebrate diversity and promote positivity and collaboration. Culture starts with you!

Describe your interpretation of success and the duration it took for you.

Success for me also starts in the home. Bringing 3 beautiful humans into this world means I get to help them shape their values, find their purpose, and grow and evolve into wonderful caring and compassionate human beings so that they too can make a positive impact on those around them through their passions.

What single piece of advice would you offer to emerging professionals or coaches embarking on their journey?

Surround yourself great role models and career mentors. There are so many qualities used to determine great role models and mentors. Ideally, you’ll have several role models in your life, providing inspiration and guidance for each of the different areas you are passionate about including your career and leadership journey.

A role model and career mentor can come from anywhere: it may be someone you work with, perhaps someone who is retired and has a wealth of knowledge or someone who has forged forward in their own career. They might be a teacher, a community leader, a family friend or maybe even your parents. They could be world-famous, or someone who lives in your neighbourhood. They will be someone who you admire, someone you want to emulate and someone you believe makes a difference – whether that’s in the little things they do in their everyday life or on a larger public scale.

What are your company’s future aspirations as it aims for stellar achievements?

In 2022, I teamed up with Shannah Kennedy, a prominent strategic life coach and bestselling author in Australia, to craft The Masterplan – Life, Leadership, Longevity. This program is a cutting-edge, high-performance leadership initiative that leverages our combined expertise in health and well-being, strategic life planning, culture, brand, leadership, and high-performance living.

Tailored to meet you wherever you are in your life or leadership journey, The Masterplan is a personalized blueprint and roadmap for success, centered around the three pillars of Life, Leadership, and Longevity. This comprehensive program offers an immersive half-day and full-day experience, a Masterclass Series, and an impactful Keynote Presentation. Excitingly, The Masterplan has recently secured a global book deal, slated for release in 2023.

In your opinion, how kindness is important?

In leadership, kindness emerges as a formidable superpower, and it stands as a pivotal reason why we require more female leaders in this transformative era of leadership. Considered a valuable and influential form of currency, kindness holds the potential to be exchanged for loyalty, trust, unwavering commitment, and high-performance outcomes.

Kindness holds a prominent place among my core values, reflecting in the leadership approach I’ve embraced throughout my 13 years as a CEO. Taking the time to genuinely understand my team, offering support in their pursuit of goals, and fostering an environment where individuals can flourish have been integral aspects of my leadership. This commitment stems from a sincere care for people. Guided by a philosophy that prioritizes people above all else, I firmly believe that by nurturing and prioritizing our people, organizational success inevitably ensues—after all, people are an organization’s most invaluable asset.