As the co-owner of Taylor’d Press, Kirsten Taylor recognised the need to enhance her leadership skills, especially in the male-dominated print industry. In 2019, she took the first step and enrolled in the Executive Ready Program. Kirsten embarked on her leadership journey seeking to enhance her understanding of herself as a leader, and ultimately credits the program in helping her take on Board and Patron roles. To celebrate 20 years of empowering leaders, we asked Kirsten to share her experience with the Executive Ready Program, and how its propelled her career.

Kirsten’s career soars after the Executive Ready Program

Since completing the Executive Ready Program in 2019, Kirsten’s career has soared, marked by significant achievements, such as:
– Being welcomed onto the board of PrintEx/PacPrint and Visual Industries Events
– Appointed Victorian Patron of Women in Print Australia
– Won the Exceptional Women in Print Award – 2020
– Award winner of Printer 50 at the ProPrint Awards – ranked at 5 in 2022

Reflecting on the program’s impact Kirsten shared,

“Lots of different aspects helped, especially working with teams, understanding people and how they work. The program has been a massive influence for me moving forward to pick up all these extra roles outside of my day job.”

When Kirsten was offered a board position for the first time she reflects,
“I was terrified to be honest, that whole imposter syndrome came in and I was thinking ‘Why would they want me? I’m just this small-town girl from this tiny business.’

“But it was so much more than that and realising what I bring to the table and the respect and understanding of how I integrate with others.

“You’ve got a lot of different personalities on these kinds of boards and we all come from different backgrounds like industry bodies, supplies, and print. I feel that understanding myself and how my values fit into that arena was really important.”

The motivation to learn

Reflecting on her motivations to enrol in the Executive Ready Program, Kirsten noted, “I’d been working with my husband in our business since 2004 and I just hadn’t done any formal leadership training for myself. I was looking for that bit of knowledge growth and education around leadership. I received a partial scholarship from Women & Leadership Australia for the Executive Ready Program, working in quite a male-dominated industry, it was just a perfect match for me at that time.”

Self-discovery and redefining leadership style

One of the program’s key revelations for Kirsten was the affirmation that leadership isn’t confined to traditional stereotypes of strength and dominance. Instead, she discovered that her innate qualities of kindness and vulnerability could shape her leadership style.
“I always thought leaders are these strong, powerful, domineering kind of people…But doing the course actually made me realise I am a leader, I just lead from a different position.”

The program boosted Kirsten’s confidence in leading others through her newfound style.

“[At the time] I was also taking on the position of Victorian Patron with Women in Print. As patron I’m standing up for women in our industry and being a representative for that was actually very important at that time in my life. I had to come from a place of confidence, especially leading other women. I learnt I didn’t have to come out and be this domineering leader, it was okay to lead from a place of being genuine.”

Psychological safety in women’s-only spaces

Prior to the course, Kirsten had received feedback from others about her lack of confidence. The supportive and validating environment of the program helped her overcome this hurdle. As a participant in a women’s-only program, Kirsten found solace and camaraderie among peers who shared similar career challenges. The space provided psychological safety, enabling Kirsten to delve deeper into her leadership journey within a supportive environment.
“We all come from a similar experience, we’re all women trying to get somewhere in our industries. We don’t just play one role, we have lots of different roles and responsibilities as a woman; be it a mother, daughter or a sister. So an understanding of what that was like made it quite easy to work with. We were there for each other and that was what we needed at that particular point in time.

“There’s a difference [with women’s-only programs] definitely. Having that space was good to just give my vulnerability over, it’s nurturing, supportive and validating.”

Practical skills beyond work

The program equipped Kirsten with practical tools that significantly enhanced her leadership practice. Kirsten gained valuable insights into team dynamics, allowing her to better understand and manage teams within her business and on the boards she sits on. She highlighted the value of understanding oneself in fostering better relationships. “Understanding ourselves enables us to understand others”, she remarked.
“The program offers so much information that makes you more knowledgeable and considerate of others. Leading from a place of vulnerability and understanding others became my guiding principles,” she explained. “Being a caring leader, understanding what people want and need, it makes them perform better.”
Beyond work, she seamlessly integrated these learnings into her personal life, enhancing her interactions and relationships as a mother.

Adapting to life’s challenges

Navigating the complexities of a global pandemic and managing business uncertainties, Kirsten found herself drawing upon the leadership skills gained from the Executive Ready Program. Despite facing setbacks such as employee layoffs, she remained committed to leading with empathy and integrity, guiding her team through the challenges of business pressures during Covid-19.
Kirsten stressed the importance of leadership resilience. “Leadership comes in stronger than ever during moments of hardship,” she noted. “It’s about doing the right thing by people and leading from kindness.”

Embracing a new leadership style

The course reshaped Kirsten’s perception of leadership, helping her realise that her kindness and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses, in leading a team. This newfound understanding empowered her to embrace her authentic leadership style.
Kirsten’s experience emphasises the value of leadership development programs that go beyond the technical skills and delve into self-discovery and emotional intelligence.

Find out more about our Executive Ready Program.