Episode 30: An Aboriginal leader in the public sector’s perspective to a growth mindset approach to change with Carlyn Waters

Over the past seven months, we’ve learned so much from the conversations that we’ve had with our remarkable trailblazers in this podcast series on Thriving in Uncertainty. And indeed, one of the most critical learnings has been the importance of continuing to learn – not only as a key attribute of having a growth mindset approach to change, but also as a distinctive factor in personal and organisational growth, and how learning fosters deeper connections and understanding with others.

In our milestone thirtieth episode, we are joined by Carlyn Waters, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, as she brings a rare perspective of what it is like to be an Aboriginal person in 2025 and how having cultural traits of resilience, adaptability, curiosity, and humility encapsulate a growth mindset approach to change, and help her, and others, to sit in uncertainty and focus on the bigger purpose beyond just today, recognising that today is only a very small part in a much larger ecosystem.

Listen to episode thirty:

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About this episode:

This episode offers a unique perspective of an Aboriginal leader in the public sector and how cultural traits embody a growth mindset approach to change by providing an advantage in the ability to sit in uncertainty, think about the bigger picture beyond today, the importance of learning from others, and how honouring the past also plays a key role in caring for the future.

In a sector where we talk a lot about inclusivity and embracing diverse perspectives and experiences, Carlyn exemplifies what this means in practice as she explains how she has approached traumatic programs of work in her career with a growth mindset and how by thinking about what her ancestors would say and what her descendants would expect of her helped her to stay at the table and try and do the best that she can.

Carlyn talks about the role that social learning plays in continuous development and how this feels natural to her, as in Aboriginal culture, they intrinsically learn from people around them through asking, observing, and listening, and explains how social learning allows everyone differences in thoughts, experiences, cultures, and beliefs to come to the foreground and that this can have an impact in the workplace in a really positive way.

We also discuss the APS value of stewardship and how this resonates culturally with Carlyn, as she shares how, as an Aboriginal person, she is obligated to respect and honour the past, not taking the claims or fame of ancestors and predecessors but looking after and caring for the future. She also talks about the importance of when making decisions, whether that be as a public servant, as a parent, or as a friend, it isn’t just based on today; it is about what future Australians will need and that the decisions will be ones we are proud of and proud to be a part of.

Find out more about this Trailblazer:

Carlyn Waters

Deputy Chief Executive Officer,

Chief Operating Officer

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander Studies

Carlyn is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. 

Carlyn is a Kamilaroi woman who has connections to both NSW and Queensland. Her passion has always been ensuring that there are First Nations people in decision making roles within Australia’s organisations. She is known for her ability to identify and grow talented individuals to reach their full potential inside and outside the Australian Public Service.

Carlyn has held senior positions in the Australian Government as well as operates a side hustle as a Managing Director with Cultivate Indigenous. She was a Senior Fellow in the Practice of Business with The Australian University’s College of Business and Economics and volunteers as a director of the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife as well as a director of the Stars Foundation.

Tune in next week as we speak to a new trailblazer in another episode in our series on Thriving in Uncertainty.