Leading in uncertainty is one thing. Leading through an emergency crisis that deeply affects communities is another entirely. As our next trailblazer explains, you have to reconcile what you feel you need to do with what you can do.
In this heartfelt chat, Kate Fitzgerald, CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, joins us to talk about learning, trust, and organisational adaptability in this latest episode.
Listen to episode thirty-eight:
Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:
About this episode:
This episode emphasises how imperative engagement and building solid relationships are right from the get-go, how you can always lead, communicate and engage with kindness and compassion, and the vital importance of understanding the capacity of yourself and your organisation to be able to deal with the here and now, as well as being able to step back when it’s appropriate to think critically and for the longer term.
Kate reflects on her experience as a leader in emergency management, and the shift she has seen in the frequency and intensity of emergencies throughout her career. She also explains the constant juggle of leading in the moment while leading for the future, the role culture plays in how an organisation listens, learns, and challenges the status quo, and that there is definitely no ‘I’ in team.
Kate also shares how key moments from her personal life have shaped the leader she is today, and how important it is to create a workplace that looks after one another and prioritizes wellbeing, so everyone has the energy needed to perform their job when it matters most.
Find out more about this Trailblazer:
Kate Fitzgerald, CEO, NSW Reconstruction Authority
Kate has an extensive career spanning the full emergency management spectrum, including senior executive and CEO positions in both the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.
As CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Kate leads disaster recovery and preparedness efforts across New South Wales, ensuring communities are better supported to rebuild and become more resilient to future events.
Tune in next time as we speak to a new trailblazer in another episode in our series on Thriving in Uncertainty.