THE WHAT
At first glance Carolynne’s career defies convention. Her experience is all over the place, government, health care, corporate, non-profit, even the Australian Open. Talk about range, what jumps out is that it is less about the specific jobs and more about the story they tell, https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynne-wilson/.
Her profile isn’t just a list of positions, it is like a roadmap of someone who is constantly seeking out challenges and picking up valuable skills along the way. It is intriguing, it is almost like a puzzle, creating such a diverse and fulfilling career.
Not staying in one lane, working in many different sectors. However, when you look closely there is logic to it, there is a thread that runs through all her choices. Change, process improvement, managing stakeholders those are her strengths, so a master at making things better. Streamlining, upgrading, those are skills needed in any industry.
It looks like Carolynne has made them her superpower. She loves it when things need to be shaken up and revamped. Mastering skills like that across so many fields. I think it is a mix of natural talent, a commitment to always learning and an ability to adapt.
At Business Computers of Australia and Bupa Medical Visa Services she built their quality management system from the ground up, she even got them certified to that ISO9001/2 standards. The ultimate seal of approval of a company’s processes. How companies prove they have really solid process to ensure their process and products are top notch. At Bupa it contributed to enabling approximately 225,000 people to move smoothly through their branch network to meet the obligations of a Department of Immigration and Border Protection contracts.
It isn’t just hoping from job to job for Carolynne, she is diving in and mastering all these systems, leaving her mark on these companies.
There is a little detail of her being a children’s book author, totally out of left field. It seems like a strange addition to a professional profile, however it says a lot about how she solves problems, how she connects things that don’t seem related.
So on one hand she is this total pro dealing with business, on the other creating these imaginary worlds for kids. She created the Willi Worlds Series because her son has dyslexia, she wanted to help him engage with reading. She sees a problem, her son struggling with books, and boom uses her creativity to solve it.
That problem solving mindset carries over into her professional life.
One of her previous roles with the Australian Red Cross, where she was in charge of building the business infrastructure to manage a $250 million program for the Department of Immigration of Border Protection. The logistics and emotions involved in building a team of fifty people was leadership on a whole other level, dealing with the politics, while dealing with the logistics of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
Her Linked-In recommendations are a clue to her ability to lead teams and handle these super complex projects. It isn’t just her talking about herself but people who have worked with her, seen her in action, seen as she brings people together, overcomes challenges, gets things done, there is social proof.
There is a pattern that emerges, adaptable problem solver, great with people, teleporting across the career landscape, from managing a warehouse to leading a multi-million dollar program. That is where those early career choices get interesting, she didn’t start at the top, she built her expertise gradually, starting in computers, then purchasing and warehouse management, which seem totally unrelated to what she does now, but think about the skills involved. Organisation, logistics, negotiation, those are valuable in any field. There wasn’t a career masterplan from day one, but recognising how seemingly unrelated experiences can build on each other – An important lesson for anyone whose thinking about switching careers, or trying something outside their comfort zone. Sometimes those seemingly random experiences are actually the most valuable.
Fast forward to General Motors, Organisational Development and Business Improvement Management, working on projects across Australia, India, China and Korea. A Global stage, showing she can work in diverse cultures, navigating complicated organisations and driving change across borders. Leveraging a universal language. Although different agendas, she was able to leverage her experiences at GeneraI Motors when she joined World Vision International as the Global Transformation Manager, designing and implementing sustainable world-wide change programs. It speaks to her adaptability and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
A highlight was her time at Telstra, where she led the implementation of the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). CMM is basically a framework, like a roadmap for making software changes, helping companies to make sure their tech projects are on track and delivering high quality stuff. A sort of safety net for tech projects, making sure they don’t completely go off the rails. Carolynne’s role involved planning, implementing and coaching people, getting them to CMM Level 3. Not just implementing a system but actually teaching and mentoring people to make sure those changes really stuck. That speaks to her leadership skills and ability to drive change through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Carolynne’s aim is always to make sure those complex systems work smoothly and efficiency, and deliver to the customer through an engaged workforce.
She worked in Medibank Private where she designed and implemented solutions to deal with health care complaints and service issues. Health care is high stakes and dealing with complaints a ton of sensitivity and an understanding of the whole healthcare system is necessary. It isn’t just about putting out fires but preventing them from happening in the first place.
At GE Capital, she was leading change in a very high stakes environment and fast past environment. Integrating news businesses, and change programs for new products.
As her career unfolded she took on bigger and bigger challenges, being open to new opportunities, embracing those challenges and continuously learning and growing.
After completing her MBA, her Masters of International and Community Development opened up an even broader world to Carolynne. Allowing her to dive into her deep interest in social justice and global development, working with communities to create positive change. It wasn’t just about systems and processes, but about understanding the bigger picture, the social and economic factors that impact people’s lives. Reinforcing the idea that her career is driven by this desire to make a positive impact. Whether working with big corporations or helping vulnerable communities, there is this common thread in Carolynne’s journey of using her skills to improve lives and create a more just world.
It is all about purpose, and what motivates Carolynne. It isn’t about climbing the ladder it is about aligning her work with her values. And making a real difference, and that is what makes her linked in profile compelling. It isn’t just a resume it is a story of someone who is using her skills and experience to create a career that is both fulfilling and impactful through adaptability, resilience and the pursuit of purpose.
THE HOW
Building those diverse skills, transitioning between the different roles, what can be learned from this, even if not expiring to be experienced change managers.
Carolynne left school at 16, and didn’t go to University until she was accepted to an MBA in her 30’s as a mature aged student.
Prior to this she picked-up courses in Project Management, Government Policy, MBTI, basically anything that was on offer.
It is like she has been treating her career as one big University course. But it isn’t just about collecting degrees, it is about gaining specific knowledge and skills that matchup with her goals. So strategically building her expertise in areas that support her passion for change and improvement. Constantly upgrading her professional toolkit, adding new tools and technicques that let her tackle even bigger challenges. In today’s world you have to keep learning, what we learn today maybe outdated tomorrow.
Even with decades of experience Carolynne knows that she has to stay ahead of the curve. Can’t just wait for opportunities to come along, you need to be out there proactively seeking experiences that can make you more valuable.
It isn’t just about technical skills, many of Carolynne’s experience and certifications are about communication, engaging with stakeholders, facilitation, the soft skills. Those are absolutely crucial in change management, or any field working with others. It isn’t just what you know it is how you communicate it, how you build relationships, how you navigate the whole messy world of human interaction.
Carolynne’s investment in those soft skills is a huge reason why she has been successful. The most brilliant idea in the world will not get you very far if you can’t explain it, get people on board, and inspire them to embrace change.
Carolynne is a lifelong learner serious about professional development. Carolynne’s projects show how combines her skills and uses them to get results. For example the Closing the Gap strategic plans. They were not a theoretical exercises they were addressing real inequality and making a difference for indigenous communities. Those projects required a whole range of skills, strategic planning, understanding different cultures, working with stakeholders, project management, ability to deep dive into government policy and community development principles.
Carolynne knows work is about more than a pay check. Using her career to tackles important issues, things that align with her values, allowing her to make a real difference. Contributing to something bigger than herself.
She is not just a driven professional, also a caring mum who uses her skills to solve problems in her personal life. That experience influences how she works, it assisted her understanding of how to communicate complex information across diverse audiences.
The skills we develop in one area, can often be used in another, personal and professionally. Not separating the different parts of our lives, but seeing the connections, the overlaps. When our passions and skills can work together to create something really meaningful, you are able to showcase those connections in an authentic way.
The challenge for Carolynne has been the perception of being a jack of all trades, master of none. In some fields there is a real premium on specialisation. But Carolynne’s path has been all about breadth, adaptability, emphasising her ability to see across sectors to bring her big picture knowledge to problem solving, basically owning her diverse background.
Carolynne has a very strong sense of her own strengths, values and the work that interests her. Self-awareness is critical to making choices for good work life balance, enabling you to recharge through creative outlets, using different parts of your brain.
We are not defined by our jobs, we are more than just our titles. We have lives, passions, hobbies, and those outside interests can make us better at our jobs, being more creative more resilient.
Carolynne found that sweat spot between personal fulfilment and professional success. Doing work that matters to her, work that plays to her strengths and makes a difference.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
These key takeaways emphasise personal growth, adaptability, and the importance of investing in oneself, both professionally and personally. Here’s a concise breakdown:
KEY TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS
These key transferable skills are essential in navigating any career and can significantly enhance an individual’s professional effectiveness and adaptability. Here’s a closer look at each:
Linked in Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynne-wilson/