Episode 18: How a diverse leadership team creates its magic with Julie Bale

Leadership Amplified by Dr Karen Morley

This was one part of a fascinating discussion with the wonderful Julie Bale, CIO at EnergyAustralia in the latest episode of Leadership Amplified. Julie is an influential CIO with over 25 years’ experience working globally in Financial Services, Telecommunications and Utilities. Like many of us, Julie’s earlier experiences of leadership taught her how she DIDN’T want to lead. In her leadership roles, she’s focused on deliberately building a diverse team – gender, experience, industry, personality – the outcomes achieved are the richer for it. To get from diversity to cohesion starts with a safe environment. Part of the magic of the diversity is having open, direct and honest conversations with the team - the team is not afraid to have direct conversations back. All views and experiences are valid. → No topic is off the table.Result? A culture that’s really quite special. A well functioning & cohesive IT leadership team creates a very symbolic message for the organisation. As Chair of their Diversity Council Julie sees there’s a real opportunity to identify people’s hidden abilities by listening to and recognising everyone for who they are, and welcoming the richness that their life experiences bring.