This week’s guest is Kelly Shay, Retirement and Retention Leader at Mercer Australia — someone who has spent her career working to improve outcomes for people who can’t always speak for themselves, both here and overseas.

From student politics, to union organising across Australia, the US and Canada, to leadership roles in some of the country’s largest superannuation funds, Kelly’s career is anything but traditional. Grounded, values‑driven and full of insight, Kelly shares how purpose has steered her path — and why impact matters more than job titles.

In this episode, Kelly shares:

• What a retirement & retention leader actually does
• Why women retire with less — and what needs to change
• Her role in transforming pay and conditions for disability support workers
• How she moved from unions into super — and why the skills transfer
• The philosophy she leads with: commercial with a heart
• How purpose and perspective shape her approach to work
• The career advice she lives by - "clear is kind"

Resources mentioned:

• Brené Brown’s work, including Dare to Lead
• “Man in the Arena” — Theodore Roosevelt (referenced by Brené Brown)

All opinions are the guest’s own.

New episodes every Wednesday, with interviews with leaders or experts each week, plus a monthly discussion on what we’ve learned.

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