Lunch with purpose, passion and Naomi Simson

By Kate Cadet

Naomi Simson wears many labels and we’re not talking fashion (although we’ll get to that). A passionate business woman, blogger, social media influencer, ‘mentor’ for entrepreneurial contestants on Shark Tank Australia, and founding director of RedBalloon, a leading online experience gift retailer based in Australia, Simson recently promoted the importance of a happy workplace during the Faculty of Business and Economics, 2016 Alumni Women’s Lunch on Wednesday 23rd March 2016 at RACV City Club Melbourne.

Ever radiant in her hallmark red dress, Simson treated 70 alumnae, staff and students of the Faculty to a meaningful selection of her inspirational workplace stories and vivid life experience, shared with purpose, humour and the wisdom of a modern day female role model. These personal anecdotes, woven throughout the conversation were well received by the guests. “Story telling is an influential way to deliver a point of view without lecturing or showing off. It is authentic, connects with the audience, [and] allows us to find our own meaning” said alumna Aurora Ricciotti (BCom (Hons) 2000), General Manager, Strategy & Improvement, Telstra who was attending her first alumni event.

Exploring the themes from her first book Live What You Love; When Passion and Purpose Change Your Life, “working in the future will be nothing like today” Simson told the audience. “Passion is about you, purpose is about others.” she said, her words resonating beyond the event back to individual workplaces. Louise Groves (MCom (1997), BCom (1991), BA (Hons) 1992), HR Consultant at People Grow commented that the actionable insight she took away from the lunch was “to challenge procrastination, and balance optimism with action, just as she [Simson] quoted her old adage of “not today, maybe tomorrow.”

There was a proud and present atmosphere that embraced the Women’s lunch, attended by a diverse group of alumnae who also made the most of the opportunity to extend and grow their current networks of professional and industry contacts by participating in the 2016 event.

Naomi Simson is a Faculty of Business and Economics alumna (BCom 1984). Her new book Ready to Soar: Turn Your Brilliant Idea into a Business You Love will release in May 2016 and is available for purchase. For more inspiring stories, follow her @NaomiSimson, on LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Visit Alumni Events for more details on upcoming Faculty of Business & Economics events.