My journey is full-circle story of initiative, growth, impact and courage. After finishing uni with a degree in HR and unsure of my next move, I attended a ProForce education day. I knew I needed to stand out, so before I was even considered for an interview with a client partner, I asked for one…at ProForce. That one moment of courage led to my first role at ProForce, where I spent 18 months laying the foundation for what would become a long-term career in corporate sales. After a promotion in my first year, I eventually left to pursue a role in HR with one of the major supermarkets, thinking that was the path I was meant to follow. Six months in, I knew I’d made the wrong move. Not because the role or company was bad, but because my time at ProForce had already shown me what I was really passionate about. I realised I didn’t just enjoy sales - I was meant to be in it. I got back in touch with ProForce and, with their help, landed a field role in FMCG sales. That was in 2013. Since then, I’ve built a career across four major FMCG businesses, each time stepping into leadership roles where I’ve managed both state and national field teams, as well as key national accounts. One of my proudest moments was being promoted to National Field Sales Manager in the Petcare space. I’d never even owned a pet, but I’d built a reputation as someone who could lead with purpose, motivate authentically and deliver results. That role taught me that passion doesn’t always come from the product - it comes from the impact we can have on people. Another highlight was designing and rolling out a state-wide sales capability framework, aimed at improving in-call effectiveness. I leaned heavily on the tools I’d gained through the ProTrain modules and built something that made a measurable difference to performance. But honestly, the thing I’m most proud of is seeing people I’ve led succeed. Four of my direct reports have gone on to win “Rep of the Year” awards over the years. While the credit is entirely theirs, I’d like to believe that my coaching, support and commitment to their growth played some small part in helping them reach those heights. The ProGrad model didn’t just open a door for me. It set the tone for the kind of professional I wanted to be: someone who grabs opportunities, grows through challenge and brings others along for the ride. I’ve spent the last decade building a career I’m proud of and I’ve never forgotten where it all started. Winning this award would be a celebration of that journey and of the incredible impact the ProGrad ecosystem continues to have, not just on me, but on entire teams and businesses.