She Leads College – 5 quick questions with Emma Pocock

12 July 2016

The She Leads College Conference, taking place on Tuesday 26 July, is a one-day event for girls in Years 11 and 12, equipping participants with the practical skills and knowledge they need to become confident leaders. This year, we have an amazing line-up of inspiring young women who will share their leadership journeys with participants. We’ll be featuring 5 quick questions with each speaker in the lead up to the Conference, starting with Emma Pocock.

Describe yourself in 30 words or less.

I love learning – about myself, others and the world. You’ll find me happiest in the garden or kitchen. I like to shout at talkback radio.

What’s one thing about your life now that you never would have predicted when you were at school?

I love this question! On a semi-regular basis I say, “if you had told me ten years ago that I’d be…. I would not have believed you!” – one of the great joys of my life has been allowing myself to be surprised by what unfolds – from my relationship with my partner Dave (a feminist and a footballer is a pretty unlikely match), to getting to play with a baby rhino twice (once in Zimbabwe, once in Kenya), to more mundane things like discovering I am happiest after a hard days work in the garden or learning how to make my own ferments.

What is a book that has influenced your leadership journey?

Dr Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly has been hugely influential for me over the last few years – I think to be a great leader you have to have courage, empathy and strong boundaries (among other things) and I’ve found few books that have communicated how to do these things so warmly and practically (I also love the sequel Rising Strong). I love Dr Brown’s research methods and the way she communicates theory and research so intimately so that people without a social work research background can understand and implement her work in their own lives.

Why are you excited to be part of the She Leads College Conference?

Getting to meet young women who are setting out on their journey is such an exciting prospect – when I was in Year 11 and 12 I would have loved attending a conference like this so I can imagine how much I will enjoy the company of these young woman and look forward to learning from them and hearing their stories and hopes and dreams for the world.

What piece of advice would you most like to give to young women just starting their leadership journeys?

Always be prepared to learn something – from your successes and failures, to the things that inspire you in others and the things that irritate you. Having a growth mindset will ensure you don’t miss out on opportunities and will allow you to see the world through eyes that are looking for change and potential in yourself and others.

Find out more about our exciting program and register to attend the She Leads College Conference here!

Tags: gender, gender equality, leader, she leads, she leads college conference, Women's leadership