This Month
In much of the world, the big battle for women is not equal pay
In swaths of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, male honour depends on female seclusion. Such sexist norms keep whole regions needlessly poor.
The uni dropout whose $13b company survived the SaaSpocalypse
Grafana Labs co-founder Anthony Woods was a frustrated student who turned his love of learning into one of the world’s most successful SaaS businesses.
Young workers face the brunt of AI risk, except in these jobs
While there are fewer early career roles in HR and law, some occupations are experiencing an AI-induced bump at the junior level.
Samuel got a $10k pay rise by switching jobs. Why isn’t anyone else?
Samuel Russin’s recent decision to change careers paid off, but a shrinking number of Australians are willing to take the risk. Here’s what the data says.
Courtrooms, crocs and comedy: Indigenous executive’s winding career
From Thursday Island to playing for laughs on stage, GHD’s Leon Filewood channels law, corporate strategy and stand-up comedy to empower communities.
August
The introverted lawyer at the centre of the AFL’s many crises
Andrew Dillon spent more than 20 years as the AFL’s key legal adviser. Here’s how he showed his football colleagues it was a good idea to make a lawyer the CEO.
Over 45 and looking for work? ‘It’s like someone turned the lights off’
Australia’s employers are discarding veteran talent, as ageism, whether algorithmic or otherwise, forces experienced mid-career workers out of the market.
Lawyer, banker, author: How PwC chair John Green reinvented himself
John Green was in a legal role for 17 years. He loved it, but after nearly two decades, he felt he was on “rinse and repeat”. He needed something different.
Why your legal background is your secret C-suite superpower
Lisa Claes, the president of data firm Cotality in Australia, was in her mid-30s when she said goodbye to her legal career. She hasn’t looked back.
‘It was so cold’: Redundant via a Teams call on a work-from-home day
Employees who find themselves made redundant in the fallout of larger business decisions should not feel ashamed at losing their job, recruiters say.
How this lawyer made the leap to Barrenjoey partner
A conversation in a corridor changed the career of Erin Tinker, who first met Matthew Grounds and Guy Fowler when she was an M&A specialist at Allens.
Why this top-tier lawyer took a pay cut
Matt Vitins spent more than six years at Allens. But then a Melbourne-based version of the hit reality TV show Real Housewives came along. Now he’s a CEO.
Jobseekers insist AI is ageist. This careers coach says they’re wrong
The narrative that automated filters block midlife applicants has gripped social media. But industry insiders argue a flooded market is the real issue.
July
AI isn’t just screening CVs. It’s helping Gen X women quit
The most experienced women across the workplace are redirecting their earning power, and inheritance, into their own ventures.
‘I’m 52, running out of money, and have to erase 20 years from my CV’
After 16 months of ignored job applications and dwindling savings, Stacey Duguid chopped 20 years off her CV to beat algorithmic ageism.
How Australia’s most prolific ‘vibe coder’ works in his sleep
Me&u AI engineer Ryan Hendler keeps his workday going by assigning complex tasks for his ChatGPT and Claude AI agents to complete while he sleeps.
June
Photos: Financial Review Women in Leadership Awards 2026
The Women in Leadership awards highlight the work and achievements of those women poised to enter the upper echelons of Australia’s corporate decision makers.
‘Wealth isn’t about money’: Why this CEO quit his KPMG career
Alex Lee’s reaction to an offer of promotion at KPMG was not what his manager – or anyone at the firm at the time – would have expected. He left.
May
Why job seekers looking for $200k-plus roles should be worried
After taking a break from her exec role, Diedre Hosking returned to a market offering $100,000 less, as firms swap veterans for cheaper, AI-literate juniors.
Why WFH is tanking your promotion
Renate Crollini asked for an office desk at work when everyone else wanted a laptop. A month later, she was made general manager.
