My advocate has helped me understand that we can be our own worst critics. She has helped me reflect on my career and experiences in the workplace and visualise the future. More importantly, she has given me the confidence after having my first child to keep developing myself, to value myself, reach out to my network and challenging myself. I feel like I have found a real friend in my advocate.

For me it has been having someone who is outside my immediate business to provide guidance based on their expertise and experience. Someone without bias who genuinely wants to support me in my success.

The FEW Program is an excellent program providing guidance and counselling for women across the industry. From future leaders to executives, the program provides an honest forum to coach and support women in every stage of their developing career. It has been a privilege to be a mentor in the program. It has been equally rewarding to have a mentor who has had such a positive impact on both my professional and personal life. My sincerest thanks to Judith and the FEW team for their ongoing commitment and support. I am looking forward to the next FEW Conference. This is a "must attend" event.

Financial Executive Women (FEW) runs a programme for corporates and individuals to help women develop close bonds with other senior women in the industry. The purpose is to develop external focus and forge a stronger connection to the industry as a whole. FEW CEO Judith Beck was an executive recruiter for more than 20 years, and possibly knows more than anyone else how to navigate the corporate ladder. She generously shares her insights with the women in her program. The FEW program is nurturing, challenging, inspiring, and educational. We benefit from her knowledge and look forward to FEW events and other opportunities to meet other professional women in the industry. Personally, I have found that the program has offered perspective at times when times are tough and it's easy to become overly introspective. All members of the FEW team are extremely professional. Anna and Marija are a pleasure to deal with, and I look forward to working with them more in the future to empower even more women in an industry that continues to be dominated by men. The annual conference is the best conference of my calendar year, interesting speakers who are not on the typical financial services circuit, a great theme and an empowering and encouraging network feel to the event which made it supremely worthwhile. I came back to the office feeling invigorated and ready for whatever lies ahead.

My advocate gave me the gift of a new perspective. As she did not work within my organisation it allowed us the freedom to have really honest conversations. At times our conversations were difficult as they involved a good deal of self-reflection, never easy but very valuable. Ultimately our conversations changed my mindset and my behaviour, I'm all the better for it.

My advocate has always been there to point out a different way of interpreting / managing a problem or an issue which I may never have considered.

I haven't had a formal advocate or mentor during my career, but I have worked with many people who have been very supportive and encouraging, ready to provide guidance and advice when needed. In small business it's important to develop strong networks as it can be a lonely place. My network provides me counsel, advice and is a great sounding board.

IRESS entered into a membership with FEW as we felt that this Community Program for women was needed and currently not out there in the market. During the time we have partnered with FEW, we have come to realise how important the work they are doing is. There is still not a great deal of support for women in the workplace and FEW has opened the conversations and support required in the industry. The results that FEW are getting through their Program is a real testament to them, mentoring and helping women, as well as educating others in the industry. Not only is FEW making a real difference, they make everyone feel included, welcome and part of a real community.

The FEW program enables women at all points of their careers to access support and advocacy outside of their employer. The model provides a safe place for women to discuss concerns, seek advice and network with other women in the finance sector. The success of the model is reflected in the calibre of women accessing and providing support for the program.

It was a great first FEW Connect session with other aspiring leaders in such volatile and unprecedented times - very topical and useful. A really worthwhile breakout for lunch with lots of handy tips, highly recommended and I will be sharing these sessions with all of my team. Thanks FEW!

Although it was virtual we were very well connected. The session was relevant and took us to the foundations of what leadership is about. It was a great session on both professional and personal levels. Thank you FEW.

Thanks Judith Beck, Alex Tullio, Heather Dawson and the FEW team, I really enjoyed today's session it is a great innovative initiative and I am looking forward to next week's session.

I was introduced to my advocate at a very critical time in my career where I was faced with a decision on what my next step would be. It was great having someone there that I could express how I was feeling and to help me take away the emotional factors and provide guidance on how to handle the situation based on her past experience. I walked away feeling like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and had a clear mind to properly assess my situation.

Having an advocate gives you someone like-minded to brainstorm about your career. A person who has been through a similar journey already and would be able to share insight about potential pitfalls to avoid, as well as great ideas for me to try at work. An advocate can also hold you accountable to your goals.

Having an advocate has provided me with the opportunity to validate my assumptions and make better informed decisions in both a personal and business context.

I've been so grateful of the time my Advocate has given me considering her busy role. It's been useful to have a third party who is completely unbiased to your career and situation listen and offer advice and guidance. She holds me to account so I know if I say I'm going to do something I need to. I've learnt from her in terms of areas I need support with or advice, this could be challenges I'm experiencing or purely a roadblock I'm struggling to overcome. She's made me think differently and implement things for my team that have worked well.

We are about to start our journey together. I haven't had a mentor for some time and so just the thought of someone helping me with my own personal development is exciting for me. Come back to me in 12 months and no doubt I will be bursting with how my inspiring advocate has helped me.

It has been an invaluable experience. All of us need rational sounding boards and someone to listen and validate our thinking, as well as challenge our ideas and thought process. It has also taught me that there is more than one way of thinking about an issue/idea and often more than one way to approach complex issues.

I haven't as yet been through FEW's advocate program although I have been paired with an advocate who I am really looking forward to soon working with. I have had people act as an informal advocate in the past and I would say the best part is their ability to make suggestions or observations that cause me to step back and look at situations very differently.

Sometimes hard work alone is not enough... I am not an agenda pusher. I did at one time have a sort of "champion" (a man) who was pretty adamant about my appointment as his 2IC. This exposure accelerated my 'management' career.

I couldn't have taken this new role without the support of some key mentors and advocates. It is easy to think you do not have all the skills you imagine you need to take on an opportunity when it is presented to you and to then be overwhelmed when you do take the role on, but an advocate will help you work through these issues one on one as well as support you.

I am new to FEW and have just begun the Advocate program, I am looking forward to leveraging the considerable experience and insight of my FEW Advocate.

It's great to be able to bounce ideas and issues off an independent and experienced person.

Throughout my career, I have had many advocates who have been generous with their knowledge which I am grateful for. It is important to have a safe environment to ask any type of question.

Having an advocate has brought a fresh perspective to my role and has helped me be more confident in seeking change.

My advocate has helped me see where opportunity lies in challenging situations. Being an advocate has enabled me to reflect on my own experience and realise the impact that you can make on someone else's life in just a short amount of time.

Returning from maternity leave after my second child, I had a director who promoted me into a General Management role. Her key question was "what support do you need from me and the business for you to succeed?". She continued to support and advocate for me in the subsequent four years as we continued to work for the same organisation. her guidance and support is still valued today

An advocate has been helpful as I have had someone to share my thoughts with, test my ideas and in providing me guidance on managing my career which has been invaluable. The sharing of networks has helped gain exposure to different thought processes and approaches.

Whilst we have just started on our journey, having an advocate has allowed me to lower an anchor into a relationship that will grow over time. We have different business and life experiences and I am looking forward to my advocate offering a subject view over my progress toward achieving set goals.

In so many ways & I am deeply grateful for this program and for the two advocates I have had. Mostly I have been helped by being challenged with different ideas & perspectives. Having empathetic & deep experience to draw on when I need another perspective especially when facing a challenge has been invaluable. It's like having your own personal lighthouse – they can help you see where the calm water is, as well the rocks that you can't see - and then it's still up to you to navigate around them.

Whilst you may have great support from family and colleagues, you can still get myopic. By talking to someone who is not emotionally or professionally connected, you get new perspectives. There is no fear of repercussions as they really have nothing to lose or gain by challenging you to be completely honest. You get the value of their experience in a non-competitive environment. They are volunteering to do this, so you know their motive is pure. Hopefully you reciprocate and it becomes mutually beneficial.

Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work with many great advocates. Each have brought different learnings and strengths and without their support and belief in my ability, I would not have had the opportunities and experiences I value and benefit from today.