Brave in Business and Life Award

1. Tell us about a major setback and how you recovered.

At 43 I found myself in a very vulnerable position. Neither my long-term relationship or marketing business survived Covid. I found myself separated, with no income, no financial security, and the crushing weight of not knowing how I would provide for myself—let alone my young daughter. Facing a future I’d never imagined - alone.

What made it even harder was realising how little I actually knew about finances. I’d grown up in a time when men typically handled the finances, and like many women of my generation, I had unconsciously handed over that responsibility in my relationship. So, when my marriage ended, I didn’t just lose financial support—I lost confidence in my ability to manage money altogether. That was the most confronting part: knowing that I had to build not only a new life but also a new mindset around financial independence.

But I refused to stay stuck. I made the decision to retrain as a mortgage broker—an industry I knew very little about—because I knew it would give me the financial education I desperately needed and the opportunity to build a financially secure future for both myself and my daughter. So, I threw myself into learning - I knew I needed to become someone she could look up to, someone who could show her what it looks like to rise.

Looking back, it was a risky path. I could have gone after a stable job and a secure income—but I knew that wasn’t where I was meant to be. I felt a deep pull to do something that mattered, to turn my lived experience into a source of support for other women. I didn’t want other women to ever feel as unprepared and powerless as I did in that moment. Starting my own mortgage broking business wasn’t the safe option—it was the brave one. Every day, I had to back myself. To believe that this mission—to help women build financial confidence and reclaim control—was worth it. And it was.

I didn’t just recover. I reinvented. And I’ve made it my mission to help other women do the same.

2. What mindset helped you keep going when quitting seemed easier?

 The mantra that carried me through was: “This gets to be part of my story—but it doesn’t get to be the whole story.” I held onto that when everything felt heavy. I had just gone through a separation, lost my business, and was starting from scratch in a world I didn’t fully understand. It would have been so much easier to stay small, to play it safe, or to let fear dictate my next move. But I knew I had more in me—and more to give.

I refused to let one chapter—no matter how painful—define the entire book. I reminded myself that resilience isn’t loud or glamorous. Sometimes it’s just getting out of bed, making the call, enrolling in the course, or applying for the ABN when everything in you is saying, “Who do you think you are?”

So, I leaned into progress over perfection. I let go of the idea that I had to have it all figured out. Some days, the steps were small—almost invisible. But they still counted. I didn’t always feel brave, but I made the decision to be brave anyway. I chose courage when it felt uncomfortable. I backed myself on the days it felt impossible. And slowly, that mindset shifted everything. I wasn’t just surviving—I was building something real, something meaningful.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the quiet, relentless decision to keep going with it. That became my turning point.

3. How did your vision evolve because of adversity?

 Before everything fell apart, my goals were mostly professional—focused on building a successful business, hitting milestones, and doing good work. But when I experienced financial vulnerability firsthand, everything changed. I saw the cracks in the system—the outdated beliefs, the lack of accessible support, and the quiet shame many women carry when it comes to money. That’s when my purpose shifted.

I didn’t just want to help people get a home loan—I wanted to change the way women experienced finance altogether. I launched Brava Finance as more than a brokerage. It became a mission-driven business built around improving financial literacy, independence, and confidence. I wanted to give women the tools and support I never had, especially those navigating life transitions like separation, starting over, or buying a home on their own for the first time.

That mission led me to write Why You Should Date Your Bank, Not Marry Them—a book designed to challenge outdated financial mindsets and serve as a practical, empowering guide for women. I’m not selling it. I’m giving away 1,000 copies a year, for free. Because I know that access to information can be the difference between fear and freedom.

But I didn’t stop there. I took the message to the industry. I partnered with lenders, hosted a book launch designed to start a broader conversation, and invited mortgage professionals, media, and community leaders to ask: What are we doing to truly support women’s financial wellbeing? The response was overwhelming—in the best way. People were ready for this conversation. And I realised this wasn’t just my story. It was so many women’s stories.

At the heart of it all is a belief I now live by: education leads to confidence, confidence sparks curiosity, curiosity inspires informed questions, informed questions lead to smarter moves—and smarter moves build financial security. That’s the ripple effect I’m committed to creating.

The vision got bigger because adversity gave me clarity. It pushed me out of survival mode and into advocacy. And now, everything I do—through my business, my book, and my voice—is about making finance more inclusive, more accessible, and more human for the women who’ve been left behind for far too long.