Interview with Maureen Frank

Maureen Frank

Maureen is recognised as one of Australia's top business women. In 2005 she released her first best selling book, You Go Girlfriend, aimed at inspiring women to believe that they can achieve in the business world – even when there are some major obstacles.

She has received public acknowledgement for her business skills in winning a Telstra Business Woman of Year Award in 2004, being named a BRW 'Rising Star' in 2005 and being noted as a finalist in 2005 in the Australian Institute of Management Excellence Awards.

Maureen is a qualified solicitor with a corporate legal background who decided early on in her career that she was not cut out to be a lawyer. She decided that she was going to succeed in business without studying an MBA and set herself a plan and strategy that worked – including heading a company in London at the age of 26.

Maureen is also a woman who has learned to do the juggling act – and sometimes backwards and in high heels! She is a single mother with beautiful twin 7 year old daughters – one with a disability.

Maureen is now an entrepreneur, author, business strategist, professional speaker and facilitator, she sits on a number of Boards and regularly speaks at Australian and International conferences and events.

1. What was your first job?
My first job was as a waitress when I was at school. I think it was one of my best learning experiences because it taught me to deal with people from all walks of life and to ‘serve’ even when you wanted to drop the plate in their lap!

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an actress. Now I guest speak a lot – so I am living the dream a little!

3. What does your job involve now?
I help big companies retain, attract and grow their female staff. I do this by helping them understand the business case, build a strategy and get everyone involved and also by helping their women develop. For this I use my great new DVD/CD Based program for women called "My Mentor – Challenging Women to Step Up."

4. Are you thinking of trying your hand in anything else?
No – I am so blessed to be doing something that I love. However – geography will change – we are now helping women in India, the UK, New Zealand, across Asia and the Pacific and I am off to conquer the US in April!

5. What is the biggest challenge you face at work?
Juggling work and being a mum. Clients have deadlines and high expectations – and I am a perfectionist so we must always deliver. But also – my twin 7 year old girls want mum at all their school events, to help with homework, to invent a new spaceship with them…

6. What is the best part of your job?
The best part of the job is when I hear from women who say the program has changed their lives.

7. What is your advice for people starting out in your industry?
My industry is really HR right now. The best advice is to be very commercial – what is the return on investment? What is the impact on the bottom line? What flows on effects are there for clients and customers, that is real profit!

8. What makes you happy?
Having a big giggle with my daughters, seeing beautiful places, having a part in making a difference, and making someone else's life better.