Vulnerability is your superpower with Georgie Harman
Georgie Harman shares her experience with depression, vulnerability from the position of CEO, the things she has learnt leading an organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic and advice for leaders looking to make mental wellbeing a priority in their organisation.
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TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast episode mentions suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
“Our superpower as a collective is connection and social support. That’s all we’ve got right now. But, at an individual level vulnerability is our superpower” – Georgie Harman
Georgie Harman, CEO of the Australian mental health organisation Beyond Blue puts her success as a leader down to vulnerability, an ongoing theme throughout Episode 16 of Open Minded.
She chats to Sir John Kirwan about her own experience with mental health and tells the inspiring story of when she went off cue while presenting at a conference and told the audience about her experience with depression and what she was doing to feel better.
By being vulnerable that day at the conference, Georgie was able to recognise the impact it had on those around her, allowing others to be vulnerable, but also how it allowed her workplace to support her and become a major part of her recovery.
Georgie and JK engage in hugely informative discussion around leading a remote team through Covid-19, the importance of supportive leadership, and advice for leaders looking to make mental wellbeing a priority in their organisation.
Watch the full video interview
“Performance and outcomes with care and support. If you get that balance right, your productivity increases, you have greater loyalty in your staff, you have lower turnover and you will attract great talent ”
– Georgie Harman
Who is Georgie Harman?
Georgie Harman has been the CEO at Beyond Blue since May 2014, where she has led a huge period of growth and expansion. She is a director of Mental Health Australia and former Deputy CEO at the National Mental Health Commission.
About Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue is Australia’s most well-known and visited mental health organisation, focused on supporting people affected by anxiety, depression and suicide. They are the ‘Big Blue Door’ for many in the community: a safe and reliable place for millions of people to access information, advice and support, no matter where they are on the mental health continuum.
Beyond Blue has huge awareness. Almost 90 per cent of people in Australia know about Beyond Blue and 13 million people reach out to Beyond Blue each year. They are often the first place that people go if they are struggling.
Listen to Episode 16 to learn the importance of vulnerability in leadership
TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast episode mentions suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact Beyond Blue in Australia on 1800 512 348 and for New Zealand, you can free call or text 1737 to talk. These support lines are free, and available 24/7.
Read and listen to
Upturn, A better normal after Covid-19 by Tania Plibersek
Phosphorescence by Julia Baird
Not alone – Beyond Blue podcast