What happens when the very qualities that built your success almost break you?

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett sits down with Tess Brouwer, former Virgin Australia executive, now Chief Energy Officer and Co-Founder of Awake Academy to explore what it truly takes to reset, rebuild, and rise stronger after life changes in an instant.

At 32, Tess was a high-performing corporate leader living in Switzerland when a skiing accident left her with a spinal cord injury, Guillain-Barré diagnosis, multiple surgeries and months in rehabilitation. Her identity had been built on performance, drive and achievement. Suddenly, none of that worked.

This is a raw and honest conversation about identity grief, burnout, nervous system overload, emotional resilience and rebuilding self-worth from the ground up.

If you have ever ignored the warning signs…

If you have ever tied your worth to your work…

If you have ever asked, “If I can’t perform, who am I?”

This episode is for you.

You’ll hear:

• The life-changing accident that forced Tess to confront her identity
• Why high performers ignore red flags - until they can’t
• The difference between grit and true resilience
• How mental fitness differs from “pushing through”
• Why burnout is often a wake-up call, not a weakness
• Practical daily resets to regulate your nervous system
• The simple question every ambitious woman must ask herself: Am I enjoying my life?

New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations.

🎧 Watch and subscribe to: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.

✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1

✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8

✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590

✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/

Who is Tess Brouwer?

Tess Brouwer is one of Australia’s leading mental and emotional fitness trainers, a Positive Psychology Practitioner, best-selling author, and Co-Founder of Awake Academy alongside seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley AO. Formerly Head of Brand Partnerships at Virgin Australia, Tess rebuilt her life after a life-altering spinal and brain injury. Today she helps leaders and organisations develop emotional endurance, resilience, and sustainable high performance.

Find Tess at:

Website http://awakeacademy.com.au/

Seven Day Self-Care Program https://awakeacademy.com/self-care

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-brouwer-7128aa54/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tesscbrouwer/?hl=en

Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/

Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/

💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.

Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive.

Credits:

Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/

Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/

Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI isn’t coming. It’s here.

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett sits down with Georgie Hubbard, recruiter, career strategist and founder of Pivoter, to unpack what AI really means for women at work.

No fear, just a conversation about strategy and what to do next. Georgie shares what the market values in 2026, why human skills are becoming career currency, and why waiting for confidence is costing women visibility.

If you’ve ever questioned your relevance in an AI-driven world this episode reframes the narrative and kicks fear to the curb.

What you’ll hear:

• Why courage comes before confidence
• The three attributes the 2026 market is rewarding
• The biggest misconception about AI and job loss
• Why the career ladder has disappeared
• How women can validate and articulate their real value
• Where to start if upskilling feels overwhelming.

New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations.

🎧 Watch and subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.

✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1

✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8

✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590

✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/

Who is Georgie Hubbard?

Georgie Hubbard is a recruiter, career strategist and founder of Pivoter, an AI-powered career tool designed to help professionals identify transferable skills and navigate career transitions with clarity. She has spent over a decade placing talent across Australia and understands what organisations are truly valuing, beyond the job ad.

Find Georgie at:

Website https://www.georgiehubbard.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiehubbard/

Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/

Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/

💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.

Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive.

Credits:

Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/

Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/

Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Power Of Women Podcast, Di Gillett sits down with triple Olympian and women’s health advocate Lisa Curry to discuss the reality of perimenopause and menopause - physically, emotionally and psychologically.

For most of her life, Lisa trusted her body. As an elite athlete, she understood discipline, resilience, and endurance. But when her emotional stability began to shift in her 30s, she found herself thinking:

“What the fuck is wrong with me?”

No one was talking about perimenopause in the 1990s. Not even her doctor had language for what she was experiencing.

In this conversation, Lisa shares how hormonal change affected her identity, relationships, mood, and confidence, and why women do not have to wait for symptoms to escalate before becoming proactive.

Together we explore:

• The emotional volatility of perimenopause
• The invisible load carried by working mothers
• Why pushing through is not always strength
• The importance of tracking symptoms
• Education versus “being managed”
• The debate between HRT, natural therapies and informed choice
• Why sleep, anxiety and weight gain remain the top concerns for women
• How lifestyle choices compound or reduce symptoms
• What post-menopause actually feels like

Lisa is now co-founder of Happy Healthy You, a platform supporting over 1.5 million women through hormonal education, community and evidence-based solutions.

Her message is clear:

Hormonal change is biology. You can’t beat it. But you can work with it.

Knowledge is power when navigating menopause.

New podcast episodes drop every Monday to power your week.

Be the first to catch inspiring interviews, empowering stories, and thought-provoking conversations.

🎧 Watch and subscribe to: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.

✔ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuAx74qUBrHxaQPEnxRpTw?sub_confirmation=1

✔ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4hUXLl9Oc8xSSmR652wP3c?si=554c1a25f0e848a8

✔ Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/power-of-women-podcast/id1735659590

✔ Follow on the website: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast/

Who is Lisa Curry?

Lisa Curry OAM is a triple Olympian, Australian sporting icon and women’s health advocate. After representing Australia at three Olympic Games and building a high-performance sporting career, she transitioned into business as co-founder of Happy Healthy You, a platform supporting over 1.5 million women with hormonal education, community and evidence-informed solutions. Today, Lisa speaks openly about perimenopause, menopause and the power of proactive health.

Find Lisa at:

Website https://happyhealthyyou.com.au/

Women begin by completing a free online hormonal health assessment at: https://happyhealthyyou.com.au/pages/assessment

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lisacurry/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/licurry/

Connect with Di & engage with Power Of Women:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/di-gillett-power-of-women/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/power_of_women_podcast/

Contact https://powerofwomen.com.au/contact/

💫 If this conversation lit a spark please share the episode and help spread the stories that prove women are never to be underestimated.

Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify keeps these stories alive.

Credits:

Audio Editing + Sound Design: Daryl Missen – https://vinilo.com.au/

Executive Producer: George Donikian: https://www.donikianmedia.com.au/

Disclaimer: https://powerofwomen.com.au/podcast-disclaimer/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.