When people think about career development, they often focus on formal training, qualifications and experience. While these are all important, one of the most valuable investments you can make in your professional growth is networking. Networking is about much more than swapping contact details or adding connections on LinkedIn. It's an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with people in your line of work, learn from those with different experiences, and expand your perspective beyond your immediate role or company. As recruiters, we've seen first-hand the impact a strong professional network can have throughout someone's career. We've also seen the opposite. Many senior professionals leave networking until far too late, particularly those who remain with the same organisation for many years. Often, it's only after a redundancy, organisational restructure or unexpected job loss that they begin building connections outside their immediate workplace. By that point, they tend to realise that meaningful networks take time to build and wish they had started much earlier.
Senior finance professionals from across Brisbane recently came together at The Inchcolm for the latest Quinn Allan Senior Finance Leaders event, featuring Gail Jukes, Chief Financial Officer at The University of Queensland. Drawing on a career spanning executive leadership, governance and board oversight across some of Queensland's most significant organisations, Gail shared insights from both sides of the boardroom table during an engaging Q&A-style discussion. The session explored what it takes to move from finance leadership to becoming a trusted executive and boardroom influencer. Gail discussed the importance of building strategic influence, earning the trust of executive teams, navigating complex stakeholder environments, and strengthening board relationships. Among her key messages was the importance of finding mentors who challenge your thinking, and investing in networks beyond your immediate area of expertise. She also highlighted the value of strong, thoughtful and timely communication, particularly when working with boards and senior leaders.
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