Authentic leadership: An interview with Amanda Parish
At Powrsuit, we're thrilled to honour our outstanding Foundation Partners who champion equity in the workplace. Today, we shine a spotlight on Amanda Parish, a trailblazing leader at Contact Energy who exemplifies a spirit of inclusivity.
What are the most impactful leadership skills you use? Which ones would you point to and say ‘those were vital’ to success in my career/role?
Other critical skills include the ability to create a psychologically safe team, acknowledge when I get things wrong, think from the perspective of the customer, and align work accordingly.
What are some diversity goals and initiatives at Contact Energy? Why is a diverse workforce is important to your kaupapa?
At Contact, our Tikanga guides us, and we are explicit about putting our energy into things that matter. This includes but isn’t limited to being inclusive, encouraging diversity and expression of ideas and opinions.
"Leadership is an absolute privilege, and I am always humbled by the opportunity to work alongside amazing people and deliver exceptional products for internal and external customers. Over the years, I’ve had feedback that my authenticity makes my leadership stand out, which is great because it's tiring being anyone other than myself."
Why is Contact Energy supporting Powrsuit?
We are always looking for innovative ways to support our people. Contact is passionate about encouraging personal development, recognising good performance and fostering equality of opportunity. We believe that growth is a mindset, learning happens everywhere, and know our people thrive by sharing ideas in connected settings. The inclusive nature of the Powrsuit membership network also aligned with our Tikanga.
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What's shaped your leadership style?
It's taken years of learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and accepting that my style is constantly evolving and improving.?
What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known earlier in your career?
When life falls over (and it does sometimes), be brave enough to say yes to offers of support from senior leaders. Saying no and acting brave puts you further behind than you may expect.
What advice would you give to women feeling a bit stuck in their careers??
Take the time to reflect on your strengths, abilities, successes and what is important to you. Forget what you think you “should be doing” or “where you should be by now”. If all restrictions were removed, what would you like to be/do? And then, what small step could you take in that direction? Just do it.
About Amanda
A passionate leader, Amanda Parish currently spearheads the Learning and Capability team at Contact Energy. Her career has spanned diverse areas and industries, from media to the energy sector, where she's excelled in Organisational Development, HR, and operational roles. A common thread that weaves her career together is her unwavering passion for working with people and teams, enabling them to reach their full potential. Change and ambiguity are not challenges for her but opportunities for innovation and improvement.