In March, I had the opportunity to take part in ‘The Great Generational Debate’ for Women in Digital’s International Women’s Day Breakfast, held at the iconic Brisbane City Hall. The event was filled with professionals from across Australia’s digital and technology community, all coming together to celebrate progress and continue important conversations on equality in the industry. This year’s theme, ‘Balance the Scales’, explored how we can continue creating fairer opportunities for women in the largely male-dominated technology sector. Events like this create opportunities to reflect on how far we’ve come and, more importantly, what still needs to change.
The importance of these conversations is what sparked the idea for The Great Generational Debate, where two teams representing different career stages in the industry come together to discuss how perspectives on work, leadership and success are evolving. I had the privilege of representing Team Next Gen, alongside other early-career professionals, while Team Legacy brought the experience and insights of leaders who have spent decades shaping the industry. As someone early in my career at Data#3, it was a unique opportunity to contribute to a conversation alongside leaders whose experiences span many years in the technology sector.
Listening to the leaders on Team Legacy, I was struck by the paths they had navigated. They shared stories of long hours, relentless hustle and working within systems that, by their own accounts, were not always designed with them in mind. Hearing those experiences firsthand made me genuinely appreciative of the doors their persistence helped open.
During the discussion, I shared a perspective that seemed to resonate strongly with the audience. I said, “You can’t just wait around for someone to be curious for you. You must go out and seek it yourself.”
Young professionals are sometimes criticised for asking too many questions and having high expectations early in their careers. While there can be truth in that, I also believe curiosity is a strength that must be backed by action. We can’t expect opportunities to appear without putting in the effort to learn, contribute and prove ourselves.
As someone only a few years into my corporate career, I know firsthand how important curiosity is and how much it matters to be given the space to explore it. That opportunity came for me through the Brenda Conroy Future Leaders Internship Program (BCFLIP) in early 2023. A four-week program run in partnership with Cisco, Data#3, Women in Digital and Morgans, BCFLIP is designed to connect women studying IT with industry professionals and give them real-world experience. During those four weeks, I had the chance to sit in on sales meetings, see the inner workings of an office environment and get my first real insight into how the IT industry connects end-to-end, from the vendor relationship at Cisco, through to the solutions and services side at Data#3, and even out to the Darra Warehouse to see the physical logistics and processing of assets. It gave me a holistic view of the industry that I don’t think I could have gained any other way.
Following the internship, I was offered a casual position in the IPT Operations Team, which I took on while completing my Bachelor of IT. After graduating, I moved into a full-time role in the Salesforce Team where I’ve now been for just over a year. In 2025, I was honoured to receive Data#3’s Rising Star of the Year award, something I genuinely believe would not have been possible without the foundation that BCFLIP gave me. I am so grateful to have been part of a program that not only opens doors for young women in tech but gives them the tools and exposure to walk through them confidently.
Early in our careers, we’re often the newest or youngest people in the room, which can mean we’re not always included in the bigger conversations. I believe there’s incredible value in leaders intentionally including younger professionals in those discussions, even if it’s just allowing them to observe from the sidelines. Being exposed to different perspectives, hearing how decisions are made and understanding the “why” behind the work we do can be incredibly motivating and valuable for professional growth.
That spirit of learning from one another and recognising that differing perspectives are not always in conflict, was ultimately what made the Great Generational Debate so valuable. Each generation brings experiences shaped by different moments in time, and when those perspectives come together, they create opportunities for learning on both sides.
If the Great Generational Debate proved anything, it’s that progress doesn’t come from one generation alone. It happens when experience, curiosity and fresh perspectives come together. Judging by the energy in the room at Brisbane City Hall, there is a strong community committed to continuing that progress.