Tamsin Simounds is a leadership strategist, coach, speaker and respected voice on personal development and communications in the professional world.

Aged three, Simounds was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Her response, “I want to be the boss”, was met with suggestions she be a nurse or teacher because these were “women’s jobs”.

In her early twenties, she took on a leadership role with medical imaging practice Dr Jones & Partners.

“I quickly learned that it was about more than just getting a title and a set of keys,” Simounds said.

Tamsin sought out as much leadership development as she could, eventually finding post graduate study in Modern Psychology to provide the missing link.

“I went from being a struggling leader – who was burning myself out and experiencing a lack of confidence and impostor syndrome, even though outwardly I was successful – to doing really well in my role and being a thriving leader,” she said.

Tamsin’s career trajectory was steep, with support from senior leadership she progressed from Chief Technologist to Area Manager, overseeing eight clinics and more than one hundred staff across the state.

After a decade long career, including promotion to head of organisational development and communications, she took her unique approach to leadership and learning into her own consultancy.

In six years, Tamsin has become a sought-after speaker and consultant for fast growth tech start-ups to big banks, and her leadership thinking has been published in Women’s Agenda, Smart Company, Business Chicks and Future Women.

The new Women Executive Impact Program (WEIP) offered through the University of Adelaide’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) helps women in leadership roles to amplify their impact and visibility.

“So often women’s leadership programs are focused on the practicalities of leading people,” said Simounds.

“This is about finding what’s my unique contribution to the workplace? What’s my purpose? What am I wanting to achieve?

“And then how do I get around to the right people? How do I get myself noticed and recognised so I can amplify my impact?”

She challenged the assumption that working hard will automatically deliver industry recognition.

“You need to be visible and recognised for what you do, and people need to know about it in order for you to get the opportunities that are out there.”

She noted there can be a gender penalty for women’s visibility and self-promotion. “These characteristics and likability, for women, don’t really go hand in hand.”

Self-promotion can also feel uncomfortable and the program will explore ways to do it that feel authentic and enable meaningful contribution.

The initial three-day intensive in the Barossa will provide an immersive learning experience, including workshops on live camera interviews and speaking on panels.

The aim is to give women the tools and confidence to communicate what they stand for as leaders and to take charge of how they present themselves online, in person and within their industry.

Media presenter and coach Lisa McAskill and leading communications consultant Amy Springhall will join Simounds in presenting the sessions and workshops.

Sally Jones, General Manager of PACE at the University of Adelaide, said the WEIP was an opportunity to better support the career development of female executives.

“We offer a wide range of courses and programs to support the professional development and lifelong learning of individuals, but we recognised the need for a program that specifically targeted the gendered biases and disparities that women face in advancing their careers,” she said.

“Participants will connect with inspiring women from different walks of life and develop life-changing relationships, and this time dedicated to their careers will set them up for ongoing professional and personal success.

“At the University of Adelaide, we have made history through championing women’s rights and supporting their professional development, and we were the first Australian university to admit women to all degree courses.

“We are committed to continuing to make history by equipping women to drive positive change in their communities through important initiatives such as WEIP.”

The program, running this September, is limited to an intimate cohort and includes six one-on-one coaching sessions and three group mastermind sessions in the six months after the residential retreat.

Simounds said these will focus on “what’s real and relevant” for participants and use the collective intelligence of the group to workshop problems and provide support and solutions for challenges and opportunities.

These sessions will also provide the chance check in on how each woman is going with implementing the strategies learned.

Find out more and enrol.