Major Matina Jewell (Retired)
Leadership Strategist & Author
The toughest battles can shape an unbreakable will and a voice that will not be drowned out. From some of the most danger-fraught military zones in the world, Major Matina Jewell (Retired) chose to see life with a purpose. Her purpose was created from career-ending injuries in Lebanon and suffering loss in the 'PB Khiam' UN patrol base.
She went about navigating her next with a spirit of making things better, from working with the Australian Government for veteran welfare to catalysing positive change for peace-keeping forces in the United Nations. Amidst all the tribulations, Matina found two things that would define what she sought to transform: humanity and empathy. And that above all else was her message to those at Confluence: what lens did you choose this morning and what perspective might you take for tomorrow?
Key Takeaways
Silence isn’t always golden
When a crisis emerges, communication is the difference between chaos and calm. While the illusion of normalcy is important, what matters more is leaders being real: being accessible and talking to people straight from the heart.
A culture of risk empowerment
Be decisive or be dormant? What do we need our people to be in rapidly changing times? Enterprises must empower talent to manage risks themselves rather than becoming risk averse or afraid of making the wrong decision.
Adversity is a great unifier
Change brings disruption. And disruption brings together people that who will respond to change. When we throw people into volatility head-on, they will become stronger as teams. And from adversity they will find opportunity for inventiveness.
Let your voice be the ripple
Your voice can be the one that sets in motion a tidal wave of change. Too often, we underestimate the impact that we can make on an entire organisation or even an industry. Speak up: the sound will echo and travel far.
Focus on your overarching purpose because often it is that what combines and unites our people to get us through difficult days and if the purpose helps others, it truly does have a double positive effect.
