E16: Rise Up | Fay Calderone on Why Inclusive Leadership Matters More Than Ever

What happens when the work you have spent years doing becomes more urgent, more personal, and more relevant than ever?Fay Calderone grew up in Western Sydney, working in her family’s bakery and seeing early how business decisions affect real people and families. She knew she wanted to study law, and eventually found her place in employment law, where people, business and fairness intersect. Sitting with Amanda, Fay reflects on the career pivots, mentors, parenthood and difficult leadership experiences that shaped her, and how her work has evolved from legal compliance towards a broader focus on workplace culture, inclusion and safety. With the release of her new book, Rise Up, Fay finds herself at a moment where her legal practice, writing, speaking and advocacy have come together with real clarity.You'll uncover:• How growing up as 'Little Fatini' in a Western Sydney family business shaped Fay’s ambition, resilience and understanding of work.• Why several significant career pivots taught Fay to pay attention to where she could contribute, learn and have the greatest impact.• How experiencing the closure of a law firm changed Fay’s understanding of leadership and influenced the choices she made about her own career.• Why Fay believes workplace inclusion has become more urgent, and why silence in the face of exclusion and division is not a neutral choice.• How Fay’s definition of success has shifted from relentless goal setting towards legacy, value, self compassion and using her voice where it matters.This episode is for women thinking about the impact they want to have as their careers evolve, particularly those weighing ambition against energy, values and the courage to speak up. Fay’s story shows how experience can sharpen rather than diminish ambition, and how the biggest leaps can begin with claiming your own time and place.Fay Calderone is an employment lawyer, author and speaker. Her books Broken to Safe and Rise Up explore workplace culture, safety and inclusion, drawing on her experience working with people and organisations.Fay’s new book, Rise Up, is out now. Written in response to the growing backlash against inclusion, division and exclusion, it is a call to create workplaces that are safer, more inclusive and more human. As Fay says in this conversation, its message feels more relevant than ever.Wondering if it's your time, your place? Her Time, Her Place is hosted by Amanda Webb, CEO of Xplore for Success, where she helps women build the clarity and confidence to lead their own next chapter. The women who join her on this show are exactly who Amanda works with every day, ambitious, thoughtful, ready for what's next. It's work she describes simply: changing leaders, lives, and careers in all kinds of organisations. Learn more at xplore.net.au.