Being Inspired & Inspiring Others
SSAA International Women’s Day Feature, 2024: Part 2
It’s no secret that the people we surround ourselves with inevitably impact our perspectives, beliefs and view of self and others. When we examine stories of people of influence, often they credit positive transitions through crossroads or moments of crisis to their own mentors or support networks. Our six women in focus for International Women’s Day (IWD) have demonstrated their own commitment to encouraging the success of others around them, promoting inclusive work environments, and generously sharing advice to other women in storage for Part 1 of our IWD 2024 feature.
In this second instalment, we were eager to hear about the women who stood out as voices of influence to our contributing guests and how this can be paid forward both personally and professionally to continue to ‘inspire inclusion’ in our workplaces and personal lives.
Are there any key women or experiences that have influenced your approach to your work in the self storage industry, and if so, how have they shaped you?
Rosemary Angyasy, Manager of Jim’s Self Storage, shared, “I have been lucky enough to attend many of the SSAA conferences over my career. It put me in direct contact with many women in the industry, from newly starting out, to the CEO of the SSAA. Over the years there have been a few specific women who have inspired me. One being Simone Hill, previous legal expert in self storage and a past CEO of the SSAA. The encouragement and growth I gained from my interactions with her helped shape the path I am on today.”
Current SSAA Director Elizabeth Rutland (Monash Self Storage Centres) shared “Since my first Conference in 2004 I’ve seen women in the self storage industry, in positions and in power. Their visibility was reassuring in those early days, I felt encouraged to stay put and keep growing. From Liz Davies to Simone Hill and Susan Phillips to Joanna Wilson. Thanks to these welcoming women it always felt there was a seat at the table for women entering the room, no invite required and no closed circles.”
For Brittany Wile of Safe ‘n’ Sound Self Storage, this has been Anne Ballard of US-based Universal Storage Group. Britt warmly remarked, “Most people in the self storage industry would know her [as] the ‘Hat Lady’. Anne’s passion and dedication to the industry over the last 25 years I’ve known her has never wavered and this has been an absolute inspiration. Anne has shown me how enjoyable and rewarding self storage can be. I have been incredibly fortunate to have had Anne as a mentor throughout the foundational years of my career.”
Priya Khatri of Rent A Space Self Storage attributes her source of influence to a number of standout women in her life, including her mother and two daughters, Neha (23) and Payal (21). Priya states, “My mum, 73 years of age, still works three days a week at our family jewellery store. She is driven, ambitious, always educating herself and stops at nothing. She loves working, travelling, going out, and having fun however work and her customers is what she likes coming back to. She always says: ‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve’ – Napoleon Hill.” Using these words of inspiration from her mum, Priya reflected, “I would say receiving the 2023 SSAA award for Manager of the Year was a vision from 2022 which came into fruition after a lot of consistent hard work all year round.”
For Samantha Kirby (Janus International Australia) and Julia Ovens (Fort Knox Self Storage), they have experienced encouragement and motivation from a host of female colleagues who have been pioneers in their fields. Samantha stated, “Collaboration with and support from female colleagues in construction have instilled in me the importance of mentorship among women in any professional setting. These influences have shaped my approach to work in the self storage industry by emphasising the value of diversity, inclusivity, and mutual support.”
Julia highlighted, “We are incredibly fortunate to have an abundance of amazing women in the self storage industry from lawyers, politicians, athletes, and business owners just to name a few. I would highly recommend everyone expands their network and finds a woman who resonates with something you are passionate about and let their experiences help shape your own personal career path.”
To conclude our two-part series in keeping with the 2024 IWD theme, we asked our guest contributors, “What would be your advice to businesses looking to ‘inspire inclusion’?”
Read on for their sage advice!
Elizabeth Rutland (Monash Self Storage Centres):
“Embrace differences, encourage authenticity and lead with kindness inviting others to share.”
Samantha Kirby (Janus International Australia):
“To businesses looking to inspire inclusion, I would encourage them to foster a culture of openness, respect, and equal opportunity for all employees, regardless of gender or background. This can be achieved through initiatives such as implementing diversity training programs, creating mentorship opportunities for underrepresented groups, and actively promoting inclusive hiring practices… Ultimately, embracing diversity and inclusion not only enhances employee morale and engagement but also fosters innovation and drives business success in the long run.”
Julia Ovens (Fort Knox Self Storage):
“Develop a clear Diversity and Inclusion strategy which embraces the four pillars of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Additionally, consider partnering with a diversity and inclusion specialist to benchmark your business and provide training for your leadership team as they play a critical role in setting the tone for inclusiveness… Start small with understanding who is in your team and embrace them. Nurture your team to recognise and celebrate diversity. Develop a social calendar to celebrate diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives within your team. Consider hosting cultural events, incorporating diverse imagery and symbols within your company through newsletters, training, materials, and social media posts.”
Rosemary Angyasy (Jim’s Self Storage):
“To inspire inclusion in 2024 and beyond, businesses must cultivate a culture of diversity, equity, and belonging. Prioritise creating inclusive policies and practices that celebrate differences, fosters equal opportunities, and ensures representation at all levels… Embrace flexibility in work arrangements to accommodate diverse needs. By valuing and integrating diverse perspectives, businesses not only enhance their creativity and innovation but also contribute to a more equitable and inspiring workplace for all.”
Priya Khatri (Rent A Space Self Storage):
“Businesses can promote and inspire inclusion through promoting diversity in leadership and ensuring women have equal opportunities for advancement and representation. Implement policies that are inclusive and treat all employees equal regardless of their gender. Programs should be designed to provide mentorship to women by pairing junior female staff to experienced mentors with experience. Encourage open communication and feedback to ensure women feel empowered to voice their ideas and concerns. This investment in training and education about diversity and inclusion for all employees can help raise awareness of unconscious biases, and promote empathy and understanding… [Ultimately leading to] greater innovation, productivity and success.”
Brittany Wile (Safe ‘n’ Sound Self Storage):
“Managers should be keeping an open mind about the types of people that you employ. There is no cookie cutter for a great self storage employee. We have had so many wonderful employees over the years that have been young women, people that had retired and returned to the workforce and people that come from all different walks of life. Don’t forget how important your involvement is in shaping a great employee!”
The SSAA would like to thank these inspirational women for taking the time to share their insights with us as we reflect on how we can continue to ‘inspire inclusion’ throughout 2024 and beyond!