Lauren Maxwell
Lauren graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce/Media (PR & Advertising) in 2017 and is currently Marketing Manager in the Business Marketing Team at Commonwealth Bank after finishing the Graduate program there.
With a vision of smashing through “1000 Cracks in the Ceiling”, Lauren and her co-president, Tina Vo, continued to urge young women to take risks and “creating their own doors when opportunities do not come knocking.” We now talk to Lauren to hear her favourite Capital W moments and advice for current students!
What was the most rewarding part about being in Capital W?
The most rewarding part of Capital W was the opportunity to connect with like-minded and motivated female students. Later in my degree, it was the opportunity to give back and inspire younger female students through our events and workshops.
Can you tell us about your favourite/most memorable Capital W experience?
One of the most memorable experiences during my time in Capital W was my first Annual Dinner. I put my hand up to organise the table decorations which, I soon found out, involved getting up at 4am to go to the flower markets the day before the dinner. My house became a make-shift florist as the team and I hand arranged bunches of flowers for the table decorations. At that year’s dinner, the absolute stand out for me was our key note speaker Elizabeth Broderick. Elizabeth told a serious but inspiring story about her work as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner in the Armed Forces. Her speech reinforced the fact that Gender Equality is the unfinished business of the 21st century.
Can you tell us about your current role at Commonwealth Bank?
I recently finished CommBank’s graduate program and started a full time role as Marketing Manager in the Business Marketing team. I work on marketing initiatives for industries within CommBank’s Business Bank including Retail, Healthcare and Not-For-Profit.
What advice would you give to current students?
Get involved in as much as you possibly can while you’re still at university. Find societies that align with your passions and even if you’re only vaguely interested, take the time to apply for exchange! It was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
The theme for this year’s Capital W Annual Dinner is ‘She Means Business’. What does this theme mean to you?
The first thing that came to mind when thinking about this theme was resilience. Personally, this theme stands for the women who mean business, regardless of what they’re faced with. It’s a call to action for those who sub-consciously (or consciously) continue to act in ways that prevent women from advancing. To me, it’s a call to action for advancing gender equality.