The Australian Ballet’s Director for External Relations, Penny Waitsman, has won the 2021 McCarthy Mentoring NFP Executive Scholarship.
Now in its ninth year, the scholarship offers a standout professional in the sector the opportunity to work one-on-one with an experienced mentor to strengthen leadership skills, manage challenges, clarify goals and increase their capacity to affect change in the community.
The scholarship has come at an important time for Penny as The Australian Ballet navigates the significant challenges of the pandemic. With its head office in Melbourne, The Australian Ballet has had to manage multiple show cancellations during state lock-downs, each one having a wide-reaching impact on the company, patrons, dancers, sponsors, suppliers and venues.
“The pandemic has been devastating for all of the performing arts and cultural sector,” said McCarthy Mentoring Sophie McCarthy. “So we are pleased to be offering this support to such a talented executive playing a critical role in this iconic, important organisation.”
Penny will be mentored by The Sydney Festival Non-Executive Director and former Sydney Opera House Executive, Kate Dundas.
In her role, Penny leads key partnerships to support the company’s operation and artistic ambitions through corporate sponsorship, government funding and Trusts and Foundations.
She said the timing of the scholarship is perfect with the challenges of COVID and as the company enters a new era with a new Artistic Director. “We will all need to adapt and evolve and this is a rare opportunity to take the time to learn from an experienced leader to enhance and expand my skills,” said Penny.
Penny was among a very high calibre of applicants, all showing agility, determination and resilience in their work to achieve positive change.
“We know having an independent, experienced sounding board to offer guidance, test ideas and provide a different perspective can be game changing. It helps them become better leaders, mentors to others and able to make an even greater impact.”
Results from the McCarthy Mentoring Executive Mentoring Program includes strengthened leadership capability and performance, enhanced confidence and self-awareness, improved decision-making, better management of challenging workplace situations and greater clarity of career goals.
Click here for information and stories on past Executive Mentoring Scholarship winners including 2020 recipient, Kathy Poulton General Manager Operations and Quality at suicide prevention organisation, Roses in the Ocean.
