Earlier this year we were proud to create Career YOU, a program that supports women in health sciences to plan for a successful ongoing career. Following the successful pilot program, we’ve just launched a face–to–face cohort for October 2025 and a waitlist for a virtual program in 2026. Here Jo Dable, Museum Team Leader at UNSW’s Museum of Human Disease, shares her recent experiences and lessons from the program.
When I stepped into the role of Team Leader at the Museum of Human Disease, I brought a background in education, a deep passion for public engagement, and big ideas for expanding our outreach. But I was also entering unfamiliar territory; I didn’t have the networks or the confidence to fully own my role. The Franklin Women Career YOU pilot program came at just the right time.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the experience was more powerful than I could have anticipated. From the first session, Jo Porter, one of the program’s most engaging voices, set the tone by asking us to “dial up the bravery”. It became the theme of my journey, encouraging me to lean into strengths, instead of focusing on what I thought was missing.
That bravery first showed up in Module 1, when I asked trusted colleagues to reflect on my strengths. Hitting send on those emails felt daunting, but their insights reminded me of the value I bring when I’m energised and at my best. Combined with the VIA Character Strengths framework, I stopped focusing on the gaps and leaned into my strengths. In Module 2, bravery meant taking the space to articulate my goals and define what success really looks like for me – a daunting but incredibly valuable exercise. And in Module 3, bravery took the form of putting myself out there, recognising that networking isn’t about having lots of contacts, but about showing up authentically, sharing my values and building meaningful connections.
The online format was engaging and accessible, connecting me with women from across Australia and reminding me that careers aren’t linear, and that’s not only normal but valuable. Hearing from guest speakers who had navigated male-dominated fields was equally inspiring, showing that courage and persistence can carve new paths and create opportunities when none may have existed before.
So, have I been “dialling up the bravery”? Absolutely! Since completing the program, I’ve stepped forward for new collaborations, said yes to opportunities that once felt daunting, and watched the Museum benefit from this bolder approach.
Career YOU gave me more than just tools; it gave me confidence to reflect, connections to learn from, and a framework to act with intention. Most importantly, it reminded me that bravery isn’t something you dial up once, it’s something you carry forward. And I know I’m not doing it alone, I’m part of a community of women dialling up the bravery alongside me.