Ten Lessons from Ten Years: What One of many Has Taught Me

This year marks a monumental milestone for us at One of many—ten years of community, transformation, and growth. As I stood at our 10th Anniversary Gala reflecting on this journey, I found myself in awe of how far we’ve come and the extraordinary women (and men!) who’ve been part of this adventure. I’ve learned so many lessons over the past decade, but here are ten that stand out—lessons that have shaped both me and this beautiful community.

1. The Courage to Listen to My Intuition

It all started with a feeling—a download, if you will—one that came during a Friday night wine session with my sister Kath, who many of you know. We were in Melbourne, and I was fresh off maternity leave with my son, James. I had this vision, something far bigger than what I was doing at the time. I told Kath, and she said something that changed everything: "Screw my business, I want to do that!" From that moment, we started what would become One of many.

We called it Project X at first—because we didn’t have a clue what it would be—but we trusted our intuition, and here we are today, ten years later. Sometimes, intuition beats logic. Follow that little voice inside, even if it doesn’t make sense.

2. Make Your Vision Big Enough for Everyone

Not long after that, Greg and I were out to dinner, and he said something that stuck with me: "Make sure your vision is big enough so everyone can find their place in it." That’s been a guiding principle ever since. One of many isn’t about a narrow niche or solving one tiny problem. It’s about creating a space where every woman can find her corner—whether it’s in her relationships, career, health, or life as a whole. And somehow, we’ve done that.

3. Collaboration is Everything

One of many was born out of collaboration, and it’s been fueled by it ever since. My first partners in crime, Susie Heath and Annie Stoker, are a testament to that. When I had the vision for the One Woman Conference, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I reached out to Susie, who said “Yes, I’m in!” almost immediately. Then I called Annie, and she was on board too. Together, we triangulated the energy that has powered One of many for a decade. There’s nothing like the power of collaboration to make something truly magical.

4. The Courage of Community

Every woman who has come through our doors, from the very first Lead the Change cohort in 2014 to the one running right now, has shown incredible courage. It takes guts to step into a space of transformation, and what I’ve witnessed over these years is that the courage of one woman is magnified by the support of her community. Together, we are braver, bolder, and more powerful.

5. Delight in the Journey

I’m not going to lie—it hasn’t always been easy. There were times when I wanted to throw it all in and disappear to a remote island without Wi-Fi. But through every challenge, I’ve learned to find joy in the journey. The ups, the downs, the messiness of it all—it’s what makes this work so meaningful. And I couldn’t have done it without the support of our incredible team, both past and present. From Employee 001, Angela Beaugeard, to our current team, every single one of them has played a vital role in bringing this vision to life.

6. We Are So Far from Perfect

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that growth is messy. During COVID, our complexity exploded, and we found ourselves saying yes to everything you asked of us. We moved mountains to keep going, offering online retreats, moving events, and juggling endless logistics. But through it all, I learned that most things can be fixed with a heartfelt apology and a commitment to doing better. To all our clients: Thank you for your patience, your support, and for sticking with us through the chaos.

7. People Want to Be Part of a Powerful Mission

I’ve been constantly amazed by the support we’ve received from people who believe in what we’re doing. From early mentors like Shaa Wasmund and Gill Fielding to our Roundtable mentors today, and even our external suppliers who’ve helped us shine, like Karen Roswell with her stunning photography and Cat Townsend’s brilliant design work. One of many has grown because it’s not just about us—it’s a mission that resonates with so many.

8. Trust Life

If there’s one thing I’ve learned to do, it’s to trust life to bring the right people at the right time. Whether it was meeting Nathalie Baron at a tiny event in Switzerland or reconnecting with Steph Aitken years later, I’ve come to believe that life has a way of unfolding exactly as it should. Our trainers and team members have shown up when we needed them most, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.

9. One of many Exists Beyond All of Us

One of many is more than a business. It feels like an entity that exists somewhere in the cosmos, fully formed. Our job is simply to listen to what she asks of us and follow her lead. This work has taken me away from my kids more than I’d like, and I’m forever grateful to Greg for walking beside me on this journey. His unwavering belief in me, even when things didn’t make logical sense, is a big reason we’re here today.

10. We Were Made for These Times

Finally, as Clarissa Pinkola Estés so beautifully says: "We were made for these times." These words have carried me through moments of doubt and despair. The world feels challenging, but it’s in these exact moments that we are called to step up. We don’t have to fix everything at once, but each small act of kindness, courage, and love makes a difference. Together, as a community of empowered women, we can create ripples of change that stretch far beyond us.

As I reflect on these ten years, I am filled with gratitude for every one of you who has been part of this journey. Whether you’ve been with us from the start or have just joined our community, know that your courage, collaboration, and commitment are what make One of many the incredible force for good that it is.