Live, Lead, Learn

Inspiring, practical, generous and optimistic, one of our finest communicators and most successful businesswomen shares what she’s learned about leadership, the culture of the workplace and the vital importance of living a whole life.

Gail Kelly’s presence reaches far beyond her own profession. The first female CEO of one of Australia’s big four banks, listed by Forbes in 2010 as the 8th most powerful woman in the world, and mother of four (including triplets), Gail is celebrated as one of our finest, most innovative thinkers on leadership and workplace culture.

In these personal, practical chapters, Gail Kelly shares what she’s learned over her remarkable career, drawing from her personal and professional life.

As a leader, she argues passionately for the importance of putting people and customers at the heart of a business; of leading with courage and generosity of spirit; and of resilience. Some of those lessons were learnt at times of high pressure, and Gail takes us into her thinking as she led Westpac through the global financial crisis and the merger with St. George.

But Gail’s voice speaks to each of us, whatever our role in life. She explores the absolute importance of loving what you do; learning to learn; backing yourself; and most importantly, placing your family above all things.

At the heart of Gail’s refreshing, authentic, integrated approach is how both individuals and companies thrive when they openly address the meaning of what they do, and understand the need to live a whole life.

Live, Lead, Learn is the inspiring story of one of the world’s most prominent business people, who started as a Latin teacher and became mother of four and CEO of Westpac – and everything she has learned along the way.

About the Author

Gail Kelly holds a number of international roles: member of the Group of Thirty, the Global Board of Advisers to the US Council on Foreign Relations, member of the McKinsey Advisory Council, senior global adviser to UBS AG, and director of Woolworths Holdings in South Africa. Within Australia, she is a director of Country Road Group and David Jones, adjunct professor at the University of New South Wales, and ambassador for Women’s Empowerment for CARE Australia. Gail retired as CEO of the Westpac Group in February 2015, which marked the culmination of her 35-year career in banking. She is married to Allan and they have four children.