Female Leaders in the Spotlight series – Dale-Lyn Russell, Branch Manager, Port Hedland

"Embrace our gender diversity and acknowledge the differences to be successful."

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the achievements of women. This year IWD’s theme is ‘embrace equity’ through innovation for a gender-equal future. The focus is for change and education to achieve equity, equality and empowerment for all women and girls.

This feature is part of a series of profiles on some of the women that BMSA are fortunate to have across a range of our functional teams. In a largely male-centric industry, our women bring fresh perspectives and diverse influences to the table, that make a positive contribution to the overall success of the company.

How long have you been at BMSA and what does your role entail?

I have been with BMSA in the Pilbara for over a year. My role comprises strong safety management, team leadership and sales delivery of our service solutions. My passion is to promote a safe work environment and encourage positive change as it invites consideration and participation, which leads to ownership.

Did you always want to be a Branch Manager? What do you aspire to be?

I have worked in the construction industry for over thirty years including leading teams on commercial projects. A change to full-time residency in Port Hedland created a new opportunity. My future aspirations are focused on always being a positive and caring leader who promotes role ownership in my teams.

Were you mentored earlier in your career?

I was head-hunted straight from school and my boss, Prue Leach, set me on my career path. Our work relationship was very positive and she actively moved me into higher roles to other organisations and stayed my mentor for the first 10 years of my career and I learned that if you care for your people, they will care for you. Having a mentor allowed me to grow and show positive leadership to my teams, receiving mentoring to support me when I felt vulnerable and unsure of the way forward.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Most recently I had great advice from my adult son on a decision I took about moving to the Pilbara. He said ‘I know I can’t make the decision, but I just want to be part of the decision process”. I found this very poignant and apt to apply in the workplace too. Let people be part of the process. Be inclusive always.

Do you have a motto in life or a favourite saying?

I have two. “Two wrongs don’t make a right” so if someone behaves in a way that made you uncomfortable don’t treat them that way too. The other is that “every 1% makes a difference” as every bit of effort counts and no strived-for improvement is too small.

What does International Women's Day mean to you?

It should be a day of action. In those places where gender equality is not yet embraced, the day provides opportunity to bring awareness. In countries where gender equality is strived for, this achievement should be celebrated and recognised to foster acceptance of gender equality as a bedrock of the cultural mindset.

In a predominantly male-dominated industry, what are women able to offer the business?

I have found that women typically seem to fill the gap in emotional intelligence that leadership yearns for and teams thrive on. In addition, the diversity in thought and risk approach allows for a better balance in the way risks are assessed and addressed. I believe we should celebrate our diversity and apply that in team settings, but that all women and men should be celebrated for the skills they bring to their roles.

What’s been a highlight for you in your role at BMSA?

Our team at this branch are some of the newest recruits in the region and we have the opportunity to make a real difference to the E8 commitments and TRACE values of the company by engaging with these projects at a very early stage.

What advice would you like to give other women in an earlier stage of their career journey?

My advice is not to let gender scare you. So go for your dream job, it doesn’t matter if it was typically gender-stereotyped, if it’s what you want, then apply yourself and get the skills to do it. Embrace our gender diversity and acknowledge the differences to be successful.

Are you a cat or a dog person?

I am a dog and cat person with three dogs and three cats in our home. Dogs for the chaos and cats for the serenity.

What’s your secret skill?

I have a strong stamina and endurance streak which means I seldomly give up – this could be driven by stubbornness, or as I prefer, a desire to succeed. I can also run for hours and it takes a lot to stop me.

What are a couple of fun facts about you that your colleagues wouldn’t know?

I have a twin brother who is significantly taller than me. And I enjoy riding my adventure motorbike offroad.