At the age of 33, Micaela Drieberg was elected unopposed as the Mayor of one of Victoria’s largest and most diverse cities. She’s also the Chair of a Board, a university lecturer and TV presenter representing an emerging type of leader that is breaking old stereotypes and influencing change. As a high energy and passionate presenter, MC and workshop facilitator Micaela draws on her public health knowledge and experiences as a former Mayor and Government Advisor, to offer insights into women’s leadership, navigating government and engaging with communities.
We asked Micaela about her experiences, what inspires her and what she’s learnt along the way. This is what the Education Speaker had to say.
So what drove you to become a Mayor?
It’s all about change.
I’ve worked with communities in the public health sector for years and for me, entering local government, and becoming a community leader was an extension of this. To put it simply, I wanted to be the change that I wanted to see in the world. Taking a local approach was important to me so I could be a part of influencing change in the area where I was most familiar and could see and feel the changes as I went about my daily life.
What’s it like breaking old stereotypes associated with leaders?
In addition to working in local government, I am also a university lecturer and the Chair of a Board. In all these roles, whilst initially surprised I’m not what they may have expected, most are really supportive… but I do have a LOT of colourful stories to answer that question.
Occasionally (depending on your mood) people’s responses can be funny. Like when you are a keynote speaker arriving at an event and someone helpfully directs you to the childcare conference next door because you couldn’t possibly be the leadership presenter they were expecting. Or my personal favourite – being asked whose date you are.
What continually amazes me is that it is my age that people feel entitled to question. Being asked your age can be flattering in a social setting, but in a workplace context, it’s not and often infers inexperience or questions your right to participate in the space. The challenge for me is to convince the room I am in fact the expert and command the respect I rightfully deserve.
But when you meet a 10 year old girl who is adamant that only ‘old, bald men with beards’ can be a politician, it clearly demonstrates that gender is still very much an issue and makes you wonder how in this day and age, this myth still exists. Alarmingly, why do the younger generation who arguably have been born into an era of equality still have these antiquated pre-conceived notions? I suspect it is as simple as ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’.
What have you learnt from your experiences?
The experience I have gained in presenting to people from all walks of life, connecting with communities and understanding the inner workings of government has been incredible. Having influence and encouraging change just takes a little patience and speaking to the right people at the right time. But without a doubt, my biggest lesson has been that you can inspire and influence so many people, by just being you.
And the good news is that for every person that scornfully queries your motives, opinions, qualifications or experience based on their own naïve bias, someone else not only marvels at it, they applaud you.