WLI alumna and HR professional, Daisy Rose Sipiti from Vanuatu, is passionate about empowering women in Pacific communities through HR knowledge and is dedicated to fostering inclusive and effective workplace cultures.
Since joining the WLI program, Daisy has embraced everything the program has to offer, making a real impact as well as plenty of close connections along the way.
“As someone who has maximised the program to its full potential, I really see the value of its various components. Self-awareness, and the cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning, those are the two big ones I've taken from this program. I understand now what kind of leader I am, my strengths, my weaknesses, and I've learned to stay open to whatever challenges or opportunities come my way. I've also learned it's okay to take a step back when I need to, to be gentle with myself, and to focus my energy within my own circle of control and not beyond it," shares Daisy.
A transformative journey
Daisy recollects how – after returning to Vanuatu having completed her Bachelor of Business at Victoria University in Melbourne – WLI continued to support her in the move, which she found ‘very difficult’ at times.
“WLI has honestly been one of the biggest supports in my transition home – from the coaching, mentoring, leadership opportunities to the alumni network itself. Going through the program alongside the other alumni, discovering our different leadership styles and exploring them together. That journey shaped me. In the coaching and mentoring stages, I decided I wanted to work on self-awareness and understanding my own leadership style, and WLI gave me the space to do that," says Daisy.
“My WLI sisters checked in on me, supported me, inspired me — and now, oh, what a joy it is to catch up with them whenever I visit their home countries.”
Daisy has hit the ground running since her return to Vanuatu, taking on a role as Country Coordinator at Team Up, a DFAT-funded sport-for-development program delivered across the Pacific.
“Tennis has been my thing for years and my previous experience working on another DFAT-funded sports-related program, PacificAus Sports, meant I had plenty of relevant skills and experience,” says Daisy, who has also set about reworking the organisation’s internal HR processes.
Daisy credits the WLI program for giving her the confidence to push herself as a leader, not only providing financial assistance but holistic support as well.
"WLI empowered me to organise and run conferences of my own, while juggling studying and working. It wasn't just funding either, it was also the logistical support, the coaching, the resources, all of it, that made that possible."
Daisy is also an active member of the WLI alumni group in Vanuatu, something she credits for helping her settle back into life in Vanuatu.
“Getting involved with the Vanuatu WLI alumni group was something I jumped into straight away once I was home, and honestly, it was a good decision. Staying busy helped me settle back in. Someone needed to handle the logistics side of things to keep our events and activities moving, and I was happy to take that on,” says Daisy.
“It's been a few months now, and the group has really come alive! My fellow alumni keep telling me how much they enjoy our ongoing chats. We're organising more meetups, and we managed to pull off two events last year. This year, we're planning our first school outreach that we'll be leading entirely on our own.”
A bright future
Looking ahead over the next few years, there’s plenty Daisy would like to achieve, however for now, she wants to concentrate on the here and now and giving back to Vanuatu.
“Prior to taking on my current role, I received a few offers from organisations in Papua New Guinea, and I was seriously considering taking them. But then I thought: ‘what is the point of being a Ni-Vanuatu woman who’s been given a scholarship — one that could have gone to another Ni-Vanuatu woman who might have come back and given back? I wanted to come back and give back to the country I come from," says Daisy.
“I’m happy that I’ve been able to do that. WLI hasn’t just given me the chance to contribute, it’s also given me platforms that make it possible to carry out the work I’m doing in communities. It feels like a win–win.”