In the latest episode of “Courage to Lead”, I had the pleasure of speaking with Gemma Felicity Acton, Director of News Operations for Seven West Media. Since taking on this role in June 2024, Gemma’s career has spanned both finance and media, giving her a rich perspective on leadership. Her journey is not only remarkable but also filled with hard-earned lessons—complete with a few battle scars along the way. Authentic, credible, and deeply compassionate, Gemma’s story offers invaluable insights for leaders at all levels.
Here are the key takeaways from our heartfelt conversation:
1. Seize Opportunities Without Overplanning
“Don’t plan too much; seize the best opportunities in front of you.” Gemma shared this advice, which she received early in her career during a job interview. This mindset helped her navigate roles across finance and media, ultimately leading her to her current leadership position.
Her message? Stay open-minded, take calculated risks, and let opportunities guide you—even if they don’t fit into a rigid plan.
2. Early Leadership Lessons Shape Your Style
Gemma’s leadership journey began at a young age when she became a house captain in primary school. This experience taught her valuable lessons about navigating different opinions and emotions. Her advice to aspiring leaders? Seek leadership roles early on, reflect on those experiences, and use them to craft your own unique leadership style.
3. Recognise and Recover from Toxic Environments
After facing a toxic work environment, Gemma took a well-needed break to rebuild her confidence. She stressed the importance of recognising when a workplace becomes harmful and taking time to recover and recharge. Supportive leadership and a strong personal network were instrumental in her career success, highlighting how crucial it is to lean on friends and family during tough times.
4. Open Communication is Key
For Gemma, effective leadership means fostering an environment of open communication. She keeps her office door open—literally and figuratively—encouraging her team to share their thoughts and concerns. Curiosity also fuels her leadership, as she believes every conversation has the potential to teach something new. “Everyone has something to teach you that you didn’t know until you speak w
ith them,” she says.
5. Balancing Work and Personal Life
Balancing professional and personal life is a core value for Gemma. She and her husband share both childcare and job responsibilities equally, showing that partnership and communication are essential. A strong support network at home allows her to be fully present at work and enjoy her personal life without compromise.
Golden Quotes from the Episode
Some of my favourite quotes from Gemma in this interview include her reflections on the importance of support from family and partners:
- “Every experience you go through, positive or negative, definitely teaches you about the kind of leader you want to be.”
- On becoming National Director of Channel 7 News: “When I stepped out and talked to my husband about it, I thought, you know what? That would be a really great thing to work on—just making sure that this is a terrific newsroom to work in.”
- “I will be forever grateful for the family I was born into. My parents are just absolutely brilliant, and my sisters and I are extremely close.”
- “I guess I married my best friend. We talk about everything all day long. He’s endlessly supportive of myself, my career, my family, my friends, everything. I think that’s one of the reasons I can come to work, be very present, and then leave it to enjoy my home life.”
Final Thoughts
Gemma’s journey offers valuable lessons in leadership, resilience, and the importance of compassion. By embracing opportunities, overcoming challenges – relying on your support network of work colleagues, friends and family, fostering open communication, and prioritising well-being – aspiring leaders can navigate their careers with confidence and purpose. Through that strong foundation, create a great place to work for their teams and organisations.