With Carmen Williams, Narre Warren entrepreneur
What is something people don’t know about you? Nine years ago I shaved off all of my long blonde hair. I raised money but that was not my primary motivation. I was always known as ‘the girl with the long blond hair’ so in my quest for self-discovery I shaved my hair to ponder the questions about who I would be if I didn’t have long blond hair anymore. Spoiler alert… I was the same Carmen I always was, but now I could feel wind on my head. The responses by others around me were fascinating. Some people mourned the loss of my hair, others told me that I was brave and children were curious and wanted to approach me (but were advised by their parents not to).
What was your most memorable moment? Having my children was very memorable. With my first, I had a ceaser and was a bit out of it in the recovery room, when I looked up and I thought ‘why is he holding a blanket in his arms?!’ and then I realised that there was a baby in it! With my second I remember her being placed on my chest and her big eyes taking it all in.
What’s the best thing about being a mum? The constant reminder to stay in the moment and be fascinated by everything around me. And cuddles too.
What is your favourite movie? I don’t have one. I don’t watch many movies and don’t watch any movies more than once. Although if I do want some escapism, I’m happy to sit down to a comedy, drama or action movie.
If you were PM for a day, what would you do? This one is hard because I understand that change in a democracy takes time and I don’t think that I could have a huge impact in one day. The best way to leverage the position for one day would be to listen to people’s perspectives and information that I would only have access to as a PM, synthesis this, put my two cents in and then share these insights with the leadership that would take over the next day and where appropriate, the Australian population via responsible (non-sensationalist) reporters.
At school I……was uncoordinated. I never skipped rope or did handstands. I am changing that now. I can now skip rope and am working on double unders and handstand push ups.
Favourite holiday spot in Australia? Anywhere with a beach or a mountain and not too many people.
Which six dinner guests dead or alive, would you invite to dinner? Just my mum.
What’s your favourite book? I love books and read voraciously. I don’t think I can pin it down to one. One that rocked my world recently is The Obstacle is the Way.
Best concert you have been to? The one in my living room where we put on loud music and dance around like crazy.
