Jess Sharp

Where did you grow up?

Geelong

What degree did you do?

Bachelor of Business

I had no idea what I wanted to do at the end of year 12, other than continuing to study.  I did the tours of the local universities with my parents, and on a campus tour of VUT, I met one of the lecturers – the interaction was so positive, and engaging, that I decided I wanted to attend VUT on the spot!  Perhaps not the most scientific way to make a decision about what university to attend, but it ended up being the right decision for me.  

Career

While I was working towards finalising my degree, I worked part-time at Target in Westfield.  I was offered a part-time Trainee Operations Manager role, which I jumped at.  There was a large HR component to this role, that I really enjoyed.  When I finished my degree, I was offered a full-time Operations Manager role and stayed in this role for a number of years.  After my time at Target came to an end, I joined a small software firm for about 18 months, in an HR capacity, and in 2006 I joined GMHBA as an HR Officer, and the rest, as they say, is history!

I have been lucky enough to have a lot of variety in roles during my time at GMHBA, such as  HR Officer, Change Manager, Business Partnering, Talent Acquisition, Project Management and OD specialist. 

My first role as HR Officer was a great way to learn the ropes, and I got to experience a little bit of everything!  At the time,  GMHBA had less than 100 employees, and my role included things like training new starters, end to end recruitment (back then, people still physically sent in hard copies of their resumes via mail!) and Occupational Health and Safety.  I got to learn from some amazing mentors, while I learnt about the business, and the HR processes and procedures.

I became Head of Organisational Development (OD) in 2022.  Our team's purpose is ‘Creating a remarkable workplace that attracts, develops and engages people to thrive.’   Some of the things that the OD team work on are: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Early Careers, Mental Health and Well-being, Performance Lifecycle, and Leadership Development.

A really big part of my role as Head of OD is leadership – which means helping others to achieve their goals.  A typical day might involve catching up with my team of five specialists to understand what they are working on, and what barriers they might be experiencing.  I might also meet with the Senior Leaders from across the business, to understand how the Organisational Development team might support them to achieve their goals.  Data is also a big component, things like budgets and report writing are really important.  

What is interesting about this industry – what has kept you here?

I have stayed so long at GMHBA because of the people – we have an incredibly talented, supportive, and fun group of people here!  I also connect with the Values, and align with our purpose statement ‘to support and empower our communities to live healthier lives.’   

Advice

My advice for a new graduate would be:

• Ask questions.  Asking questions is a really important part of learning and growth.  It is completely natural to feel unsure when you start a new role, asking questions will get you answers, and it will help to build relationships with others.  Everyone has been the ‘new person’ and will be more than willing to help!
• Start with ‘yes’.  Have you heard of the ‘start with yes’ mindset?  Basically, it means that instead of immediately saying ‘no’ or being negative, you try to approach situations with a more positive attitude.  For example, if someone asks you to take on a project that you’re not sure you can handle, instead of saying ‘no way, that’s too hard’, you could say’ yes, I’ll give it a go, and see how it turns out.’  By starting with a ‘yes’ mindset you’re more open to new experiences and opportunities, and you’re less likely to limit yourself with negative thinking.
• Invest time in relationships!  It will make your work environment so much more enjoyable.  When you get on well with your colleagues, work becomes less of a chore and more of a laugh.  It’s also great for your mental health.  When you feel like you’re part of a team and you have good relations with your coworkers, it can help to reduce stress and improve job satisfaction.  So go ahead and invest in those relationships – it’ll be worth it in the long run!