Rejection is a growth opportunity
From pregnant and homeless at 16 to a high-powered executive, Claire Parkinson’s story is one of grit, determination and relentless self-belief. A twist of fate saw her become a Prison Officer in her 20s, a role that challenged her in ways she could never have imagined. By 30, she had risen to the role of Prison Governor in London, quickly climbing the ranks to Head of Operations for all Prisons and Probation in London, overseeing nearly 9,000 staff and 33,000 offenders.
Her role was diverse and high-pressure, encompassing everything from counterterrorism to managing a significant workforce. All this, while managing a four-hour daily commute and caring for a newborn baby.
In 2011, Claire made a life-changing move to Australia, where she soon became Head of Justice Sector Reform for South Australia. She then transitioned from the public sector to the private sector, where she became an Executive for hire in some of Australia’s most influential boardrooms, mostly recently as Vice President at the world’s largest mining company, co-leading the integration of a A$9.6 billion acquisition.
But Claire’s journey didn’t stop there. After years of being in the c-suite, she made the bold, now or never decision to turn her back on her seven-figure salary at the end of 2024 to focus on her dream of publishing her book.
Unsurprisingly, Claire's first book - SH!TTY GRiT - became a best seller overnight with her candid storytelling shining a light on societies confirmation bias for her future prospects. Her unexpected rise in the prison system and the countless messy twists and turns that defined her career and personal life and nothing short of incredible.
She continues to inspire audiences with her keynotes on leadership, resilience, humility and overcoming adversity. Whether speaking about leading in high-stakes environments, the dangers of boardroom echo chambers, or navigating personal setbacks, Claire's message is clear: grit, humour, kindness and openness to learning are essential ingredients to success.
Talking Points
Diversity Beyond the Surface: Unlocking Transformation Through Diverse Perspectives
Claire's career began at fourteen - cleaning a row of 18 urinals at a local factory. Whilst the men continued their business' in her presence, she patiently stood to one side. She wasn't bothered at all, as the normalization of being treated differently - because she was a girl - had been drummed into her during her formative years.Diversity Beyond the Surface: Unlocking Transformation Through Diverse Perspectives
Claire's inspirational benefits to boardroom story from debauchery to ASX100 C suite saw her flaunt her rebellious streak to live up to the low expectations everyone had of her - before arriving where everyone predicted she would in prison. Only, she landed on the right side of the fence; a naive lone female prison officer working with over 200 males things got interesting and it wasn't just the prisoners who thought they'd have a play with the new girl!
Her challenging work life ignited a meteoric rise in her career and she became a Governor of prisons in both the UK and Australia not only proving the naysayers wrong but endorsing her view that EQ is very important and that the world was wrong to give up on her.
Claire is uniquely placed to discuss the importance of flexibility in recruitment. Why turn down a shining star because their star shape doesn't fit into your round hole? If you find a star recruit them and mold a job around them. This is how you nourish an equilibrium between EQ and IQ to deliver results.
Seeing the opportunity in life's NO.
A single mum at 16 with no qualifications, Claire's career began cleaning a row of 18 urinals at a local factory. Seeing the opportunity in life's NO.
Claire's inspirational history of debauchery and working in a myriad of male dominated work environments, saw her flaunt her rebellious streak to live up to the low expectations everyone had of her before arriving where everyone predicted she would in prison.
Only, she landed on the right side of the fence; a naive young prison officer being assigned as personal officer to globally recognized Moors Murderer , Myra Hindley , on her first day in the job , defying the odds, rising through the system and becoming a respected Governor in prisons both in the UK and ,later, Australia with a knapsack full of hair-raising tales!
Things seemed to be going well until she was struck down with MS. Claire talks about seeing that, too, as an opportunity and the life defining moment that saw her world flipped on its head with her migration, aged 40, to the other side of the planet.
Claire's talks about the key to remaining positive in the face of this is your lot, make do with it.
A professor of reinvention, Claire is in pole position to discuss why professional prejudice is eroding business growth - underestimate the value of an unconventional life journey to business at your peril - embrace it and you will come to celebrate it!
How to remain calm in a crisis
Claire’s career began at fourteen, cleaning a row of 18 urinals at a local factory. Whilst the men continued ‘their business’ in her presence, she patiently stood to one side; not bothered at all.How to remain calm in a crisis
Claire’s inspirational benefits to boardroom story - from debauchery to C-suite ASX100, saw her flaunt her rebellious streak to live up to the low expectations everyone had of her before arriving where everyone predicted she would – in prison. Only, she landed on the right side of the fence; a naïve lone female prison officer working with over 200 males – things got interesting and it wasn’t just the prisoners who thought they’d have a play with the new girl!
Her challenging work life and the results she achieved, ignited a meteoric rise in her career and she became a Governor of prisons in both the UK and Australia, not only proving the naysayers wrong but endorsing her view that EQ can be enough and that the world was wrong to give up on her.
Claire’s unique journey leads you to understand that it isn’t the responsibility of policymakers to make life fair, it falls to the US.
Her likable and humorous insight into self-regulation and survival will provide important clues to putting you firmly back in control.
Human centred change management
Human centred change management
Importance of knowing your workforce (context)
Importance of knowing your workforce (context)
