In this episode, we speak with Chloe Beavers who has a self-described 'portfolio career', which includes being the founder of businesses Curate Space and Curate Events, as well as a presenter, facilitator, creative strategist, and more. Chloe speaks with us about creating her own opportunities when barriers stood in the way of her dream career, and why it's important to try and keep up with technology today. Find out more about Chloe and her work here: curatespace.com.au/about/chloe-beevers/
The invisible woman project funded by our social enterprise's impact program promotes awareness and actions for women and gender-diverse people. To age with dignity, security, and safety. Find out more on justgoldwomen.net or on our socials @justgoldwomen.
Hosted by Voula Stamatakis
Edited and produced by Carley Bishop
This is a Just Gold podcast.
[00:00:00] Carley Bishop: This is a just gold podcast.
[00:00:03]
[00:00:03] Carley Bishop: Captured on the lands of the peoples of the east Eastern Kulin nation. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
[00:00:25] In this episode of the Invisible Woman Podcast, we speak with Chloe Beavers who has a self-described portfolio career, which includes being the founder of both curate space and curate events, as well as a present. Facilitator, creative strategist, and more. Chloe speaks with us about creating her own opportunities when barriers stood in the way of her dream career, and why it's important to try and keep up with technology today
[00:00:51]
[00:00:55] Voula Stamatakis: Hello, Chloe.
[00:00:55] Chloe Beevers: Hello Will.
[00:00:57] Voula Stamatakis: We are gonna discuss about how women are becoming invisible as their age and about this global phenomenal, which concerns invisible woman after when they hit 50.
[00:01:08] They seem that they're vanishing. , do you think that women are becoming invisible?
[00:01:12] Chloe Beevers: Absolutely. So I'm in my mid forties and I'm already experiencing it, and so I can just really empathize like, to already be experiencing it in your forties. And even hearing that there are so many opportunities that are geared toward those that are under.
[00:01:28] So it's like the thirties of the new 70. I don't know what happens for these, all these other decades of expertise and experience and contribution that we can make. And it does feel like the, all the experience that we have is valued less than the drive to, to make way for the emerging younger people.
[00:01:48] And it really shouldn't be a matter. or, but, and like, yes, we wanna create opportunities and be mentors and support emerging young people and young women. And we also have a place and a role to play in that and looking at how can we as older women still play an active role and have our experience valued.
[00:02:11] Voula Stamatakis: So without you wanting to, you answer to my second question was what was, do you feel that women over 50 are excluded from fully participating in society in a way by working? Do you have any examples, of this maybe, experience that they are excluded in a way?
[00:02:29] Chloe Beevers: Yeah, so that touches on what I was saying before.
[00:02:31] Yeah. Where there are specific opportunities where it's oh, hey, I've got 30 years experience in this specific field. And then where you find out, oh, we wanted to give this op as an opportunity to someone who's emerging under 30. And it's so then it's someone who gets the role who've been alive.
[00:02:47] Less they've been, they haven't lived as long as the experience we've had. And that can be a real blow to the confidence in terms of where we, where, you can feel that what I, everything I have to offer, all that experience is still relevant, is still current and can be a contribution.
[00:03:05] And so where does it fit in the scheme of things. So yeah, I, I've experienced that and. And I suppose that's the whole thing that whole point of. It's thinking of yourself into a different category, . It's okay, no longer an emerging, no longer young. And looking at, okay where next?
[00:03:22] And what, it's a diff totally different niche or categorization that we sit in and there are different opportunities or more limited opportu. That are there. And especially with I, have a background in technology and I love technology, but yeah, it does move really fast and it can be a challenge to keep up and especially if someone has maybe left the working world to, for parenting or any, anything that can happen in life or marriage or whatever, and then come back and go, wow, the world's changed.
[00:03:52] I can talk about how I used to be an award-winning CD rom. and then the younger people say, what's that? And say, Hey, I was cutting edge leading technology at the time, and now it's a redundant skill. So it's, so even working in technology very quickly, you can fall behind and in terms of, maintaining that currency and feeling like not just your skills are redundant, but yourself as redundant.
[00:04:21] Being able to get back in the game can sometimes be a bigger leap. And, but I think we've got that track record that and there are those fundamental principles that of learning and that experience that, that still have that currency. And it's a matter of then looking at how can that translate into the way things are.
[00:04:43] Voula Stamatakis: So it is said that the invisibility can come from the five Ds, which is disability, divorce, death of a partner, domestic violence and death of dollars. Does an example come to your mind from any of these categories
[00:04:59] Chloe Beevers: yeah. Like of those five, I can definitely think of examples for all of those and a couple of those that relate to me and and it can be a challenge. And that's like when you had trouble, like at the beginning of this interview, you asked, what's your title? And it's like a title.
[00:05:16] Yeah. But that's the thing, like I've found that it's, if you try and wait for a. or putting the power of someone el of your life into someone else's hands and for them to give you an opportunity, that's where it can be really a, a blo morale and confidence of, you might not get the opportunities you want.
[00:05:36] And that's where I just thought, I'm gonna create my own opportunities, . And that's where I do end up having. A more of a portfolio career cuz that's been my work around in that. Rather than relying on having a job or an employer or finding a spot where I can fit, then looking at, okay, what have I got to contribute?
[00:05:55] How can I make this relevant? Where are my skills and experience valued? And then creating my own opportunities around that. And I think that's a real opportunity for mature. To see your experience as a superpower. Yes. And looking at, that's amazing. How can you package up your skills, your experience and even the things that are outside career, if you've been, if you've been looking after a family, a house engaged in your community, they are valuable.
[00:06:25] And that lived experience that others can learn from, be inspired by. If you've gone through any of those Ds, if you've had disabilities, divorce death of a partner, domestic violence, the death of dollars, if you've had experienced any of those, you've got through that, you've got through these challenging times, and that is inspiring and that.
[00:06:48] Something that there is great value to be able to carry that gift and be a role model, support mentor. And I think that's where we really come into our own, that we've got this lived experience that we can bring to the table and being able to package up your skills and your experience and say, okay, this is a service I can offer.
[00:07:07] Voula Stamatakis: It's like you are reinventing yourself. Yeah. And getting.
[00:07:10] Chloe Beevers: Absolutely. So rather than just looking for jobs of how do I fit into other people's paradigms, it's it's like, okay, these are my skills, these are my services. This is what I have to contribute to the world, and then offering it. and then it's much more, it feels really empowering to be unable to hold that and offer that and have it as your own business.
[00:07:31] And then it also affords you that flexibility as well, because lives are complicated. We've got other things going on. People might have children or being a carer or o or other things that might restrict ability to be able to do a nine to five anyway. , and that's where. The typical being an employee may not necessarily work for older women, and that's where I think setting up your own business and packaging up your skills and expertise into your own business and then getting clients and partnering with organizations that would love to draw on that experience.
[00:08:10] Voula Stamatakis: Chloe, you've been amazing. Thank you so much for your time and insight. Thank you so much.
[00:08:15] Carley Bishop: The invisible woman project funded by our social enterprises impact program promotes awareness and actions for women and gender diverse people. To age with dignity, security, and safety. Find out more on justgoldwomen.net or on our socials justgoldwomen