Renae Anderson’s career has taken many forms over the last 20 years, across both corporate funds and industry funds, leading her to her current role as Manager, Select Advice at UniSuper. Most of the decisions about the way her career has progressed over this time, were made when she wasn’t even in the room, highlighting the importance of a strong personal brand that speaks for you, and understanding how you show up to other people.

Education has also played a big part in Renae’s career. The financial planning profession has evolved during her time in it, and she has attained four different financial planning qualifications. But there are also important skills that you can learn on the job, and Renae feels that this is where she continues to learn the leadership skills that serve her as part of the Advice and Member and Advice Leadership Teams at UniSuper.

This emphasis on learning has been modelled to her by women she has worked with and looked up to in the industry. “I observed that Julie [Lander] was often on courses and studying. Even at the top, there are still things to learn.”

When asked about other inspirational or influential women that have had an impact on her career and life, Renae provides a comprehensive list:

• At UniSuper, I have Danielle Mair, Dani Murrie, Julie Watkins and Anastasia Crisafi. These women are in our Executive team and role model every day what is possible for women in the super industry.
• I had the privilege of working with a female CEO for most of my career in super. Representation matters and Julie Lander certainly normalised women in leadership for me.
• Cate Wood inspired me to look outside my immediate sphere of influence and see how else I can be of service.
• Belinda Ray is someone I have looked to as a consistent example of how you can be kind and an authoritative leader. 
• Cath Bowtell inspires me to stand for what is important to me.

Renae’s dad still tells her to ‘dare to be different’. This has helped her throughout her career in the moments when self-doubt has crept in, because an opinion is different to others. However, these are also the moments where different opinions can potentially add value, because diversity of thought delivers better outcomes. “Everyone you meet knows something that you don’t, and being curious helps.”

Renae recognises that to her, success isn’t measured by the past or by looking into the future, but by feeling like she is in a position, right now, where she is contributing while also still learning and growing.  “But one day I may like to look back and see how I have supported other women to join the financial advice profession or thrive in the super industry. To see that I have given back what I have received.”

The number of young women building their careers in the super industry is something that genuinely excites her, matched only by the number of employers expanding their parental leave to include any gender, which will prevent family decision-making from impacting the continuation of these young women’s careers.

A Women in Super member for over 15 years, and former Secretary of the VIC Committee, Renae credits this role with the beginning of her coming out of her shell, “thanks to the support of the women around me”. She believes that our events are the place for you if you want to learn and develop in a supportive environment. “The more you attend, the more opportunities there are to form deep and lasting connections. That has been my experience.

We are lucky to have our community. You are welcome here, you belong, and please say hi if our paths cross!”