Colleen Callander

Colleen Callander has over three decades of unparalleled expertise in the retail fashion industry, having served as the award-winning CEO of two iconic Australian brands, Sportsgirl and Sussan, for 13 years. During her tenure, Colleen was renowned for building brands, fostering winning cultures, and creating environments that ignite high performance. Her visionary leadership has left a lasting impact on Australia’s fashion landscape, shaping the future of retail and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Beginning her career in retail at the age of 16, Colleen embarked on an extraordinary 30-year journey, culminating in her role as a modern thought leader. She is the founder of Mentor Me Women, widely recognised and sought after keynote speaker, business and leadership advisor, and co-founder of Human Elevation.

A two-time author, Colleen launched her debut book, ‘Leader By Design – Be Empowered To Lead With Confidence In Business And In Life,’ in 2021, which received critical acclaim and became a finalist in the Australian Business Book Awards. Her second book, co-authored, ‘ELEVATE – Unlock Your Extraordinary Potential,’ was released in December 2023.

Colleen is a sought-after keynote speaker, captivating audiences at leading conferences and events such as CBA Women in Focus, International Women’s Day, Business Chicks Movers and Breakers, and Liquid Learning Events. Her leadership achievements have been recognised in The CEO Magazine, where she also serves as a judge for the Executive of the Year Awards, The Australian Financial Review for her insights on leadership and transformative impact, and Vogue Australia, which highlighted her journey and influence on the Australian fashion retail industry.

Colleen Callander talks about:

Colleen shares simple yet powerful tools and actionable strategies to empower participants to navigate challenges, build confidence, and start living a life full of possibilities. Drawing from her experience as an award-winning CEO and leadership expert, Colleen’s message of confidence, resilience, balance, and self-empowerment is both relatable and proven, changing lives every day.

Her talks cover everything from overcoming burnout and creating high-performance cultures, to finding the confidence to lead with purpose and passion. Whether speaking to a room full of corporate delegates, a leadership team in a boardroom, or a school audience, Colleen’s engaging approach inspires people to take charge of their own stories and become leaders in their own lives.

• Leader By Design
• All Roads Lead to Confidence
• Burnout Breakthrough
• Foundations of great leadership.
• Change your story – Change your Life!
• Kindness is the New Currency
• The Power Within
• The Impact of Culture
• People + Purpose + Passion = Profit