Honoring Our Leaders: Laura Berry

In the realm of corporate leadership, Laura Berry, former CEO of Supply Nation, stands out for her unique approach to driving change. 

Berry describes herself as an “introverted leader,” yet her actions and initiatives speak volumes about her ability to push for transformative progress within Australia’s corporate sector, particularly in championing Indigenous businesses and sustainability.

Berry’s leadership is grounded in empathy, integrity, and vision. She believes in understanding the individuals she leads, sharing that effective leadership involves leading from the heart and inspiring people to willingly follow. 

With her people-first approach, Berry ensures her team feels valued beyond their roles and creates an environment where employees are empowered to excel.

Berry’s work has facilitated a significant flow of benefits back into Indigenous communities, from supporting local sports teams to enabling first home purchases, illustrating the societal impact of promoting supply diversity. 

Moreover, her efforts have demonstrated to corporate Australia the commercial advantages of diversity, including innovation, responsiveness, and the introduction of unique products and services that enhance an organisation’s bottom line.

Successfully engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, from Indigenous communities to government and large corporations, Berry leverages honesty, integrity, and a willingness to incorporate various viewpoints. Her ability to maintain a shared focus among diverse groups has been key to her success, allowing those not aligned with the organisations goals to naturally depart from the conversation.

Berry’s journey from the mailroom to the CEO’s office over 20 years is a testament to her hard work, humility, and openness to opportunities. These days you will find Laura leading as the non Executive Director of Carriageworks, one of Australia’s most renowned and significant contemporary multi-arts organisations.