Our thanks to alumna Vanessa Barcellona (Class of 2001) for an inspiring and motivating speech to our Year 10 and 11 students today. Vanessa heads up Professional Services (Australia and New Zealand) at Amazon Web Services and spoke honestly about the challenges of finding work/life balance and making time for personal wellbeing.
Vanessa stressed the importance of "skills stacking", saying yes to opportunities as they arise and finding mentors to guide you along your career journey. "Make yourself irreplaceable and never stop learning", were the final words to the next generation entering the workforce, along with "Manners matter, and first impressions absolutely count!"
Acknowledging the "influential and inspiring" staff from her time at Siena, she reminded our current students to seek their teachers' insights and feedback, particularly when choosing subjects. We thank Vanessa for her time and generosity in sharing her advice and experiences with our girls.
