hi there, I'm joey
An accidental diplomat
For 20 years, I worked at an executive level in a wide range of organisations all around the world.
- Formally qualified in business, communications and executive leadership
- A seasoned management consultant with the Big Four
- Former commercial diplomat in Washington DC
- Financially independent
Don’t get me wrong. I did have some fun, for sure.
I built an enviable LinkedIn Profile and reached the lofty heights of Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyer!
But let me tell you something … I wasn’t always Joey Grace.
PS That dapper looking Cavoodle/Cavapoo is Winston. This little snuggler has shared my highs and my lows, had my back, while mostly napping in my lap, for the last 12 years.
10 May 2011 – 15 December 2023
By all accounts I was successful; but “success” came at a cost
- I got up when all I could do was sleep
- I dressed up in the corporate outfits that made me look like a man and made it difficult to breathe
- I showed up and took the “opportunities” to work longer and harder, give the presentations, take on the big roles
But I knew I could never bring my whole self to work; and I didn’t want to either. There were standards, expectations and narrow guardrails. To be ‘successful’ I needed to mask and camouflage most of the time.
What has all this got to do with my name?
Well, I was born one name, married another, and arrived at my mid (ok, late) 40s feeling confused, anxious, angry and then completely exhausted.
Turned out I had autistic burnout which led to chronic exhaustion, a loss of skills, reduced tolerance to stimulus and a loss of self-belief.
Joey Grace is who I am today. I’m a neurodivergent woman, trying to embrace my authentic self and unique superpowers to continue to succeed professionally, but on my own terms.
I’m not always confident in my own abilities but I love helping others to see and achieve their unique potential.
Turns out I am autistic
I think, feel and act differently
I see things in a way that others can’t. I create order out of chaos, whether it is information, plans or pantries. I think logically and incredibly literally. And I Get Things Done.
I’m big picture and detail-oriented at the same time. For the right topic, I can hyperfocus and fixate until the sun goes down. I make up my own words and can be quite entertaining. And I can have childlike enthusiasm that doesn’t always sit well in a business setting.
And, I miss the social cues at work and appear aloof or aggressive. Or, I try so hard to be liked that I can come off inauthentic. I fight too many fights, seeing inefficiency or injustice everywhere.
I ask lots of questions and can interrupt inappropriately. I fidget, squirm, pick and scratch. And I bump into things, a lot.
Girl, I've been where you are
I have lived experience of what it feels like to be an atypical woman in the typical workplace.
At best, I felt like a square peg always trying to fit into a round hole. But mostly, people either under-estimated me or, worse, seemed intimidated by me.
I’ve been made redundant from 3 jobs – I think because I was too different to fit in – and each time I picked myself up and chased bigger and better things.
All the while, I felt weird and awkward, lonely and isolated, anxious, frustrated and angry.
Always wondering why didn’t I belong, wasn’t I worthy?
The company
Grit n Grace Collective
Sure, my success had came from masking and camouflaging that led to a lifestyle of micro burnouts.
But, the upside is that throughout my career I have coached dozens of CEOs, leaders and managers to improve their productivity, find purpose at work and go for and get those promotions.
Now I am bringing that knowledge and toolkit to our community so that our talents are leveraged at work.
I established Grit n Grace Collective as a place where I could belong without having to fit in, and you can too.
We are a neurodivergent led and neuro-affirming organisation that offers a world first novel professional program for atypical woman to succeed professionally in a typical working world.
The team
We believe that every woman should be empowered to embrace their authentic selves and unique superpowers to succeed professionally without compromising their health and wellbeing
Our values
We believe every woman should be empowered to embrace their authentic selves and unique superpowers to succeed professionally without compromising their health and wellbeing.
We are enough. We are good enough. We are more than enough. Enough is enough.
Grit
When the answer isn’t immediately clear, or when others underestimate us, we do the work to solve the right problems
Grace
When we are frustrated or when others treat us like shit, we are calm so we can have influence and impact
Balance
When we are feeling overwhelmed, tired or unwell, we look after ourselves to avoid burnout and get back to being our amazing selves
Belonging
When others discriminate, we listen and include so that we get the best solutions to the problems at hand
Achievement
When we set a goal, we go for it to create value
Authenticity
Whenever the situation calls, we be our unique and weird selves to prove that there is a place for all women in business