As we countdown to International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, our Head of Trade Operations, Steph took five with our team to share her career journey and leadership advice. In alignment with this year’s IWD theme, when it comes to creating a collaborative culture, Steph’s people-first approach prioritises time and relationships.

“Within my team, we collaborate in a lot of different ways. However, the biggest thing as a leader is making time for your people. We can all get really busy, but we need to remember that a conversation goes a long way.

“Something really fun we do in our monthly team meetings is getting one team member to do pecha kucha, where they talk about their lives or any topic they’re interested in. It’s a really great way to get to know someone on a more personal level, and learn what else they’re passionate about, at the same time as creating a forum to practice engaging communication and presentation skills.

Over 17 years ago, Steph worked her first restaurant shift at her local Grill’d restaurant in Queensland because she wanted to be part of the magnetic energy it created in the local community. The passion and collaborative nature of the team kept her there, and alongside her university studies, she worked her way up to Restaurant Manager. After opening many new restaurants, in 2016 Steph made the move to Melbourne to join our Support Office team.

“After transitioning from restaurant to Support Office, I’ve done various roles in Trade Operations and also one in the People team. It’s been really good to get a lot of different skills and roles under my belt, setting me up for success in my current role as Head of Trade Operations.

To feel good in the moment and beyond, Steph’s Grill’d go-to order has changed over the years, but right now, it’s one of our hottest 2026 menu line-ups.

“My go-to order always changes, as I like to keep it fresh. Right now it’s the Oscar Piastri 81 Wagyu Burger”.

At Grill’d, we’re all about endless opportunity. We encourage our team to choose their own career path, and we’re here to make it happen 👉 https://careers.grilld.com.au/