Senior Consultant Mel Russell-Lane has had a wide and varied career, working across the health, infrastructure, mining, and education sectors. She now brings this experience to Keogh, and we’re excited to welcome her to the team.
With over 25 years of strategy and leadership experience, Mel is driven by an interest in people; in how they think, and what makes them tick. She derives energy from helping people improve their skills, capabilities, and confidence in the workplace, and seeing her coaching support help to build flourishing careers.
Thinking about it, Mel believes that branching into leadership development consulting and coaching wasn’t a formal decision. From starting her working career as a primary school teacher, making a switch to health promotion, and the trajectory through strategic marketing and into executive leadership, it was an organic shift, built upon experience gathered in previous industries and roles.
“I had worked in predominately male-dominated industries. And while they provided challenges, these were challenges that piqued my interest.”
Working in executive-level roles, in companies like Wesfarmers, Mel began to get questions from her colleagues and wider business network about her career journey—notably around being a female in the workplace, and how she faced the challenges that came with senior leadership in that climate.
“I began to notice a common theme in what people wanted to know. It was almost mentorship: how did I maintain my authenticity as a leader, as a woman, and avoid adopting those traditionally masculine leadership qualities that were evident in the workplace?”
It was these questions that led Mel into a coaching role, built on a strong set of skills centering on diversity, equity, inclusion, and psychological safety—critical needs that became apparent during her time working in leadership roles.
“To be a good leader, you can’t lead the way that people used to when I started out. Empathy, curiosity, and authenticity are critical qualities that a leader needs today.”
These critical needs drove Mel’s desire to create change. To use her skills to support others in doing the same, empowering people to be their authentic selves and the best leader they can. Supporting organisations to see the importance of their people’s wellbeing.
“We spend most of our time at work, and yet so many people are working in organisations with a toxic culture and poor leadership. This is unacceptable—in this day and age, it’s something we need to challenge.”
Mel has carried this challenger attitude through her leadership and consultancy journey.
“I feel that growing up in remote southwest WA had a big impact on how I view the world. It was a free-range childhood, I didn’t grow up in cotton wool. I wasn’t particularly worried about consequences—was allowed to fail and it prepared me to take risks.”
This upbringing certainly shaped her approach to career trajectory, providing Mel with an unwavering ability to jump into the unknown, to try different things, and have the confidence to simply have a go. Mel doesn’t believe that she’s been lucky in her career—people make their own luck, off the back of hard work, goal setting, and taking opportunities when they arise. After all, it’s in these opportunities that you learn.
“If you’re curious and open to opportunity, it comes your way. You take it, even if you’re a bit scared.”
This curiosity, coupled with strong personal values, has led Mel to understand how crucial a values-aligned relationship is for an organisation, which has led her journey into coaching.
“Businesses need to realise that there are more and more people out there who want to work with a company that shares their values, particularly in leadership roles.”
Keogh was a natural fit for Mel. Aligned in on core values, and a challenger at heart, she is excited to join a team where she can continue her journey, and work with a team that she recognises can share different capabilities and knowledge. And, importantly, it’s a place where she can bring her unique skill set to use, and give back to industries that have helped her career thrive, supporting the development of people, leaders, and organisations in a purpose-driven role.
Mel commenced with Keogh Consulting on 9th September 2024..
To find out more about Mel Mel Russell-Lane – Keogh Consulting
