Since 2018, the HRIA’s Women in Hire Development Program has been giving women opportunities to develop their leadership skills, build confidence, and pursue a successful career within our industry. This month, we catch up with the winner of the 2024 women in hire award, Mel Purcell, and her mentor, Deb Davidson.
H&R: Deb, welcome to Hire and Rental magazine. How did you first become a mentor on the Women in Hire Development Program?
DD: When I first came to Onsite 10 years ago, Hire was a very male dominated industry with few females in senior positions across the industry. From a diversity perspective, I was looking at how we could attract more women to Onsite, better support this industry and provide opportunities for women to develop their careers. In 2019, I jumped at the opportunity to mentor on the Women in Hire Development Program because I wanted to give back to the industry and play a part in helping younger women coming through the ranks.
H&R: Mel, how did you first find out about the program and what were your expectations?
MP: I never knew the program existed until it was suggested to me by a colleague at CEA, Tara Stewart. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect and I’m not going to lie, there were nerves, but I knew if I didn’t lay out all my cards from the start then I wouldn’t reap any benefits. On our very first dial-in, with about 95 people on the call, I felt so inspired by the program and the journey we were all about to embark upon together that I wrote down these exact words: I want to win the HRIA award.
H&R: Deb, what are the highlights of your time mentoring Mel?
DD: I’ve always got a lot out of personal enrichment out of mentoring but when the mentee is very keen, eager, open and curious, I get so much more. Mel was exactly that from the very first conversation we had. We’re basically ‘polar opposites’ in terms of style, however my openness and directness probably assisted her to open up and be more direct. By sharing stories of my journey and insights about my experiences throughout my career, it allowed her to be more curious, explore different perspectives and be brave.
H&R: Mel, what difference did Deb make to your experience?
MP: The guidance I received from Deb was so valuable and assisted me in many ways. Every time Deb shared an experience about how she handled or managed a situation, I was in awe. I’d be thinking, ‘Wow, I really want to be like that one day’. Being honest and upfront was the best thing I could have done — there was a huge amount of trust and I knew this was a safe space to be completely vulnerable.
DD: From a mentor’s perspective, it’s important to be able to listen without judgment and create that safe place. I said to Mel very early on in our sessions, you can ask me anything. There’s never a silly question because that’s how you learn.
H&R: Deb, what have you learned from being a mentor?
DD: It’s been a good personal journey for me. I had a strong mentor early on in my career so I’ve always understood the value that mentoring can bring to a mentee. You can get to a certain stage in your career and just assume people naturally know things – mentoring allows you to take a step back and understand there are people at different stages of their journey and that’s okay.
H&R: Mel, take us back to when you received the 2024 Women in Hire award – what was going through your mind at the time?
“If you’re given the opportunity, take it. Throw yourself in, don’t hold back.”
Mel Purcell
MP: I hope my shoes don’t fall off when I walk up the stage! Other than that, it was disbelief because I couldn’t believe this could happen to me. I was already so happy with all that I’d achieved so to win the Award was an unexpected bonus.
H&R: What about you, Deb? How did you feel when Mel’s name was announced?
DP: I was incredibly proud but not surprised having witnessed the journey she’d been through. I knew how much effort she’d put in through the year and understood her passion and commitment. Mel is a prime example of someone who worked really hard for 12 months to better themselves and then the reward has come. It was lovely to see that journey culminate in her walking on stage and presenting her speech in front of hundreds of people.
H&R: Mel, what advice would you give to other women in this industry who may be considering participating in the program?
MP: If you’re given the opportunity, take it. Throw yourself in, don’t hold back, invest heavily in it and put the work in outside of the workshops. I felt like I’d been given a ‘golden ticket’ and I can’t thank CEA enough for the opportunity.
H&R: What about mentoring Deb, what advice would you have for people who may be considering mentoring but are concerned about the time and effort required?
DD: I get it. This industry is very service driven and fast paced but you’re not being asked to commit a lot of time. You attend the sessions when you can, which is an hour a month, and then there are calls with your mentee. So, from my perspective, I don’t think it’s a huge amount of time to add to your calendar considering what you personally get back and what you’re providing to the industry. You can’t put a value on that.
Deb Davidson is General Manager, People and Culture at Onsite Rental Group. At the time of writing, Mel Purcell was Sales Admin Manager for CEA.