Kylie Pussell is the co-founder & CEO of Miracle Babies Foundation, Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation supporting premature and sick babies.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I first worked for a legal firm in Sydney and absolutely loved it. I worked in litigation and stayed in the field for many years until I started my family. As a result of my personal experiences in having my family, I became co-founder of Miracle Babies Foundation in 2005.
Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading not for profit supporting premature and sick babies, their families and the hospitals that care for them. I am currently in the CEO role and have learnt so much along the way. My beginnings in the legal field have definitely provided good structure and knowledge which is very useful in the CEO role.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I start off my day trying to avoid the Sydney traffic as I head to our national head office. I enjoy the mornings and checking in with our staff and volunteers. Emails are always keeping me focused and working on the business, either in strategy, compliance, programs, HR and budgets.
No two days are the same and I love the fast pace of NFP and when exciting new opportunities arise that allow us more ways to be able to support families.
We are in the throes of celebrating the Miracle Month of May, where we increase our community awareness in starting conversations about the emotional journey of having a premature or sick baby and the challenges that can continue or arise after discharge and through the developmental and school years for these vulnerable children and their families.
May includes our Quadruple Giving Day on the 19th May where we have generous corporate supporters, such as Tommee Tippee who match funds to quadruple community donations to help Miracle Babies Foundation raise funds to support more families. May is a super busy month that really highlights the work we do for families.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Miracle Babies Foundation has flexible working conditions which allows me and our other staff to be working parents but very present in our children’s lives and not have to miss out on significant events due to work. Attending special days for our children is an important part of family and having happy staff.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Work-life balance is becoming a little easier as my children are getting older. The years when I was working and they were all little was very hard, I was always trying to catch up on work while they were asleep which was tough.
Going to the office and having a finish time works well for me in that I can go home and be mum. The temptation is always there to jump online when they go to bed, although I really try to limit this and I have learnt how important the work-life balance is for yourself and also those around you. Your family deserves a healthy work-life balance as well as yourself.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
Over the past 12 months with the pandemic, I haven’t been as social as usual and am staying home more. I have limited my night time work from home.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
I love a good book and generally once I start reading I finish within a day or so. I do love Marian Keyes!
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
These days I’d have to say my mobile phone. Everything is in there!
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Scott Morrison. How do you meet expectations of a country and a family?
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
I really love my work and feel rewarded being a part of Miracle Babies Foundation and helping families become the best they can be. I dearly love my family and believe being personally satisfied in my work allows me to be a better, happier person at home.
The balance is never perfect, however I am content with my balance now, which is much better than ever before. I am proud that as a working mother I have amazing children who have wonderful family and community values, are compassionate, loyal and loving. This balance is only possible because of my flexible and supportive husband, together we work as a team.
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