Marina Go is a Non-Executive Director for a range of public, private and not-for-profit companies. She is also co-founder of the website Tonic.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I started my career as a journalist and spent the next 30 years working across various content and business media roles including Editor-in-Chief, Publisher and CEO.
Four years ago I left my executive career behind to become a non-executive director for a range of public, private and not-for-profit companies.
I have also co-founded a website for women in the prime of their lives (aged 45+) called Tonic, with a group of former colleagues from my magazine publishing days.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
The wonderful thing about my life now is that every day is different. Looking at my diary, tomorrow looks like this: I will start my day by writing an article on networking for Tonic.
Then I will attend the Annual General Meeting for one of my listed boards. After that I have a virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams with the CEO of one of my boards, followed by lunch to celebrate the promotion of a former colleague. It will be a quick, dry lunch because I have a board meeting for the rest of the afternoon.
The evening brings a celebration with the Walkley Foundation board and management team to celebrate the live broadcast of the 2020 Walkley Awards. I will go from there to a hotel in Potts Point to see my son’s band The Tints perform.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
All of my work is flexible. It has been entirely remote during COVID-19-related border closures as the meetings for many of my boards are in Melbourne.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Work life-balance is about having the freedom to choose. I have achieved that by setting myself up financially in the early part of my career so that now, in my mid-50s, I can determine how much I want to work.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
I have started exercising and walking as often as I can because my metabolism has changed as I have aged.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
I can recommend the weekly Tonic newsletter if you are a woman over 45 and the podcast Women With Clout if you are interested in leadership lessons.
Books that I have finally gotten around to reading recently include: Rodham, Normal People, Catch and Kill, Too Much Lip and Nine Perfect Strangers.
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
I can’t do without my hair straightener, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, and my banking and shares apps.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Mary Barra.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
If you focus on your goals and achievements rather than comparing yourself to others, you will be more successful and also happier.
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