How I Got Here: Canberra Rape Crisis Centre CEO Tiffany Karlsson
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Admit it, we’ve all been there—stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.
It seems impossible and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.
Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you wanted to know about the secrets of career success. This week we profile Chief Executive Officer of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre Tiffany Karlsson.
Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?
I am a mum to two creative daughters, partner to a funny and clever chap, and daughter to wonderful parents. I am also a wannabe creative and an enabler to our ever expanding menagerie of dogs, chooks, fish, love birds and guinea pigs. For work I am the CEO of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, a not-for-profit that has supported survivors of recent and historic sexual assault and their families for almost 50 years through our 365-day-per-year crisis support, counselling, advocacy and education work.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
I’m not sure many little girls dream of my job. But I did dream of doing something meaningful. As a kid I wanted to be a slashie: a lawyer/writer/artist. I’ve been lucky enough to dabble in all of those things.
Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
My career hasn’t been linear, I have just been drawn to working with great people on interesting work, particularly around social justice, our human experience in our communities, setting people up to thrive, and supporting people at their most vulnerable. I’m personally interested in concepts of bodily autonomy and consent. I remember attending a Reclaim the Night march as a school child in Victoria and feeling the power of all those marchers – the fire in their bellies was contagious. I also once wrote a thesis where consent was at the core. This role brings together many interest areas.
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
I try to put it in perspective and see it as part of the bigger picture. I also break whatever it is down into manageable chunks. Being in the moment through being in nature, hanging with a kid or pet, creating something, or a chat to family and friends also helps.
What was your biggest break?
My first few jobs in federal human rights and native title and at the Australian Human Rights Commission, because being entrusted with important issues and people’s personal matters for the first time was humbling and inspiring. My biggest life break has been having my principled, funny, education-focused parents.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Step outside your comfort zone. I have benefited from the wisdom of many people. The key has been listening to advice from those whose values and integrity I respect.
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
I love that people in the community sector work around the clock every day to make our world better. It makes me want to pull my hair out that sexual violence, including child sexual abuse, is a serious and prevalent problem in Canberra. Yet it is still a struggle having these issues and the scale of it here taken seriously (1 in 4 Canberra women, 1 in 6 men) and the severe underinvestment in specialist service prevention and response continues.
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
I enjoy the ABC, SBS, The Canberra Times, The Guardian, and The Saturday Paper. I dip into other flavours of media to keep across the zeitgeist. I listen to the Imperfects, Ladies We Need to Talk, the Law Report and Milkshakes for Marleigh. I read updates from colleagues in the sector and nationally. I recommend Jess Hill’s recent Quarterly Essay on gendered violence, and the ANU Seminar Series for author discussions and topic discussions.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years I hope to still be doing meaningful work with great people. Our kids will be in high school by then and who knows how many animal species we will have as pets – the kids recently asked about capybaras but our strict biosecurity laws proved quite helpful in that conversation
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
Many people would slowly back away from the roles I would call dream jobs. We should each follow our own path and choose work that aligns with our values and life circumstances. We are lucky in Canberra to have challenging and meaningful public, private and community work. Why not try them all.
I have found community sector work to be rewarding, while heartbreaking which keeps the motivation burning, and you get to exercise much resilience and problem solving. I highly recommend it.
What advice would you give your past self?
I’ve always liked the Swedish proverb: ‘Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; love more, and all good things are yours.
