Jessica Ritchie

.jessica.ritchie is one of the speakers at the local Sydney Writers Festival Events at the Empire in a couple of weeks. It was lovely to meet her in store, and she has left some signed copies behind of her book!

Clarity to MAKE YOUR MARK by Toowoomba-based author and seven-time international award winner Jessica Ritchie is packed full of personal and professional development to help you reset, refocus, and step into your full potential.
Through 12 transformative steps, Jessica shares her own powerful stories, what she calls MAKE YOUR MARK Moments, alongside practical tools and MARKercises at the end of each chapter so you can immediately put what you learn into action.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure of your next steps, this doesn’t feel like reading a book, it feels like sitting down with a trusted friend who gets it and gently helps you find your way forward.
If you are ready to discover your vision, become your best self, and create a meaningful legacy, this is your next step.
It’s time to MAKE YOUR MARK.

Lovely to be invited to be a guest on Sharon Francisco’s podcast this morning.

We had a real, robust and vulnerable conversation around so many important topics including making your mark, uniqueness, authenticity and energy. These are the kinds of conversations that remind you how powerful it is when people are willing to show up honestly and openly.

Thank you Sharon for creating such a warm and thoughtful space. I’ll share the episode once it drops! 🎙️

This is going to be fantastic fun 🤩

Come along as I can attest that listening to these two is never a dull moment - proud as punch. ☺️
No bookings required - simply turn up to The Empire at 3pm on Friday 22nd of May and enjoy.

I’ve just arrived back from a global four-day conference I’ve wanted to attend for the last EIGHT years.

Time, distance and family life always seemed to make it a little challenging but…this year… I finally got there 🥳

On the first day, at about 1pm, I received a message from my husband.

Apparently our youngest didn’t have lunch that day.

My husband didn’t pack it.
My son didn’t pack it.
And they both assumed I had pre-ordered tuckshop.

Nope.👎

Turns out he found a squashed hot cross bun in the bottom of his bag from the day before and his friends shared their lunch with him.

Which technically counts as both problem solving and community building!

Cue the mum guilt.

And to be fair, my husband felt terrible too.

I shared the story with some women at the conference when the message came through. They laughed… but also went, “Awww… we know exactly how that feels.”

Because every mum has a version of that story. Whenever a mum travels for work, the preparation starts well before the suitcase is packed.

Uniforms washed and ironed.
Groceries stocked.
Homework on track.
Birthday party gifts purchased in advance.
Double check the school disco theme.

In the early years I ran this process with almost military precision. over time, I’ve realised something important.

THE WORLD WON’T END IF I DON’T DO EVERYTHING.

The boys are older now. My husband is perfectly capable. And independence is a good thing.

And so when you’re away for work (or luckier - travel) as a mum, there’s a bit of a science to checking in.

Enough messages so they know you’re thinking of them.

But not too many.

Too many and they suddenly miss you terribly.

Too few and they start wondering where you’ve gone.

“How many sleeps?”
“When will you be back?”

They’re processing it. And if you’re honest… so are you.

Then you come home.

To emails you didn’t quite get through while you were away.

A dog who greets you like you’ve been missing for six months. 🐶

And children who suddenly release all the stories and emotions they’ve been holding in.

This isn’t a complaint, it is a more a quiet nod to the women who know this rhythm.

The preparation.
The travel.
The reintegration.
The juggle.

Because it is worth it.

It’s worth it for us to grow and step into rooms we’ve wanted to be in for years.

And it’s worth it for our children to see us pursuing things that matter.

Some days it looks like military precision.

Other days it looks like a squashed hot cross buns.

Maybe that hot cross bun is the perfect metaphor for working motherhood - Slightly squashed… but somehow it still works! 🐰 😅

Here’s to the mums and people who get this. And a thank you to those who make it possible.

This is part of Making our MARK. Showing our children what it looks like to pursue things that matter, even when the juggle is real.

Please share your squashed hot cross bun moments with me if this resonates! 👋

International Women's Day!
For CUC Isaac, this was an opportunity to meet and celebrate women in our region for their exceptional talents, drive, and achievements.

Thank you Women in Mining and Resources Queensland for putting on an incredible event and BHP Queensland for the invitation.

Jessica Ritchie, your presentation on Making Your Mark was inspiring and we will be reflecting on the MARK methodology to use both a personal and professional lives.

Our team picture includes our Chair, Melissa Westcott, Education Coordinator, Dr Sharon Stephen, and our Centre Manager, Juliet Garnett.

The International Women’s Day theme this year is Balance the Scales.

In my keynote yesterday in the Bowen Basin with Women in Mining and Resources Queensland, I pushed that idea a little further.

For many women, the scales have been tipped for a long time.

So instead of simply balancing them…
let’s tip them back in our favour.

Not at anyone’s expense.
But by placing our voice, worth and truth where they belong.

I had an absolute blast speaking in Moranbah yesterday. Thank you to for the opportunity and to all the incredible women and men in the room.