Inspired by the Best: International Women’s Day 2023

My mum, Sharl, was a spectacular businesswoman.

With an entrepreneurial flair and a deep love of music coursing through her veins, she started Harmony Music in the 1960s.

It started humbly, a little store in North Perth, where she sold musical instruments and sheet music. Next came records, followed by cassette tapes, followed by CDs. More and more Harmony stores opened over the years, and by the 1990s, Harmony Music was the largest music retailer in Perth. At its pinnacle, it even won an ARIA Award for being the best music retail store in the country.

The Harmony stores were truly special, and it was all because of Mum. She made them a welcoming mecca for all and sundry. Mum was in her element there. She could serve four customers at once, while on the phone taking enquiries, and do it without missing a beat – always with a warm smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye. Customers would line up to speak with Mum as she had an incredible way of making everyone feel like a rare gem.

Watching mum at work made me realise that I too, wanted to work in an area I was passionate about and loved. It wasn’t going to be music, but I knew it had to give me the same fulfilment.

On International Women’s Day I want to give thanks to my mum for this vital lesson. I want to acknowledge her talents, her foresight, her energy, her emotional intelligence and her incredible people skills. She passed away in 2016 and I miss her deeply, but her mentorship and ethos still guide me.

I also want to give a shout out to the brilliant women who work with me at The Wealth Designers. How lucky I am to have you. 

I am blown away daily by your talents, resilience, ability to multitask, to read people and situations beautifully, to lead by instinct and to constantly deliver.

Here’s to all women and the extraordinary contributions they make to all workplaces on International Women’s Day 2023.

Written by Troy MacMillan, CEO of The Wealth Designers