A joint event presented by Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce & Ku-ring-gai Rotary
The Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Ku-ring-gai came together to host a practical and highly relevant evening for local business leaders, focusing on the realities of leadership in today’s evolving workplace environment.
Held on Wednesday 11 March 2026 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the St Ives Club, 100 Killeaton Street, St Ives, the session brought together sole traders, senior professionals, and small business owners for an engaging discussion on leadership, coaching, and human resource management.
The evening reflected a growing need among business owners to strengthen not only their strategic thinking, but also their ability to lead people effectively, maintain wellbeing, and navigate increasing workplace responsibilities.
About the Session
Strong leadership in modern business was no longer defined solely by strategy and performance outcomes. Instead, it had increasingly become about resilience, emotional intelligence, people management, and the ability to respond to emerging workplace challenges—particularly in relation to staff wellbeing and compliance.
This session was designed to address those real-world demands through a practical, grounded approach. Rather than focusing on theory alone, the evening provided actionable insights that business owners and leaders could immediately apply within their own organisations.
Participants engaged in an interactive presentation that explored leadership through both a coaching and HR lens, with a strong emphasis on practical application rather than abstract frameworks.
Key Areas Covered
The session was led by Karen O’Connell, founder of All Things HR incorporating Kingfisher Coaching Services.
Karen shared practical insights, case studies, and real-world examples across four core areas:
Executive coaching in practice
Attendees explored how executive coaching supported leaders in building capability, improving decision-making, and strengthening business outcomes. Real examples demonstrated how coaching interventions helped leaders navigate challenges, improve clarity, and enhance performance.
Building leadership capability
This section focused on strengthening resilience, wellbeing, and leadership performance. Practical strategies were shared to help leaders manage pressure, maintain energy, and support both themselves and their teams more effectively in demanding business environments.
Optimising delivery as a leader
Karen discussed the importance of balancing competing priorities, managing workload, and leading people effectively while maintaining operational focus. Attendees were given practical tools to improve productivity and decision-making under pressure.
HR mini-update for small business
A targeted update was provided on current HR considerations relevant to small businesses, with particular focus on psychosocial risks in the workplace. Real examples helped attendees understand their responsibilities and how to manage emerging compliance requirements in a practical way.
Each topic was delivered with a short overview followed by practical application, ensuring the content remained accessible, relevant, and immediately useful.
The formal presentation ran for approximately 30–45 minutes, followed by an open Q&A session where attendees were able to ask specific questions and explore real workplace scenarios in more detail.
A Practical and Supportive Approach
A key feature of the evening was its focus on practical support rather than theoretical discussion. Attendees were encouraged to consider how leadership challenges were showing up in their own businesses and how the insights shared could be applied directly.
The session also created space for peer learning, with participants sharing experiences and discussing common challenges in leadership, staffing, and business management.
Following the event, Karen made herself available for informal one-on-one conversations over coffee for attendees who wished to explore specific HR or leadership issues in greater depth.
About the Speaker
Karen O’Connell is an executive coach, HR consultant, and small business owner with extensive experience supporting leaders and organisations to strengthen workplace performance and leadership capability.
Based in Turramurra for over 25 years, Karen brings a unique blend of corporate and small business experience. She is the founder of All Things HR, incorporating Kingfisher Coaching Services, and also co-owns and operates Stormy Lodge, a mixed farming enterprise and White Suffolk sheep stud near Wagga Wagga.
Her diverse background provides a grounded and practical perspective on leadership, combining strategic HR expertise with lived experience in managing and operating real businesses.
This event was jointly presented by the Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce and Ku-ring-gai Rotary, reinforcing their shared commitment to supporting local business leaders with practical, relevant, and actionable insights into leadership and workplace management.