Take2

People are often surprised when they find out I’m 34, and I have a 22 year old daughter. I have 5 kids actually – the youngest is still in primary. They don’t really understand what I do for work, all they know is that I work in the tallest building in town. I’ve been working in the tech industry for a few years now. It’s a nice place to work, Monday to Friday. I just got a new role trying to break the developers’ code. You have to make sure the code is strong. It’s like an app on your phone – if one of the buttons isn’t working then the code is broken or there’s a bug. That’s what I test for. I feel a bit bad sometimes because I have to send it back to the developers and they have more work to do. But I try to be decent about it. I’ve always enjoyed problem solving, but when I was younger I didn’t always deal with challenges in the right ways. I was in prison for almost 10 years, and I’m still trying to get used to my life after getting out. I have quite a bit of anxiety. I avoid supermarkets or public places when they’re really busy. I’ll wait until they're quiet. Talking to people on the outside can be hard. I don’t really have anything in common with them. I sit there and listen to them talk about renovating their houses and it’s hard for me to relate when the things I worry about are so different. But I don't get negative about it. I try not to talk too much about my past at work. Better to let it be. I’ve only mentioned it to the receptionist, which helped her understand why I struggle to be in certain situations and why I don’t go to staff events. She thought I didn't like any of them, but she knows now that it has nothing to do with that. Some of my mates are the boys from my old lifestyle. They don’t really understand what I do for work. No sense trying to explain it, even I don't understand it half the time. But the boys, our values don’t really align any more. If I do see them, it's quick. We just meet up somewhere and have a feed. So I guess I don’t really fit in with my old lifestyle and I don’t fit in with the new lifestyle either. But I'm happy with that. I’m just learning. Always learning.

Are you curious about how Take2 is transforming lives through tech? Our CEO, Cameron Smith, recently had a chat with Steve Grace and shared the story behind Take2’s mission to provide second chances for justice-impacted individuals. Catch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gc9PpUbK #SecondChances #SocialImpact #TechForGood #GiveItANudge #Take2

🙌 #ThankfulThursday: Highlighting KiwiHarvest’s Incredible Support 🥝 We want to take a moment to appreciate KiwiHarvest's impact on our mission. Every week, Kiwi Harvest generously supplies our students with nutritious kai, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and other essential items that contribute to their well-being. What sets KiwiHarvest apart is the commitment to address immediate needs and work towards a more sustainable future. By reducing food waste, they are not only helping our community but also the environment. Their efforts in promoting community well-being and environmental sustainability are commendable and are great examples to follow. Tēnā koe KiwiHarvest We greatly appreciate your support 👏 #ThankfulThursday #KiwiHarvest #Partnership #FoodWaste #EnvironmentalSustainability 

📣 Calling All Talented Interior/Workplace Designers for a Pro Bono Project 📣 Are you a talented interior designer excited to give back and make a positive impact? We have an incredible opportunity for you to lend your expertise to a meaningful cause! Take2 is looking for passionate interior or workplace designers to volunteer their talents for our Take2 Mary Wade Correctional Centre classroom in Sydney. We would love to transform the space into a vibrant, welcoming environment that inspires learning and personal growth for the inmates. What We're Looking For: 🎉 Help us reimagine the prison classroom with fresh and creative ideas - make it a place where our students love to come and learn. 🎉 Pro Bono Commitment- your time and skills will make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve. Email [email protected] if you are keen on using your design skills for good and creating a lasting impact! We kindly request that you strictly use the email provided, not direct messages, to ensure a prompt response. #Take2Sydney #InteriorDesign #DesignforGood #LastingImpact

Meet Aaron Ward, the brilliant visionary behind AskNicely - We were thrilled to host him in our NZ classroom, where he shared his journey from launching a small startup in his garage to building a global business. Aaron shared the importance of feedback, emphasising how AskNicely empowers service providers by delivering immediate feedback. He reminded us that while negative feedback is common, positive feedback motivates and drives employee improvement in the service industry. One of the key takeaways from Aaron’s visit was his emphasis on the power of starting small and continuously improving. He spoke candidly about the early days of AskNicely, where he sought feedback from potential customers and secured his first paying clients. Aaron also gave the class a glimpse into the realities of entrepreneurship, describing it as a “squiggly line” filled with unexpected challenges and lessons. He spoke about overcoming disbelief in the early stages, staying ahead of competitors, and constantly adapting to new chapters in business. Thank you, Aaron, for sharing and setting aside time in your demanding schedule to inspire our class. You gave the class some much-needed advice on being a problem solver in entrepreneurship. #Entrepreneurship #FeedbackMatters #Innovation #Take2

It was an absolute pleasure having you with us, Dickie Currer 👏 ! You definitely left an impression on everyone at the centre. We love how you have embraced your different experiences and used them to shape your future, which resonated with our students. You spoke authentically and encouraged our students to take the best from their pasts and use those lessons to build a better future. Your optimism is infectious- and how you frame giving as something that comes back to you in ways you might not expect is amazing. It’s rare to meet someone who not only talks about helping others but lives by that principle in such a genuine way. Thank you for engaging openly and guiding our students in navigating their careers—especially using tools like LinkedIn to showcase their stories and skills. It is always beautiful to see a genuine connection between guests and our students, and it was clear from their reactions that they enjoyed engaging with you ✨. #Take2Sydney #Tech #TechCouncilAustralia #GuestSpeaker

We were honoured to host Teresa Pollard - a true leader in the tech space with over 20 years of experience in technology and innovation. Teresa has an impressive portfolio that speaks volumes about her expertise and impact in the field, and we are always in awe of her work. Here are some key lessons we picked up from Teresa's presentation: 👏 The company you keep greatly influences your growth. Surround yourself with people who encourage and support your development, as their positive influence can be a powerful driving force towards achieving your goals. 👏 Focus on the future and the consequences of your actions rather than dwelling on past choices. Trust yourself to walk away from situations or environments that don't align with your values and goals, helping you make better decisions and avoid falling back into old patterns. 👏 Embrace diversity in all aspects of your life, celebrating differences and learning from others for personal and professional growth. 👏 Networking is one of the keys to unlocking new opportunities and supporting your growth. We are incredibly grateful to Teresa for taking the time to talk to our students and share her experiences. We look forward to hosting her again at the hub. #Take2Inspires #DataScience #SoftwareDevelopment #GuestSpeaker

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Beata Andzejevska at the Mary Wade Correctional Centre. Beata shared her journey from moving to Australia with a background in biomedical science to eventually leading community and events for tech entrepreneurs at Innovation Bay. The class was captivated by her story, particularly how she rebranded herself and leveraged resources like LinkedIn to get a foot in the door for interviews. They were also particularly interested in the diversity of roles that exist within the tech industry, which Beata highlighted so well. Her insights into the startup landscape and the tech solutions being developed right now helped them understand what being part of a dynamic field is like. Beyond the technical aspects, Beata emphasised the importance of community in any field. She spoke about the value of events, not just for networking but for creating a sense of belonging—a crucial element for anyone looking to thrive in the industry. Her message was clear: in tech, it’s not just about coding; it’s about connecting, learning, and growing. Thank you, Beata, for sharing your experiences and inspiring our students 👏. #Take2Sydney #InnovationBay #TechIndustry #CommunityBuilding  

📣 Calling All Talented Interior/Workplace Designers for a Pro Bono Project 📣 Are you a talented interior designer excited to give back and make a positive impact? We have an incredible opportunity for you to lend your expertise to a meaningful cause! Take2 is looking for passionate interior or workplace designers to volunteer their talents for our Take2 Mary Wade Correctional Centre classroom in Sydney. We would love to transform this space into a vibrant, welcoming environment that inspires learning and personal growth for the inmates. What We're Looking For: 🎉 Help us reimagine the prison classroom with fresh and creative ideas - make it a place where our students love to come and learn. 🎉 Pro Bono Commitment- your time and skills will make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve. If you're curious about what we do and what drives us, we would love for you to watch this YouTube video: https://lnkd.in/d_b75tYC. It's a great way to get a closer look at our mission and the impact we're making! Email [email protected] if you want to use your design skills for good and create a lasting impact! We kindly request that you strictly use the email provided, not direct messages, to ensure a prompt response. #InteriorDesign #DesignforGood #Take2Sydney

A confronting fourth session of the Harvard Club of Victoria's 2024 Lunch Series on Friday, with Jennifer Jin Ma  talking about second chances for people in incarceration. We discussed the numbness of prison, the challenges of innovating at scale in a NFP, attracting talent challenges for lesser pay, the difficulties of NFP progress markers vs. profit focussed businesses and stress and pathways to crime. Interestingly, Jennifer challenged the room about whether the DEI policies of our organisations included diversity of criminal record. We also raised a small amount for club’s non-profit fellowship (https://lnkd.in/g3qxXRwA), so a good day!     If you want to learn more about these themes, please connect with Jennifer and follow her and Take2's journey.