In our special column this month, we are pleased to host an interview with Alison Cusack, Founder and Principal Lawyer, Cusack & Co Pty Ltd, who wishes for better women inclusion in the shipping industry, which is her main responsibility being also WISTA Australia President.
Mrs Cusack explains that her passion for shipping came out during her studies where she discovered shipping law. She is currently running her own law firm for which she hired a mindset coach in the first year of business that helped her a lot with her business orientation.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Alison Cusack: I discovered shipping law whilst at university. There are fake law competitions called “moots” and one is the International maritime arbitration law moot (“IMLAM”) where I discovered shipping and maritime law and was instantly hooked!
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
A.C.: What excites me about running my own law firm is the freedom to build products and services that empower and improve knowledge amongst the industry to create a better (and more level) playing field between the carriers and cargo interests.
S4S: When you think of the word successful who’s the first person who comes to mind and why?
A.C.: Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou (WISTA international President), President at Electricity Authority of Cyprus / CEO Tototheo Maritime. She not only succeeds at business but is a beacon for empowering women in shipping across the globe with her sincere passion for equality in the industry.
S4S:Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why ?
A.C.: My dad. He has helped me approach business in a way that works with my personal style of communication and comfort level. He has also helped me set goals that “click” in my mind. Incredibly simple ideas from him that have been game changers for me!
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
A.C.: Best piece of advice: Don’t take criticism from those you wouldn’t go to for advice/ Worst piece of advice: You can’t be motivated by spite. Spoiler alert – yes I very much can.
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
A.C.: Hiring a mindset coach in the first year of my business. It helped me see a lot of “stories” that I held about what success looked like for me and whether I could even achieve it.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
A.C.: Best piece of advice is get to know yourself and that you’re not for everyone. But if you are yourself you’ll find your people. Piece of advice to ignore? That you can’t call out bad behaviour. Call it out often and always and assert your boundaries.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
A.C: My firm is almost four so in the last five years I’ve gone from employee to running a successful firm. My belief has been in my ability to be a lawyer in my own style and stop comparing myself to the “typical lawyer”.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
A.C: I’d love to have better women inclusion in the shipping industry. It is so stagnant and as WISTA Australia President I am working with so many amazing women and I can’t wait for the industry to have a real hyper jump moment on this issue.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
A.C: A positive motto: Imagine it was all rigged in your favour
A rebellious motto: You are welcome to test that assumption at your earliest convenience.
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
