Kilvonian Profile - Ellie Piestch

Ellie Piestch, Class of 1999

Partner, Leading Teams 

For 20+ years, Ellie has led organisations through transformational change. Formerly the live-in caretaker at Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club (yes, from the Dulux ads), a national lifesaving medalist and one of the first female professional lifeguards and jet ski rescue operators in Victoria, Ellie shares leadership stories from the surf zone through to the corporate boardroom, drawing upon her experiences in sport, successful family business, non-profits and commercial consulting. 

An experienced coach and facilitator, Ellie’s leadership experience translates across industry as she creates a space for participants to share their own stories and contribute to their shared leadership journey. Ellie has worked with executive leadership teams in government, mining, infrastructure, construction, education, health, retail, NFP, disability services, training, and sport to help them achieve their maximum potential.

What have you been up to since leaving Kilvington? 

Some highlights have been: studying at Monash University, travelling in Asia, winning a national lifesaving medal, working in sport, NFPs and corporate consulting, moving to Sydney, living at the Tamarama Surf Club as the volunteer caretaker, welcoming my little girl Daphne, starting the Kilvonian Alumni Choir and becoming Partner at Leading Teams.

What is your favourite memory of Kilvington? 

There are so many! I remember the threat of Patsy Venn that she would sit on us if we didn’t behave …  and then hiding with Josie MacCartney under the grand piano during the whole lunch time Madrigal rehearsal, until Mrs Venn discovered us, dragged us out and literally sat on us! We had so much fun playing sport, making music, performing in productions – I look back on my time at school as something very special. 

Any funny stories? 

I wonder who else remembers Mrs Lloyd in 1991 Grade 4, who rescued a lamb from an overcrowded farm and brought him to school for us to learn from? Billy Rack o’ Lamb was his name and we weighed him, measured him, learned about sustainable farming …  and chased him all round the classroom to clean up after him. 

Did you end up where you expected you would when you finished school? 

In some ways yes, in others, not at all! I never really had a clear picture of a particular role like some of my classmates who went on to become podiatrists or teachers or accountants. I knew I loved helping people (and being the centre of attention!). So, it seems inevitable that I now help leaders of teams maximise the potential of their business through creating a culture of performance. It just took 20 years of other exciting adventures to find my sweet spot. 

How did your time at Kilvington prepare you for what you are doing now? 

Kilvington’s motto feels like it is tattooed on my psyche. I live a life of service to others and this was instilled in me from day one. Kilvington gave me opportunities that I would never have dreamed of – because we valued 'having a go' over winning, and being included over being the best. The opportunity to sing, perform, debate, play, as well as learn in the classroom gave me such a diversity of views and perspectives that I am grateful for every day.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face to get where you are now? 

The great thing about overcoming challenges is that with enough distance from them, they don’t seem quite so significant as they did while they were happening.  

I’m really proud to share that I survived a family violence relationship, and despite everything that I felt was taken from me during that time, my family and friends (many of whom were from Kilvington) helped rebuild and restore me to my fullest capacity.

Professionally, I had a few really awful jobs, and really tough experiences at work that have rocked my values and made me question my skills and judgement. I even left what I thought was my dream job without returning to the office. I just packed up over the weekend and felt I could never go back. 

And health wise, I had some significant surgeries to my leg which interrupted plans for a career in sport. At the time it was devastating, and it felt like I completely lost my identity, but looking back it actually helped me find a path to where I am now. 

What advice would you give to others who might be faced with similar obstacles? 

There are three pieces of advice that I keep coming back to.

1. This too shall pass – it seems big and heavy right now, but it will change.
2. Focus on what you can control – Stephen Covey’s circle of control model helps me focus on what I really need to do right now.
3. Don’t let an idea/initiative fail because you didn’t put it in the effort. Let it fail because it was a bad idea – don’t sabotage something, put your effort in and be rewarded with results, or with an opportunity to learn and grow.

What has been your biggest highlight so far? 

My lifesaving career has taken me around the world. I had the opportunity to travel to the USA to promote Aussie beaches as a tourism initiative and travel on a tour bus with the OG Wiggles, Bindi & the Croc Men and a whole bunch of Aussie talent (Rusty, Naomi, Nicole, Keith and The Veronicas). It feels like a dream.

And living at the Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club for three years, literally on the beach every day, was life changing. 

What excites you about the future? 

I’m excited about three things at the moment:

1. Watching my daughter grow up and striving to give her the opportunities I had.
2. Helping people enjoy where they work, so they can be the best they can be in their lives.
3. Singing in the Kilvonian choir (you can take the girl out of Kilvington, but you can’t take Kilvington out of the girl!)

How did what you learnt at Kilvington help make you the person you are today? 

I learned that I could be anything I wanted to be. I learned that I belong in any room I want to be in. I learned that I have the responsibility to help others to be what they want to be, and where they want to be, too. The confidence that Kilvington gave me, and value of service for others, has been central to each choice I have made since I left. 

Any advice for our current Year 12 students as they embark on the next stage of their journey? 

A career is a long time. And our expectation is that success is linear. But be prepared that success looks different for everyone and can be measured in many different ways. And sometimes you need to step sideways, or roll down a hill, in order to find your pathway forward.