The past year felt a bit like trying to build a bridge without knowing where the other side was! In Melbourne’s infrastructure sector, project timelines have been uncertain, and keeping a team motivated without clarity on the next big thing has been no small feat. But hey, we made it through—and learned a lot along the way. 

 

One of the trickiest parts was keeping my team engaged. It’s hard to rally the troops when the next project feels like a mystery novel without the final chapter. So, we focused on what we could control: staying transparent, supporting one another, and celebrating the wins—no matter how small. 

 

The real game-changer? Finding ways to spark joy outside of work that aligns with my purpose. For me, it was all about coaching and mentoring career professionals to have a thriving career and family whilst building a purpose driven side hustle…absolutely possible! I also tried my hand at stand-up comedy to prove a point… you don’t need to be born funny to be a comedian! These creative outlets allowed me to take little breaks from the grind to recharge my batteries and helped me tackle work challenges with a fresh mindset. 

 

What I’ve learned is that uncertainty doesn’t have to mean stagnation. Sometimes, it’s about embracing the chaos, staying flexible, and trusting your team. Oh, and remembering that a good laugh can go a long way. Focus on progression, not perfection! 

 

As we head into the next year, I’m ready to tackle whatever comes our way—with a bit more patience, a lot more meaningful connections, and maybe even better comedy skills. 

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Teeshal Bal is a mother, engineer, director, entrepreneur and mentor. She brings over 20 years experience in large rail infrastructure project delivery across Victoria and Western Australia to her role as Head of Metro Tunnel Transition Office with Metro Trains Melbourne. She also sits on the board for an Alliance delivering $1.2B worth of railway projects.   

  

Alongside her corporate career, she founded a certified social enterprise, Grit Leadership, tackling diversity and inclusion at its core. Grit Leadership exposes and challenges leaders to see different perspectives using virtual reality and gamification technology. Surplus funds from Grit Leadership support the next generation of female leaders through Flourish Journey, a charity building resilient teenage girls. Today, she also coaches and mentors leaders to thrive in their career and family whilst building a purposeful side hustle.