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In this spotlight series we are introducing the courageous, clever and powerful women in our Ladymates community.

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To better understand the journeys of our Ladymates, we reached out to hear their reflections on pivotal moments, their unique strengths, and the goals that drive them forward.

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So, let us introduce Jess Hope! Jess is the founder of Create Racket!

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Tell us a little bit about your career so far…‍

I’m Jess Hope - the founder of Create Racket and an award-winning content, social and marketing leader with a relentless curiosity for creative solutions and knack for driving commercial outcomes through brand storytelling. I’ve spent over 15 years creating fan-first content for some of the biggest names in music and media, both here in Australia and back on my home turf in the UK. I’ve worn many hats across my career - journalist, copywriter, podcaster, social strategist, marketing manager, creative director - but ultimately, I’m passionate about building authentic brands, crafting culturally-relevant content, and connecting communities in more meaningful ways.

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What is your #1 professional superpower?‍

I’m a creative problem solver with an eye for detail, driven by data and insights to inform my thinking. Over time, I’ve harnessed this to connect diverse thinkers, encourage authentic collaboration and simplify unnecessarily complex comms that can otherwise be a barrier to accessibility and innovation.

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What is the #1 area you'd like to grow in professionally?‍

I’m on a mission to sharpen my legal smarts and have the know-how to navigate the necessary industry jargon, ensuring I’m doing good business, protecting a growing community, and building a solid base to springboard from.

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Song you're listening to on repeat at the moment?‍

Koyo - Anthem

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What’s a quote you live by?‍

You don’t have to be the loudest in the room to be heard

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Outside of work, what do you love to do?‍

Doing literally anything dog-friendly with my two oodles, filling my home with more maximalist interiors, and maintaining a healthy ratio of live music to keep me inspired.

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Why did you join Ladymates Collective?‍

After making the jump to be a full-time founder, I was keen to connect with and learn from a group of likeminded women. While I’ve been fortunate to develop a diverse skillset across a broad range of industries, the Ladymates Collective felt like a chance to exchange that for more knowledge in areas I’m looking to develop in. I’m extremely motivated by collaboration and so if my experience can become tools for brilliant women to grow in their own careers, that’s a big bonus!

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What's been your favourite part of Ladymates Collective thus far?‍

I’ve loved the practical side and skill-swapping that goes on within the community Slack channels. There’s no shortage of handy hacks available, whether you’re navigating product, pitching, finance or marketing. As well as being a friendly, judgement-free space as I grow my startup, the Ladymates Collective has validated my career goals as a consultant. Chatting to so many smart women in a short space of time has fuelled me to reflect and fine-tune my consultancy offering - giving me the confidence to launch a project I’ve been trying to crack for a little while!

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What does "Ladymates" mean to you?‍

It’s been refreshing to connect with so many smart, career-savvy women outside of my immediate industries. Ladymates inspire you to get ‘doing’, whether you’re being supported to step outside your comfort zone or putting in the time to explore what a next career step could look like. I’ve loved seeing the other Ladymates do this without the time pressure of needing to panic-pivot their careers - really planning ahead and making intentional choices! Most importantly, it’s a collaborative process and knowing that you get more out of the effort you put in has been pivotal for my self-motivation.

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We’re overhauling gender diversity in startups because it’s about damn time.

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Come join Ladymates, a community of courageous, clever and powerful women who are hungry to tackle the world’s greatest challenges and are roaring to get started.

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🐞 Ladymates Collective is a curated membership helping women upskill, connect, and grow in their career alongside other rising stars in the ANZ startup ecosystem. It’s a highly-vetted membership where women connect and grow.

👉 Learn more about Ladymates Collective

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‍🦋 Ladymates Leadership unleashes the next generation of women leaders in the ANZ startup ecosystem, accelerating professional development through exec coaching, peer-to-peer mentorship, exclusive workshops and a powerful women-led community.

‍👉 Learn more about Ladymates Leadership

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