Mel Zamudio – Field Energy Services
Mel is Senior People & Operations Leader/GM of Field Energy Services. She lives in Gerroa with her family and is now enjoying moving away from her home office and doing her work out of WorkLife Berry, as well as team meetings at Picton with business owner Dino Melosi (pictured above with Mel).
Q. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to the Berry/Picton community? How did you end up here and what attracted you to this community?
The wonderful Kate. We were using the Picton Meeting rooms for business meetings and working remotely. Supporting local businesses is important to us. I think Kate overheard I lived in Gerroa and mentioned Berry Worklife. This is the first time in my career I have not worked for a large organisation with a head office, volumes of colleagues and human interaction. Worklife seemed to fill the one thing I missed about a large corporation, people, the stimulating conversations, the comfort of company and thought-provoking moments that ignite something inside. And it was close to home but in a town I love because it has diversity and beauty. When I walked in I remember thinking what a great energy and perfect location and then the people ticked the final box.
Q. Tell us about your work. How and when did you decide to start it, and what motivated you to take the plunge into entrepreneurship or remote work?
I have worked in corporate for large organisations my entire career. Always loved work. Got my first job at 14 and juggled multiple jobs throughout my career. Initially for the financial rewards as my late mother was sick and we were not cash rich, but soon it became rewarding on far more impactful and important levels. I loved learning, I loved leading people, I loved being around people and I loved the purpose it gave me. I fell into the trap of working hard in corporations, climbing the corporate ladder, feeling depleted by the politics and regimented frameworks but not knowing any different. My brother was always brave in his career choices and probing me to back one of my ideas, I was tired after leading a workforce of >2000 and an opportunity for a redundancy came my way. I took it. I wasn’t ready to start my own business yet, things didn’t align, but was motivated to get outside of corporate, and progress things at my pace. An opportunity came through a friend to run a growing business as the GM and allow me the flexibility I needed so I jumped at it. I went from 24/7 corporate to working remote and mostly solo, working where I can see my impact and the direct impact it has on the business, minus the politics.
Q. What does work-life balance look like for you? How do you manage the demands of work while ensuring time for family and personal life?
I don’t think I have ever got this balance right but I am definitely getting better all the time.
Firstly I don’t think it’s work life balance, I think it’s just life balance, work is part of life and an important part. If we perceive it this way rather than something we have to do outside of ‘our life’ I think that’s when it has detrimental impacts.
The balance has kind of been forced on me in a way and my challenge was implementing the right strategies to keep the balance in place. Being a step-mum I had to reevaluate what’s important and what contributes to my happiness. I wanted/want to be the kind of mum my mum was in not missing the things that matter to the kids, so whilst not easy, I try and table work to create that ‘in the moment’ time the kids need. This means I may wake super early or work late or work weekends, but it’s perfect because it allows me that time with the kids. I also have a beautiful partner, the mother of my step kids, who runs her own business and understands the demands of work, so we work as a Team to ensure we can get the balance we both need… most of the time. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but the principles are there to ensure we stay on track. I also love working for a family business because I don’t feel like I am ‘selling my soul and time’ . I feel valued and part of something important so flexibility is a given and I am happy to shift the balance when it’s needed. My body is changing and ageing! Very happy about that …. So health has made me balance a little better also.
As for my social life, I probably burn the candle at both ends sometimes but generally I know the right balance of making sure all my buckets are where they need to be. Maybe not over the festive season.
Q. In your industry, what recent disruptions or transitions have had the most significant impact on your business?
The energy industry is fluidly evolving at a pace so keeping up with the demand and ensuring we have the right agile business model to meet these would be the greatest impact. The volume of construction all at once and demand to have this completed yesterday against a backdrop of lack of the right labour available, inflation and the major industrial negotiations occurring meaning significant delays in project commencements. Another major impact is delays within projects due to the lead time of importation of materials and the consequential impacts this has on maintaining a workforce and skilled contractors whilst balancing the commercial implications of these delays.
Q. Outside of work, what are your hobbies and passions? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not focused on business or family?
Travelling anywhere! Road trips. BBQs, dinner parties, wineries, community social events, sitting watching the ocean and brainstorming my 10000 business ideas, riding and playing with the kids, beach time, painting and still the hope I’ll develop skills of becoming a famous artist one day, singing very badly. Oh and coffee and people watching!
Q. Are there any books or podcasts you’ve found particularly inspiring or informative recently? Any recommendations for the WorkLife community?
Not really a thing of mine. I listen to motivational podcasts of women who are brave enough to pave their own way and reading these days is not for work, it’s for peace and self growth.
Q. How do you maintain boundaries between work and personal life? Any top tips?
I don’t know if I do to be honest but being part of a business with friends I think it’s a difficult one. Having structured meetings, managing up on the right information and getting the important priorities ticked off prior to evening or weekend helps. I guess if you manage up as best you can, most information should be able to be known and delivered in the ‘work time’ and creep less into the other time. Open communication and the ability to tell each other ‘ can we pick this up tomorrow’.
Q. What is your taste like? Do you have a favourite item of furniture or object in your home? Anything that has special significance or tells a story about you?
I love style, clean lines, funky, contemporary with classic and neat and tidy. It was hard to fit my style into a beach home because I was used to city apartment living. Having step kids has changed my style a little to some more practical items and I am slowly learning to accept the need for them lol. I love my arm chair because of the times I have sat and thought in it, but also its fabulous and I love my buffet because it was a thoughtful purchase as a statement piece and it has beautiful sculptures and art on it that say a lot about us and it provides elegant functionality to hold many wine glasses and decanters when we host dinner parties, one of my favourite things!
Q. What do you like/appreciate about the design at WorkLife? Any favourite touches or things that make you feel at home when you are at work?
I love it all. I love the connection to people, the bridge it gives us from the isolation many feel when working remotely or for themselves. It attracts passionate, driven people so it’s hard not to feel energised when you are there. It also seems to attract kind people so it’s hard not to feel grateful when you are there. It inspires me to be braver and think outside the box. The space is welcoming, I like it to a home environment in many ways, the light is good, location is great and when it becomes a wine bar on a weekend it will just be perfect! Wine delivered to my desk 😉 Notwithstanding all of this the real gem in worklife is Kate. Kate’s energy and passion for community, her connections and true belief in the heart of a work community is infectious and what makes this community successful.
Q. If you were to showcase the best of the local lifestyle to visiting friends, where would you take them and why?
Our home in Gerroa, the bakery in Berry to have almost anything, the sunday markets once a month, kids to Berry park, all of the wineries especially two figs for a cheese board, Blue Swimmer, Seven Mile beach and Crooked river for a wine and music on the hill.
Q. What’s your go-to productivity hack? How do you stay organised and efficient, especially with multiple responsibilities?
Lists, Lists, Lists, Timers, self talk to trick myself, fear, turning my phone over, waking early, setting priorities the day prior, coffee, printing things off (I know its not great for the environment) but when its a large document I like to write and have less screen time. Calendars and reminders! But also being flexible with my time and allowing myself to take longer on a task if I need to in order to balance right.
Q. Lastly, what’s been the most valuable aspect of being a member at WorkLife for you and your work?
Having a place to go that’s familiar, having friendly faces, being able to book meeting rooms, work at all hours and the connections and people you meet!