A story of creativity and drive: Rachael Milward, General Manager of Independent Sales at Design Group Australia. 

“I’ve always needed to be in a job that combines interacting with people and being creative,” Rachael says, looking back on her self-made career journey. That journey began when she left school at sixteen. “16-year-old me never would have dreamed that I could be in a role like this.” 

Why I’ve stayed here

“The people at Design Group are one of the reasons I’ve stayed in this company for so long. When looking for a business to work in, always look for good culture: a place full of people who will support you in reaching your goals. That’s why I’ve stayed with Design Group for 20 years.”

Excited by creativity

Rachael thrives on creativity. “My creativity came from my Mum and Nanna. When I was very young, my Nanna would look after me, while my Mum worked. We’d see things in the market and then recreate them at home through crafting. Now I love to do the same.” 

Rachael can express and grow her creativity in plenty of ways at Design Group. “I’m inspired by Franke Pynakker, co-owner of IG Design Group Australia, and Shane Timmerman, our CEO. They’re both very creative, always moving outside the box to develop inspiring products and take the business in new directions.”

Better together

Thinking back to the start of her career, Rachael shares her advice for others in a similar position. “Set your sights on your goals and never give up. The dream is to love what you do, to get up each morning and look forward to getting to work. That can become reality if you have a team of people who like to share ideas and get excited together about projects. It’s always better together.”

[call to action]