Six Degrees Big Day Out - A day built around people

It had been four years since all three offices were in the same room. On Friday, Queensland and Sydney joined Melbourne for our Big Day Out - a full day to celebrate what has been an exceptional year for Six Degrees!

This year has brought some of the strongest performances the business has seen, new faces across all three states, multiple leadership development programmes that have without a doubt shifted how the team operates, and a brand refresh aiding us in how we show up in market.

Bringing everyone together to mark that felt important, and for that the day was built intentionally - a morning and afternoon with Hamish McLachlan, one of Australia's most recognised sports broadcasters and hosts, who has spent his career in rooms with elite performers and brought that perspective into ours with honesty, and vulnurability. 

Session one - Traits of high performers

Hamish has interviewed and spent time with some of the highest performers in the world, which is exactly the experience the first session drew from, exploring what separates good from great and what it takes to perform at the top. His delivery was incredibly open, vulnerable and deeply personal throughout, sharing aspects of his own life that most keep private.

One of the many golden nuggets that stayed with the room was the concept of spending your units well. If you have 100 units of energy in a day, where are you directing them? High performers are deliberate about this, pouring their effort and energy into the right corners of life. The difference between good and great is rarely dramatic, it compounds through consistent choices made by someone willing to do the extra 3% of what others don't.

He spoke about the idea that ' the conditions are always perfect' - a challenge to the habit of waiting for the right moment, the right circumstances, the right day. Anyone with this mindset will succeed and be successful.

To be interesting, you need to be interested. One of the lines that resonated across the room. Hamish spoke from experience about the people he remembers most in his career are the ones who asked questions, stayed curious, made eye contact, remembered his name and reasured him that his precense and space in a room was acknowleged and mattered.

He also spoke about the most important shot always being the next one - drawing on Ash Barty's approach to tennis and the discipline of not letting a loss shape what comes after it. Whether the last point went your way or not, you are still the same person. If you win or lose the game tonight, it doesn't make you a better person than the one next to you. What matters is how you approach what's next.

Session two - Human connection

After lunch, Hamish returned for a second session and mood switch, this one was more personal and in many ways more powerful. The session was built all around human connection. Curiosity, kindness, openness and the commitment to being one percent better every day were all brought to life. To the entire room it felt like a big reminder on the importance of practicing being Expertly Human.

If there was one take away from Hamish's personal stories, vulnurabilty, and being the best leader, mentor and human starts with vulnurabilty - it's be grateful.  Make what you have enough, listen and be curious. 

The Six Degrees Annual Awards

The afternoon closed with our annual awards - an anticipated and meaningful moment to recognise the people who have set the standard this year across the business!

The Heart and Impact Award — Chris Barr

Chris Barr took home the Heart and Impact Award, recognising the lasting impact he has had on the business through transformational initiatives including the National Sourcing Project. Chris has led change with professionalism, trust and a people-first approach, building relationships through authentic leadership, integrity and care - strengthening teams, partnerships and culture wherever he has led.

Expertise That Delivers Award - Isabel Dias

Isabel Dias was recognised for combining strategic marketing expertise with exceptional stakeholder leadership to deliver a seamless brand transformation that has strengthened Six Degrees Executive's market position and delivered measurable commercial outcomes. Isabel has consistently leveraged innovation, technology and commercial insight to elevate the marketing function and position it as a trusted strategic partner to the business.

The Luke Reilly BD Award - Jo Krause

Jo Krause was awarded the Luke Reilly BD Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to business development this year. Jo has done an exceptional job growing and influencing our contracting channel — a key growth area for Six Degrees — and her impact on the business this year has been significant. [STATS TO ADD WHEN AVAILABLE]

Chairman's Leadership Award - Maya Wettenhall

Maya Wettenhall received the Chairman's Leadership Award, which recognises an individual whose leadership reflects SDE's values and places the wellbeing of the team, their families, clients and community at the centre of everything they do. Maya leads the highest performing team at Six Degrees - the marketing Victoria team - and her influence on the people and culture of this business goes well beyond what shows up in results. 

Contracting Consultant of the Year - Burnette O'Neil

Burnette O'Neil was recognised as Contracting Consultant of the Year for her exceptional work building out the Queensland technology and government contracting team. Burnette consistently looks for new ways to improve in market, brings energy and innovation to everything she does, and is deeply invested in the people around her!

The evening

After the awards, the team headed to a Christmas in July theme dinner, and in true Six Degrees fashion we kicked off with trivia. For many people in the business, Friday was the first time meeting colleagues they had only ever known through a screen or a Teams message.

Introductions across states, functions, and all the different parts of what Six Degrees has become over the past year are exactly what a day like this is for! A business that believes in human connection needs to practise it too, and Friday was a strong reminder of what that looks like when everyone is together.