Carol Schwartz: Investor, Advocate, and Change-Maker

Carol is one of most dynamic business and community leaders with a diverse career across property, the arts, finance, investment, entrepreneurship, government and health. Her roles include being Board Member of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Founding Chair of the Women's Leadership Institute, Director of the Trawalla Group, Chair of the Climate Council and more.  

This is a rare in-depth public interview, and a replay of the episode that first released in September 2023. Since so many of you loved it then, we're re-releasing this classic!

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Published 4th April, 2025

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Hosted by Vidit Agarwal, Founder of Curiosity Center and The High Flyers Podcast.

It’s now time to explore your curiosity.

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Learn about Carol’s sunrise in Melbourne, Australia in what she describes as a large, present and loving family with deep entrepreneurial roots and immigrating from Europe. She talks about her 3 siblings and influence of her parents who were married for over 70 years.

Topics we cover include: How subjects should be taught in high school to set up both boys and girls for success, her desire at age 18 to be an international lawyer with a focus solely on her career and how that thinking evolved when she met her husband, Allan in law school. A key theme you will notice through this conversation is Carol’s deep passion for empowering women in a range of industries and I asked Carol about how she became the first female president of the Property Council, being influenced by the feminists of the 70s, changing the time and venues of board meetings and learning the importance of patience when her kids were born.

I loved the stories Carol shares including why she created the Women’s Leadership Institute and how it provided a platform for her to speak up and get people to listen, activism on twitter posting pictures of all men board rooms and tagging journalists to drive action, and how Carol and her husband Alan created the framework for their family office and foundation Trawalla to focus on art, ideas, innovation and scholarship. And don’t miss Carol’s tactical reflections on how to balance time, and being persuasive whilst building meaningful relationships.

It’s now time to explore your curiosity. Please enjoy!

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The High Flyers Podcast is a "meticulously researched audio biography" that uncovers the untold stories of remarkable people and companies—redefining what it means to be a high flyer. Launched in 2020, it has ranked in the global top ten for past two years, with listeners in 27 countries and over 200 episodes released. A flagship product of the Curiosity Center, it has been featured in Forbes, Daily Telegraph, and at SXSW, offering raw, relatable insights from childhood to career, helping listeners become 1% better every day.

200+ guests have joined Vidit Agarwal on the show from 15+ countries, including The CEO's of multi-billion dollar companies like Bunnings, Australia Post, Woolworths; Board Members at Macquarie Bank, ANZ, Reserve Bank; Former Prime Minister of Australia; Globally renowned tech leaders from Google, Microsoft, Xero; Successful Venture Capital and Family Office Investors; CIO's at the world's biggest superannuation funds; Leading Entertainers; Olympic Gold Medal Winning Athletes and interesting minds you wouldn't have heard of that are changing the world.

Our parent company, Curiosity Centre is your on-demand intelligence hub for knowledge, connections and growth to achieve your potential, everyday. Join 200,000+ Investors, Founders, Functional Leaders, CEOs and Emerging Leaders. Learn with the world's best and be 1% better everyday at https://curiositycentre.com