Lynette Mayne AM has never been one to follow a conventional path. From leading major corporate transformations to championing sustainability and gender equity, her career has been defined by a relentless drive to create meaningful change. “I suppose you could say I’ve taken a road less traveled—different from many others,” she reflects. That road has taken her from teaching in remote highlands to influencing global policy, and now, as Executive Chair of The B Team Australasia, she is at the forefront of a movement that redefines business leadership. Under her guidance, The B Team is mobilizing top CEOs to take decisive action on climate, corporate responsibility, and inclusive leadership—proving that business can be a force for good.

Mayne’s work is particularly focused on elevating women into leadership roles, a challenge she has tackled head-on throughout her career. Despite progress, systemic barriers remain, and she is unapologetic about the need for bold action. “Organizations need to be more courageous in appointing women to key business roles,” she says. Whether spearheading gender equity initiatives or shaping global sustainability strategies, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Now, as the world faces urgent environmental and social challenges, Mayne’s leadership is a testament to the power of women driving systemic change—and why the business world can no longer afford to ignore their impact.

True leadership is about creating a positive impact, and women have a critical role in driving that transformation.

Your career has spanned diverse industries and global roles. What key experiences have shaped your journey, and what inspired you to focus on driving change in business and sustainability?

Lynette Mayne: I suppose you could say I’ve taken a road less traveled – different from many others. I’ve worked in various countries and held a range of roles, from large corporates to small enterprises. Early in life, I learned the huge reward of helping others. That realization has guided me in my dedication to supporting those less fortunate and in my efforts to get more women into senior positions.

Over the past three decades, I’ve served as CEO, executive chair and director across different industries. I’ve worked for major corporations, run my own successful business, and now lead a not-for-profit that is thriving. My work in gender equity and sustainability has taken me across the world – from teaching in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands and The Gusii Institute of Technology in Kenya to supporting young job seekers in New York City and championing female leadership in the Pacific and Australia.

I’ve also served on the CBA Diversity Council, attended APEC for the Australian government and spoken at the Global Summit of Women. That event led to my introduction to a CEO from Richard Branson’s company, which resulted in my invitation to bring The B Team to Australasia in 2017. The B Team is focused on working with CEOs to enhance what they do for people and the planet. We successfully launched the Climate Leaders Coalition in Australia, modeled on the successful New Zealand initiative. Now, 50 major CEOs are actively working on decarbonization efforts.

Beyond that, I serve on the Board of Accounting for Nature, which provides a globally recognized framework for measuring corporate environmental impact. I also recently served on the Prime Minister’s board for major infrastructure projects in the Pacific, identifying 14 key projects across 11 nations.

Having led major business transformations globally, what unique strengths do women bring to leadership roles, particularly in driving systemic change in business and sustainability?

Lynette Mayne: Women are increasingly stepping into leadership roles in sustainability, but barriers still exist. While we don’t have enough female CEOs in major corporations, many of the leaders driving sustainability and systemic change within organizations are women. Sustainability is finally being taken seriously at the executive level, with many companies now having their sustainability teams report directly to the CEO.

However, traditionally, women have been given support roles rather than P&L (profit and loss) responsibilities, which limits their path to CEO positions. Organizations need to be more courageous in appointing women to key business roles. We also need more female role models, greater recognition of female leadership and, critically, equal pay.

Women need to step forward, take ownership and lead with courage. The world needs them now more than ever.

What needs to change, be it policy, corporate culture or society, to enable more women to step into leadership roles in sustainability and impact?

Lynette Mayne: Organizations need to take bolder steps in appointing women to P&L roles. Women have long been placed in support functions, limiting their access to business-critical experience typically considered essential for CEO roles. We need to actively shift this pattern.

More role models are essential. Women need to see others succeeding in leadership so they can envision themselves there. Sharing success stories is also critical. Many women downplay their achievements, while men tend to be more comfortable discussing their accomplishments. Women need to get comfortable owning their success.

Equal pay is another key issue. There is still a substantial pay gap in many industries, and we need to address that. We also need to ensure companies prioritize gender equity in leadership by making it a key part of CEO performance metrics and compensation.

Sometimes, driving change requires bold action. In a past corporate role, I actively prioritised appointing women to senior positions until there was an equal number of female and male senior leaders. It proved to be an effective strategy. Change doesn’t happen by chance – it must be intentional. CEOs need to set clear targets and hold their teams accountable for delivering results…

Read the full story in the March 2025 issue of Impact Leadership magazine.