ABOUT Bernadette Schwerdt
Speaker, Author and Trainer
As a commentator for ABC TV, contributor to BRW, B & T, Mamamia, The Australian Financial Review and Sky News, Bernadette is an authority on marketing and can speak on a range of topics - from online business, to storytelling for leaders to boot-strapping strategies for startups.
Overview
My career spans 30 years in media, marketing, the arts and technology. As the founder of four successful companies, author of three bestselling business books, and the creator of two educational institutions, I bring a range of eclectic skills, experiences and networks to all those I work with.
Multiple roles in marketing include senior account director for global brands including Apple, American Express and BHP, to digital marketing strategist, pitch coach and copywriter for McDonalds, Mirvac and Merrill Lynch.
In 2004, I founded the Australian School of Copywriting, Australia’s longest running copywriting school. Alumni include the former creative director of Clemenger Advertising, M&C Saatchi and copywriters working for the world’s leading advertising agencies.
A development deal with Fairfax Media to produce an online TV series documenting the success of Australia’s top online entrepreneurs led to the writing of three bestselling business books, (Secrets of Online Entrepreneurs, How to Build an Online Business and ghost writer for Catch of the Decade).
In 2020, I applied this knowledge to found a tech startup called Synthetic Data (formerly known as Machine Dreams). We help engineers in the predictive asset management sector use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to replace the manual inspection of critical assets with automated visual inspection systems.
In 2020, I was named in the Top 50 Small Business Leaders by a leading industry journal, and my start-up was accepted into the prestigious Startupbootcamp Accelerator. We won the Asset Management Conference Award for Best Startup, were a finalist in the AWS Machine Learning Pitch Competition and semi-finalist at the Australian Technology Competition.
I am what’s commonly known as an AFL ‘tragic’ and as such, was delighted to be invited to be the inaugural mindfulness coach for the Carlton AFL Football Club. I worked closely with the AFL club psychologists and players to develop and deliver their foundation mindfulness program that is still operating today.
I am a sought-after speaker on the global conference circuit on the topics of women in tech, creative courage, personal branding, acts of micro-bravery, machine learning for beginners, and data-based storytelling for business.
I have taken these eclectic experiences to create Australia’s first School of Creative Courage. We help individuals unlock their creative potential, find their unique passion, share that purpose with the world, leverage that wisdom into an online business, and profit from their expertise.
Bernadette speaks on a range of topics including:
A snapshot of Bernadette’s credentials:
Her qualifications Include:
Accomplished stage and TV performer:
Not only is she one of the country’s leading authorities on small business marketing and copywriting, she is also an accomplished actress appearing regularly on our screens in some of Australia’s leading movies and television shows like:
As such, her presentations are imbued with theatricality, humour and compelling stories.
