A bit about bernadette
Speaker, Author and Trainer
Here's a few of the books she has written, ghost-written or book coached:
TEDx speaker:
Bernadette’s TEDx talk on innovation garnered acclaim from audiences worldwide, and her keynotes on creativity, inspiration and storytelling offer a masterful insight into how a business owner, corporate leader or team member can leverage and unlock their own personal power to elevate their personal brand and formulate their corporate values to create an organisational culture that is both profitable and purposeful.
Founder and entrepreneur:
She is a successful entrepreneur in her own right. As a senior account director and copywriter for Young and Rubicam/WCJ and Clemenger Advertising, she worked on global campaigns for clients such as Apple, American Express, Optus and Colgate, McDonalds, Ford, L’Oreal, Swans AFL Football Club and many more.
She is the founder of the Australian School of Copywriting, Australia’s longest running, and most successful copywriting school and has been a lecturer in consumer behaviour, digital marketing and communications at some of the country’s top universities.
Course creator:
Her online courses in copywriting, SEO copywriting, and personal branding have helped over 10,000 business owners, content creators and influencers harness the power of copywriting, consumer persuasion and corporate influence to help them build their personal brands, increase their digital reach and turn their passions into profit. Her courses and workshops continue to shape the next generation of storytellers and marketing professionals.
Here's a few of her courses:
Corporate Clients & Speaking
Bernadette's dynamic speaking style and engaging workshops have
made her a sought-after keynote speaker for leading organisations
across various industries. Whether unpacking the transformative
power of creative courage or demystifying the strategic art of storytelling,
Bernadette's presentations leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.
used by the leadership teams at Australia’s top companies including:
- Commonwealth Bank
- Goldman Sachs
- NAB
- Merrill Lynch
- Quest Hotels
- Toyota
- Wyndham Council
- Whitehorse Council
- Melbourne City Council
- and many more
Her work helps leaders and teams communicate ideas more persuasively, build stronger
personal brands, win stakeholder support, speak with greater confidence, and inspire people
to think bigger.
Her speaker topics include:
- Ignite Your Influence: The Art of Personal Branding for SMEs and Leaders
- Creative Courage: Fostering an Intrapreneurial Culture for Success
- The Business of Storytelling: Telling Strategic Stories That Connect
- Pitch Perfect: Master the Art of Persuasive Presenting
- AI-Powered Content Mastery: Crafting Captivating Content that Converts
Advertising and Marketing Career
Before launching her own business, Bernadette worked as a senior account director and copywriter at global advertising agency Young & Rubicam/Wunderman Cato Johnson.
She created award-winning campaigns for brands including:
She has lectured in marketing, consumer psychology, digital marketing and personal branding at leading Australian universities, including The University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology and Victoria University.
Accolades:
- Top 50 Small Business Leaders in Australia
- Winner Entrepreneurship & Small Business (2024) Australian Business Book Awards ('How to Build a Billion Dollar Business')
- Top 3 Best Business Books (2020) Australian Business Book Awards (‘Catch of the Decade’)
- Top 3 Best Business Books (2021) Australian Business Book Awards (‘Find Build Sell’)
- Bendigo Bank Business Excellence Awards
- Recipient of Queen’s Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians
Judge for:
- Australian Business Book Awards judge (ABBAs)
- Online Retail Industry Awards (ORIAs)
- Inside Small Business Awards
Books Authored by Bernadette
- Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs
- How to Build an Online Business
- Secrets of Online Entrepreneurs
Books Ghost-Written or Co-Written by Bernadette
- How to Build a Billion-Dollar Business by Radek Sali
- Catch of the Decade by Gabby and Hezi Leibovich
- How to Build a Business Others Want to Buy by Kobi Simmat
- How to Manifest Success by Hilton Misso
- The Boy with the Suitcase: A Holocaust Memoir by Steven Krulis
- Misa’s Story: A Holocaust Memoir by Misa Solar
Books Coached or Edited by Bernadette
- Find. Build. Sell. By Stephen Hunt
- Earning Power by Roxanne Calder
- The Very Good Marketing Guide by Amy Miocevich
Education:
Bernadette:
- Has a degree in business and marketing from the University of South Australia
- Won the Gold Medal for Strategic Marketing
- Was accepted into the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts to study acting
- Is the recipient of the Bendigo Bank Business Excellence Award
- Was the winner of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians
- Was listed in the Top 50 Small Business Leaders in Australia
Thought leader:
Her thought leadership pieces have appeared in:
- The Financial Review
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- Smart Company
- Huffington Post
…and she has appeared as an expert commentator on personal branding and marketing on Sky News, ABC Radio National and Channel Nine’s Small Business Show.
Experienced Corporate Trainer:
Acting and Media Career
Prior to her business career, Bernadette was a professional actor and worked alongside actors including Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce. She has appeared in some of Australia’s most iconic television programs including:
- Jack Irish
- Neighbours
- Winners & Losers
- Blue Heelers
- Backberner
- The Games
- Round The Twist
Her performance background continues to shape her work as a speaker, storyteller and media trainer.
Podcasting
Bernadette is the host of the popular podcast So You Want to Be a Copywriter, and regularly speaks on topics including:
- Copywriting
- Entrepreneurship
- Storytelling
- Personal branding
- Thought Leadership
- Creativity
- Influence
Mindfulness and Leadership:
Bernadette is a trained yoga teacher and was the inaugural in-house mindfulness coach for the Carlton Football Club AFL players and coaches. She has also conducted meditation and mindset workshops for:
- Melbourne City Council
- Melton Council
- Corporate leadership teams
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
Book Bernadette for your next corporate event:
Please contact Bernadette to talk about making your next corporate event one a huge success.