Her Story

Sarina Russo, Founder and Managing Director of Sarina Russo Group, employs over 1100 staff across 7 companies – Sarina Russo Schools | Australia, Sarina Russo Job Access (Australia), Sarina Russo Job Access (Great Britain), Russo Higher Education (trading as James Cook University Brisbane); Russo Recruitment, Sarina Russo Apprenticeship Services, and VOICE (Vocational, Occupational, Industrial, Clinical and Educational).

Sarina opened ‘The Office’ Business Academy (now Sarina Russo Schools | Australia) in 1979 with $2,600, nine students and two part-time staff.

Sarina Russo is an international businesswoman with a philanthropic edge, starred in both the Australian Dragons’ Den series and Dragons’ Den Around the World. Sarina is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Sarina is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board and the World Presidents Organisation.

Sarina is also the co-author of herbook Meet Me at the Top and host her own motivational television show ‘How to Get that Job’.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • Member of Clinton Global Initiative since 2008
  • Member of the Women’s Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government (Harvard Business School) since 2003
  • Former member of Board of Directors, Challenger Financial Services (2006 – 2008)
  • A member of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs World Advisory Board since 2006
  • A graduate of the Harvard Business School (USA) Owner/President Management Program Youngest and first female member of the Queensland Chapter of the International Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO) and now a member of the World Presidents’ Organisation (WPO)
  • Member of the Queensland Premier’s Advisory Board since 2000
  • Member of the Queensland Education and Training Export Board since 2002, Chairman and Trustee of the Jupiter’s Casino Community Benefit Fund since 1995
  • Member of the Council for Multicultural Australia Board (2005 – 2006)
  • Member of the Queensland Tourism Board (2002 – 2009), Member of the Lord Mayor’s Community Trust Board since 1995
  • Member of the Australiana Fund, Appointed Honorary Ambassador for the City of Brisbane by the then Lord Mayor Jim Soorley in 1996
  • Awarded the Multicultural Achievers Award by Queensland Government by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie in 2006
  • Recipient of the Centenary Medal for distinguished service to education in 2001
  • Elected by the people of Queensland as one of the Australian Republican Movement delegates to the Australian Constitution Convention in Canberra in 1998.

Strategies for Success

  1. Accept accountability and responsibility for your life.
  2. Work hard on yourself and your job – believe in yourself with passion.
  3. Never stop learning.
  4. Visualise yourself reaching a goal so clearly that you can taste your success.
  5. Persist. Never give up.