About Me

My name is Prue Freestone

I started Winnow Consulting because I want to help people understand themselves and make good career choices
I studied the MBA at Harvard Business School & I trained as a Lifeline Telephone Counsellor so I’m a good mix of commercial savvy and counselling skill
I am studying the RMIT Graduate Certificate in Career Development and Education which will qualify me as a career practitioner and I am a member of CDAA (Career Development Association Australia)
My broad life experience means I can relate to a wide range of people. I'm the mother of two young children. I live in Sydney and grew up on a farm in rural NSW. I've previously lived in the USA, UK, Ireland and have traveled to 20+ countries.
In my career I've worked in professional services, government, healthcare and retail. I've managed teams and coached managers. I've made 3 career transitions to date and have 8 years of Human Resources experience including recruitment
People say I'm easy to talk to (probably because I listen and ask good questions)

My Career Story

Career experiments to date

Growing up I wanted to be a detective or a spy. I loved watching people, asking questions and piecing together clues. When I realised the practicalities of these jobs I pivoted and listed Criminology, Psychology and Commerce on my university degree preference list.

I took the “safe option” of studying Commerce and took a graduate position as a management consultant. It was in this job that I learned to pay attention to what work I gravitated towards (and away from) and the importance of choosing work that used my strengths.

In my next chapter I completed an MBA at Harvard, volunteered as a Lifeline Telephone Counsellor and held senior HR roles across large scale established corporates and small start-up businesses for 8 years. In each role, I gravitated to helping people find a way to best use their skills and do more of what they found rewarding. Each experience has confirmed my belief that people are the most interesting and essential ingredient in all organisations.

I decided to re-design my work to better fit into my life when I had my second child. I knew I enjoyed helping people achieve self-insight and in my years in HR I witnessed how common it was for people to feel misalignment with their job. I felt a calling to help people with their career so they can enjoy their life. I completed a Graduate Certificate in Career Development and Education to test the water and I felt that I had found my thing.

In many ways I approach my work as if I am a detective. I am curious about the issue, ask lots of questions and help the client piece together the data points of their lives to solve their career dilemmas.

My Style

The way I communicate

I am warm, calm and down to earth. I love to listen and observe. I am intrigued by the unique qualities of each person, and I find satisfaction in helping people understand themselves.

I don't see my role to be an advice giver. You are the expert in your own life. My service is about listening to you, understanding your story and asking questions to work through the issues side by side with you.

My Beliefs

The beliefs that shape my practice

People who are happy at work are happier people in life
People are resourceful and can solve their own problems if given the right support
Career is not a single destination, it’s an ongoing experiment in learning

My Qualifications

My formal learning

Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing and Finance - UNSW & UNSW Co-op Scholarship 2004 – 2007
Masters of Business Administration Harvard Business School Boston Massachusetts 2012 - 2014
Lifestyles Inventory (LSI) Human Synergistics Accreditation June 2017
Graduate Certificate in Career Development and Education RMIT 2022 – 2023 (study in progress)