Forging New Paths: The Women Who Inspire Us.

Every year, International Women’s Day is an important reminder to reflect on the progress we’ve made—and the work still ahead.

This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, underscores a sobering reality: at our current pace, we won’t reach gender parity until 2158. That’s over a century away.

This means that while we celebrate how far we’ve come, we must also push forward—breaking barriers, challenging norms, and forging new paths for the next generation.

The Power of Desire Lines

I recently came across a quote that stuck with me:

In urban design, "desire lines" are the unofficial paths created by people who choose not to follow the designated routes. Instead, they carve out their own way—often the most efficient, direct, or intuitive path. Over time, these informal trails become well-worn routes for others to follow.

For me, desire lines are a powerful way to think about women who have forged their own paths—women who refused to take the road prescribed to them and instead created their own. While we often celebrate history’s trailblazers—the suffragettes, the feminists of the 1970s, the champions of #MeToo—many of our most profound role models are much closer to home.

My Mother: The Ultimate Pathmaker

This International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate someone who shaped my own journey: my mum.

She embodied what it means to step off the well-worn path. When my father left, I was just two years old. My mother, raising five children on a secretary’s salary, made a bold decision—she moved us from England to Australia in search of a better life.

I can hardly imagine the courage it took. She left behind everything familiar to forge a new path, not just for herself, but for all of us. She was resourceful, resilient, and fiercely determined. An adventurer in every sense of the word.

Creating My Own Desire Line

Sixteen years ago, I found myself at my own crossroads.

I made the decision to start my own business—CTL Communications. I had no blueprint, no roadmap to follow. Just an idea, a vision, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

The first year was filled with challenges: working from home, hiring freelancers, managing cash flow, and building a client base. But like my mother before me, I took the leap, embraced the uncertainty, and built something from the ground up. Today, we are nearly 100-strong, continuously evolving and growing.

A Culture of Innovation and Empowerment

At CTL Communications, we encourage everyone to create their own paths. We believe in fostering an environment where people can step off the traditional route, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo.

As a fully remote workforce, we focus on innovation, culture, and professional growth. We offer a mix of specialist and leadership roles, recognising that success comes in different forms. We invest in our team with:

• Enhanced maternity leave
• Private healthcare
• Generous bonuses
• Flexible working options

We are also deeply committed to #AccelerateAction:

• The majority of our team and 80% of our leadership are women.
• Our remote model supports better work-life balance, especially for working parents.
• We offer phased returns to work, reduced hours, and four-day weeks for returning mothers.

These aren’t just policies—they are part of a larger mission to create a better working world for women.

The Legacy of Desire Lines

I couldn’t have done this alone. I am grateful every day for my incredible team, who continue to inspire and challenge me. But at the heart of everything I do is my mother’s legacy—the courage to forge my own path, just as she did.

This International Women’s Day, I celebrate her and all the women who create their own desire lines—those who step off the designated path, embrace the unknown, and pave the way for others to follow.

Let’s keep moving forward. Let’s #AccelerateAction.

Authored by Catherine Turner