Creative conversations with Clare Bowditch and Jamila Rizvi

Imagine a room in the Melbourne Town Hall, full of 1700 women standing in front of their seats, singing the chorus to Katy Perry’s song Roar. Can you hear us?

We came into the city on a Tuesday night, the first cold night in autumn, to listen to a conversation on courage and creativity with Clare Bowditch and Jamila Rizvi, with special guest Zoe Foster-Blake. We were in good company – Clare is an award-winning musician and actor, and used to host the afternoon show on radio station 774. Jamila is a writer and television commentator, and used to work in politics. Zoe is an entrepreneur and author, best known for her book on beauty, as well as her beauty products.

There were many topics of conversation, ranging from working around children to cake and coffee. Jamila talked about the importance of boredom, and how unplugging can allow our minds to wander and daydream and create. That’s why showers and walks often lead to good ideas. Zoe said she was most creative during boring business meetings!

Clare reminded us that everyone has an inner critic, and that’s why it takes courage to ignore the critic and to continue to create. She talked about the importance of ‘awkwardness’, of consciously feeling discomfort in order to stretch out boundaries. So that’s why 1700 women stood self-consciously in their seats, either next to friends or strangers, and opened their mouths to sing.

My girlfriends and I continued the creative conversations afterwards. My courage to be creative definitely comes from the support of friends!