A GREEN queen, veteran chef and tech specialist are set to publicly lay bare their biggest career stuff-ups.
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The Ballarat trio join a global movement with an edgy, controversial name putting high-achievers in the spotlight to talk about when it all went wrong. They aim to guide others to avoid making the same mistakes while leading by example to show stuffing-up - and ultimately learning from it - is all part of the journey.
Munash Organics general manager Bec Djordjevic, chef Peter Ford and Irelya Consulting principal Jonathan Lacey are in the spotlight for the Commerce Ballarat event on Thursday night.
Commerce Ballarat executive officer Jodie Gillett said F@#kUp Night, hosted in partnership with start-up hub Runway Ballarat, was a completely different move for the city's business association.
What is it all about? Watch below. WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE
It will be the first time the brand has ventured into regional Victoria, outside Geelong,and one Commerce Ballarat had taken its time in test the concept with members.
Ms Gillett said early news of the launch stimulated lots of new businesses across the region to get involved.
"At Commerce Ballarat we want to be at the forefront of what's happening now in business, especially in the start-up space. We want to try something different," Ms Gillett said. "For many years we've promoted the 'secrets of our success' line. New thinking is for people being willing to try something new, possibly fail, but move on.
There's not too many people who don't have a story to share.
- Jodie Gillett, Commerce Ballarat executive officer
The F@#kUp Night movement started in Mexico seven years ago and has branched into cities around the world.
The concept is for three-to-four speakers to take their turns, in a short speech, to share a time when they royally failed in business or on a project, how it affected their personal life, what they learned and what they might do differently next time.
Runway Ballarat stakeholder relations director Janelle Ryan said it was great to contrast the likes of an up-and-comer in Ms Djordjevic against an iconic figure like Mr Ford with lessons for everyone.
"We have a culture of 'tall poppy syndrome' in Australia and that's quite significant in regional areas," Ms Ryan said.
We need to remove that so we get better at celebrating people who succeed because they want to succeed and because they have stuffed up.
- Janelle Ryan, Runway Ballarat stakeholder relations director
"We're proud of Commerce Ballarat for giving this a go," Ms Ryan said. "It's so healthy...there is a perception people who are successful must be polished the whole time and that means success is so hollow."
The event is at Housey Housey on Thursday night with $5 from each ticket sold to support Ballarat grassroots men's mental health program Arms and Armour.
Ms Gillett said this was a great chance to make a real boost to a small charity doing great work in the region.
Commerce Ballarat is hoping to make this a regular event.
To book: commerceballarat.com.au or via Facebook here.
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