Meet the QLD Mentors
Caroline Starecky

Caroline Starecky

Caroline Starecky

Founder, Leap Lab

Caroline Starecky is the founder of Leap Lab, a Brisbane-based strategy and business coaching advisory firm dedicated to helping female founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders leap into further growth and success. A serial entrepreneur, strategist and certified business coach, Caroline has built, scaled, and successfully exited multiple businesses.

With over 20 years of experience in business strategy and advertising, a master’s degree in international marketing, and 14 years as a senior lecturer in strategy and innovation, Caroline brings a wealth of expertise to empower women in business to take bold steps, break barriers and create greater impact. As an accomplished keynote speaker and MC, she has spoken at numerous empowering female-focused events, including UQ, IWD, Assisterhood & more!

Career & Background

What inspired you to do what you are doing now?

I’m inspired to change the game for women entrepreneurs, ensuring that more women not only launch businesses but also scale, lead, and thrive as successful entrepreneurs. The business world needs more women at the top, and I’m driven to create real impact by equipping them with the strategy, confidence, and leadership skills to do just that.

As a serial entrepreneur, strategist, and business coach, I’ve built, scaled, and exited multiple businesses. After years in advertising, management consulting, and leadership roles since I moved to Australia 8 years ago — from Khemistry to Glass & Co. to Deloitte — I realised that entrepreneurship is where my heart truly lies. That’s why I founded Leap Lab, a business coaching and strategy advisory firm focused on helping founders and business owners unlock growth, scale with confidence, and step into leadership.

What drives me daily is the intersection of strategy, innovation, and empowerment. Through coaching, training, and speaking, I get to help women take bold leaps, whether it’s launching their first business, breaking through a revenue plateau, or expanding globally. I thrive on solving complex business challenges, crafting visionary strategies, and collaborating with founders to turn ambitious goals into reality.

Now, as I scale Leap Lab beyond Australia and focus on global impact, my mission is clear: to create a world where more female founders succeed at every stage of business growth. Because when women-led businesses thrive, economies flourish, industries transform, and the next generation of female entrepreneurs sees what’s possible.

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What was your journey and where are you headed in your career right now?

I’m a serial entrepreneur, strategist, and business coach with a track record of scaling and exiting multiple businesses in Canada and Australia. With over 20 years in business strategy and leadership roles in advertising, consulting, and innovation, I’ve guided founders in scaling with confidence.

Now, through Leap Lab, I’m focused on helping entrepreneurs leap into greater growth by providing strategy-driven coaching and actionable business guidance. I’m also expanding Leap Lab globally, working to create a broader impact and empower as many female entrepreneurs worldwide to step into leadership and scale successfully.

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Your favourite food for thought

Books

How Starbucks Saved my Life // Michael Gates Gill
The Acorn Principle // Jim Cathcart
Designing your Life // Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

Podcasts / Thought Leaders

Diary of a CEO – Steven Bartlett
The Mel Robbins podcast
Masters of Scale – Reid Hoffman

What drives and inspires you

What are your core values?

  • Authenticity
  • Courage
  • Making a difference
  • Optimism
  • Vision

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors, role models, and trailblazing women who have inspired me throughout my career — both in North America and Australia. Their leadership, resilience, and vision motivate me to strive for greatness, push boundaries, and create meaningful impact – because I’ve seen them strive and achieve their dreams and beyond.

One of my greatest inspirations is my former business partner, Louise, who has shown me what it truly means to live life on your own terms as an entrepreneur while still creating deep, meaningful impact. Watching her sell her business then transition into retirement with purpose and fulfilment reminds me that success isn’t just about building a business — it’s about designing a life that aligns with your values.

I also deeply admire public figures like Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva, whose journey proves the power of unwavering belief and perseverance. When no one believed in her vision, she kept going, despite setbacks—and now she leads one of the most successful startups in the world. Her story is a reminder that bold ideas and persistence can truly change industries.

Above all, my two teenage boys are my greatest motivation. They inspire me to lead by example, break barriers, and build something that creates lasting impact, not just for my own success, but for the future I want to see for them. I want them to grow up seeing a strong, fearless female leader who takes risks, pursues her dreams relentlessly, and balances ambition with the things that matter most in life.

You as a Mentor

Why have you decided to become a mentor?

Empowering female leaders is one of my core passions, rooted in the belief that visibility breeds possibility. With a wealth of experience and a Neuroleadership certification in Business Coaching, guiding leaders toward their aspirations is part of my calling which is why I love mentoring. I am a firm believer in helping support female leaders to grow their careers and achieve their leadership goals because I believe that “You can’t be what you can’t see”.

Also, I love the Assisterhood! I’m entering my 6th year as an Assisterhood Mentor which fills me with immense pride and excitement. Each mentoring journey (with my 5 previous incredible mentees) has been a transformative adventure, helping mentees to achieve specific goals that we can work on together. The camaraderie among fellow Mentors in the program adds a layer of richness
and collaboration to the experience.

As a mentor, I believe in being authentic, kind, supportive and helping mentees take risks, try new things, find their voice and balance.

What are the top 5 skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?

  • Asking powerful questions
  • Direct
  • Empathic
  • Knowledgeable
  • Non-judgemental
  • Passionate

Ready to be a part of Assisterhood as a Mentee?

We are now up and running in QLD and VIC – and we’re only just getting started! Let’s shoot for the stars – together!

Apply Now