Diversity in Business

Popular Australian clothes and household linens company Best & Less was struggling to turn a profit in 2012. Then, Yale-educated CEO Holly Kramer came along.

The former Pacific Brands Group manager used her wits and her wisdom to turn mediocre fiscal years into profitable ones.  From 2012 to 2015, Holly led an aggressive campaign to redefine the Best & Less brand and business strategy. Holly’s across-the-board overhaul of the company included 200 stores and 400 employees. Her redesign of the Best & Less strategy included an improvement in quality and style based on data she gathered through extensive customer research.

Before the remarkable turnaround she authored at Best & Less, Holly was the general manager of homewares and workwear at Pacific Brands Group.

From 1999 to 2009, she was part of the Telstra executive team during the infamous and often controversial leadership period of American CEO Sol Trujillo. During her time at Telstra, she helped launch the company’s Next G network. She also added her expertise to Telstra’s partnership with Apple, which led to Telstra offering the iPhone.

Before joining Telstra, Holly accomplished extensive achievements in the United States and Australia with PBL and the Ford Motor Company.

Holly currently is the executive director of Nine Entertainment Co.

Over the course of her successful career, Holly has become a vocal advocate and champion of diversity in the ranks of Australia’s business leadership teams. For 10 years, she was an important supporter and leader in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. Holly also was a council member for Chief Executive Women, an organization focused on using female leaders to enable and encourage other female leaders.

Holy continues to devote her time and resources to helping others in need. She is on the board of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and for two consecutive years has been the spearhead of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Outside of work, Holly leads a well-rounded life as a wife, a mum, a marathon runner and a farmer.

Presentation Topics

• Best&Less
  Culture and customer focus driving the retail turnaround story
• Perspectives on creating and delivering value from diversity
• Driving business benefits from a smart corporate social responsibility program
• Perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for women in leadership

Testimonials

What is the rating above excellent? In my 11 years booking keynote speakers, the briefing call with Holly leading up to the Conference was the most thorough I have ever had. Holly was outstanding with her delivery and content and was spot on with the brief. You could have heard a pin drop.
Leagues Clubs Australia Ltd.

Holly Kramer was fantastic - she opened herself to us to get some insight in to her experiences, so valuable! She was inspiring, genuine, honest and open. I really learned from her. She is the type of leader who can (and did) add value to the program.
Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program