“You can do it!”

— Anna

Anna Kellerman is a trained art educator and registered clinical Art Therapist. She’s a successful entrepreneur who has launched two businesses, including a thriving online community called Mama Creatives. She’s most recently launched a podcast called The Creativity Couch and an online course called Your Creative Awakening, which women have described as “life changing’’, ‘‘profound” and “revolutionary”.

Anna has been working with families, children and adolescents with a range of emotional and behavioural issues for the past 15 years. She uses a trauma-based approach to her art therapy work with children and adolescents, focusing on empowering clients with supportive coping skills to help manage lifelong issues. The main themes are safety, building trust and finding ways to regulate emotions.

Her Mama Creatives platform has hosted more than 100 live TED-style evening talks, expert panels, morning tea masterclasses and creative workshops teaching the art of storytelling as a powerful process for transformation.

Having a commitment to something bigger than ourselves, is said to be the source of passion. What ignites your passion?

I am passionate about empowering women to find their voice and share their stories. This requires them to be courageous and connect with their (sometimes) hidden stories. I offer support so they can believe in themselves and experience a real sense of personal transformation and inner confidence.

Every year I decide on an overarching theme for Mama Creatives, which informs and inspires the overall planning. For 2020 the focus is This Creative Life, celebrating older creative women who have wisdom to share. Rather than being fixated on youth, I am inspired by strong, mature, pioneering, trailblazing women who have achieved amazing success in their professional lives, working across diverse creative fields, and still continue to work throughout their 60s, 70s and 80s.

Every year I also choose a word that serves as my compass to navigate me towards my goals and vision. For 2020 my personal theme is Expansive. This relates to pushing myself outside my comfort zone so I can really grow across many facets of my personal and professional life and get to the next level in mind, body and spirit.

So far this year, I have taken action to expand Mama Creatives beyond borders to join forces with women in regional areas. I have been accepted to speak to a bigger audience at an international conference and have started a lecturing position teaching mature-age students at tertiary level.

I am also passionate about building resilience in children through creative approaches so they can be armed with strategies they can draw on throughout their lives. This year, after 15 years of working in other organisations I took bold, expansive action and set up my own private practice as a Clinical Art Therapist.

Anna Kellerman (far left) hosting one of her Story Slam events for Mama Creative. Image supplied.

What’s one of your greatest accomplishments to date and what impact did it have on you, others, society or the world?

There have been many, but one I am particularly proud of is the Creative Family Volunteer Day we set up through the Mama Creatives community in partnership with Our Big Kitchen, to support Mary’s House, a refuge for women and children escaping from domestic violence.

We brought together a community of volunteers to Our Big Kitchen where they made food for those in need, and created artworks for Mary's House, under the guidance of professional artists from the Mama Creatives community; Louise Trevitt, Yaeli Ohana and Jade Oakley.

This was a charity event and we were honoured to be involved in the project. Also proudly supported by Hydrocryl Paint and The Art Scene, businesses who I have partnered with via other creative projects.

As a result of the Volunteer Day and the three artists who created further individual artworks, this empty house was converted into a welcoming sanctuary. The walls were adorned with beautiful, colourful artwork and hanging mobiles so the women and children felt loved and respected during their most vulnerable time. It was transformed into a home, more than a temporary refuge.

The power of galvanising the talent of our creative community has really made a difference to these women and children, and will continue to touch the lives of many for years to come.

Here’s a short documentary from this experience.

What’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve experienced and/or overcame in your journey as a leader?

I think it’s a common thread. Making sure I walk the talk and lead by example. Testing my own courage, pushing myself out of my comfort zone and putting myself in the position I expect of others.

For example, Mama Creatives is based on giving women a voice to share their stories. However, it actually requires particular skill to be a good presenter, which also requires an ability to craft together an interesting story for the audience. If someone is anxious and not a natural extrovert there is pressure to perform in front of a live audience. I support women throughout this whole process, and have professional assistance with our storytelling workshops from two of Australia’s legendary actors. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes emotional and practical support that I provide ensuring the women feel prepared.

Although I host the majority of the events and facilitate the expert panels and interviews, I had never shared my own story in this raw storytelling format. The year my husband and I separated I was extremely fragile but continued to host a full year of scheduled events. It gave me some structure but also gave me a bigger vision on which to focus. My personal word for that year was courage.

I created a new Story Slam event for the end of year finale and gave myself nine months in which to prepare for it, mentally and practically. I was one of six women who shared a 10-minute story relating to the theme, which was courage. For the first time I shared the life threatening experience of giving birth to my daughter within the context of my marriage separation. It was personal, real, raw and courageous.

As the founder of a community aimed at creative mothers, it was time I shared how I had become a mother.

I didn’t want to talk about my story, because it was not the reason why I started Mama Creatives, and so I have never wanted to exploit the story. I am also a naturally introverted person, which might surprise many who meet me!

I wanted to experience this new storytelling format first-hand so I could guide women through this process in the future. The Mama Creatives Story Slam has now become one of our consistently most popular and successful events and I am proud of how we have greatly improved the process. I am certain that consistently sharing my vulnerable side in an open, authentic way - and pushing myself beyond my own fears - has given me more strength as both a woman and as a leader.

Who do you turn to for guidance, advice or support?

I am fortunate to have many people in my life who I can turn to for support and guidance. In times where I am most conflicted I will ask 2-3 very close personal friends who I greatly respect and have been in my life for 20-30 years. I trust their judgement and I know they have got my back, but will be fair, honest and direct with me if required.

There will always be hardships in life. It’s just how it is to be in this world. Having cultivated these mutually respectful long-term friendships is one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. The love, joy, humour, support, care and countless adventures is what makes the stuff of life worth living. At the end of the day it is connection and community that is most important. I hope that on my tombstone I am remembered for being a loving mother and great friend rather than for a presentation I had written.

Complete the following sentence, “A leader is someone who ...”

A leader is someone who is not afraid to lead by example, to have both an expansive vision to inspire but also have integrity and take responsibility for their actions so they instil a genuine sense of respect from others.

They need to be nimble and ready to pivot and to make good decisions in a timely manner, particularly during challenging circumstances so they can provide a voice of reason and healthy motivation for others to reach their potential.

They need to park their ego at the door, to have empathy to read the room, and be present for others, yet have strong self belief and boundaries. AND not be afraid to do the work both personally and professionally so they can continue to grow in themselves.

How can we connect with Anna and her mama creatives community?

Connect with Anna on Linked In or on her Mama Creatives platform. You can also join the Mama Creatives community on social media - Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

The Art of Changing Lives is Revolutionary with Anna Kellerman - Founder of Mama Creatives