“Despite baring my heart and soul to be judged by others, whether on the dance floor or with my words, I felt safe. Unexposed. It wasn’t me. It was a character.” Founder of woman.com.au blogs about coming out of the shadow, getting out of her own way and stepping into the light.

I’ve been running woman.com.au since January 2013 and although I have big hairy audacious goals for it, I never imagined the little blog I started would gain so much ground and explode the way it has in such a short time. I have been blessed with an incredible community of ambassadors and editorial team who help create the stories, spread the word and lend a hand where it’s needed. They are the face of woman.com.au, and as an introvert, I’ve been secretly happy to work behind-the-scenes, intentionally avoiding publicity that would pull me into the spotlight.

“It’s not about me. It’s about other women who are more deserving of having their stories heard. I want to put the spotlight on them,” I said to our editor Stephanie Sta Maria during an editorial meeting at a local cafe in Hawthorn, Victoria. She wanted me to start opening up to our readers and our community.

“No, I don’t want the spotlight on me.” I protested.

Which is kind of odd because I’m a performer. In my kindergarten yearbook (yes we had one), I was named “The Dancer”.  I later became a gymnast until the age of 16 when I officially retired. I also sang in a youth choir and when my family migrated to Australia when I was a teenager, I continued to pursue my love of dance which brought me to the world of ballroom dancing seven years ago. In 2010, I won a title at the Australian Dancesport Championships in my category – an Australian champion!

Donning beautiful sequined gowns, fake tan, false eyelashes as long as my arm, tons of glitter and bling, I would perform to a crowd with my dance partner. Ballroom dancing is competitive requiring skill, style and stamina. The idea is to stand out among a sea of beautiful dancers while showing an equal dose of characterisation, musicality, athleticism and technique. It’s about owning the dance floor, looking like a winner and taking the spotlight unapologetically.

Despite the nerves, I feel comfortable in that spotlight. In fact, I thrive in it. So I am a little bewildered why when it comes to my business, I’m hiding in the background. I’ve let opportunities go because I keep reminding myself that it’s not about me.