Free From Fear

Rebuilding a Life, Redefining Success

By Vianne Hills

There was a time in my life where the path ahead of me had already been decided.

Not by me – but by the environment I was raised in.

I grew up in a highly controlled religious setting in regional Queensland, where expectations for women were very clear: marry young, have children, and build your life within a defined structure. Career ambition, independence, and higher education weren’t actively encouraged – in fact, they were quietly discouraged.

I was also born into what you could describe as a leadership family – just a very different kind of leadership than what I understand today.

My father was a senior elder. One of my brothers became a senior pastor. Another was on the path to leadership within the church. Leadership, in our world, was highly respected – but it was also deeply tied to authority, discipline, and compliance.

It was leadership built on fear, not empowerment.

And growing up in that environment, you learn very quickly to follow… not to question.

So I followed the path I had been shown.

I married young. I had a child. And for a long time, I believed that was where my story would both begin and end.

But life has a way of interrupting the plans we didn’t choose for ourselves.

When Life Changes Direction

Leaving that environment – and everything that came with it – was not a single moment. It was a series of decisions over time.

Some were instinctive.
Some were forced.
And many came with uncertainty.

But what truly shifted everything for me was something far more powerful than logic.

It was instinct.

There is a moment that happens when you become a mother – something that is hard to explain unless you’ve felt it. It’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s quiet… but it is unwavering.

A “mumma bear” instinct.

And once it’s activated, it doesn’t negotiate.

There were moments where, on paper, staying where I was would have been easier. Less disruptive. More accepted.

But deep down, there was a knowing I couldn’t ignore.

A very clear sense that said: this isn’t right.

Not just for me – but for my child.

And when it comes to your children, something changes. You stop second-guessing what you feel. You stop overriding your intuition to keep others comfortable. You stop explaining away what doesn’t sit right.

You act.

That instinct didn’t come with certainty. It didn’t come with a plan.

But it came with clarity.

And looking back now, I can say with absolute confidence – some of the most important decisions I’ve ever made were not the ones that made the most sense on paper.

They were the ones that felt right in my gut.

Starting Again – With No Blueprint

When I made the decision to start studying and building a career, it wasn’t met with encouragement.

Quite the opposite.

I was told I wouldn’t cope.
That I wouldn’t stick with it.
That it wasn’t realistic for me.

Those messages came from people close to me — my family.

And when you’ve grown up in an environment where your role has been clearly defined for you, stepping outside of that can feel almost impossible.

But by that point, I had learned something important:

If I could trust my instincts to change my life once… I could trust them to guide me again.

So I took the first step.

Stepping Into Leadership – My Way

As I entered the workforce and continued studying, I found myself in environments that were completely new – but I wasn’t unprepared.

By this stage, I had undertaken formal HR training and had a solid understanding of people, systems, and leadership frameworks.

Eventually, I stepped into a role as an Operations Manager, overseeing a team of around 75 staff – the majority of whom were men, many older than me, and almost all earning significantly more than I was.

On paper, I had the training.

But what I quickly realised was that no amount of formal education fully prepares you for the realities of workplace culture.

There was an undercurrent of misogyny that flowed from the top down – from directors through to management and into the wider team. And stepping into leadership within that environment meant I wasn’t just doing the role…

I was proving, consistently, that I belonged in it.

Respect wasn’t automatically given.

It had to be earned.

So I got to work.

I focused on:

understanding the team
building credibility through action
communicating clearly and consistently
and backing my decisions with both logic and integrity

But just as importantly, I learned that leadership isn’t only about driving outcomes or holding authority.

It’s about supporting your team.

Creating an environment where people feel heard, capable, and valued. Where they’re not operating from fear, but from clarity and confidence. Where they’re given the tools, guidance, and trust to do their jobs well.

That was something I hadn’t experienced growing up – but it became something I was deeply committed to creating.

Over time, something shifted.

Not because I demanded respect – but because I demonstrated capability and supported the people around me to succeed.

And that’s where I learned one of the most valuable leadership lessons of my career:

Respect isn’t granted by title. It’s built through consistency.

Breaking the Next Barrier

After years of building experience, developing systems, and working at a high level within organisations, I reached another crossroads.

Do I stay where I am – safe, secure, and within structure?

Or do I take everything I’ve learned… and build something of my own?

Starting a business wasn’t something I had grown up believing I could do.

But I could see an opportunity.

And more importantly, I could see a way to do things differently.

So I made the decision to step out and build my own business.

And once again – the chorus of doubt returned.

“You won’t be able to do it.”
“It’s too much.”
“It won’t work.”

Even former employers questioned whether I could make it on my own.

But by that point, I had learned something powerful:

Just because someone doubts you… doesn’t make them right.

Advocacy, Voice, and Unexpected Respect

Part of my journey didn’t just involve rebuilding my own life – it involved speaking up.

Through advocacy work supporting victims and working alongside law enforcement, I became involved in raising awareness and contributing to outcomes relating to abuse within the religious group I was raised in.

That work has contributed to multiple criminal convictions and ongoing investigations.

What is both challenging – and deeply telling – is that this group has now become the subject of international investigation, involving agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, and federal police bodies across multiple countries.

It is, to date, the first time a group of this nature has been investigated on that scale.

Advocacy is not easy work. It requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to stand firm in uncomfortable spaces.

But it has also been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.

Because it’s not just about telling your story.

It’s about creating space for others to be heard.

Interestingly, while I was formally excommunicated, something unexpected happened over time.

I built a great deal of respect outside of that environment – through my work, my leadership, and my business.

But I also began to earn respect from within it.

People who were still part of that world – who had been taught not to engage with someone excommunicated like me – began quietly reaching out.

Some for support.
Some for understanding.
And some even became clients.

Which, in many ways, speaks volumes.

Respect, when it’s earned authentically, has a way of crossing even the most rigid boundaries.

Building Something That Matters

Today, I lead AVH Business Services Pty Ltd – a business that has grown to a team of 18 professionals supporting clients across Australia.

What started as a leap of faith has become a thriving, multi-layered business delivering Bookkeeping, Payroll, BAS, HR Intermediary Services, Management Accounting and advisory services.

But more than that – it’s a business built on a completely different leadership philosophy than the one I was raised with.

We lead with:

clarity
trust
development
support

Because I know firsthand what it feels like to operate under pressure, doubt, and uncertainty.

And I also know how powerful it is when someone is given the space to grow with the right support.

Resilience Looks Different Than You Think

When people talk about resilience, they often picture big, defining moments.

But in my experience, resilience is built much more quietly than that.

It’s built in:

choosing to enrol in a course when you’re not sure you’ll succeed
showing up to a job where you feel out of your depth
continuing forward when others are telling you to stop
trusting your instincts, even when they don’t make sense to anyone else

Resilience isn’t loud.

It’s consistent.

Navigating Today’s Financial Climate

Right now, many women are navigating uncertainty – in business, in their careers, and in their personal lives.

And it can feel overwhelming.

But uncertainty doesn’t mean incapability.

With the right support, the right information, and the right mindset, it’s possible to move forward with clarity – even in challenging times.

Financial clarity, in particular, is one of the most powerful forms of confidence you can build.

Because when you understand your numbers, you can make decisions from a place of knowledge – not fear.

A Final Thought

If I look back at the version of myself who believed her life would follow one very narrow path… I don’t think she could have imagined where I am today.

Not because the path is extraordinary.

But because it’s self-directed.

I was raised around leadership.

But I had to redefine it for myself.

There will always be people who doubt what you’re capable of.

Sometimes they’ll be strangers.
Sometimes they’ll be people you know well.

And sometimes… their voices will sound very familiar.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Before the confidence comes…
Before the evidence appears…

Your instincts already know.

And if you’re willing to trust them — even just enough to take the next step —

They will lead you somewhere far greater than fear ever could.

PHOTO (right/below)

Vianne is a dedicated supporter of Ladies Who Long Lunch, attending regular LWLL events. Vianne is a Limelight Business Directory member and both Kirsty and Jo are grateful for her support and friendship.

In the photo from left to right is: Bianca Lemon with Vianne Hills

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