Sharyn O’Neill has been recognised with an Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to public administration in Western Australia, to education through executive leadership and teaching, and to disaster management. What would a former teacher-turned director-general, who went on to become the chief employer of all public servants in WA, tell her younger self? For Sharyn O’Neill PSM, who has served as WA’s public sector commissioner since 2018 and spent 19 years in senior executive roles, navigating work and career well all boils down to knowing yourself, and leadership.