Louise Ridlen didn’t start her career in a boardroom - she started at a piano. Teaching music to students of all ages taught her patience, creativity, and the power of rhythm. That sense of timing carried her into teaching people to use typewriters, and eventually into the world of technology - long before IT was the career path it is today.

As a single mother of two, Louise built her career step by step, contracting for companies across industries while raising her children. She learned early that technology could be more than just systems and screens, it could be a bridge between people, ideas, and opportunities.

In 2018, she founded Peppermint iT, one of Australia’s first female-led managed IT services companies. Its motto, Tech Infused with Care, reflects her belief that technology should serve people, not overwhelm them. Alongside this, she created IT Lady Connect, a social impact charity that trains digital mentors and supports older Australians in becoming confident online.

Her journey hasn’t been without challenges - she has faced the pressures of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, the uncertainty of running a business, and the demands of balancing ambition with care for family and community. Those experiences shaped the philosophy at the heart of her books: that time, technology, and care are inseparable when it comes to living and leading well.

Today, Louise is an author, keynote speaker, and advocate for using technology with intention. Her three books; =Time(Now), =Work(), and =Life() - form the Time Framework, a practical yet human approach to creating more meaningful work, richer daily moments, and a sustainable pace of life.

From national conferences to local community halls, Louise speaks to audiences about leadership, digital efficiency, and living in rhythm with your values. Whether on stage or in print, her message is clear: you can have ambition and empathy, technology and humanity, results and relationships - if you use your time wisely.

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