It was the ultimate act of rebellion. In a family seated at the height of fashion, synonymous with sharp tailoring, sophisticated elegance and timeless style, Allegra Spender wore hoodies. 

“I think I was rebelling a little bit from my very glamorous mum,” Allegra recalls, speaking of her late mother, one of Australia’s most iconic fashion designers, Carla Zampatti. 

“I would wear hoodies and clothes that she would hate, and I wouldn’t look after my appearance, and Mum would be somewhat frustrated… And I was like, well, you know, I don’t care about all these superficial things.”

Allegra did, however, lead her family’s fashion house as CEO for nine years, continuing her mother’s legacy alongside her siblings. But all the while, the Cambridge University alumna was tucking into public policy papers on her weekends. 

As Allegra says, “I’m a nerd. From way back.”

Chatting on the third season of FW’s award-winning podcast, Too Much: The Switch, the now federal member for Wentworth shares how she made her cross-industry leap.

Bianca Spender, Carla Zampatti and Allegra Spender. Image credit: Bec Howell

“I was inspired by my mum, who followed her dreams,” she tells host Briana Blackett. 

“I cared more about social issues than I did fashion. I like fashion, but it’s not my calling. At a certain point, I just felt I had to leave and support that… Lucky for me, because mum had followed her passions, she understood why I wanted to go.”

Allegra joins a cast of eight highly successful women – including Google MD Mel Silva, former Olympic swimming champion Giaan Rooney, and Lune Croissanterie founder Kate Reid – in sharing her advice on how to make a major career shift. 

After stepping down as CEO of Carla Zampatti in 2016, Allegra co-founded an education charity. Something she wasn’t initially sure she was cut out for.

“I think that is always a big concern I’ve had in doing a switch,” she says. “To make that easier, I did a little bit of volunteering in education and that helped me go, okay, these skills that I’ve learned do apply in education, in this area that I really wanted to get into.”

In 2021, Allegra announced her next move –  her run as an independent for the federal Sydney seat of Wentworth. 

“I didn’t know, to be honest, getting into politics, whether all my skills would play into it or not. But again, what I found is you do bring the experience from the different parts of your career to each new job,” says Allegra. 

“I think having a bit of confidence around that is really important – knowing that there’s value in the experience that you’ve got, and you just need to work out, how does it apply to that new sector?”

Looking back, Allegra has gathered a wealth of experiences. Before taking the top spot in her family empire, she’d worked in the UK Treasury, a London hospital and a not-for-profit in Kenya. 

“I have made so many switches – enough for a whole house of lighting!” she says. “I feel like I’ve covered almost the entire economy.

Listen to Too Much: The Switch on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Like what you hear? Please rate, review, comment and share.