Storytelling at its Finest: Paris Thomson (2008)

Paris Thomson (2008), the innovative force behind SIRAP, has become a leading figure in Melbourne’s creative industry. As the founder and creative director of SIRAP, Paris has cultivated a dynamic space where creativity and technology intersect to produce stunning visual content. SIRAP (Yes, it is Paris spelled backwards. Yes, it took us months to realise.) is the creative powerhouse producing film advertising and social media content for Australian and global clients such as Grown Alchemist, L’Oreal, Visit Victoria, MECCA Brands, Broadsheet, The Country Road Group, Lexus and the largest trade fair in the world, Salone del Mobile Milano.

Paris started SIRAP shortly after finishing her Bachelor of Communications in Journalism, Media and PR at RMIT in 2012. She was just 22 years old. Her journey is a testament to the power of vision, determination, the pursuit of excellence and of course, focus, lots of focus.

Recently, while reflecting on the themes presented to us in Stolen Focus, we considered how Paris’ career so far, marked by the swift growth of SIRAP and its projects, her work ethic, passion and generosity (of time and of spirit) make her, without at doubt, an Old Grammarian to focus on, in this edition of Information Exchange. Paris has returned to MGGS on several occasions to speak at events, share her knowledge and advice with our community of young women. Each time, our Grammarians are transfixed by her warmth, her intelligence and her energy.

So, we decided to chat to Paris about her take on some of the factors tampering with our ability to pay attention in today's modern world, as outlined in Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus.  

As a small business owner and founder, Paris understands the need to wear 'many hats’. At the very beginning of SIRAP, Paris was a videographer some days, an editor on others, while overseeing everything else! She now aims to not get "pulled into the weeds of the day-to-day…where it’s easy to lose sight of [SIRAP’s] vision and strategic goals." In order to prioritise tasks and decide what needs her focus, Paris delegates and deletes items from her ever-growing to do list, in order to be present with her team and clients. She often comes back to the question, “What is the single thing I am doing today to move the business forward (towards our vision and goals)?”  

As her business has grown, her role at the helm has evolved and enabled her to recognise her unique strengths and where she adds the most value. Early on, Paris identified the importance of a sense of urgency and quickly developed the ability to make the right decisions, swiftly. In the same way that she focuses on her strengths now, while at school, Paris knew mathematics wasn’t her forte and "dropped it as soon as [she] was able!" At MGGS, she loved Psychology, Visual Communication and Design, English Language, Italian and Business Management.  

“We’ve worked in Italy for many years filming during Italian Design Week and my Year 11 Italian still gets a whirl!”

In order to optimise her work environment and get into a good ‘state of flow’ as Hari would call it, Paris relies on meditation and mindfulness. Paris was exposed to the power of meditation as a teenager with her father, she remembers meditating before exams to harness her focus and eliminate anxiety. She still meditates frequently, and it is something she does with her team in the studio to get a break from screens and the noise of daily life. It is important to Paris, as an employer, to maximise the productivity of her team, so she encourages everyone to get away from the desk to ‘reset’ mentally and physically when they can. Whether that be as simple as taking a phone call outside or having “walk and talk WIPs to stretch the legs and 'talk shop'.”

In Stolen Focus, Hari talks about how the proliferation of short form content, like social media advertisements and TikToks, has contributed to our diminishing ability to pay attention for longer periods of time and think deeply. Paris says there is no denying the power of social media, but acknowledges that it is kind of “crazy to think a two-minute film is now considered ‘long’ in the world of advertising!” She reiterates that time away from the screen and ‘the endless scroll’, with your own thoughts for company is crucial. For her, meditation and spending time with her three-month-old son, Orlando, are a good outlet!

But media is her work, and she has found that she doesn’t completely relate to the concept of ‘switching off’ work, to balance life. As a small business owner, she has become good at, and quite enjoys, ‘the juggle’.  No matter the distraction, the stresses of everyday life, or the juggle of a newborn and a small business, she says to remember that "no day or week is ever perfect."

“No day or week is ever perfect...The sooner you acknowledge this, understand your strengths and work towards spending your time doing what you’re best at, and getting a return for it, the clearer your priorities become.”  

“It is very easy to get lost in the world of ideation and goal setting, but not actually do anything about realising the dream,” Paris admits. When working with her interns or students she is mentoring, she often asks them about their return. What have you created? What are you currently working on? When can you show us? Paris does not underestimate the value of a strong work ethic, “digging in and doing the work…investing the time to learn,” and developing the discipline, patience and persistence required to achieve, succeed, and then progress, is vital as a young intern or applicant in a new industry.  

Paris says she has “fortunately…always been motivated by progression.” She likes to feel like she has achieved something, grown or learned something new each day. If, for whatever reason, she is struggling to focus, she’ll “sit down and meditate, and stop and think about the one key thing [she needs] to achieve that day.” She puts her phone on Do Not Disturb, puts in her headphones, rolls up her sleeves and gets it done!  

Paris’s vision for SIRAP was clear from the outset: to create a space where creativity knew no bounds, and where every project was an opportunity to push the envelope. Under her leadership, SIRAP has developed a reputation for its meticulous attention to detail, artistic integrity, and ability to tell compelling stories through visuals.  

The future is wide open for our Grammarians, as Paris clearly demonstrates. So, despite not being sure of her professional direction when leaving MGGS, Paris was confident in her conviction to ‘have a crack’ and figuring out what she loved – and what she didn’t – along the way.  

“Exposure to different experiences (or subjects!) in life and being uncomfortable – pushing yourself out of your comfort zone – that is the essence of personal growth.”

To check out some of SIRAP's recent projects via their website, click here.

Grit and Glory: Sarah Gigante (2018)

We take immense pride in celebrating the accomplishments of our alumnae, and Sarah Gigante is no exception. Since leaving MGGS in 2018, Sarah has swiftly carved out a notable career as a professional road cyclist and balanced her tertiary studies as a Chancellor’s Scholar at the University of Melbourne, demonstrating her extraordinary dedication and tenacity time and time again.  

The name Sarah Gigante brings a smile to the face of many Melbourne Girls Grammar community members and has done since her time at Merton Hall. Her teachers said she was deeply compassionate, always inclusive of her peers and determined to overcome obstacles to pursue her dreams. While completing her VCE studies, she was also making waves in the world of road cycling.  

Before the age of 18, Sarah was the Junior National Champion in Road Race, having won multiple national titles and medals. In 2018 (during Year 12), she won the Junior Women’s Road Race at the Oceania Cycling Championships and the silver medal in the Junior World Track Championships points race in Europe. She has represented Australia in various international events, including the prestigious UCI Road World Championships. Her performances on the global stage have earned her recognition and respect within the cycling community, showcasing her as a formidable competitor and a proud ambassador of Australian cycling.

Despite her demanding cycling career, Sarah has remained committed to her education. At MGGS she worked incredibly hard to juggle her priorities, including sitting tests via video conference while racing in Europe! At the beginning of her MGGS journey, Sarah was awarded a scholarship for her academic prowess and attitude towards her studies. Throughout her time at school, she maintained impeccable academic standards while getting involved in everything MGGS had to offer. As a scholar, a student, a teammate or a friend, she was always someone you would want on your team. During Year 12, her teachers corresponded with her via email to mark practice exams and essays, and she also set up Skype sessions with her French teacher so she could practise her speaking while overseas. Sarah’s determination paid off as she earned one of the Class of 2018’s three perfect ATARs of 99.95.  

We spoke to Sarah earlier in the year about the importance of focus, and how the purposeful selection of goals is necessary to achieve and succeed. In the midst of her European campaign at the moment, Sarah aims for selection in the Paris Olympics and the Tour De France Femmes.  

How important is focus when competing at professional level in cycling?

Focus is incredibly important when aiming to be at the top of any field. During races, there is so much going on that you have to really concentrate to keep up with the chaos, let alone thrive in it.  

You have to avoid wasting unnecessary energy, eat and drink almost constantly, think about the upcoming terrain and corners, know where your teammates are, listen to instructions over the radio and avoid crashes around you! All this while you’re suffering, your legs burning and your heart beating nearly 200 times per minute!  

Off the bike, there aren’t many periods when we lost focus either – even when training at home. We are constantly mindful of our nutrition, sleep and recovery because it all affects our performance.  

How do you decide what needs focus and attention in terms of your career? How do you avoid spreading yourself too widely?  

Over the years, I’ve learned that there will always be things and people calling for your attention, but it is not possible to balance everything, while keeping your stress low and achieving the outcomes you want.  

“It is important to pick and choose what’s most important to you and your goals.”  

Of course, it’s not fun or necessary to be so single-minded that you cut out everything! However, you do need to make decisions about what is sustainable and helpful. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to juggle too many activities or favours and constantly falling in a heap – sometimes you just need to make a list and prioritise what’s most important.  

For me, making sure I have enough spare time to relax is key, so I don’t burn out.  

How do you prepare yourself (mind, body, environment) to get into a good state of ‘flow’?  

I find a good state of flow when I feel confident and optimistic. I really like to study course notes, so that I know what’s coming up during a race, and sometimes I watch past editions of a race to see how it played out in the past. I also reference my training log to confirm to myself that I’ve prepared well physically and I am ready to go!

I take confidence from my teammates’ strength, excitement and experience. Sometimes we feel nervous ahead of a race, but we all know and remind each other that nerves show that you care and want to give your best.  

How do you deal with distractions that might steal your attention away from your goals?

There are always distractions, however it is a matter of considering the long-term and short-term outcomes of your options and choosing what you want most. I found it useful to reply on self-discipline – forming consistent and structured habits – rather than the sudden and momentary bursts of willpower which may come and go.  

What advice would you give to current Grammarians about the work ethic needed to achieve their goals, and how to limit distractions that might tempt them away?

Remember that it is possible to chase and achieve your dreams while still having fun, but that will not always be easy. Sometimes your short- and long-term desires will not line up and you will need to choose between them. So it is important to consider your options carefully. Even making a ‘Pros’ and ‘Cons’  

What helps your team to function at their best? How do you boost the ‘flow’ or productivity of your teammates?

Everyone is different so there is no single method for boosting productivity that works best for all. What my team management tends to do is to trust the riders to know what’s best for them and to let them do it. For example, on the team bus on the way to a race, some people like to listen to music, some like chatting, some have a nap and others study the course notes. Respecting and working with everyone’s likes and dislikes, just as we do regarding everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, is incredibly important for our team to function at its best.  

How has your competition season gone this year? What’s been your biggest challenge so far?

My season has gone very well so far. I’ve joined a new team this year, the Belgian Outfit AG Insurance Soudal, and have loved my new family. My debut at the Tour Down Under couldn’t have gone any better – we won two stages and the overall tour. This was also my first ever World Tour victory, which is the highest classification of racing in professional cycling.  

Sarah's journey has not been without its challenges. In 2020, she sustained a significant injury that required a lengthy recovery period. However, her resilience and determination saw her make a triumphant return to racing, continuing to compete at the highest levels and ultimately taking out the Tour Down Under in January this year!

Sarah Gigante's story is one of inspiration and dedication. Her achievements in professional cycling, coupled with her academic pursuits, serve as a powerful example to current MGGS students. Earlier this year, she graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Languages. She exemplifies the School's ethos of striving for excellence, overcoming challenges, and pursuing one's passions with unwavering commitment.

MGGS is proud to have played a role in Sarah's development and celebrates her continued success.  

Sarah is hoping to compete in the Tour de France Femmes this year, which will be held in August shortly after the Paris Olympics. Team selections are being finalised at the moment, so if she is picked, she will spend most of July training at altitude in the Val di Fassa region of Italy, which is at about 2000 metres. Sarah says this area is “extremely mountainous, low in traffic and beautiful for cycling, but the relative lack of oxygen forces your body to adapt and become more efficient at oxygen utlisation.” This increases their endurance ability even at lower altitudes, so that they can head into the Tour de France in the best physical form possible!  

Be sure to check out Sarah on Instagram at @slipstreamsarah to follow her journey! We look forward to watching Sarah continue to shine on the international stage!