Nigella lauds professional sisterhood

British chef Nigella Lawson mostly only works with women, saying there's a "great suspension of ego" when she does.

For celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, the right man for the job is almost always a woman. (AAP)

For celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, the right man for the job is almost always a woman.

"It's not a strategic decision but everyone I work with more or less is female," she said.

"I have a very creative sisterhood back home."

The British food writer believes there's a "great suspension of ego" when women collaborate.

"Talented people tend to have the confidence to take on other ideas and be generous and not defensive," she said.

Lawson has sold more than five million copies of her cookbooks in the UK alone and is Down Under to promote her latest one, Simply Nigella.

The best-selling author stars in internationally popular cooking TV shows and has her own kitchenware range, but downplays it all.

"I feel like such a fraud. I don't have a business empire at all," she said.

"I'm me, I'm a person."

The 56-year-old dished out advice to a Business Chicks event in Sydney on Friday, saying knowing when to take chances or just go with the flow - in life and in the kitchen - is crucial.

"It's important not to be so focused on success that you're not brave enough to risk failure," she said.

"(Otherwise) you will never really achieve something that is worthwhile."

The `Domestic Goddess' says she has an inspired support network, but doesn't surround herself with `yes men'.

"You need to have a workplace where people feel safe to add a dissenting voice," she said.

But while a productive team needs room for disagreement, Lawson isn't afraid to call the shots.

"I like collaborative work however... when it comes down to it, I just do what I want to do," she said.

The TV personality will be returning to Australian screens this year on popular cooking show MasterChef as a guest judge, alongside Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris.