Tell us about yourself?
I am a strategist and a storyteller that cares deeply about businesses doing more than simply hitting profit. I believe in purpose, and definitely profit with purpose
. I have a long career in brand building and more recently impact strategies that are not just about storytelling but how a business can have a positive impact on the ecological realities of our world as well as the social, for not only their consumers but firstly their employees.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
The biggest misconception about start ups is that it is ok to be messy, chaotic and burn through people.
I think there is also a misconception that strategy is something that slows you down, in fact a solid and confident strategy can help you accelerate even more, it does not limit you from being disruptive and agile. Also hypergrowth is also quite a but of ego bullshit.
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey, and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
Advice I would give my younger self is to be more discerning in how you create equity for women in business, be your wild self but choose your fights carefully and don’t give them ammunition against you.
Also, to never worry about being the voice in the room. We often think we will always give our younger selves advice on how to do things differently, I on the other hand would actually give more encouragement.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
I live by the business name I have, I am brave! I have a voice and I have integrity. Plus I am very good at what I do.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
Boundaries. As an entrepreneur, or working in the start up environment, you could work all day but your productivity does diminish and you can’t sustain. Rest and thinking time is important
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
We believe that brave decisions made by brave people will change the world. The right thing to do is often the hardest and we have seen too many businesses choose the easy, moneymaking route. It is time for a different kind of business.
Where do you see your business in five years?
Still disrupting but hopefully with a few case studies showcasing some seriously Brave clients. Not necessarily much bigger, but successful in a sustained way with a strong thought leader position.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
Finding the clients who really want to be brave, and the global recession of course. So many boards and C Suite teams see purpose as a loss making endeavour, when it is not unless you are already doing some pretty bad business : so this will be a challenge for quite some time.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
Starting Brave will probably be my biggest success for quite some time, because my projects with clients are only truly successful if they follow through and that is ultimately outside of my control.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
I am my sales team : I value my network and know what it is worth. I love connecting with people so they can reach me through Linkedin or [email protected] : or instagram if that’s your jam
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
Dream! Plan! Execute! Go in with real intention, surround yourself with support : not just hype people but structural support like financial advisors, coaches, mentors etc. Don’t do it all alone!
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
Passion and peace. I hope that I can continue to work on exciting projects and that my business is successful in a way that I can also be a support to my children in their future endeavours. I want the yin and yang. To feel fulfilled by the work I do is where I want to be.
