Mother of Mason. Partner of Ty. New small business owner. Reformed big business marketer. Career highlight: growing and evolving two talking Russian meerkats (Compare the Market brand) to become as loved as the M&M characters. Avid (former) GoT fan. Soul destroying perfectionist.
Our (Chiefs and Indians’) vision is to create brands that make the world better. We do so by advising, educating and co-creating brand strategy and executions that rally people from the inside of an organisation, out.
(Intrigued by our name? That story will have to be for another time as it won’t fit the word limit!).
To set up my business. It’s been a lifelong quest for me and while it hasn’t been easy, it’s definitely been the most rewarding decision I have ever made.
These change regularly, but at the minute my favourite tools are:
Incentivising a ‘retainer’ (with a set monthly hours) versus a short, intensive project has been very successful for me. Being a part-time mum and business owner it benefits me in three ways: it enables me to better manage my time around the days that I have, take on more clients at any one time (knowing exactly how many hours I’ve committed and how many I and the team have left), provides a more affordable option for big projects (spread out over a longer period of time) and most of all creates a different (client) mindset – you are treated more as a permanent employee than a transit consultant.
Agreeing to do work that digressed from my core offering has been my most recent blip and learning. I wanted the client to be right, more than they were on paper. It turned out to waste a lot of time, created confusion and upset and, while it resolved in the end, it wasn’t a good experience. A reminder that long term success comes with short-term sacrifice. Stick to your niche. Own the space. You don’t need to surrender to every opportunity because it’s money through the door (easier said than done, I get that).
Google docs is a good one when you have a document that requires editing by multiple people.
I have had some great bosses over time who have given some really good advice, but no one long standing. But, I’d like to change that and am on the hunt.
I really admire Brene Brown. Her teachings and research really resonate with me, particularly the link between vulnerability and innovation in the workforce. Her studies reveal that if you don’t create a workplace where it's safe to be vulnerable, you suffocate any chance of innovation. Being a brand strategist I’m all about transforming and disrupting brands (when relevant) which can take bold change and an openness to doing things differently.
Currently reading: Not Just Lucky by Jamila Rizvi. A book about how society and cultural expectations have disadvantaged women at home and in the workplace (often unconsciously).
Podcast: Marketing School by Neil Patel and Eric Siu. This is a great one for anyone new or experienced at marketing (and only goes for about 7 mins – daily). I listen to it simply because I like their creative way of thinking. They are very focused on testing different marketing tactics to get more sales, customers or desired metric.
... really do get the best of both worlds.”
Via her website, on LinkedIn, and on Facebook.