Diane Gatto turned one of her biggest struggles into a heartfelt business.
She created Carers Compass after caring for her father who was diagnosed with cancer. Spending nine months caring for him full time, she was exposed to a world she didn’t know how to navigate.
Diane started talking with other carers and recognised a common problem – there was a significant amount of misinformation for those caring for their family members.
What Diane enjoys most about running her business:
“My mission is to help carers know they are not alone and that there is help and support for them to make the biggest difference in caring for people they love.”
Diane’s ideal clients are family members who concerned with their aging, ill, or dying parents. They may be confused on how to start a conversation regarding this topic.
What Diane Wishes She Knew When She Started
- Stand by your convictions – stay true to your morals and values
- Don’t get too attached to your beliefs – there is knowledge to be learned from others. While you should stay true to yourself, know there is always room for improvement and adjustments.
- Be brave – running a business takes a lot of courage. Be resilient.
Diane’s tips for other business owners
- Have your own back
- Be prepared to take no for an answer – but always ask why
- Ask for help – you will be surprised how much people are willing to help you, especially those who believe in the same cause.
Diane’s ideal business is highly collaborative and one that helps influence policy change at the national level, so that the caring industry becomes more of a service.
A problem that being a HerBusiness Network Member has solved for Diane:
“Being a premium member of the HerBusiness Network means that I am not alone. I have a group of like-minded women that I can draw help and guidance from and a huge library of resources to refer to and learn from too.”
Diane’s favourite entrepreneurs are Richard Branson and Andrew Morgan. She admires them because they remain grounded and humbled with a strong desire to continue to help make a difference to the world.
This post was authored by Allison Mullin. Allison is completing a journalism internship with HerBusiness. She studies editing, writing, and media at Florida State University in the United States.
