“Leadership and culture change begins with a simple conversation.”
With over 30 years of experience in designing and facilitating leadership programs for leaders and safety professionals in construction, infrastructure, education and finance, Annette Gray of Annette Gray Consulting has a passion for enabling people to shine in their workplace.
Leadership and culture change begins with a simple conversation. As our world rapidly transforms, leadership needs to evolve for businesses and people to thrive and grow into their full potential.
Annette collaborates with leaders and mentors to empower and support them with practical coaching and conversational skills which can be applied immediately to start creating change. This results in confident and proactive employees who take responsibility for their work and safety, producing powerful results for the business while collectively creating a healthy work environment.
Before Annette joined the HerBusiness Network, she was struggling with not knowing how to set up a successful business. Annette says “I just love all the resources and the network. It is helping me learn about running a successful business. Helping me get better and clearer about my offering and setting up my marketing strategy is the first step.”
In addition to her paid work, Annette also has a number of volunteer roles that she is passionate about, including as a reviewer for the global Association of Solution Focused in Organisations (SFiO), with Homeward Bound – a global women in leadership program to help women in STEMM have a voice on the world stage about climate change and as a mentor with Can Too, a charity that helps people learn to ocean swim and compete in ocean swim events whilst raising money for Cancer Research.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Carla Zampatti fashion designer and how long she was successful in business. Consistency in her designs.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
I started my business as I wanted to work for myself and have the flexibility and freedom to work with who I wanted in the way I wanted.
I have been a global leadership coach for 22 years and facilitated leadership programs for 28 years. I had played a key role in growing a Coaching Training Business from a dining room table business to a global business. So, I knew I had the skills to do the work and find the work based on my networks. Running a business on my own was new for me and not having a team created some challenges.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
I see what I do now as being the best job I have ever had. I think mainly as I have the autonomy to pick and choose who I work with and who I form alliances with. That freedom is life giving for me. My clients really appreciate the support I give them as leaders.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Join the HerBusiness Network sooner!
- Create a network of people you can go to for support and guidance. I have a friend who runs her own business as well and we are sounding boards for each other.
- Outsource what you are not good at. I now have a Personal Assistant and a Marketing assistant. They do both these jobs much better than me and quicker!
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Know what you are really good at and your key strengths. And make sure you get to do that every day! Running your own business is hard work and you spend a lot of time doing it so make sure you know why you want to start your business before doing it.
I had a business coach for the first 6 months. This really helped me with the basics of setting up my business.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Knowing how to market your business and establishing a marketing strategy and plan.
Being comfortable in selling. I tend to reframe selling to form good long-term relationships. I then don’t feel like a used car salesperson. People will buy from you when they trust you.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
I would be crystal clear on my offering and know how to move clients through the client lifecycle. I watch other her business members have such clarity on their offering and who their key clients are. I need more finetuning on this.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
So, the problem is not knowing how to set up a successful business – all areas. I just love all the resources and the network. It is helping me learn about running a successful business. Helping me get better and clearer about my offering and setting up my marketing strategy is the first step.
Learn more about Annette and Annette Gray Consulting.
