Juliet Robinson had been working for large corporate companies and government not for profit organisation for many years and has also had quite a lot of experience working for small business too. She recognised that small business owners and managers did not have access to leadership development information that you get in large companies. Juliett saw this as a big problem. She decided to take a leap of faith and start her own business which was an online leadership program for people who own or manage a small business.

With over 20 years of experience as a change manager and leadership consultant with large corporate companies and government not for profit organisation, Juliet noticed a disparity on how SME’s lacked access to training programmes.

Whilst working with SME’s, Juliet realised even though the owners and managers were technically brilliant they struggled daily with people leadership, particularly when they scaled their business. Their inability to access targeted leadership training and development programmes motivated Juliet to establish her business, BIG GOALS.

Juliet has developed and delivered a range of change and leadership workshops to help managers and teams create sustainable change and develop leadership capabilities.

BIG GOALS recently launched “Leadership Essentials Programme” for owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses to help them focus on the people side of running their business through leadership training.

Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
“At the moment Suzi is very high on my list. I am inspired by lots of people, interestingly I am inspired by lots of women doing things, there are lots of stories that I see and hear about females I find very encouraging.”

What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
“Definitely the flexibility and that I get to make the rules. Running my own business allows me to look after my granddaughter and spend quality time with her when her mum is working or is busy and I love that.”

What advice would you give to someone starting their business?
“Surround yourself with support, it can be very lonely having your own business because there just isn’t the network that we all take for granted when you are working in an office where there are constantly people around. It has taken me a while to find that support but when you do it is incredibly valuable. I find that support is what helps you keep going through the times when things are tough and not working.”

What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
“I think that it is critical to get your head around the number and the marketing, and not just palming it off to someone else actually learning at the start how to do it yourself. I think once you know how to do it then you can outsource it.”

What problem does being a member of HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And how?
“A big thing is that they have provided me with a network. I really like how in HerBusiness they are women doing what I do and we are all pretty much on the same path where we are trying to do similar things and I found that really great and important. This was because I find that many women in HerBusiness have faced the same problems as I have so they offer great advice.”

What have you done through the hard times of your business? And what helps you get through them?
“Just persevered. There were times when I had an online course and no one booked to do it, this can feel very deflating but I have learnt that you have to just carry on as if they have because it helps me go through the material and refine it anyway and I feel as in a sense things are moving. I find when I do that all good things happen anyway, so for me, it is just important for me to pick myself up again and keep pushing through.”

What’s the biggest factor that helped you be successful?
“Attitude and perseverance, I think that these two go hand in hand with each other.”

Is there anything that you have in the pipeline that you want people to know about i.e promotions events?
“I have my leadership program which is called leadership essentials program in the pipeline. It is designed as a five-week program and is all about building your skills as a leader, it is all about self-awareness, building communication skills, having difficult conversations, coaching delegating and influencing.”