HerBusiness (ABN) members Kristy-Lee Johnston, Dominique Antarakis and Liz Parker have been honourably featured in “Women brave the fiscal odds”, by The Australian’s Jo Studdert on 18 March 2013. The three successful businesswomen (who work near and/or from home) and Jo Studdert discussed what makes a good businesswoman: survival in the world of business is about putting skills to use. Most notably, Kristy-Lee shared how she had started her business, Footprint Recruitment, from scratch. Firstly, she had resigned from her old career and borrowed $10,000 from her parents. She then set up her own business in 10 days, received her first client within two weeks, and had repaid all of her loans within five months. After great success, she had developed and implemented the idea of ‘virtual assistants’ – people who electronically do any office work you need. The concept had also taken one step further: teaching virtual assistants to operate as businesses themselves. This article sets a great example for women who may want it all – working how and when they want from home. It shows women that they have already started creating the opportunity once they identify their skills and know where to pitch it. Other advice from the ABN members included:
“Don’t go into it if you want a hobby, and don’t hope to turn a hobby into a business.” – Kristy-Lee Johnston
“Trust your instinct, always. If you don’t like the feel of something, avoid it. Don’t be afraid to ask for professional help…” – Dominique Antarakis
“… it is vital to have the total support of your partner or family… you will not fail if you are committed and follow the steps necessary for your business.” – Liz Parker
About the ABN Members
Kristy-Lee Johnston is the Director of Footprint Recruitment – a Central Coast based Recruitment and HR agency, which is run by locals, for locals. Her background includes an intensive, wide range of customer facing sectors. Dominique Antarakis, a journalist and copywriter, runs The Copy Collective – a company offering professional writing for business, agency, and charity clients to help them communicate with clarity and passion. Learn more about Dominique Antarakis here. Liz Parker, Founder and CEO of VA Placements, has advanced skills in IT and HR management. She has been extremely successful in building strong teams through recruiting virtual assistants.
