Mary Anne Waldren is an internationally renowned trainer, business mentor and event creator who helps business people break free of old habits in their business and personal lives. She’s known for her ability to connect the right people to have conversations that change agendas.
Business is in Mary’s blood – she grew up in a large family known for its retail, property development rural holdings, and motels, and at the age of 9, she was managing a family-owned laundromat. She’s the dynamo behind the Australian Science Festival, National Science Week, and Canberra’s Innovation festival, ICAN. At Mary Anne Waldren Action, she runs a range of innovative leadership and business training programs — Master Mentor, Master Entrepreneur, Master Networker and Master Collaborator, and more.
“I’m passionate about helping small business operators grow themselves and their business.”
Advice that Mary wishes she’d been given when she started her business:
- Not everyone comes from the same intent as you. Set boundaries, sign contracts and trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right.
- Your purpose is your presence. Show up and be of present and of service to others. This doesn’t mean not self-serving, it means being an authentic leader who knows success is competition, collaboration is sharing.
- Only work with people who collaborate and are into win/win deals, otherwise don’t bother.
- Ask yourself this question. Does this bring me joy? If not, say No!
Mary’s advice for someone who’s thinking about starting their own business:
- Research your life, write a timeline of your successes, and answer these questions:
- What did you think your purpose was when you were 20?
- And how was it different if at all when you were 35?
- After 35 did your focus change?
- 45 onward what was your thinking different?
If during that period, you continued to focus on educating yourself and you can claim success, then go for it. You have been successful before, worked hard for it, so why wouldn’t you claim it now for yourself?
Ask yourself “what’s my passion? What would I do for free? What fills me up and energizes me? Find it, grow it, nurture it, trust it – now share it with the world.
Hang out with people you most want to be like or study them. Oh, and get a mentor.
For Mary, these knowledge areas and skills are essential for anyone starting in business:
Write this on your wall as your new mantra:
“If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”
- Get a bookkeeper.
- Don’t work for others unless you are paid up front for an agreed fee.
- Live your moral compass
- Know your worth
- Plan for success
- Learn meditation, dream, contemplate
- Ask for help
We asked Mary what problems being a HerBusiness member helped her solve for her and her business. Here’s what she had to say.
“I love learning, so it’s great to be inspired by others who are on a similar journey. The events, training, comments and profiles of others in the group are inspiring, honest and authentic.
I like HerBusiness because they make it their mantra to shine their light on the people in their network, not just themselves.”
