Starting a business that has now gone on to become a leader in its field from a remote farm is no easy feat. Jo Scard, mother and co-author of ‘The Working Mother’s Survival Guide’, has faced her share of challenges as a businesswoman based in regional Australia. At the end of the day, though, Jo says that one of the best things about working from home in a rural community is seeing her kids after school. Despite being remotely based, Fifty Acres – The Communications Agency has become a leader in strategic communications, and public and government relations, working alongside some of Australia’s best-known not-for-profit brands and corporates. The company was born of Jo’s desire to work with Not-For-Profits who inspired her.
Jo Scard has overcome the challenges of working from a remote area by working with the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, which she says has enabled her to connect with other like-minded businesswomen all over the country.
It has been a two-way street, with Jo reaping the benefits of networking opportunities and also contributing her expertise to the ABN’s resources. She has given a webinar for the ABN sitting on the farm, and is currently participating in the MentorNet women’s mentoring program.
For Jo and her staff of seven women who each work flexibly from their homes, distance has never been a barrier.
The company makes use of online technologies, including online project management tools, teleconferencing and Skype to communicate with and assist its clients. This often means that they are able to keep client overheads low and consider the environment in the daily running of the company – a “perfect combination”, according to Jo. As a networking business, Fifty Acres is in constant communication with local businesses, media and corporate networks. Fifty Acres has been recognised as an Australian Federal Government Telework partner for the work it has done as a company working entirely out of home-based offices, with the assistance of technology. But running the business from a rural area has also meant that small logistical details, like mail deliveries, are slow to work their way to Jo. From this challenge, however, she has developed a close community relationship with the local country post office. There are other highlights, too – Jo has occasionally found herself having to deal with wayward horses while on the phone with clients or the Chiefs of Staff to Federal Government Ministers. She says that one of her favourite parts about working from home is being on the farm, feeding the horses and dodging the kangaroos in her downtime. Her advice for other business women getting started in remote communities is to talk to others who have done it, attend local chamber of commerce events, and to join women’s business networks like the Australian Businesswomen’s Network to help them set up.
Jo Scard was interviewed as part of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s ‘Beyond the City’ initiative, which highlights the achievements of women in regional and rural Australia. You can read more profiles here. And, for more information on you can connect, learn and grow, regardless of your location, learn more about the benefits of membership.
