Can you describe your business in one or two sentences?
The Marketing Collective is a collaboration of marketing specialists, across all key marketing disciplines, dedicated to supporting small-to-medium sized businesses launch and scale brands with purpose. We’re all ex-agency or corporate leaders, each business owners ourselves, who train and coach business owners and their teams to manage their marketing with more clarity and confidence.
What drove you to start your business/get involved in this industry?
Becoming a Mum made me realise that my skills and energy were better spent serving businesses doing ‘good’ than the large corporates I had spent two decades in-house and consulting for. I realise my values were not aligned with big-business, and I wanted to help smaller, more purpose-driven entrepreneurs and business owners.
What do you love about running your business?
I’ve been in marketing for ~25 years, and have worked with many incredible brands. But, my passion is working with SMEs. Business is personal for us, and I love having front row seats to people building their dreams.
What have been some of your biggest challenges?
Managing Mum-life and business-life (and running a charity on the side). The juggle is real!
What is your biggest ambition?
To impact enough business owners to shift the focus of business from profit for a few, to prosperity for many. I believe most of the world’s problems could be solved through ‘better business’, and that we, as business owners, have a responsibility to look after all stakeholders in our ecosystems, not just our shareholders. I want to create a critical mass of ‘better businesses’ and help rebuild the system.
What does success look like to you?
Time and energy to enjoy those I love, while building/running my business. My kids are still young – I want to build financial freedom for our family, but not at the expense of their childhood with me.
If you had to walk away from the company tomorrow, what would you be most proud of?
Giving my clients the clarity and confidence to bring their dreams to life – to know they can create a business and a lifestyle on their terms.
Who inspires you and why?
Social entrepreneurs like Daniel Flynn (Co-Founder of Thankyou brands), and Masami Sato (Founder of B1G1). Both have relentless grit and determination to make a difference in the world, through business. Thankyou has given over $17 million to impactful change-makers in the fight against global poverty, and B1G1 have enabled over 370 million global impacts through their business partnerships.
What growth have you experienced being in New Zealand Businesswomen?
I’ve always been someone who managed everything very independently – it was almost a badge of honour. I started my business during Covid and most of my clients came from overseas. Five years in, I’m finally learning that us business owners, need others to lean on. That while you can do a lot on your own, you need a tribe to support you too. NZBW has given me a local tribe of incredible women I can learn from and also support.
What’s your favourite pastime when you are not working?
Travelling with my family. We love sharing different cultures, food and experiences with our kids.
