No successful business owner reached their goals alone. We are supported not just by our external communities and networks – but our TEAMS. And our guest today is a trailblazer when it comes to building smart, rock-solid teams.

But how can you create a high-functioning, loyal team of people around you who care about the success of your business as much as you do?

Kristy Smith of Virtual Elves knows exactly how – as she has provided hundreds of clients with outsourced, highly skilled VAs. She is an expert on creating a loyal and supportive team culture and has so much to share with you about how to hire, manage, and grow with your team.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The invisible ties that keep you focused on the WRONG things in business and how the “30% Burden” creeps up and steals your time
• How to strategically identify what is taking your focus and preventing you from stepping into the CEO role (+ what needs to shift!)
• The “SADD” method: Kristy’s sworn-by framework that you should run EVERY task in your business through (this will make your business more efficient, and it will make you LESS sad )
• Why leaning on people around you – and constructing a support system – is essential to free your time
• How Kristy has developed such incredible loyalty within her team (with multiple team members working with her over a decade) – and why team culture is key
• The big mistake business owners make when outsourcing team members, and why transactional thinking can backfire
• How to prepare in advance to onboard, and why cultivating systems beforehand is essential
• The 3 things you need to do before hiring anyone (or hiring anyone ELSE!)
• Why building strategically over time and putting in place a strong foundation has paid off for Kristy in the long run (tortoise > hare)
• How Kristy built a team culture so good that all of her current managerial positions started not as new hires, but as loyal team members with potential
• And so, so much more

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Need a highly-qualified VA? Check out Virtual Elves today

Download your Ultimate Hire A VA Guide

You deserve a team that FREES your time — which means hiring the right people at the right time. But, many business owners struggle with hiring and managing their people – causing higher staff turnover, less commitment, and more work landing on your plate.

Because let’s be honest… most of us were never taught how to hire, delegate, lead, or let people go.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the five most essential hires you need to make your business profitable AND sustainable – EVEN IF you’ve hired before and it didn’t work out.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode: 

• The crucial hire most business owners delay for too long (it will instantly free up 10 hours of your week!)
• Why this unexpected hire (that doesn’t “technically” relate to business) will transform your output and ability to keep a clear head
• How hidden burdens are affecting the capacity you have to grow your business and lead your team (these are UNFAIR, but true)
• The trick to getting OUT of the weeds and stopping getting stuck doing $10/hour tasks instead of playing the CEO role
• What happens when every client question, email, or calendar invite needs to go through you first – and who to hire to free up your time
• Who to hire in order to have your marketing done for you – without needing to be involved in every detail
• Why relying on your marketing alone might not be enough to bring in consistent sales, and what team member to add to bring in the sale
• How to set up new team members for success with the right role descriptions, systems, and clear expectations (so they’re not waiting around for your next instruction!)
• And so, so much more

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell 

Episode 247 with Dan Martell | Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empires

EP313 - What If You Followed That Hunch? The Power of Pursuing Curiosity in Business with Valerie Khoo

What does the superyachting industry have to do with your leadership style? 

Turns out, a whole lot.

In this episode, I’m joined by Karine Rayson, an expert in leadership and mental health within the superyacht industry – where teams are required to live and work together 24/7 out at sea. And in that intense environment… leadership matters.

And it’s no different for your business. These leadership and communication skills are foundational for any business, even if you’re on dry land.

Here’s What You’ll Discover in This Episode: 

• The metric that sets high-performing teams apart from the rest, and why authoritative leadership is a recipe for ego issues and disengagement.
• The parallels between life on a superyacht and running a small business – and why it all boils down to leadership and strong team communication.
• The (so often overlooked!) layers of communication that build trust.
• How to spot the small, physical signs that signal something’s wrong before it’s too late.
• Why slipping work, a lack of eye contact, or mismatched energy might actually be a silent plea for support from your team (and what you can do to turn things around).
• Karine’s psychology-backed tips to make your team feel seen and valued – and why success all starts at onboarding.
• What emotional literacy really means (and what it DOESN’T!), and why self-awareness is the foundation of leading others well.
• The most uncomfortable, but essential, thing you can do as a leader to grow your emotional intelligence and improve your team’s ability to work well together.
• Why shifting from an authoritative leader to a facilitator actually creates a more connected, motivated, and purpose-driven team.
• Karine’s leadership non-negotiables to create a psychologically safe space, lead people in the same direction towards your ultimate goal,
• And so, so much more…

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Flung Ceramics with Michelle Cox

Michelle Cox’s Podcast - One Question

This is Part 2 of the special mini-series all about LEADERSHIP. Last week (Episode 315), we turned inward and looked at how to become the best leader for yourself and your team.

In this episode, we shift our focus outward. How can you step into your role as an INDUSTRY leader? How can you show up authentically and confidently for your clients, your peers, and your community?

And most importantly… How can you achieve that without losing yourself or putting on ‘an act’?

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why becoming a leader in your industry is NOT about being the loudest person in the room (or being on every platform)
• The key to stepping into your power – and how to be your most magnetic self
• How pairing your clarity with a willingness to be SEEN unlocks opportunities (even when visibility and vulnerability are terrifying!)
• My personal journey of hiding behind the camera to stepping into industry leadership and being the face of my business
• The stories of HerBusiness Network Members who have landed major media, speaking gigs, and dream clients by putting themselves out there (SO incredible!)
• Why your industry does NOT need a more perfect, more polished version of you – and why it needs you right now, as you are
• The curse of perfectionism and why “waiting until I’m ready” will keep you stuck
• All of the fears, doubts, and self-talk that hold you back from being an industry leader, and how you can move forward with them
• The small and doable ways you can start building your authority and visibility today, without forcing yourself
• How to maintain your authenticity and never step into a form of visibility that doesn’t feel right to you and your journey
• Why leadership of self is at the heart of everything (and why you need to master it FIRST!)

Mentioned in This Episode:

The HerBusiness Network

Listen to PART 1 Now: How to Become the Leader YOU and Your Team Need (Part 1) 

The Secret to Being Seen as the Go-To Expert in Your Field, with Leesa Shannon

Amanda Farmer, Your Strata Property 

Esther Espinosa, 5 Sisters Ministry

The success of your business doesn’t just depend on WHO you hire… but on HOW you lead them. 

So, how can you ensure that you are being the leader you are meant to be – in order to have a TEAM that shines in their roles, without you getting involved in daily tasks? 

Today, we are diving into Part 1 of a 2-part series all about the kind of leadership that transforms businesses from the inside out. This episode is about “Leadership of TEAM” and “Leadership of SELF” – the internal aspects of how you lead in business.

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: 

• What to do when you feel like you’re the only one who truly CARES for your business
• How to STOP chasing your team for updates, redoing work, and hand-holding
• Create a team that FREES up your time, rather than creating more work and stress
• The three types of leadership every woman in business needs to understand – and which should come first
• Why the shift from doer to director is SO important… but feels so uncomfortable
• How to create clarity and empowerment with your team (no matter the size) and create a thriving team culture
• The subtle but crucial difference between managing and LEADING (& how to balance the two!)
• What “Leadership of Self” actually means… and why it is the foundation of not just your business, but your ability to move confidently through life
• How to redefine what leadership is ‘supposed’ to mean, let go of the fear and self-doubt, and understand what YOU need in order to lead.

Whether you have no team at all, you’re managing a microbusiness, or you’re evolving how you show up as the leader of an established business…

… this episode is about YOU stepping into your power, voice, and ability.

And, be sure to join us next week for Part 2 of this series.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Join the HerBusiness Network

HerBusiness Trailblazers Experience

“What am I to charge this much?”  “Who do I think I am?”  “No one is going to pay for this!”

Many women business owners have had the same doubts — and these doubts can stop us from realising the success that we want. The hidden emotions behind our pricing strategy need to be addressed – because they do nothing but keep you stuck and prevent your ideal clients from receiving the transformation you offer.

In this episode, we are talking about why your pricing isn’t the actual problem, how to uncover and manage the emotions that are influencing your decisions, and the pricing mistakes that most people make – that YOU can avoid.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Episode: 

-> Why competitor-based pricing and following the market can keep you stuck and undervalued (even though it’s what we’re “taught” to do!)

-> The 2 BIGGEST pricing mistakes I see women business owners making over and over again

-> How fear and guilt can disguise themselves as other, more logical or compassionate emotions

-> The clear signs that it is time to raise your prices (if you’ve clicked on this episode, it’s likely past time )

-> How to build a ladder of access for your ideal clients (and how to serve more people without undercharging)

-> The 7 steps to building a healthier, more confident relationship with your pricing and finances

-> How to move from “Will they pay this??” to “Will the right people see this?”

-> And so, so much more.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Join the HerBusiness Network https://shrtlnk.co/etRNj

The Ultimate High Converting Offer Blueprint https://shrtlnk.co/YwP8Y

Thanks to this week’s reviewer: Danika Armytage, Big Stories Little Films https://www.bigstorieslittlefilms.com.au/

Apply for the Marketing Success Mastermind https://shrtlnk.co/2VO48

In business, we are so often told to stick to a pre-designed path – to stay focused, stick to the formula, and ignore the distractions. But what if curiosity is actually the key to creating a business that both puts money in your pocket and brings fulfilment to your life?

That’s what our guest, CEO and Founder of the Australian Writers’ Centre, Valerie Khoo, is all about. She believes that following your curiosity and leaning into your creativity can actually lead you somewhere you never imagined yourself – to the benefit of your business and personal life.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Episode: 

-> How following your curiosity leads to incredible breakthroughs in your business – boosting both your bottom line and your attitude.

-> Why embracing a culture of curiosity is essential for both your business and soul (and how to cultivate one!)

-> What curiosity really looks like in business, and why following strict formulas and structures might mute the internal voice that guides you.

-> The risks of blindly following strategies that don’t align with you – and how to spot when it’s time to reorient yourself.

-> How to distinguish between a “bright shiny object” and a curiosity thread that is worth exploring (and why sometimes, it’s OKAY to go down the “rabbit hole”).

-> The major discoveries Valarie has made when she decided to embrace curiosity and see where stray interests could lead her.

-> How a week at the gym inspired Valerie to scale the Australian Writers’ Centre all across Australia.

-> Why getting out of your bubble and learning from people outside your industry can lead to extraordinary ideas and new inspiration.

-> How a reality TV show ended up inspiring a course that has changed the lives of veterans and first responders – one of Valerie's most successful courses to this day.

-> Why we think of change in binary terms: stay OR pivot. And how you can embrace the in-between space rather than choosing between the two.

-> How to begin building a Curiosity Culture – and why it starts with giving yourself permission FIRST.

Mentioned in This Episode:

HerBusiness Network https://her-business.lpages.co/request-an-invitation/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=General&utm_campaign=membership-waitlist

HerBusiness Trailblazers Retreat - Crete, Greece https://shrtlnk.co/DTrs6

EP301 - Resilience, Burnout, and the Power of Self-Compassion – Olivia Ong https://herbusiness.com/podcast/resilience-burnout-and-the-power-of-self-compassion-with-dr-olivia-ong/

If you’ve ever forced yourself to shrink to fit in, to “tone it down” to be accepted, and to pursue a path that isn’t aligned with you…

We are turning that narrative around in this episode of the HerBusiness Podcast. Let’s talk about what it really means to run a business that lights you up.

This episode is about identity. Visibility. Bravery. And what it takes to stop dimming your fire and live a life that is not filtered for others’ approval.

It gives you permission to be fully you, owning your own version of being ‘too much’.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

-> What it looks like to be truly lit up in your business (and how to move in that direction)

-> The signs you’re drifting from your true purpose – and how to get back on track

-> How the fear of being “too much” shows up and how to push fear to the side in order to live more authentically

-> Ways to untangle your identity from your business – and why it’s an essential step to take on your journey to feeling more free to be you

-> Why leading from obligation creates an unfulfilled life, and what to do instead

-> The small steps to reclaim that fire within you and build a business that reflects and supports the life you truly want to live

It’s time to lead your business as YOURSELF. Leave the performance, the “professionalism”, and the expectations behind. You’ve already got what you need.

And it’s what makes you and your business magnetic.

Mentioned in This Episode:

HerBusiness Network https://her-business.lpages.co/request-an-invitation/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=General&utm_campaign=membership-waitlist

HerBusiness Trailblazers Retreat - Crete, Greece https://shrtlnk.co/DTrs6

Episode 305 – The Secret to Being Seen as the Go-To Expert in Your Field with Leesa Shannon https://herbusiness.com/podcast/the-secret-to-being-seen-as-the-go-to-expert-in-your-field-with-leesa-shannon/

So many women, despite their success and achievements, find themselves looking around and thinking, “I should be further ahead by now.”

If you’re caught in a comparison game, questioning your direction, or you’re having a crisis in confidence, this is your episode.

In this episode, I’m talking about why so many high-achieving women business owners find themselves stuck here – and what you can do to reconnect with the purpose most aligned to you.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Episode:

-> Why success doesn’t always feel how you expected it would, and how to navigate the gap between where you are and where you thought you’d be

-> How to reconnect with what you really want (and leave behind roles and expectations)

-> The real reason your confidence may have dipped – and why it’s actually NOT a sign that you’re failing

-> Why you’ve been feeling unfulfilled (even when you’ve hit all of your goals)

-> How to STOP measuring yourself by someone else’s definition of success, and instead create your own definition

-> 7 things you need to reframe in order to move forward with more clarity and self-trust

-> The truth behind growth being uncomfortable – and why you should lean into it.

-> How to make brave decisions in business and life without waiting for everyone else to understand or give permission

-> Why space and separation are sometimes exactly what you need to realign, and your opportunity to step away

7 Things to Unlearn (because these things just keep us stuck)

-> “Success should follow a predictable path.” → Success is defined by YOU, not anyone else. It can be messy, it can be confusing, and it can be hard.

-> “Changing my mind means I am flaky.” → You are able to change course as MANY TIMES as you deem necessary for your business and your life.

-> “I need to have it figured out before I start.” → True clarity can ONLY come from taking action.

-> “I need others’ permission and validation.” → Not everyone will understand your choices. And guess what? They don’t need to.

-> “My worth is measured by how busy I am, and how much money is in the bank account.” → Your worth is inherent. Working more or earning more does not increase or decrease your worth.

-> “I only get one ‘shot’ to get this right.” → There is no deadline for changing your life. You get as many shots as you’d like.

-> “If it is hard, I must be doing it wrong.” → Growth IS uncomfortable. Growth IS hard. Going through a hard time does not mean you are broken or on the wrong path.

Use this time as your personal invitation to pause, to reflect, and to give yourself the space to redefine success on your terms.

Mentioned in This Episode:

HerBusiness Network

Chantel Gilbert, Bluegum Electrical

HerBusiness Trailblazers Retreat - Crete, Greece

Today, we’re discussing a topic no one ever talks about. What happens when you’ve “made it” in business… but you don’t feel real fulfilment? What happens when you’ve worked for YEARS to get where you are now… only to realise you’ve actually built a trap?

Let’s discuss how to escape the Busy Businesswoman’s Trap, and even importantly… how to PREVENT it.

If you’ve been feeling the hints of exhaustion creeping up, if you’re worried about the direction you’re heading in, or if you simply want to ensure you’re going down the path that is meant for you – listen in.

Here’s what you’ll learn from the episode:

-> The critical difference between growth and leverage in business… and why chasing the wrong one can lead you astray.

-> How to connect with what type of FREEDOM (and therefore what type of business) attracts you most – and how to create a business model that allows you that freedom.

-> The hidden emotions that are clear indicators that you might not be prioritising fulfilment in your business, and what to do if you feel them.

-> Practical ways to reclaim control over the direction of your business, and how to shift your model to correct the course.

-> How you can PREVENT burnout from creeping in, and what to do in order to understand what you want most out of life.

-> Why your community is so essential to understanding who you want to be, what your priorities are, and what type of business you want to run.

-> The 1 action to take right now in order to step onto the path you truly want to walk down for your life and business.

Whether you are currently lost with your direction in business, or you want to PREVENT looking back at what you could have done differently, this episode is all about pausing, realigning, and moving forward on the right path for you.

Mentioned in This Episode:

HerBusiness Network https://her-business.lpages.co/request-an-invitation/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=General&utm_campaign=membership-waitlist

HerBusiness Trailblazers Retreat - Crete, Greece https://shrtlnk.co/DTrs6

Amanda Paul, Brand Injection https://brandinjection.com.au/

The Clear Week https://herbusiness.com/podcast/the-clear-week/