In this episode we hear from Hannah Aykroyd, Managing Director of the award-winning property advisory firm Aykroyd & Co. Hannah has many years’ experience advising high net worth private clients on prime London real estate transactions and now, four years into her own business, has clients ranging from private individuals, family offices, investors and developers, both domestic and international. 

Hannah shares with us her thoughts on the freedoms starting a company can afford, especially when it comes to also starting a family, and highlights the fundamental importance of bringing on a team as soon as possible.

Hannah’s advice: 

• Have a clear business plan and if possible take advice from a mentor
• Delegate: be clinical about using your time and if possible employ a PA to support you 
• Share ideas with other like-minded entrepreneurs
• Put trust in the team you’ve built 
• Be proactive in deepening learning and encourage the sharing of key information within the team 
• Have weekly team meetings and work collaboratively
• Good communication skills are vital in any business
• Maintain regular contact with clients by keeping them fully updated so they know everything is being handled
• Communicate efficiently with time poor clients: when emailing, have a clear call to action; when scheduling a call, update them with salient points so they’re prepared ahead of a very brief call 
• Find that work/life balance, put your out of office on and learn when to switch off
• Accept guidance and support
• Love what you do

If you'd like to contact Hannah you can reach her via [email protected] or LinkedIn.

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

• LastPass the password-keeping site that syncs between devices.
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

Recorded, edited & published by Juliet Fallowfield, 2022 founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason. MUSIC CREDIT Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

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