You are listening to episode 19 with Cherie Clonan from The Digital Picnic (TDP).

It was around this time four years ago that I did my first workshop with 'The Digital Picnic', a digital marketing agency based in Melbourne. I had purchased their eBook on becoming a social media manager a few months earlier and it was full of so many 'aha's' for me and really planted the seed of what could be possible. When I read the book I was on maternity leave and just about to return back to my day job. It showed me that perhaps I could take another path that would not only fit in with my family values but also be more aligned with my passions.

At this stage TDP was still pretty new but fast forward to now and they've just celebrated their fifth birthday with Cherie Clonan at the helm as Sole Director. I know I'm not the only one who has been inspired by TDP and I'm sure it has been the catalyst for many women going out on their own and starting their own businesses.

Not only the Director of TDP, Cherie is also Mama to Max and Frankie, wife to Dave as well as an award winning digital marketer, who is passionate about the difference best practise social media marketing can do for businesses and organisations. Just quietly she is also a community builder and copy writer extraordinaire!

I absolutely loved this chat with Cherie. We discussed so much that it was very difficult for me to sum the chat up in one heading! I went with leadership as I think this is something that is weaved throughout this entire chat and something that is so important for us as business owners to get comfortable with and own.

So in today's episode we cover a lot including:

- The importance of owning your personal brand and showing up as your authentic self

- Building a loyal and loving community

- How Cherie turned TDP around in the last year from a ship that she thought was in danger of sinking at their 4th Birthday to one that is now thriving

- How Cherie had to hustle hard the last year to turn TDP around and how that was necessary but did take a toll on her physical health

- Showing up to your team during challenging periods

- Business culture and TDP's forward thinking HR policies

- Authentic leadership, the importance of being yourself as a leader and practising what you preach

- And how Cherie's childhood and upbringing has made her the leader she is today

You can find Cherie on Instagram and Facebook @thedigitalpicnic and their online home is www.thedigitalpicnic.com.au