How she went from a career in fast fashion to creating a business built on purpose

Can you define the moment your heart decided it was time for a career change?

To be honest, for me it was a bit of a slow burn. I spent 10 years working in the corporate world, where I was given incredible opportunities to grow my skill set, travel globally and work alongside a team of amazing individuals who were true visionaries in my industry.

But as many of us know, the corporate world can be cut throat, physically and mentally demanding and I was feeling an overwhelming sense of lack in other areas of my life. As grateful as I was to have been given so many opportunities, coupled with a Type A personality of GO GO GO, PUSH PUSH PUSH – I was totally burnt out.

Two months later, I resigned from my job and booked a one-way ticket to Nepal …

In practical terms, what first steps did you take towards designing a new career?

After booking that one-way ticket, I spent 8 months on the road exploring Nepal, India, the US and Central America. During that time, I had a strong pull towards Guatemala, where I lived and volunteered for a month. It was a life changing experience to say the least.

Not only working with some of the countries most vulnerable children but I was happy, content and felt a true sense of purpose. The day I left I knew I wanted to continually support these children, I just had to cook up a plan to do so – and do it from the other side of the world.

Nothing came to me overnight, but I was fuelled by a determination to use my skill set to financially support these kids and create positive impact through business.

Shortly after getting home I started seeking out conscious business owners and spent time with them discussing their biggest challenges and how I could support them.

Once I figured out how my creative skill set could best impact their businesses, I begun putting together branding packages including design, photography and digital marketing.

This is consistently evolving and I am always refining my offering to best service my clients. Not sure I’ve 100% nailed this yet, but I’m well on my way!

What was the biggest inner battle you had to overcome in putting your work and services out into the world?

Just that. I’m not a natural self promoter and I hate being in front of the camera. So sharing my work with the world has been an ongoing challenge. One which I have to keep working on week to week!

Define the purpose of the work you do now? Has it evolved over time or did you always know who you wanted to work with?

Combining my creative skill set with impact driven business has always been the ultimate goal.

For years, I have been pulled in 2 different directions: do I follow a creative career path? Or do I throw in the towel, run away to Africa and build wells for a global non for profit?

This business is my brainchild of combining the two. I am now working with passionate business owners who are driven to change their slice of the industry, financially support social justice, decrease environmental impact and ultimately shift ethical consumerism from a niche to a norm.

Who would not want to work with legends like that!?

My purpose is to help them build businesses with authority, that penetrate the market and cut the overwhelming noise online. By doing this work, I can also achieve my initial ‘why’ and donate 1% of my project rates directly to Casa Guatemala.

What daily practices allow you to bring creativity into your work and life?

I try and move my body first thing in the morning and ensure I stay away from tech – as most days I’m glued to my computer or camera for hours on end. This allows me to clear my head, plan the day ahead and get some endorphins firing.

I also surround myself with a network of passionate people who are driven and determined to also create positive change in the world through their work. I am so grateful for the people that I have met along my business journey and it’s important to me to nurture these relationships and ensure I’m adding value to their lives at the same time.

What practices do you use to manage your inner critic/self-doubt as you forge your own path?

We all come up against the self doubt monster and when it rears its ugly head, I try and come back to why I do what I do. I have an unwavering determination to support my clients in any way I can, so this often means taking a step back, strategising innovative ways of improving their businesses and just diving in with a fresh perspective.

If a project fails, I try and dust myself off, consider the learnings I can walk away with and work out the next solution. Without risks in business, there in no opportunity for growth.

Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to your 18-year-old self upon finishing school, what would it be? (especially when it comes to career choices!)

QUIT WORRYING! You are not supposed to know exactly what you want to do with your career and your path to get there will not be a straight one.

Every experience in your life, every person you meet and every sh**ty boss you’ve had will shape the person you are and the kind of work you want to do in the world. Use every learning to ultimately build something you are really proud of, life’s too bloody short to not do something you love.

In addition – be a student for life, travel often, don’t be scared to share your gifts with the world and when things get hard, its ok – sometimes wine IS the answer.