Dynamic Business

Bronwyn Sheehan

Bronwyn is the founder of Queensland’s Pyjama Foundation which recruits, screens, trains and supports community volunteers—Pyjama Angels—to read to children in foster care on a weekly basis. Bronwyn has grown the Pyjama Foundation from an idea into a statewide organisation, with Government involvement, celebrities and 600 volunteers.  Its volunteers now read to more than 1,000 Queensland children. Bronwyn Sheehan won the Community and Government Award in the 2008 Telstra Queensland Business Women’s Awards.

DB: What inspired you to start your own business?
BS: I founded the Pyjama Foundation in September 2004, after seeing what fantastic contributions foster carers were making in the community. Every day, these unsung heroes open their homes to our communities’ most vulnerable children. I wanted to help out these amazing people, so formed The Pyjama Foundation to contribute in a positive way to the lives of not only the children but offer some assistance to foster carers.

DB: What has been vital to the Pyjama Foundation’s success?
BS: Communication skills are vital. You need to be able to inspire other great people to come on board and share your vision. It’s important to surround yourself with great people who have different skills to contribute.

DB: Was there a point when you thought ‘Wow, I’ve made it!’?
BS: My goal is very large and that is to reach all of the 31,000 children who are in foster care in Australia. Maybe I’ll think like this when I am 80 years old, but at the moment there are always goals to achieve.

DB: What is the most challenging part of running your own business?
BS: There is always so much to do! If I didn’t need to sleep then this wouldn’t be a problem! I’ve become very good at prioritising, and not sweating the small stuff.  Also cashflow is always a number one challenge when starting off.

DB: What was your biggest lesson learned in business?
BS: I think I am too trusting. I think this is also a positive trait, but it has caught me out on more than one occasion. It is very beneficial to have clear guidelines right from the beginning so there is no confusion later on. In other words, have strict key performance indicators so everyone is kept accountable.

Leanne Wesche

Leanne owns and manages Safeguard Innovations and Pacco Group. She took on the business world at 19, and has successfully launched five companies over the past 22 years. Leanne got her big break when she bought a little cottage business called the Sprout Factory and turned it into a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

Pacco Group is Western Australia’s largest fruit and vegetable packing house which employs more than 55 people and handles over 150 tonnes of produce every week. Safeguard is now helping to protect families from food-borne diseases around Australia and the globe, with sales into 11 countries in the first 9 months.

DB: Any practical advice for budding entrepreneurs?
LW: I don’t ask anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do. I coach my team rather than just fixing their problems and allow them to make mistakes along the way.  Make sure the goals you set are measurable and ensure your staff know their goals to give them a sense of responsibility, ownership and accountability. Be consistent in your message and follow through on your goals and change them if necessary. Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did.

DB: Who are your inspirations in business?
LW: I’ve not had a mentor as such, but have employed some great people over the years and they have impacted greatly on my businesses. I have contracted various coaches over the years to use their knowledge and expertise to help manage my businesses, but this is often not results-orientated enough. I ‘ve preferred to employ people, coach them as best I can and allow them to grow with me. I subscribe to many publications and never have the time to read them on a daily basis but sit down for a whole afternoon on the weekend and rip out lots of interesting articles and file them for future reference. I am always inspired by Australian innovation and what amazing things people are achieving.

DB: What qualities are unique to women that make them successful entrepreneurs?
LW: Women are not too proud to ask for help and are great multi-taskers. Women often judge themselves harshly for not being at home full-time with their children but you can have a successful home and business if you are serious about your success.

—Nominating someone for the Telstra Women’s Business Awards could change their life forever. Visit www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com.au

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