Female Leader Conversations Feature Petina Tieman Director Complete Business Solutions (QLD) Pty Ltd said, “Your personal and business success is down to you believing in yourself and holding yourself accountable to achieve outcomes! Welcome challenges and obstacles, ask for help, connect with industry and Government.”
Petina Tieman is a serial entrepreneur who is dedicated to helping startups, SMEs and Indigenous businesses to thrive. Mentoring business owners nationally for 25 years, she deeply understands the business ecosystem, and what drives business success. Petina was recognised as 2018 Indigenous Business Woman of the Year, Supply Nation Awards; 2018 Indigenous Business Leader of the Year, Optus MyBusiness Awards; and 100 Faces of Small Business. This is a testament to the longevity and positive impact of her contribution to the business community, and her continuously innovative approach.
PAIN POINTS
How does Complete Business Solutions (QLD) help business owners?
Complete Business Solutions provides affordable, specialist business support services across Northern Australia, customising solutions to meet individual client needs, budgets, timelines, operating methods and learning styles.
Our core focus is to help startups, entrepreneurs, tradies, Indigenous business and women in business, build skills and capabilities through education, empowerment and collaboration. This results in improving business efficiencies, compliance, growth and diversification for our clients.
I personally mentor clients to ensure we can provide the right fit for their business. We provide a very down to earth, keep it simple approach, workshopping with clients to understand their business, and developing solutions in small, easy to manage steps.
Most importantly, we hold ourselves and our clients accountable for achieving their outcomes!
GRANT WRITING SUCCESS
With your 80% grant writing success rate, what are your 3 tips?
a) Read and highlight keywords in the funding guidelines and then re-use those words within your responses in your application.
b) Paint the picture. The people processing your application have no idea about your business or your proposed project, and don’t have time to research. Even if it’s a tech grant, use simple language that anyone can understand. Explain your responses in as short but to the point way as possible. Bullet points work in many cases.
c) Write your application as if someone else was writing it objectively, and get to the point. Most business owners ramble about their business or are too emotionally invested in the grant outcome.
INNOVATE INCUBATOR HUB
What’s different about your Cairns hub?
iiHub Ltd is an 800sqm Indigenous led, not for profit incubator hub located in Cairns providing a structured pathway for startups and entrepreneurs to build skills and capabilities through innovation, education, empowerment and collaboration.
Unlike any other hub in North Queensland, iiHub provides low cost access to: coworking space, private offices, mentoring, workshops, expert in residence, meeting and training room hire, blog/podcast/photography studio, design print marketing hub and SMART technology.
EXPERIENCED BUSINESS MENTOR
What should people consider before starting their own business?
Things to consider BEFORE commencing a business are:
a) Validate ongoing market demand for your product or service with potential clients and industry
b) Identify your business’ unique point of difference against competitors
c) Develop a strong understanding of costs to start and operate the business including setup costs, resources, stock, IT, wages, overheads, utilities
d) Draft a startup budget and know it will take at least 6 months before your business can generate enough income to sustain itself. Include an amount for contingency.
e) Don’t rely on funding. Most funding is matched contribution and typically takes 4-6 months for approval.
f) Access contractors rather than wages to provide skills and flexibility
g) Identify and access FREE mentoring, resources, workshops and templates that are available through Government or industry associations
h) Booking a session with a startup mentor to ensure you’ve covered all bases
i) Get legal and financial advice. Access available free services
j) Have a ‘get out now’ plan in case things don’t work out
THE FEMALE LEADER CONVERSATIONS EZINE FEATURES 11 PEOPLE FROM FEMECONOMY’S COMMUNITY. ENJOY READING THEIR THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:
