I always knew that I wanted to start a business and have the opportunity to work for myself (at the time I was working part-time in public relations). I knew my concept was good, but I found the idea of starting a business from scratch very overwhelming. I had no business, financial or manufacturing experience so having to develop and bring a product to market was incredibly daunting.

I faced a lot of self-doubt as well, “Who am I to start a business?” “Why do I deserve to be successful?” “I can’t do this, I don’t know enough.” I did tell my friends and family about my idea and they thought it was pretty good, but I don’t think that anyone foresaw it being more than a couple of products that I sold at local markets. I knew that if I was going to start a business, I was 100% in it for the long-term. It was a go big or go home situation, so I decided to go big!

• My range of baking mixes is now available in over 350 retail stores around Australia.
• I turned over close to $150,000 in the previous financial year, which is a growth rate of 87% in one financial year. One month into the current financial year I have already turned over 20% of last financial year’s turnover.
• I have built a social media following/community of over 50,000 and growing.
• ​I developed and tendered for big international food retail companies both within Australia, the US and UK.
  
• ​I was awarded the Organics award at the Food Magazine Awards, up against big time national and international brands, and was a recipient of an amazing start-up package backed by Collective Hub and Lexus.
  
• ​I worked with high profile social media influencers and big international brands in successful partnerships over the last twelve months.
  
• ​I am happy! And free to run my business and live my life on my own terms.
  

Before B-School and starting my business, I lived for Friday. I would drive out of work at the end of the week, so excited to have two whole days off. But that is never how I wanted to live – trying to rush through five days just to get to the last two.

Now my work and life are one because I love what I do so much that it doesn’t feel like work. Of course times can be very stressful (scaling a business is very challenging, as anyone knows) but it’s MY business, my cause, and my decision to be doing what I am doing. I work harder than I ever did before, but I am happier than ever and love knowing that I am working on something for me, not for my boss!