Industry
Professional Services
Challenges
Lacked the knowledge to grow a business
Didn't understand the structure and systems required
Lack of confidence
Results
Stepping away from the CEO role and focusing on being the subject matter expert was my biggest change.
MIA Consulting Services and the owner, Deirdre Diamante, provide support and consultancy to businesses wanting to increase their business opportunities with the Victorian government. Deirdre explained that she didn't have the confidence to know how to build a highly successful business. In particular, she didn't understand the structure required. It was also very important to Deirdre that building a successful business didn’t take time away from her young family – all of this was holding her back. Deirdre realised that the business was stagnating and wasn’t growing in terms of client base or service offerings. Deirdre also found herself providing services that she wasn’t enjoying. The business and Deirdre both needed a change and she recognised Stefan and the Board of Directors 12 program as an opportunity to facilitate that change.
Through Stefan, Deirdre identified the business model that best suited both her personality type, and the core strengths of the business, and she began to make changes to support this business model. A key learning was to remove herself as CEO and focus on being the subject matter expert in delivering services, while someone else focused on being the CEO. This allowed Deirdre to concentrate on her key strengths. This didn’t mean that she didn’t focus on the business it just meant that it didn’t have to be an ongoing process which meant that when she did focus on the business it’s more fun than overwhelming.
In the time Deirdre has worked with Stefan the revenue and profit base of the business has increased as well as the range of services offered by the business. The business has grown from operating as a sole trader to a business that supports four professionals. The profile of the business has increased, including Deirdre’s profile as a government subject matter expert, and most importantly she is having fun with the business. Through Deirdre’s 32 month journey with Stefan she now clearly understands how to work smart and manage her time around her family. She no longer works long hours and she enjoys quality time with her children and has the satisfaction of watching the business grow.
