Q. Tell us about your business

I set up a tech business two years ago just as the global pandemic was gathering momentum. It might not seem like the best time to launch a new venture, but it has served me and my two business partners well. We were able to develop new products and strengthen our offering at a slower pace, which doesn’t happen with most start-ups.
We are a compliance solutions business working mainly with financial and legal institutions. What makes us completely different to others working in this space is that we focus on preventing compliance issues, rather than on post-event management. We realised the gap in the market for our product and are now able to help clients avoid the compliance issues that inevitably happen when things are done manually.

Q. What’s the best part about running your own business?

Flexibility is by the far the best part about running my own business. It allows me to decide when and where I’m going to work, and to be able to take the time to deal with all the other important things in life. Having come from an environment with strict working hours it feels like a real breath of fresh air.
But it’s not just about flexibility for me and my partners, it’s about being able to do what’s best for our employees. One size definitely doesn’t fit all.

Q. What do you find most challenging?

As a new business with little brand awareness, it’s been tough trying to get a foot in the door with new clients. Even with a big name behind you it can be challenging, but we’re focused on building our reputation and establishing our name. It takes time though, and lots of patience.

Q. How do you keep motivated when the going gets tough?

Being surrounded by a great team of people keeps me motivated. We all have different strengths and respond to situations in our own unique way, which is so important. It allows us to step in and offer support when it’s needed most.
We actively encourage our team to be honest about how they feel – the good, the bad and the ugly – because only then can we act upon it and make a difference. I often reach out and ask for support and believe it’s a sign of strength, not weakness.

Q. How has Jo supported you?

Jo’s service is just brilliant for start-ups who don’t have big budgets, but still need sage advice. It’s obviously important to have the right legal documents in place and as some of it is fairly standard, Jo’s ready-made approach absolutely hit the mark. For the more complicated stuff, she’s always on hand to ensure we have covered all bases, which is hugely important for our business.

Q. What’s your biggest learning?

I’ve had to learn to be patient, which has been a real challenge. I like to get things done quickly and can get a little frustrated when it’s not in my control. I’ve learned to stop banging my head against a wall when things aren’t going my way and come back to it when the time is right. You can end up wasting a huge amount of time and energy trying to make something happen when it’s not quite ready.

Q. What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were setting up your business?

Hindsight is a great thing, but I wish I’d had more market intelligence when we were building our products. It would have made me realise there was more demand for our cheaper solutions, which we would have developed first. We did things the other way round, but we got there in the end which is the most important thing.

Q. Which businessperson would you most like to have dinner with?

I’d love to have lunch with Christopher Bailey, ex CEO and Creative Designer of Burberry. I’ve met him a few times but never sat down to dinner with him, and I’d love to ask him what, if anything, he’s looking forward to doing next in business or fashion, as well as just enjoying his company and the conversation.

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