1. What did you study at RMIT and what attracted you to that program?
I studied a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mathematics and a Master of Applied Science (Information Security and Assurance).
I always loved maths growing up. I loved the satisfaction I got when I would get the answer right! There was no grey area, I could get 10/10 on a test and that felt amazing. So, I followed my heart and applied for the Maths degree, and I loved it. I had no idea what I’d do as a job after, but I trusted that I would see where it took me.
After finishing the Maths degree, I saw a presentation about cryptography. That seemed so cool at the time, so I decided to do a master's in information security. It seemed like the best way to apply the skills I’d learnt in my Maths degree, and it had quite exciting job prospects! What an epic industry to get into, that has only got more and more exciting!
2. What is your business all about?
I help people in Tech to communicate with more clarity, impact and confidence.
That could be helping someone to feel better about delivering a presentation to a small group at work or speaking on a stage to hundreds or thousands. Or running a workshop to teach engineers how to use the art of storytelling to better communicate what they do to people in the business.
I have 3 Pillars that I coach and teach on.
- Content: Points, Structure, Storytelling, etc
- Delivery: Eye Contact, Pace, Tone, Gestures, etc
- Mindset/Nerves: Limiting Beliefs, Mindset Hacks, Breathing, etc
To boost their brand, influence & career. Which in turn helps their teams to get better outcomes.
3. Where do you see your business in 10 years’ time?
I hope to be helping even more people across the world through DIY Courses and by bringing on support coaches.
I would like an even larger focus on the mindset side of things, to better support people who find public speaking really nerve-wracking.
Lastly, I assume there will be an element of AI/VR that will have radically transformed the way I can coach my clients, so it will be exciting (and a little scary I must admit) to see how that plays out!
4. How has studying at RMIT prepared you to run your business?
The two Courses I did at RMIT didn't directly help prep me for running a business (as I did a pure Maths degree and a Masters in Info Security and Assurance). However, they were an integral part of my journey, and they shaped the first half of my career (they helped me secure my first corporate job and get a foot in the CyberSecurity industry initially) and I’m also only doing what I'm doing now, with a successful business because of every single decision I made in the past. You wouldn’t see it as a direct linkage, but RMIT has played a big role in my career.
5. What advice would you have offered yourself when you first started your business?
That you can make anything happen as long as you’re determined and keep trying. If you solve a specific pain point for a certain customer base and you’re good at problem solving, building relationships and communicating and you never give up, you’ll succeed in business!
6. What’s one tip you use when speaking to a large audience?
Replace any negative thoughts/worries with positive ones. Give yourself the pep talk you would give to your best friend if they were standing up there speaking. Remember you’re in control of your own thoughts.
