1. What hurdles did you face before you started your career?
I feel very fortunate to have personally experienced no major hurdles at the beginning of my career. Growing up in Australia, I was blessed to have had access to an excellent, free public education (i.e., subsidized by the government) throughout my entire school year. I worked hard to attain acceptance to the University of Sydney.
2. What do you hope to accomplish within the next year?
As a business, we continue to strive for solid and sustainable growth, particularly after the last two-plus years of dealing with the repercussions of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
3. Tell us about an accomplishment that shaped your career?
I am proud to have taken the initiative to learn, develop, and move from a public health job to create my own startup company. My university qualifications and previous career were in the public health industry in a clinical role.
While working in that career, I attained further IT qualifications and created my first business with a partner in the eCommerce niche. Eventually, I sought a change in direction and have, since 2012, been the owner and principal operator of the SEO cycle.
4. Which celebrity are you most inspired with?
I’m not a person who looks to celebrities for inspiration or motivation. I am more inspired by the everyday people who work hard at what they do to help others and fill a need in society.
This is part of why I so enjoy what we do at SEOcycle through SEO, content writing, web design, and web development – I am proud that we help others, from sole traders to owners of medium-sized businesses, locally and worldwide, to get seen online and to achieve their own business goals better.
5. What is the best and the worst part of being a CEO?
There are certainly perks of being a CEO and running my own business, including being my boss, working with a great team, and striving to create a better work-life balance for myself and my team, but it is certainly not always easy.
The COVID-19 crisis, especially at the beginning, was incredibly difficult. Other challenges include the responsibility of making business decisions that impact the company and my family, having no reassurance from the outset that my business choices are the right ones, and no safety net exists as it does for people who work for others.
And, as any CEO (or anyone self-employed) knows, time off for vacation is never 100% “time off”! Overall, however, I find that the benefits of being a CEO for my own company far outweigh the challenges.
6. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from it?
The ebbs and flows of running a business can be challenging. Every CEO understands that sometimes a business thrives much more than at others. In the startup and establishment phase, especially, it can be very challenging as the business must build over time to create adequate cash flow and come to a point where initial growth is not a struggle.
Persistence and resilience are essential. A strong belief in my vision has sustained me during those challenging times, and this belief makes me excited for the future.
7. What do you think about the qualities a leader should have?
I’m a firm believer that being a leader differs from being a “boss.” I am proud to be a leader – and for me, this means being resilient, accountable, and motivating and inspiring other members of my team. It means supporting the team to realize the company’s vision and achieve the outcomes we are collectively striving for.
Integrity is essential. So too is allowing my team the autonomy to do what they do best in their roles within the business.
8. Give our audience a word that describes you the best
Genuine. Forthright. Resilient.
Narattor: Rod Wills
Company: My TaskPanel Consulting
Website: SEOcycle.com.au