Meet the members shaping our community - Leanne Faulkner
Dr Leanne Faulkner is changing the way we think about business ownership and wellbeing. For years, business owners have been told to work smarter, meditate more and find better ways to manage stress. Leanne believes the real solution isn't learning to cope with stress but giving business owners the tools to regain control before it takes over.
She built Billie Goat Soap from a boutique brand handmade in her kitchen into a multi-million dollar business sold nationwide and internationally, before selling in 2012. Then she stepped back and asked: Why is this so hard? And why does no one talk about the real cost? That question led to a PhD and a discovery that would reshape her life's work.
Leanne's work focuses on what she calls power literacy: the ability to recognise where business owners have ceded control, reclaim their agency, and make informed choices about how they work, when they work, and who they work with. This isn't wellness advice. This is structural change.
Today, Leanne works as a small business advisor and keynote speaker. She's consulted with the ATO, Beyond Blue, Everymind, and COSBOA, and won the COSBOA Small Business Champion award in 2015 for her work in the mental health sector. She's also contributed to key mental health resources now available to the small business sector and has two published research reports on the NSW Government's SIRA website.
Best advice you’ve ever received, and do you actually follow it?
You are not your business. It has been easier to remember with each passing year.
What’s (still) on your bucket list?
Doing a talk at an international TED event.
What impact are you hoping to make through your work?
I hope my work demonstrates how our ability to thrive at work every day is a collective responsibility, and not just dependent on the actions of the individual.
Favourite local restaurant, and what are you ordering?
I live on the Central Coast and my favourite restaurant has to be 8 at Trinity, right on Lake Macquarie. The Crab Spaghettini and one of their amazing cocktails are a must-have.
If you could sit with any woman for a long lunch, who would it be and what would you ask?
It has to be Brené Brown. I'd like to learn about transitioning her work from academia to a more broader audience, and how to sustain that connection long-term.
What helps you get into your best work zone?
A great morning routine followed by the knowledge that the work ahead is interesting and worthwhile.
You can only pack three things in your handbag. What’s coming with you?
My phone so I can stay connected to my family and friends. My reMarkable tablet because it has all my PDFs and meeting notes. My keep-cup because I am a coffee addict.
What book or podcast has made an impact on your business?
There are so many! Right now, the book Who Not How by Dan Sullivan has made me think about the best use of my time at work.
What’s something people may be surprised to learn about you?
My grandfather was one of only 16 men who were killed building the Sydney Harbour Bridge. My father was only one at the time, and I think this event changed the whole family trajectory.
What are you excited about next?
Contributing to the changing work landscape. We're about to see a shift to a more flexible workforce (traditional and self-employed) and I hope my work helps this to be a rewarding experience for all.
