Protecting your business online is simpler than you think. NAB Executive Business Direct and Small Business, Krissie Jones, shares practical advice on how you can get started.
02/03/26
How Janet McLeod moved from a business idea to growing business
Lessons from organisational psychologist Janet McLeod on starting and growing her leadership coaching business.
Photography supplied by ©Prue Aja
In Australia, a growing number of women are taking steps to define their own future – with 41.6 percent of small businesses now owned by women, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
NAB customer, Janet McLeod, is one example of successful female entrepreneur who has built a business from scratch.
“I always had the intention of starting my own business – it was just a matter of when,” says Janet, reflecting on the experiences that led her to establish her own business, offering executive coaching and large-scale leadership development programs.
Janet began her career in psychological research before moving into the business world in recruitment and consulting at large and small businesses. She sought positions where she felt she could create sustainable change in organisations and make a difference in people’s lives, ultimately landing on leadership development and executive coaching as her focus areas. In each new role, she collected experiences she needed to run her own business, while developing a network of trusted contacts.
After a few years laying the groundwork, she felt the time was “right enough” to branch out on her own.
A starting point
“The first point was to make the decision that this is the ‘right enough’ time,” she says. “It'll never be perfect. You'll never have all your ducks in a row, but it's right enough to get started.”
Janet’s next step was to spend time alone refining her vision and strategy, trusting her instinct and experience before testing her ideas with a few confidants.
Then, with a clear vision in mind, Janet engaged a good accounting team to give her solid advice on her finances and invested in marketing and branding for her fledgling venture.
Photography supplied by ©Prue Aja
"I knew that the brand I developed was going to give an impression of who I was, what I was about and what I cared about. The two areas that I really sat with were making sure I was getting the right financial advice, and developing a brand that was authentic to me,” she says.
Janet had a relationship with NAB through her personal banking and reached out early to a business banker for guidance on how to best structure her business – an approach she recommends to other business owners starting out.
“What I would say is don’t wait; start the conversation early. I had my accountant and spent time with them before going to NAB, but I don't think that's necessary. You can do both concurrently,” she says.
Janet worked with her Small Business Banker, Beatrice Lim, and her accountant to put a financial safety net in place for herself. She looked at her budget and how much she would need in the bank to feel comfortable taking risks in the business.
“It's hard to be creative when you're under financial duress, so having a financial safety net was important for me so that I had that sense of freedom that I could take risks,” she explains.
Photography supplied by ©Prue Aja
Open for business
Confident in her purpose and financial position, Janet went out to her networks to spread the word she was in business. She took every opportunity available and while she has faced setbacks, Janet says her biggest challenge was confronting her fear of failure.
“When you're out on your own, you are quickly confronted with the reality that you are now representing your ideas and your business - not someone else’s - to the world - and this is a real moment of vulnerability,” she says. “The most effective way I’ve found to move through fear of failure is to return to my purpose. When you are anchored in purpose, you will realise it’s bigger than any single moment of fear or doubt – you will find a way forward. Over time I’ve also learned that with every setback the learning has been far more significant than the pain.”
With several years now under her business belt, Janet is now expanding. She’s secured a business loan from NAB to fund two key initiatives to grow her business. One of those initiatives, a podcast called The Clear Leader, is set to launch soon. The other is an online business-to-consumer coaching product called Conscious Coaching, which Janet is developing in conjunction with her technology and learning solutions partner, Cahoot Learning.
Janet’s journey is a testament to the power of authenticity, resilience, and purpose in building a successful small business. By staying true to her values, embracing challenges, and partnering with the right experts, she is following her entrepreneurial dreams with confidence and clarity.