IB Woman
Issue No. 12 - August/September 2003
Be True to Yourself to be Truly Successful
Susan Ashby
Susan Ashby is an example of an ‘opportunity entrepreneur’. A self—confessed risk taker, in 1999 Susan left secure employment to follow her dream of owning her own recruitment and training business. With a solid background in the industry, Susan wanted to develop a business around her own ideals and pass her expertise to others.
“There is an element of recruitment in my business," she says “but I’d prefer to think that I help organisations find the right candidate for the job. I’m naturally a good connector so I guess you could say I’m a people matcher.”
Susan didn’t have a defined business plan when she started, but she did have a direction that evolved in to a clear goal. She kept learning lessons and refining the product. ‘I kept revisiting what I had set out to do but was open to change at the same time.’
Susan quickly developed a strong reputation with many clients attracted by word of mouth. Her consultancy aimed to ensure that every placement was the best for the job whether it was a small business or a large corporation. “I’d rather miss out on an appointment than place someone who was unsuitable," she says. “And there is nothing more rewarding than seeing people develop in a company and move up the ladder. I just like to see people blossom.” Similarly, Susan is quick to point out that candidates also are her clients and they must feel the placement is right for them.
Given her role as single mother to two boys, Susan had to overcome the ubiquitous guilt of working motherhood. Whilst running her own business gave her a degree of flexibility, Susan was determined to give balance to both her life and that of her children.
“I found that providing a mix of quality and quantity plus strong and open communication was the best strategy for me," she says. “And that’s the same of any relationship, be it family, partner or client.”
The fact that Susan had to provide single—handedly for he...
