GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Getting to Know
Anna Lucia Mackay
What inspired you to start
your business?
Unlike most people who start
a business, I had never really
considered it as a possibility. I
have always been happy working
in large organisations for other
people but with the proviso I’d
have the opportunity to grow and
develop, stretch my skills and
fulfil my potential. It was only
when a few people on different
occasions approached me and
asked me to start a business
with them that I considered it.
What started to appeal to me as a
mother of two-year-old twins was
that, although I knew it would be
hard work – perhaps running my
own business would give me more
freedom and flexibility around
choices. So with this in mind and
the opportunity to start a training
business, I decided to take the
plunge and have never looked
back!
What are your goals and
values?
My personal goals are focussed
around being the best person I
can be to my family, friends and
clients.
My work goals are about helping
people to increase performance
and how to fulfil their potential, be
it known or unknown.
In terms of values, I consider
Family, Learning, Sharing and
Travel the most important. I also
value hard work and kindness.
I think if more people were
committed to this, the world might
be a better place!
44 ModernBusiness
February 2016
What was the driving force
behind your decision to
specialise in this area of
business?
It was aligned to my values and
goals and so it made total sense
to me. I love learning and sharing
that learning. I love meeting new
people and I love helping people.
So I get the opportunity to do
that every day! I have also met
amazing people who inspire me
and challenge me and I hope that I
might do that for others.
What types of customers do
you help? What experience
do you have helping small
business customers?
I help customers from the Fortune
500 list right through to oneperson start ups. My customers
are from all walks of life and do
all sorts of things and that keeps
it really interesting for me. The
projects I am currently working
on include a major hospital, a
finance start up, an entertainment
company, a not for profit, and
about seven companies on
the fortune 500 list. I love the
diversity!
Do you service other sectors
as well?
I serve all sectors. Our work
in leadership, management
and communication and these
areas cut across all sectors and
industries.
What are the main reasons
that someone would choose
you to help grow/develop/
improve their business?
I have always sought third party
endorsement for my work through
collecting feedback from my
clients and from the industry
itself by entering awards. The
feedback typically says I am very
knowledgeable in my field, I am
professional, I really care, I am
easy to work with and I go over
and above to help and exceed
client expectations.
What process, services and
support do your clients
receive?
We are a training company who
offer a wide range of courses
in the area of “people and
performance”. We have different
business models with a range
of cost structures so, no matter
who you are and what your budget
may be, we will something you
can use. Our courses include
Negotiation skills, Presentation
skills, How to Coach and Mentor,
Sales and service and Leadership
and Management. We offer clients
reliability, great value and a
thorough understanding of what
makes people and businesses tick.
What challenges did you face
in setting up your business?
Actually, very few. The business
was well planned and processes
and procedures were established
early as I did not want to get
caught out with sudden growth
and the prospect of letting clients
down – as so often happens in
business. Cash flow was managed
daily and so financially, we were
sound and everything went to plan.
At least it did until my business