Year One: From day one to 365, here’s what our first year in business looked like.
On this day 12 months ago, the Freelancing Gems mission was finally brought to life. After eight months of planning, building, iterating and testing, the platform was live and real-life members starting walking through our virtual doors.
There was champagne, balloons, excitement, a few surprises and a whole lot of celebrating. It had not been an easy eight months of preparation, but it most definitely had been worth the rollercoaster ride.
At FG HQ, we are a small but mighty team of four women on a mission to see more women find meaningful work and charge what they’re worth. Looking back on the past 12 months, we each share different moments that have been a highlight for us.
The highlights
CEO and Queen Gem Fleur Madden says she’s been blown away by the energy, comradery and support of our community. “All of our events I have been blown away by the energy, the comradery from the women in our community and the support everyone shows each other.
“When I hear first-hand how Freelancing Gems is impacting women’s lives on so many levels I am always reminded this is why we do what we do every day. When I watched our birthday video hearing our members talk about our service and that they now pay themselves what they are worth literally brought a tear to my eye.
“Freelancing Gems mission was to connect women to meaningful job opportunities and to help them charge what they are worth… we’ve done just that for literally hundreds of women.” – Fleur Madden
Amanda, our co-founder and Partnerships Director says the highlight for her is that we’ve made it to this milestone, our first year in business. “This is the first time I have been in business for myself so this is a massive highlight!! So many amazing experiences over the year!” – Amanda Kelly.
For Kirsty, co-founder and Marketing Director, says that her biggest highlight, when reflecting on our first year in business, has been the mountain of work we have collectively delivered. “Sold out events, hundreds of members and job connections, monthly masterclasses, partnerships, press, billboards and an online community of over 10,000 women.
“I have been in business for quite a while now, but I’ve never learned more than I have in this past year. Some days I’m planning a promotion, designing campaign graphics, and writing campaign emails, others I’m deep in the platform code hoping I don’t break something, then I’m drafting grant applications, award submissions, or coordinating our investor relations. Some days I am all of those things, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Okay, a team would be lovely – that’s the next step!” – Kirsty Jackson
April, our Member Manager says our International Women’s Day Luncheon was a highlight for her. “Blood, sweat and tears went into that event and seeing it all come to life and so many amazing women come together and enjoy themselves was incredible.” – April Nicholls.
The challenges
Of course, with many small businesses and startups, this first year hasn’t been all highlights. Kirsty says that while she didn’t expect the first year to be a smooth ride, the rocky road feels a whole lot more personal when it’s your own business.
“I’ve been working with startups for over four years now and have been exposed to the rollercoaster ride many founders speak of. I’ve read all the books you’re meant to read as a founder and had an idea of what I was in for. I completely underestimated how the rollercoaster would feel when riding in the front seat – when it was my business experiencing the ups and downs.” – Kirsty Jackson
Fleur agrees, share that she’d forgotten about the rollercoaster of emotions you experience as a business owner.
“This is my third business so I knew what to expect, but it has been a long time since I have been in a true start-up and I forgot the rollercoaster of emotions, huge wins and crushing lows, but no time to wallow. You just keep moving on to the next door to knockdown. It is also a new industry for me and all of us and we are a game-changer, so people understanding who we are and what we deliver has taken the time that I didn’t anticipate.” – Fleur Madden
Amanda and April share similar experiences, noting the workload was a challenge neither had first expected.
“I don’t know if I expected startup life to be this busy. I was the Office Manager for one of Australia’s leading PR agencies so I thought I had seen it all and worked the hardest I could possibly work, but I was wrong! But now, I always think there’s really nothing I couldn’t do.
“I’m proud of all the new skills I’ve learnt and how hard I’ve pushed myself. I end the day feeling really fulfilled, and having a fulfilling career has always been my goal, so I think teenage April would be proud!” – April Nicholls.
“I’m proud of all the new skills I’ve learnt and how hard I’ve pushed myself.” – April Nicholls
Bringing the joy
There are so many memorable moments we experience each day as a team at Freelancing Gems, and when reflecting on moments that have brought us joy, April and Kirsty both highlight the impact the membership has had on the women we support.
Our mission is to support women to find meaningful work, and for Kirsty, “to see that mission coming to life for the women in our community through their feedback and testimonials brings me joy every single time I scroll through our reviews webpage, watch our new testimonial videos or speak with members at our coworking days and events.”
For Fleur, it’s “hearing women’s stories about the jobs they’ve gone for on Freelancing Gems and seeing their success. I wanted to do more work that mattered in my next business and we live that every day.”
As the Member Manager, April spends a large amount of her time speaking with and supporting our individual members. She loves seeing the platform change women’s lives by providing them with more work and an amazing community.
“The community has even changed my life. I’ve experienced some tough moments in my personal life this past year and the FG team and members have all lifted me up when I’ve needed it.” – April Nicholls
And Amanda agrees, sharing that it’s the FG team that brings her joy, and how together we support and cheer each other on.
The surprises
We love a great surprise at Freelancing Gems (unless we’re not dressed for it!), and this last year has brought many. The biggest though? April says that it’s discovering how possible it is to absolutely love what you do! “I live and breathe FG’s brand and values 24/7,” she said.
“I live and breathe FG’s brand and values 24/7.” – April Nicholls
Kirsty has been most surprised by the strength of her own conviction in the FG business model and perseverance in reaching our goals.
“It’s hard work, of course, but I truly believe and know now that when you’re working hard on your own business and towards your own success, the long days don’t seem so long, late nights are easier to handle and the challenges are never show-stoppers.” – Kirsty Jackson
“Each day I feel more confident about our business, our goals and the experiences we’re delivering for our members.” – Kirsty Jackson
Amanda has been surprised by the constant commitment from our team to deliver new and inspiring events, activities and partnerships to support women every day.
And for Fleur, it’s the challenge our business model poses to some.
“Our business challenges a certain kind of man in such a real way. Some of the comments I’ve heard around women at work that goes on in board rooms every day has never been said to my face before. Like:
“Female founders was a trend that is dead.”
“Your platform will not be successful till you have men on their because men have more longevity in their careers.”
“I get the gender pay gap but what can we do?”
Or a favourite…
“Women and jobs, is it a charity?”
“Comments like these drive me to ensure Freelancing Gems is more successful than I could ever have imagined.”
Now onto the big question: What was your first F-Yeah moment?
For Amanda, it was the validation that our first month in business delivered for us – proof that our brand resonated, our offering was valuable and the membership was growing.
For April, her F-Yeah moment happened much earlier. “Well my very first F-Yeah moment was being offered my role at FG (the very first employee!!) I was so ready for a new challenge and I wanted to do something in the women’s space. Getting the call from Fleur was honestly life-changing.” – April Nicholls
“Getting the call from Fleur was honestly life-changing.” – April Nicholls
Kirsty says she’ll never forget it. “The moment that Leah, a woman that none of us knew purchased a freelancer membership. Not my husband, Amanda’s friend from the dog park, a connection of Fleur’s, or a friend of April’s, but our very first member from the public. That was my very first F-Yeah moment.”
For Fleur, it’s “International Women’s Day 2020. We sold out in a week and as I stood on the side of the stage about to go on with hundreds of women there to learn, level up, and drop the ladder down to each other, I thought, this is the moment, this is our why… don’t miss it!
We’re going to be celebrating this milestone all month long and we hope you’ll join us on the journey as we stop for a second to celebrate the wins, highlight our foundation members and share some wonderful memories.
Together we shine x
