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I launched Kady Creative, a branding agency, two years ago as a sole trader working from my apartment in Sydney. A year in, my business was thriving and after breaking a six figure income, I decided to take things to the next level. Today, I have grown my team and client base dramatically, and run the business from an office in Paddington. Our goal is to help clients confidently launch the business of their dreams by taking care of all the branding and design in a streamlined and most importantly, fun way. Without any start-up savings and very little business experience or network, I am proud to say I have built Kady Creative from the ground up into the thriving company it is today.
Working as art director in a design agency at 26, I learnt quickly that the demanding culture and excessive hours were having a negative impact on my health. I am very passionate about inspiring others to follow their dreams of starting a business, working smarter (not harder), forming genuine connections with their clients and finding ways to turn challenges into opportunities. For myself and my team “everything is figureoutable”.
Starting my business in a saturated market without any marketing budget meant I had to be strategic. I found my niche in the food and wellness space (an area I loved) and started to secure jobs with high profile clients such as JSHealth and the Fit Foodie. Designing their blogs and cookbooks allowed me to raise my profile as well as observe their marketing strategies. With extensive skills in design and photography, I decided to write my own cookbook which put me in front of my ideal clients and became a testament to my work.
Teaming up with a former Sunday Independent journalist, Brighid McLaughlin, I co-wrote, designed, styled and photographed Behind the Half Door, a GOURMAND award nominated hardback book. Published in-house it is now distributed across Ireland and Australia in the likes of Easons and Dymocks stores and has also landed us on The Today Show with Daithi and Maura, The Bobby Kerr show on Newstalk, and was featured in the Irish Times, Sunday Independent and Australia’s leading women’s network 9Honey. It was even gifted to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as a wedding present! This book became an exceptional marketing tool to position my business globally.
As a passionate supporter of entrepreneurs, every year Kady Creative do a pro bono branding package for female start-ups. I am also involved in supporting both Australian and Irish charities doing work for worthy causes such as the Light ball and Cara Care.
Moving forward, my vision is to scale Kady Creative with a greater focus on education, rolling out new workshops every year. I am also in talks with a US agent with book rights to expand into the US market.
I would be truly honoured to represent the IACC and Irish Australian women in business and am very humbled to have been nominated for this award.
