What did you startup?
The Right Fit is an online marketplace for creative talent. It’s the fastest and easiest way to find, cast and book creative talent such as models, photographers, videographers, influencers, makeup artists and more. We connect brands with top quality, screened talent who are ready to work!
How did you get the idea?
I’d worked in the industry for over 15 years (as a model, then as the founder of WINK Models) and I could see the industry changing with the advent of social media influencers, the type of content brands were producing (a move towards online), and wanted to be at the forefront of that. I knew talent always faced problems of getting paid in a timely fashion, and that brands struggled with the paperwork of dealing with freelance talent. We solved all of that in one seamless platform – The Right Fit deals with all of the admin and paperwork, cuts down turnaround time and costs, and ensures talent are paid within 48 hours.
If you could go back to the start, tell us two things you would do differently.
I would definitely learn to delegate earlier. I’d also know to ‘hire slow fire fast’ much earlier in my career, as keeping the wrong people in the wrong roles really affects the whole company. Oh, and probably to step away from one company before founding your second!
Keeping the wrong people in the wrong roles really affects the whole company.
What’s the biggest win you’ve had so far?
Shooting a global TVC for a leading Australian wine label in our first month was a big win!
How’s your experience been funding your startup?
We have fantastic investors who have been our biggest champions, best sounding boards and who bring so much experience in marketplaces.
What needs to change/improve for Australia to become a global leader in tech?
Investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to solve the talent pipeline problem.
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?
Definitely starting another business, I can’t help it! I’m addicted!
Do you have any tips for acquiring new users and/or scaling your business?
Listen to your customers, ensure you have a great feedback loop built into your company, and that you are constantly iterating based on their feedback, and using this to understand who your users are and how to find more like them. Also, watch your metrics and goals, and ensure there’s transparency across your whole team on what these are and what is required to achieve them. You can’t do it alone!
Watch your metrics and goals, and ensure there’s transparency across your whole team.
What’s the best advice you could give to someone starting out?
“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”
–– George S. Patton
Do you believe someone with no business or entrepreneurial experience can succeed in the startup world?
That’s a really tough question. Experience is not necessarily a requirement for success, but some type of knowledge or a domain expertise would definitely help.
Experience is not necessarily a requirement for success, but some type of knowledge or a domain expertise would definitely help.
Describe your working environment and its pros and cons.
We have a great vibe in our office – someone is always playing bad ‘90s pop tunes! We’ve got breakout areas for people to brainstorm or chill out, a fully stocked bar, and most importantly for me, it has beautiful natural light. The cons are that the old art deco lift can be temperamental, so sometimes it means three flights of stairs!
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I learned how to fly an aeroplane when I was 15 – before I could drive a car!
What’s the most attractive quality in a business partner?
Patience – a virtue I don’t possess!
If you could go into business with one person (living or dead) who would it be?
Hunter S. Thompson. I don’t know that he would make a great businessman, but every day would certainly be exciting!