EP#248 ~ People are at the centre of small business. How do we support them best? We ask an expert

Small Biz Matters: People, Policy, Purpose ~ Episode #248
Broadcast date: 1 Oct 2024
Host: Alexi Boyd, Small Business Advocate & Policy Advisor
Guests: Leanne Faulkner, Small Business Wellbeing Advocate and founder of Fortitude at Work

Advocates have long spoken about small business people being at the centre of the economy. They are the business, they live and breathe it and often describe it as their livelihood, not just a source of income. So, knowing this all too well, why do policy makers treat them the same way as large corporates, placing the same burden of regulation on people as they do a well-oiled corporate machine?  Why is it so critical that we put small business people first and treat them differently than larger businesses in policy? 

Here to discuss with us today the true impact of overregulation on the mental health of small business people, is our guest, Leanne Faulkner, successful entrepreneur, founder of multiple businesses, fierce advocate and life-long learner.

Leanne took those experiences, those trials and tribulations small businesses all know too well, and placed them squarely at the feet of academia; pushing the system to research into small businesses differently and treat them as people, not corporates. She’s an expert in small business mental health, not only based on lived experience, but as an academic and incredibly well connected business owner.

She’s going to talk us through how she approached your body of work and what were her key conclusions in her PhD. Also, how she would like to see her work influence policymakers now and into the future when dealing with small business mental health and strategies to keep them flourishing and surviving.

PEOPLE – advocates of long spoken about small business people being at the centre of small business. Why is it so critical that we put small business people first as opposed to the way we treat larger corporate’s in the economy?  You’ve been studying small business mental health for a number of years now; what have you noticed that has changed dramatically since Covid?

POLICY - congratulations on completing your PhD, which is all about small business mental health. Can you explain how you approached your body of work and what were your key conclusions? How did you research and approach the well known problem of accessing them and explaining the small business perspective? What programs do you think of my successful in recent memory support small businesses?

PURPOSE - How would you like to see your work influence policymakers now and into the future when dealing with small businesses, their mental health, and strategies to keep them flourishing and surviving?  What should be approached be; do we consider support when small businesses are at the brink (like we are currently doing) or try and initiate programs so that small businesses can put themselves first.

Leanne Faulkner was the original founder of Central Coast skincare brand, Billie Goat Soap. Starting in her kitchen on the Central Coast, Leanne built the brand over several years resulting in sales in over 2000 stores nationwide and exports to several international markets.

For over ten years she has advocated for more mental health resources for business owners, not just employees, and today there are a range of services available for entrepreneurs and those who own a business. She has just completed her PhD on the same subject at the University of Newcastle.  Leanne has developed unique insights about working well that are relevant to people in all business sizes, large and small. She is a popular keynote speaker because she addresses the intersection of business ownership and workplace mental health. She inspires people to think about innovative ways they can care for their wellbeing at work, and there's not a fruit basket, massage train or group hug required. 

To find out more about Fortitude at Work click HERE