From Vinomofo CPO to CPO on call: Robyn Djelassi is Shaking Up How Companies Access Executive Level HR Advice - How She Bootstrapped a Revolutionary Business Model and Launched CPO Connect with an Agile Team. (Episode 708 - Robyn Djelassi)

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Robyn Djelassi, founder of Impact People Solutions. After a 25-year corporate HR career and a top role at Vinomofo, Robyn launched Impact People Solutions in 2022 to give growing Australian businesses access to top-tier people leadership without the full-time cost. Their flagship service, CPO Connect, embeds a fractional Chief People Officer into your business. Bootstrapped from day one, Robyn has grown the business from a solo consultancy into a cash-positive team of eight. This is a story of building a business on clarity, commerciality, and treating adults like adults.

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Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.

And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?

According to Robyn, the hardest thing in growing a small business is time. Finding enough of it to get everything done, especially when you're wearing multiple hats as a founder.

2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?

Robyn’s favourite business book is Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. Despite being an oldie, she finds it incredibly relevant and continues to refer to it even today.

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?

One of Robyn’s go-to podcasts for professional development is How I Work by Amantha Imber. She appreciates Amantha's insights on productivity and building habits that stick.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?

Robyn recommends using Microsoft To Do List as a simple yet powerful tool to manage daily tasks. Despite using more advanced tools like HubSpot, she finds this one still does the best job of helping her stay on track and productive.

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?

If she could go back to day one of starting her business, Robyn would tell herself: “Be patient.” Success doesn’t happen overnight, and learning to breathe and enjoy the journey is key.

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Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

Good people help good people. Kindness in business always comes back around – Robyn Djelassi

You don’t need funding to succeed. You need grit, trust, and a hell of a work ethic! – Robyn Djelassi

Success is doing the work you love with people you respect, not just chasing numbers. – Robyn Djelassi