March 2023
Success is Yours for the Taking By Tara Whitney
My journey founding and growing WA’s largest and most successful specialist grant writing business was, like many business owners, one of figuring it out as I went. I had no plan to start a business - I never considered myself a businesswoman or someone with entrepreneurial drive.
I
started my business due to circumstances – my husband’s job was moving him to the country, and I could not continue my government grants assessor job. I had no special training, skills, or business knowledge when I started; I just knew about grants and government. And yet, business is booming. Any way I look at it, my business has been a success from the beginning and is continuing to grow. From starting as a sole trader, Whitney Consulting is now a company with eight amazing staff members and we’re always busy. It often makes me pause and wonder why. How have I managed to grow this business year on year, even during a pandemic? Whilst it was obviously the result of a few factors, if I had to pick the key, I would say it is because I embraced who and what I am early on. I am not a fierce, win at all costs, work 60 hours a week businesswoman.
I value relationships and, contrary to the popular opinion that you need to be hard and competitive in business, I believe that my softer values have helped Whitney Consulting to succeed. WOMENSBIZGLOBAL.COM | 51
