Shivani Gupta

Welcome to grow your business podcast. I'm really excited to have another fellow Queenslander from my state here in Australia, Kate Langford, Kate was introduced to me to see if we could have her come and share her expertise and wisdom on this particular podcast. Kate is the CEO, at Kate Langford Career Consulting, they do a bunch of amazing things. They help people work out what the best careers are, help you write fantastic killer resumes. They also look at where to search for jobs outside of seek, and to also really understand what your actual role might be. So they offer lots of different career packages, depending on what people needed. And we're going to find out a lot more about Kate. She's been doing this for a long time, pretty close to 20 years. And we'll find out a bit more about her journey. Welcome, Kate.

Kate Langford

Thank you for having me.

Shivani Gupta

Oh, thank you for being here. Now, tell us a little bit about your journey. Tell us what got you here. But tell us more of the big tires and the big lows in terms of all the adversity and challenges that you faced? And so we've got a deeper understanding of who you are.

Kate Langford

Yes. So, look, I started this business. So I have Caitlin for career consulting, which I started five years ago, back in 2018. And I'm now in the midst of launching while been working in Kate Langford business consulting for the last nine months building that business as well. So my background in HR, you know, managing recruitment businesses, all of that for about 15 20 years, decided, you know, what, I want to help the people. So instead of helping the employers all the time, I found that passion piece for me, and what really lit me up was actually helping the people. So I think when you're starting a business, it's super important to know what that passion piece is. Because doing what you know, and what you're good at isn't necessarily the answer to starting a business. And so I help a lot of people with that. So started this five years ago, two kids under three left the high flying corporate Korea had it all made, but it wasn't enough. And I chased chase the dream starting in my garage, all by myself. And then yes, starting this business and working it up now to a team of 15, Australia wide and New Zealand and yes, seven figure turnover, working three days a week with three kids under eight. So it's pretty hectic. But you know, some of the challenges I think having a baby in the middle of COVID. And my business actually tripled in whereas most businesses kind of go downhill a lot of people there was a lot of uncertainty around what should I do as a career and, you know, people being made redundant. So we went crazy at that time. So, you know, going into labor and having a baby right in the middle of it was somewhat interesting. So resilience is pretty much my middle name. But yeah, you know, I think, you know, in starting KL BC, which is Kate Langford, business consulting, for me was about really wanting to show and help women in particular, I mean, I work with men too, but being able to have it all, you know, why can't we start that business and, and be a mom and do all those things at the same time?

Shivani Gupta

That's fantastic. Thank you for that. I love that you like three days a week, three kids under eight? I might. Yeah, I love the pace that you speak out on like, very similar pace there as well. Okay. And so, I guess the challenges come your way, lots of challenges as you're growing your business to 15 staff across a couple of countries and lots of challenges bringing through young humans? And do you have like processes, ways that you deal with challenges? What's your process? Go to systems, you know, like on some people journal, some people do this, what do you do when stuff comes in your way?

Kate Langford

So, look, I have this theory of risk with risk versus reward. I mean, I'm sure a lot of people do. But I sit down and I really asked myself a Can I see it? Can I visualize it? Can I feel it? So I'm quite big on the gut, you know, and it takes time to nurture that gut. But you know, I really sit down and say, Okay, what's the worst that can happen? can I handle that? And if I can, then I go for it. So I kind of do that really quick risk analysis in my own head to see if it's something that's doable, but you know, and then I go back to my why, you know, like, everyone talks about it, but for me, my way is being there for my kids and being in every sports day and you know, being there. So if it's interrupting or it's going to affect that, then I know it's a no, so it's just staying in line with that, whilst keeping myself challenged and excited, but realistic with the risk versus reward. So, you know, challenges are always going to happen if anything, I kind of I thrive by that now. So obviously, I'm probably not normal that way. I kind of love putting out the fires. But resilience is something that you've got to learn I think, as a business owner in that, you know, if stuffs going to happen, if you have a mindset of and it automatically goes to that. Then honestly, you shouldn't be in business. And by the way, I should have stressed with that. prefaced with I'm a straight shooter. I'm very upfront and honest, for those listening. But if if you have not got the straight away to, okay, what am I going to do about this and you can't get there fast enough in your own mind, then that possibly could stop you in business. So challenges that every day. Keep your big picture, keep your why, remember why you're doing this? It's got to be bigger than you. And, yeah, when you love it, it's actually a lot easier. So if you're finding that you've got that, you know, and I've got to do that I think you really need to look at your business and really why you're even doing it in the first place. Is it because you know it? Or is it because you love it?

Shivani Gupta

Hmm, interesting. And so as you've grown this business over many years, when you look at the future, whether that's 12 months, three years, five years, 10 years, take us through what your future aspirations are.

Kate Langford

I've got a book, I'm at final stages of letting, getting that book out there. So it's how, how women can have it all as a wife, mom, entrepreneur, business owner, I have a Kate day every Friday. So I'm very passionate about that, where I'm not a mom, I'm not a business owner. It's cleared for lunches, saunas, sleeping Beach, whatever it is that I need, that week, I fill my tank on a Friday, Wednesday, and with my little one, my three year old and that sacred phone off swimming lessons, all those things, and then I do every school drop off and get home at five o'clock on the other three days. So I'm quite regimented when it comes to structuring my life and my days, but massive on self care, which you know, for everyone, it takes a bit to be okay with that. So that's a really powerful piece, I've got a book that's launching in probably about August, Kate Langford, business consulting, I'll be doing a proper launch on that. So I've got about seven or eight clients right now. But I haven't really told anyone or told the world. So I'm very excited where I take people that are in the corporate world and want to start their own jam and how to do that. So that's that's the big aspiration and look for me workshops, keynote speaking, really getting out there and just helping the masses, I've got a vision of standing on stage to 1000s of people helping them to find that inner confidence. You know, I was at a barbecue on the weekend and someone come up to me and oh, my god Kate and she was crying. She goes, you know, and I'm having a bad day and I watch your live I go Yeah, I can do it. I can. And that was just like, I even get emotional. Now thinking about it. That's the impact that I want to have for women across the board to be able to go, it's not a pipe dream. It's bloody realistic. So yeah, so and scaling, obviously a team of 15. But I want to get in every state in Australia this year and, and really make this head office here on the coast.

Shivani Gupta

Awesome. That's great. What about leadership philosophies, things you live by things are really important to you, in terms of just how you operate. It sounds like you're super clear about and you've got very clear boundaries, if I can use that word, in terms of time for family time at work, growth aspirations. But tell us about some of the philosophies that you love and your travel advice.

Kate Langford

Oh, philosophies look, I'm quite big on integrity. So I mean, it's such an overused word. You know, so many people do that. But I walk around in my office with no shoes on. I am grounded I talk to them. They come in, they tell me what's happening in their day, I can see what's going on before they can I talk to them, like they're humans, I, when I interview everyone meets them. My culture is something I'm really sacred about, I don't care what skills you've got, if you're not the right culture, you won't come in the door. So I'm very protective of that. You know, asking them a lot of questions. I don't want to necessarily lead and this sounds weird, but I want the team to lead itself and I'm here should they need support or questions and, and keep things on track or boundaries, you know, but they know that I give them the earth and I have a saying when I when I interview or wanting to hire, I say look, if you take advantage you gone that's my only rule. I will give you everything right now on a platter. But if you take advantage of the way I manage in the way that I lead, then it's not going to work. And people either go Oh, I found home or oh my gosh, she's a bit scary. So I work it out pretty quick. So that's that's how I lead I'm very much hands on but very much myself. You know, what you see on my lives on here at home, I believe is a bit of a secret to just stay authentically you all the way through. You don't need to be trying to be different people at different times like you'll attract the right person should it should they be right so yeah.

Shivani Gupta

That's awesome. That was great. And you talked about Friday's are pretty sacred. That's huge. And that's when you fill the templar or the other wellness rituals you have for your mental health. Physical health is a stuff that you do daily. Do you have an annual thing? Tell us a bit more about some of the rituals and take us through a little bit of your Fridays in a bit more detail?

Kate Langford

Yes, so Look, I think, in the mornings waking up to a three year old with a bit of a poopy nappy, if I'm honest, I mean, that's the morning ritual. But otherwise, you know, I'm quite structured with with routine, really. So I go to the gym in the mornings. And that's how I kind of get started on the day. I do a bit of journaling, not every night, but when I feel it, and sometimes that's in the middle of the night, sometimes that's at five in the morning. So I'm quite big on getting whatever's in my head out on paper, I always have something next to my bed. I always have a massage booked every Friday, so I wake up in the morning, I'll do the gym. And then I'll I'll make sure you know, like a lunch with a different person that fills my tank and having that two way street. My goodness is critical. It only took me the last probably two or three years that I had not necessarily the right people in my circle, because it was take it wasn't given take. And so that's a massive lesson that you need to utilize your time, right. But no massages. Um, so once a year, I'll go away, I go up to Noosa for two nights by myself and just sit there and do the whole room service stuff just to treat myself for Kate You work hard you're allowed to receive. So I do that. But yeah, you know, I'm quite strict on not getting to work. I don't work from home much. So even though I've got a computer there on weekends, I purposely it's the hottest room in the house, I make it hot so that I don't go out there. I'm not wanting to work there. So quite big on those boundaries. And yeah, putting the phone away at night, you know, when I've got the kids or as much as you know, every part of you wants to just go and check and scroll through emails and refresh refresh, like we all do when we're business owners, I think it's important to be mindful that hang on, I'm refreshing again. So that is in my mind at all times, to be able to to be present with whatever it is that I'm doing.

Shivani Gupta

Fantastic. Thank you. And so what's next? So lots of growth, lots of self time, lots of self care, and you said that you want to grow into every state and do different things. And if people want to find out about how you can help them what are the best platforms or what's the best places to find you?

Kate Langford

Yeah, so look, I'm on Facebook. So Kate Langford, career consulting, Kate Langford, business consulting, got a few groups on there, as well as Instagram, Kate Langford, Career Coach LinkedIn, but I have the website. So Kate langford.com.au. And I've got the business services and career services in there where you can book a free 20 minute chat on the website, you can chat to my team or myself directly if it's the business strategy stuff. And then we can have a chat, see if we're a good fit, because it's very important that you know, I'm a good fit for you just as much as you're a good fit for me because that's where success comes from. So we offer those free 20 minute chats to talk careers or business and across most of those social media platforms.

Shivani Gupta

Fantastic. Kate, thank you so much for being on here today.

Kate Langford

You're very welcome. Thanks for having me.