Brave move proves winner
STRIKING OUT ON HER OWN IN A FIELD THAT SHE LOVES HAS TURNED INTO THE BEST DECISION THIS HR GURU EVER MADE, AND NOW OTHERS ARE REAPING THE REWARDS FROM HER EXPERIENCE,
HR DYNAMICS RECENTLY WON A TENDER TO BE THE HUMAN RESOURCES REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND
WITH a hankering to have her own business and the prospects of having to continue her human resources career in hospitality overseas, Phoebe Kitto took one giant leap of faith.
Eleven years ago – with a one-year-old and a one-weekold, both girls – the Kiwi dreamer from Queenstown left her job and started knocking on doors, eventually building her company HR Dynamics.
That was eight years after settling in Cairns.
“I just started with simple stuff for small business. I’d visit people and I’d park my car around the corner so no one could see the old car I drove. Started with (business partner) Rebecca Wright and we just had to have some grit and stick with it,” Ms Kitto, 45, said.
“So, I identify with small business owners. I have handson experience employing staff and working through all the issues that come up.
“Our aim is to be the human resource and industrial relation go-to experts in FNQ. I have an amazing team at HR Dynamics and we work really hard to ensure that the advice that we provide and the HR processes we develop work for our clients, both in delivery and price point. We currently have clients right up the Cape through to Innisfail but Townsville is a growing market for us. To continue to have sustainable growth as a business and to ensure that we employ talented advisers is my top priority.”
HR Dynamics recently won a tender to be the human resources representatives for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland in the Far North – a professional validation that “felt like a very sweet victory” for Ms Kitto.
Despite the ups and downs of running her own business, Ms Kitto, who started running marathons 20 years ago and completed her first ultra-marathon in 2015, believes there is a solution to every problem.
“Sometimes you just have to think laterally. Sadly the HR/IR profession can be seen to be too black and white. We need to find solutions that will have practical business application and be cost-effective,” she said.
“Customer service is paramount to success and so hospitality was the best training ground for this for me, with its tight budgets and high customer expectations.
“My big break was HR officer at Sheraton Noosa and I then transferred to Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas. My passion for HR continued to grow.
It doesn’t matter what industry you work in or what level in the business. People are people – we all try and do our best.
“Sometimes we get a bit lost on the way, we need structure, boundaries, clear expectations and most important is that we all want to feel valued and respected.
“Helping businesses align their business goals with people management is very satisfying and rewarding.”
A similar approach needs to be applied to the Far North and Ms Kitto said tourism, agriculture and construction all needed to work collectively.
“Small individual voices don’t have as much impact as if we all work together with one voice for the region. It is really important that business engage positively and support the industry representatives who can then advocate for the Far North, and this includes Cairns chamber, Advanced Cairns and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
“We need to talk ourselves up and positively present ourselves to the world with confidence.”
But outside of the office, there are just as many important issue to address.
Ms Kitto is a yoga fan and said without it “I am on a fast track to being a creaky old lady”.
“We all need to create a community close to us that will love and support us, challenge us, make us laugh and help us keep a sense of perspective and grounded,” the Cooya Beach resident said.
“I am very grateful to my family and my wonderful friends who nourish me on a daily basis.
“People make the mistake in small business all the time where they don’t take time out. You have to get away, you have to take holidays, no matter how tight it’s been you have to enjoy yourself as a family.
“And my kids keep me grounded. Sometimes you just need to play a game of Marco Polo in the pool with them.”
HELPING BUSINESSES ALIGN THEIR BUSINESS GOALS WITH PEOPLE MANAGEMENT IS VERY SATISFYING AND REWARDING PHOEBE KITTO