Briefly tell us about your business and how you got started.
Leanne Wesche is the 2008 Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year. The award was recently presented to Leanne in recognition of her successful launch of five different companies in the manufacturing and fresh produce industries over the last twenty years.
A dynamic businesswoman with incredible drive and determination, Leanne has been self-employed since the age of 19 and her entrepreneurial skill has been recognised through many accolades.
Leanne currently owns and manages Pacco Group and Safeguard Innovations. Pacco Group is Western Australia's largest fruit and vegetable packing facility, supplying up to 80,000 pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables to supermarket chains daily. Last year alone, produce valued at $60 million found its way onto the tables of Western Australian families via Pacco.
In 2008, following 18 months of research and product development, Leanne launched Safeguard Fruit & Veggie Wash. Safeguard is an all-natural cleansing wash for fresh produce, found to be up to 100 times more effective than water in removing dirt, chemicals, waxes and contaminants. Safeguard is now helping to protect families from food-borne diseases around Australia and the globe, with sales into 11 countries in the first 9 months.
Leanne's journey is one of incredible passion, resilience and an eye for an opportunity. Her wisdom is not gained in a library but in the real world, where hard work and determination is the key to her business success.
What have been your major achievements?
Being singled out to win the Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year amongst so many inspirational women achieving such success in their businesses and communities was a truly humbling experience.
I have received many accolades over the years and have actually used Awards as a great way to attract media coverage to assist building my profile and branding my products and businesses. With this latest award, it will bring many new opportunities and I am excited to be able to share my story to hopefully inspire and motivate others to achieve success and satisfaction in their own businesses.
Pacco Group was born from building strong relationships in an industry that I had built a reputation for exemplary service and commitment. Like a true entrepreneur, the creative side of me then strived for more and developed Safeguard Fruit & Veggie Wash. Running these two diverse businesses in both local and international markets is a challenge that requires incredible hard work and passion. On a bad day, I ask, "what is the worst thing that could happen?" and this brings me back to perspective and keeps me focused.
What have been your major challenges?
Working and building a reputable business in the fresh produce industry, which is a very male dominated environment has been tough.
I have had many knock backs and I view every 'No' as an opportunity to find an alternative way to achieve it.
Failure is not an option for me. I am very fortunate by nature to be extremely positive. I believe resilience in business is essential.
Cashflow has always been a challenge for my fast growing businesses. Many successful businesses fail not from lack of sales or growth, but from not managing their cashflow. This is a day-by-day issue that I continue to micro-manage.
Of course launching my new veggie wash product into 11 countires in less than one year has had many, many challenges. Each country has different import requirements and each agent has required different support.
Who has been your greatest mentor?
I have not had a mentor as such, I have employed some great people over the years and they have impacted greatly on my businesses. I have contracted various coaches over the years to use their knowledge and expertise to help manage my businesses, but often found this was not results orientated. I have preferred to employ people, coach them as best I can and allowed them to grow with me.
I subscribe to many publications and never have the time to read them on a daily basis but sit down for a whole afternoon on the weekend and rip out lots of interesting articles and file them for future reference. I am always inspired by Australian innovation and what amazing accomplishments people are achieving.
How do you stand out from your competitors?
I think that my resilience, determination and customer focus makes me stand out from the competitors. I run my businesses to suit customers of all sizes and develop strong relationships.
I never let my customer's know our problems. It is our job to deliver a product or service and we just get on and do what we do best. They don't need to know a machine broke down or half the staff have come down with the flu, we just make it work.
We also provide flexibility. In a retail environment there is always change and you need to adapt quickly and without fuss.
I also engage my suppliers, tell them my story, my vision... that I will be far larger and more successful than you can ever imagine. This then puts you in a great position to negotiate and work with them.
Where would you like to see your business in
five years from now?
Safeguard Fruit and Veggie Wash launched into Europe. Pacco Group expanding into processing an extensive range of value-added produce lines. I also see the business continuing to develop strong systems and procedures to allow me to concentrate on Safeguard Innovations growth and product development.
What are your Top Five Strategies for Success?
- Systems, systems, systems. Have written procedures and continually update them.
- Be real and vulnerable. Appreciate what you are good at and don't be too proud to ask for help.
- Measure everything that might be significant; anything that is measured and watched improves.
- View every 'No' as an opportunity; find an alternative way to achieve your goal.
- Have the toughest conversations as soon as possible; complete the nasties in the bottom of your tray. They are never as bad as you think and putting them off only distracts you from doing what you are good at.
What are your goal achievement strategies?
Make sure that the goals that you set are measureable.
Ensure that your staff are aware of the goals that are set for them and the company.
Be consistent in your message and follow through on what goals you have set and revisit and change them if necessary.
I don't ask anyone to do anything I wouldn't do, so l lead my team, coach them rather than fixing their problems and allow them to make mistakes along the way.
How important has goal setting been to your success?
A lot of the time when running a business it is difficult to set goals and follow through on your promises. Without setting goals I would not be able to run two businesses today, but this has been a discipline that I have learned over the last few years. I am a true belivever in achivement through working hard, believing in your dreams and sheer determination. You have to seriously want to be successful!!
Leanne Wesche is the 2008 Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year. The award was recently presented to Leanne in recognition of her successful launch of five different companies in the manufacturing and fresh produce industries over the last twenty years. For more information:
Phone: 08 9314 2100
Email: leanne@pacco.com.au
Web: www.pacco.com.au, www.safeguardproducts.com.au
Discover Your Passion Stacey Currie
Outwitting the Devil: Confronting the Greatest Obstacles to Your Success Sharon Lechter
Pivot Points: Making the Decisions that Matter in Business Monique Beedles
Successful Women Choose Confidence Sascha Crouch
Why Mentor? Learn why Mentoring is a great way to improve leadership skills Suzi Dafnis
6,000 Cups of the Smell of Success Angela Vithoulkas
7 Things you ought to know about Efficient and Effective Communication Angie Spiteri
A Recipe for Business Success Julia Bickerstaff
Be a coach, not a critic! Five ways to turn your complaints and criticism into constructive comments Kris Cole
Behind Every Great Woman is Nothing Compared to What Lies Ahead Katrina Drewer
Boost Your Confidence as a Businesswoman with MentorNet Maria Anderson
Build the Business of Your Dreams with MentorNet Eleni Mitakos
Cascading Leadership down through the Organisation Natalie Ashdown
Change of art - Nola Diamantopulous Michele Roach
Coaching - a new business buzzword or a worthwhile tool for peak performance? Tina Monk
Create Your Own Prosperity with MentorNet Rina Lee
Creative Business Veterans Align Sales Strategy with Company Vision Gillian Corban
Do You Have an Effective Sounding Board? Coaching and Mentoring for Women. Margaret Byrne
Dot.com Inspired Green Car Business Monique Conheady
During MentorNet I Established a Clear Path to My Goals Eleni Mitakos
Encourage Collaboration: How to Inspire your Team to Take the Extra Step Claire Hatton
Finesse Your Finances with MentorNet Meredith Marshall
Get Involved in the Guts of the Business. Women and Senior Operational Roles. Anna Booth
Goal Achievement: What Do You Really Want and How Do You Get It Fast? Blair Singer
herBusiness Mentor Podcast - Dominique Antarakis, The Copy Collective Dominique Antarakis
herBusiness Mentor Podcast - Eleni Mitakos Eleni Mitakos
herBusiness Mentor Podcast - Linda McDonald, Corporate Learning Linda McDonald
Hope Happens with Catherine De Vrye Meghann Dengate
How a social media strategy helps maintain Red Balloon's market leadership Naomi Simson
How Australia's Beauty put these Bikers at the Helm of a Successful Business Renae Kunda
How Happiness and Love Triumph All Else Galia Albin
How I Targeted New Business with Social Networks Louise Yeandle
How one woman's environmental stance helped her award-winning business stand out from the crowd Chris Cameron
How this Female Trailblazer Made it to the Top Bonnie Boezeman
Improving Business Performance: A Transformation Journey Cara Morton
In the risk business - An interview with Kimberley Turner Michele Roach
Innovative Business a Shoe-In for Sascha Griffin Sascha Griffin
Inspirational Women Pollyanna Lenkic
Inspiring the Business Women of Australia is a Great, Powerful and Essential Mission Sharon Whiteman
Interview with Amanda Briskin from MiMCo Cassandra Butler
Interview with Amanda Stevens from Splash Advertising Cassandra Butler
Interview with Amy Lyden (Bow Wow Meow) Cassandra Butler
Interview with an Entrepreneur Margot Spalding
Interview With an Entrepreneur - Chris Cameron, Rockcote Chris Cameron
Interview With An Entrepreneur - Denis McFadden - Just Cuts Denis McFadden
Interview with an Entrepreneur - Leanne Wesche Leanne Wesche
Interview with an Entrepreneur - Margaret Lomas Margaret Lomas
Interview With an Entrepreneur - Naomi Simson, RedBalloon Days Naomi Simson
Interview with an Entrepreneur - Pamela Hardgrave Pamela Hardgrave
Interview With an Entrepreneur - Phoebe Lane, PKL Phoebe Lane
Interview with Gail Austen, Goodtime Surf & Sail Cassandra Butler
Interview with Kate Hurdley, Director from Inspired Excellence Ainsley Gilkes
Interview with Kate Sears Kate Sears
Interview with Kay Barney from Australasian Corporate Accommodation Lucy Wright
Interview with Marie Morrison (Troppi-Kids) Cassandra Butler
Leading High-Performance Teams – Interview with Andrew Jobling Natalie Ashdown
Learning from the wisdom of others Jan Burnes
Maximise Your Time in Mentoring Meetings David Brown
Meet My Mentor James Burgin
Meet My Mentor Dennis Roberts
Meet My Mentor - Lin Riley and Delwyn Hanns Lin Riley
Mentor Helps Small-Business Owner See the Opportunities in her Business Annalisa Holmes
Mentoring and Training. A Key to Award-Winning Travel Agency's Success. Penny Spencer
Mentoring Helps Vintage Clothing Store Upgrade its Website Marketing Nicole Jenkins
MentorNet Gave Me Focus and Accountability Gillian Opie
MentorNet Helped Me to Feel More Comfortable with Technology Eleni Mitakos
MentorNet Makes You Focus, Think and Take Action Karina Santolin
MentorNet Opened My Eyes to the Power of a Solid Marketing Plan Catherine Westwood
MentorNet Provided Direction to Help Focus Our Limited Resources Chantelle Hodgson
MentorNet... Catalyst for Change and Better Sales Mary Petherick
Muesli-Maker's Savvy Marketing put her Business Name on Everyone's Lips Carolyn Cresswell
My Eyes Were Opened to a Whole New Way of Working and Communicating Bianca de Reus
Navigating Conversations in the Workplace. Where are the Street Signs? Bianca Keys
Navigating the Digital Revolution as a Woman, Entrepreneur and CEO Susan Elliott
Needs, Desires and Wants. Solutions for Small Business to Grow and Thrive. Deborah Harrigan
Relish Your Freedom with MentorNet Sarah Ladyman
Remember why you set up your business, and working towards it once again Vanessa Bando
Self-Sabotage - What is the Cost? Pollyanna Lenkic
Social Entrepreneurship leads this business to great success Jodie Fried
Speaking for everyone - Interview with Leanne Christie Elizabeth Ball
Success is calling! Interview with Maxine Horne, Fone Zone Maxine Horne
The Barefoot Executive: Become Your Own Boss. Achieve Financial Freedom. Carrie Wilkerson
The Coaching Culture. How to Bring Out the Best in Your Team. Natalie Ashdown
The Evolution of Media. The Internet and the Third Screen. Bonnie Boezeman
The Future of Leadership – Coaching and the Young Guns Natalie Ashdown
The Magic of Making Mistakes Robert Kiyosaki
The Mojo of Flow. Making Life Work. Lisa Murray
The Most Effective Goal Achievement Strategies Suzi Dafnis
The Nice Girl Syndrome. Do You Have it? Lois Frankel
The Power of Narrative in Business Lindley Edwards
Time to Face the Baby Boomer Crisis Natalie Ashdown
Tune in To Your Inner Branson. Become a Business Rock Star. Louise Woodbury
What does it take to build a successful business? An Effective Marketing Plan Sophie de Somerville
What does it take to build a successful business? Decisive Action & Hard Work Cathy Cousins
What Role does HR play in Developing a Coaching Culture in the Workplace? Natalie Ashdown
Why 80% of People Fail to Achieve Goals! Stephanie Burns
Work-Life Zen: 4 Mind Tricks to Set You Free Michele Connolly
Your Business Success Checklist Megan Tough
