Women in Digital: Holly Hunt on Building Inclusive Networks

Small Business BIG Stories

Holly Hunt, founder of Hunt & Co and Women in Digital, shares her journey from HR graduate to successful entrepreneur. This episode explores how Holly built a boutique digital recruitment agency and a national membership organization for women in tech. Holly candidly discusses the challenges of starting a business, the importance of mentorship, and navigating gender dynamics in male-dominated industries. From building professional networks to retaining talent in small businesses, Holly offers valuable insights on leadership, diversity, and adaptation in the evolving digital landscape. Her experiences highlight the critical role of community, purpose-driven leadership, and embracing diversity in business success.

Covered in this episode:

• The origin story: Holly's background in HR and international business, and the founding of Hunt Co and Women in Digital.
• Challenges faced by women in the tech industry and the decision to create a support network.
• The transition from a side hustle to a full-time business and the importance of family support.
• Strategies for small businesses to attract and retain talent in a competitive market.
• The significance of company values and purpose in employee retention and business growth.
• Building and maintaining professional networks, both joining existing ones and creating new communities.
• The role of collaboration in business success and Holly's approach to partnerships.
• Addressing the "boys club" mentality and the importance of diversity in male-dominated industries.
• The value of diversity in product development, innovation, and market expansion.
• Balancing multiple business ventures and intentionally allocating time and resources.
• Insights on creating inclusive workplaces and the benefits of diverse teams.
• Tips for small business owners on finding their tribe and starting their own networks.
• Reflections on the challenges and opportunities for women business owners in tech-related fields.

Links from the episode

• Women in Digital: Women in Digital Events & Memberships
• Meetup: Meetup Networking Platform
• Hunt Co Recruitment: Hunt & Co
• Bespoken PR Agency: Bespoken PR Services

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Small Business Big Stories is produced by Queensland Small Business Commissioner and The Podcast Boss.