What was your first job?
My parents had often described me as someone with the same entrepreneurial sense whether that be referring to my milk-bar side hustle of pocketing five cents from every gobstober (type of lolly) transaction in year four, or the slightly more legitimate piano school I started in year ten, being desperate to make my own money. I always had a certain drive about me, never content with the lull, thriving off busyness and that’s what’s landed me where I am today.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was approached by the original founder of Peas, with the offer to buy her business. It makes sense to me in hindsight why I never really faced any moments of serious doubt. Even when they did emerge, it was always brief – I had always been a carer, I knew it was the right thing to do. There I was, 19-years-old, second year at The University of Melbourne, two days after landing my first nannying gig with Peas and I was about to be the owner. To say a mixture of emotions rushed through me would be an understatement. I was excited and the adrenaline rushed through me because I knew my world was about to change.
What is your core value that guides you?
What makes your company a standout and why do people want to work with you?
Our vetting process is what ensures that level of reliance and comfortability for our Peas families. What separates us from the other agencies out there is our word-of-mouth system. Essentially, it’s like asking your friend where she got her great sitter from but a larger, Melbourne-wide, scale. When it comes to finding good care for your kids, trust is so important, this is what we’ve been working to naturally build over the past seven years. Although it doesn’t always feel like it, Melbourne is a pretty small world and here at Peas every single sitter on our books is referred by a member of our Peas community. That trust and comfortability goes both ways, we want our sitters to feel safe going to our families’ homes.
What makes a client or candidate to work with?
We love candidates and clients who understand that it can take time to find the right family. When speaking to parents, I often use the terminology of ‘finding the right pair of jeans or even the right partner’ in a way similar to finding the right nanny. Clients who are understanding of this and who can be flexible are the best to work with. Candidates who are great communicators and are patient with the process are our favourite!
What is your specialty?
What do you wish people knew about your industry (maybe the biggest misconception)?
The care industry, in particular babysitting and nannying doesn’t have to be lonely job. I think people don’t want to become carers because they’d rather work at a pub in a workplace surrounded by people. Nannying especially has so many opportunities to connect you to people around you. Especially at Peas, we have created an incredible community of sitters in which we try to bring nannies together who are working in the same area/days. We also put on events for our nannies to bring them together.
What is the single greatest achievement you’ve made in your career?
How do you envision the future of your business?
I am a big dreamer and always am thinking of ways we can expand. I think school holiday programs are something that we could expand into possibly one day!
