Q&A: It’s never too early to launch your own business

This week we talk to young entrepreneur Cassandra Hili, who founded her own PR and marketing company, Millenium Communications, while still at university. At a time when gender equality is very much in the headlines, Cassandra sees herself as a role model for young women searching for success in their professional lives.

ISB: What was the “lightbulb moment” that led to you starting your own marketing and public relations business?

CH: I was about 12 months into my degree when I realized that PR and marketing was a combination that was a very natural choice for me. I sought an entry-level position to get my foot into the door in the industry, but no one wanted me. I already had experience under my belt from blogging and doing freelance work with PR agencies, that I thought would made it easy to get a job, but I got tired of waiting for someone else to give me an opportunity to start my career and decided to just do it myself. I started preparing myself and six months later Millennium Communications was born.

ISB: Did the fact that you started the business as a “fresh out of uni” graduate present any specific challenges?

CH: I started Millennium Communications when I was 18 months into my degree, and that was never an obstacle to achieving my goals for the business. I’ve never had a client or a prospect ask me if I had my degree, rather they were more curious about the results I have achieved for others I’ve worked with. It was more about the portfolio that I have rather than any sort of educational recognition. If anything, being so young has actually benefited me and my business because I’ve grown up in its prime and businesses want to work with me because I just “get” PR.

ISB: Tender age and lack of experience aside, what was the biggest challenge you faced in getting your business off the ground and how did you overcome it?

CH: I really thought it was going to be finances, but at the end of the day my biggest challenge is my self-doubt and having to overcome it. Being so young, I’m still working on myself and developing who I am – adding a business on top of that has really challenged me and forced myself to grow up mentally and emotionally. It’s been a really challenging process, especially doing it by myself, so I’ve had to make sure that I invest my time with the right people who support me, challenge me and encourage me to stay positive. I now have an NLP coach who is helping me learn techniques and I now have the belief that I can do whatever I set my mind to do.

ISB: You say that Australia is one of the best places to be a female entrepreneur today, why do you think this is?

CH: I believe that female entrepreneurship is becoming more accepted and celebrated by Australian society, and that entrepreneurship and having career goals is encouraged more among females, even by the male demographic. Success for women is celebrated and social media has made it this easier. Facebook has many community groups celebrating and connecting women in business. I believe as women, we are challenging ourselves more and coming together to make the most out of careers.

ISB: How do you see technology helping young people to build their own businesses?

CH: Technology is a huge resource for young people when it comes to building a business. Regardless of what business you have, technology has made everything so much more accessible and has minimised the costs of starting up and running a business. It has also made it so much easier for us to connect with consumers to find out what they want and what they need.

ISB: Lastly, what is the number one piece of advice you’d share with those with an idea they’d like to turn into a business?

CH: Start a business in a field you’re passionate about and that inspires you every day. Business is challenging and it can really push you mentally, emotionally and spiritually, but if you’re doing something that you love, you can treat the challenges as temporary and keep pushing through. Trust the process, surround yourself with positive people and just believe in yourself.