Ep 15. Why You Should Not Mistake Kindness For Weakness, With Business Chicks CEO, Olivia Ruello

"Don't Mistake Kindness For Weakness".  - Business Chicks CEO, Olivia Ruello

Today my guest is Olivia Ruello. The CEO of Australia’s largest community for women, Business Chicks.

She started her career in industrial relations, before moving into senior roles in the HR and recruitment industries. At just 24 years old, Olivia was appointed General Manager of a well-respected recruitment firm. She went to lead her team to win many recruitment agency of the year awards. Mostly thanks to her ability to understand customers and commitment to creating a human way of doing business.

Olivia led the Partnerships and Brand team at Business Chicks for four years from 2009. Before moving to the Commonwealth Bank. In 2015, she received the CEO Award for the development of a women’s circle within the organisation.

In January of this year, Olivia returned to Business Chicks in the role of CEO. Overseeing the business’ 100+ annual events, corporate partnerships. Quarterly publication Latte. And various other digital assets that assist and connect Business Chicks’ 44,000 members daily.

Olivia sits on the advisory board of The Hunger Project. An organisation that aims to end world hunger by 2030, and has also led three Hunger Project leadership immersion trips to India.

Olivia Ruello is moved and motivated by remarkable women. She has a deep passion for females stepping into and realising their power and potential. As the CEO of Business Chicks Australia. Olivia wants to help women harness their strengths as females. Empathy, kindness, collaboration and connection - to create a generation of leaders who care.

In this episode we delve into:

In January this year, Olivia became the CEO of Business Chicks Australia. She shares with us her journey to date and about Business Chicks.

Olivia tells us all about the 100 events a year, the team at Business Chicks run.

I believe that to grow a business; you must spend time working “on” your business rather than “in” your business. Olivia shares with us the growth and journey of Business Chicks and the avenues the team focused on for growth.

Business Chick is all about community. It’s about women (and men) supporting each other. Fundamentally, it’s about the belief that “together; we learn, grow, challenge and kick ass." Olivia shares with us her advice for anyone who wants to get the most out of the BC network.

Social Media is a powerful tool in a tech-savvy consumer world. Business Chicks relies heavily on social media. Olivia shares her tips for entrepreneurs in maximising social media.

We delve into the Business Chicks culture and how Olivia works to ensure culture is a focus.

A big challenge for anyone who leads a business is leading your team and setting them up for success. Olivia share with us her top 3 tips for building a culture. Whereby your team are excited, engaged and focused on achieving both their goals and the organisations' goals.

Business Chicks is a customer-centric business. Olivia shares with us how the team ensure the customer (the community) is at the heart of everything they do.

Olivia hosted an exclusive leadership retreat on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island. She shares that experience with us.

Olivia shares the biggest lessons she has learnt in business.

Olivia shares her advice for anyone struggling in business.