Motivation key to leadership

Founder and director of i-video, Renae Hardie Braovich, tells Brian Oliver about the success of her video production company based in Rockingham.

Q: What does leadership mean to you?

A: The ability to motivate people into action, so what needs to be done gets done with pleasure. To constantly create and innovate and never rest on one’s laurels. Other key components of leadership which I believe are important are values and ethics.

Q: How has your leadership style changed over time?

A: I’m far more relaxed. If a problem arises, it’s not the end of the world. There is usually a solution. When you’re calm, those around you tend to follow.

Q: Which business leader do you most admire?

A: Like so many, Richard Branson is at the top of my list.

Q: What’s the best advice you were ever given?

A: It isn’t so much advice given, but a quote by an unknown author which caught my attention just when I needed it most, “There is no next time. It’s now or never.”

Q: What do you wish someone had told you when you first started out?

A: You can’t do everything, delegate.

Q Tell me the biggest business challenge you’ve ever faced.

A: A large national company took legal action to cease our company trading under our trademark. To me, it was nothing more than bullying tactics to further monopolise the market. Without going into detail, I am happy to say here we are today, still trading under our original trademark and standing taller and stronger than ever.

Q: Which technology can you not live without?

A: Hands down, the internet. The world is internet-driven, with seemingly infinite ways to communicate online.

Q: What’s the most important moment in your career so far?

A: Winning three business awards in consecutive years, including Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce Owner/Operator Award, Perth’s Most Innovative Enterprise – Belmont Business Awards; and, RKCC Business Person of the Year in 2011.

Q: How do you relax?

A: I walk the dog, watch movies and love to read and after over two decades of marriage, I have in recent months decided I like to cook. That last one may be subject to change.

Q: What do you hope Rockingham will be like in five years’ time?

A: My hope is more for the image of Rockingham as seen by others — I hope their perception of the area evolves into a more positive one.

Q: What would you do to improve Rockingham or WA?

A: I want people to have a long hard look at the judicial system for WA.