Female Founder Feature: Monique Hennessy
Female Founder Name: Monique Hennessy
Business Name: Connected Legal and Commercial Pty Ltd
Website: www.connectedlegal.com.au
Tell us about your business. What products or services do you offer?: End-to-end legal advice and solutions to SMEs. If you are a company that works in or with media, sport, and the creative industries, we will work with you to smooth your legal processes and provide risk mitigation. We will ensure your data, privacy, marketing, employment, production, and commercial legal transactions are compliant and systemised. With over 10 years of experience in broadcasting, sports, and independent production in Australia and the UK, I combine legal and business acumen with a deep understanding of the creative process and the challenges and opportunities in the digital landscape.
Creative businesses need additional protection to leverage their intellectual property to serve their strategic goals. We partner with you to support your goals.
- Services
- Sale/Purchase of Business/Shares
- NDAs
- Employment Agreements
- Master Services Agreements
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions
- Employee Handbook
- Policy
- Legal Updates
- Commercial Leasing
- Trademarks
- Intellectual Property Protection
What inspired you to start your business?: I wanted to make sure I was doing what I love for clients. We are a partner on our client's business growth story and want to see them succeed. We provide more than set and forget legal advice. We will be a trusted part of your circle cheering you on to achieve growth in your business.
How long have you been running your business?: We started up in August 2022 and in the short time since we started we have added some amazing specialist lawyers, lots of happy clients and created a trusted circle of professional services we can refer clients to when they need support to achieve their goals.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in business, and how did you overcome it?: Sometimes, I still get an email from business or other lawyers which starts with Dear Sirs!!! I just laugh and keep going.
What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?: Employing really amazing staff
What strategies have helped you grow your business?: We have created an excellent referral network, a 2-way street with the client as the beneficiary. Hiring brilliant staff and working in a happy and supportive team.
What tools or resources have been game-changers for your business?: Automation! It means we can get people in to see us quicker and more effectively. It also helps keep the client bills down.
Can you share one key lesson you’ve learned about managing finances as a business owner?: Stay on top of the numbers or, know your numbers! Watch your costs and continue to revisit.
How do you balance the demands of your business with your personal life?: Ummmmm - next question! No, I still manage to sneak off and play tennis and see my family but I am prone to the odd sneaky early morning or sunday arvo in the office to make sure we are on top of everything.
What leadership qualities do you believe are essential for running a successful business?:
Trustworthiness
Integrity
Fun
How do you motivate and manage your team?: I'm transparent with our challenges. They know that they are my problem but it gives them more insight into why and how we make decisions.
What role does mentorship or networking play in your business journey?: Big role - I'm not always comfortable doing it, but it is getting easier the more I do.
What trends do you think will shape your industry in the coming years?: Automation but also experience.
People are going to realise that using chatGPT to do their legal agreements and to help them solve disputes can be more costly that taking good legal advice early.
How do you stay ahead of the competition in your industry?: Reading, chatting, email newsletters, trusted legal subscriptions, the AFR.
Who or what inspires you in your business journey?: Seeing clients get what they need and watching their businesses thrive.
Freedom to not have to answer to anyone or perform tasks I don't believe in because someone is telling me to do them!
Meeting amazing business owners and hearing what they do.
What books, podcasts, or resources have had the biggest impact on your professional growth?: Scaleable Law podcast
Hearing Seth Price give a seminar
The AFR
The Rest is History - not at all work related but feeds my curiosity about the world!!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?: I used to sit across the desk from Sacha Baron-Cohen when he did his first on-air job on British television. That was from my first career - as a television exec
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your business?: How affordable legal services can be and that not all lawyers are scary
Reflecting on your time in business, what is one piece of advice you would give to another woman to help her on her business journey?: Get your estate planning done - today
If anything happens to you, while or alive you need to know how your business is going to run. Similarly, if you die, you don't want your hard earned dollars being spent on legal fees trying to sort things out or, worse still, your money ending up with the wrong people.
We also have an AMAZING estate planning lawyer who loves her job and loves helping people protect their assets, their families and their businesses.
How can people connect with you or learn more about your business? (e.g., website, social media, etc.): 15-min free consultation https://connectedlegalandcommercial.au.cliogrow.com/book/c47bfabb809ff7541348df2cc84cc3ac
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-hennessy-30a4b835/
www.connectedlegal.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/connectedlegal/
https://www.instagram.com/connectedlegal/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/82136570/
Anything you want to add that we might have missed?: I am really looking forward to growing my network and always happy to have a coffee, drink or virtual meet up with the other Spark Business Female Founders.
