by Debbie Millard | Apr 10, 2025 | Business Coaching, Leadership
The unique dynamics of family businesses The Family Business Association have just published the 2025 Family Business Barometer Survey results. I worked in a large family business for 15 years alongside the owner and founder in a senior leadership role and continue to...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 25, 2025 | Governance, Leadership
AI is here to stay I am new to AI governance and I know I’m not the only one who has a personal objective for 2025 to adopt relevant AI tools to positively impact my work, my clients, my life. All of my clients are talking about it, exploring it, balancing the...
by Debbie Millard | Oct 10, 2024 | Business Coaching, Leadership
Last month was Family Business Day. Something to celebrate. Here in WA we are surrounded by many very successful family businesses eg. John Hughes Group, Georgiou Group, Betts Group, MG Kailis to name a few. These are large businesses. I had the pleasure of working in...
by Debbie Millard | Jul 31, 2024 | Leadership
There has been much media attention on the prevalence of insolvencies specifically with Small to Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”), and the anticipation that there could be stormier seas ahead. Financial governance and the Director’s statutory duty to not allow the...
by Debbie Millard | May 8, 2024 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching
Recently I sadly said “see you later” to three business coaching clients within the space of a month. All for similar reasons – business conditions are challenging, income is below budget expectations and cash flow is tight. These circumstances are...
by Debbie Millard | Mar 5, 2024 | Business Coaching
What have I learnt recently? I was listening to the “Thriving Business” podcast with Kate de Jong and Sam Morris earlier today, talking about how we have a tendency to avoid sharing our mistakes in business and the shame we have about our business failings and the...
by Debbie Millard | Dec 5, 2023 | Financial Coaching, Governance
Does your plan for 2024 include doing the Company Directors course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors ? Great! As a facilitator of Financial Literacy and Performance for the Australian Institute of Company Directors, I might well see you there. Or, as...
by Debbie Millard | Nov 2, 2023 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
Authentic values in business culture form the backbone of that culture, differentiating you and potentially becoming your strategic advantage. Values = culture = strategic advantage If you’re going to have values in your business make them count. Don’t...
by Debbie Millard | Sep 20, 2023 | Business Coaching
“If you do not know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere” Henry A Kissinger Building a resilient SME business with strategic business goals is the key to your success. A client said to me recently “It’s a waste of time us...
by Debbie Millard | Jul 12, 2023 | Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching
Strong financial management is the foundation of every thriving business. While it may seem daunting, especially if you lack a financial background, mastering cash flow and general financial management is vital for your business’s prosperity. As the owner or leader,...
by Debbie Millard | Jun 13, 2023 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching
Everyone knows that “cash is king”, but not everyone knows it involves a bit more than checking your bank balance every day. When I ask small business owners what keeps them awake at night; it’s often cash flow.. FACT: 60% of new businesses in Australia will fail in...
by Debbie Millard | May 16, 2023 | Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
Playing to our strengths as female leaders As women in leadership roles, can I suggest that we need to be proud of the fact that our leadership style is quite different from our male counterparts. From my own experience I realised a long time ago that I didn’t...
by Debbie Millard | Apr 21, 2023 | Business Coaching, Leadership
What does it take to build a highly effective team? Wouldn’t it be fabulous if all teams within your organisation were high performing. A team where: The members work effectively together to deliver great outcomes for the organisation. Every member of the team...
by Debbie Millard | Mar 14, 2023 | Business Coaching, Governance
Leading successful SMEs needs strong corporate governance Many people think that corporate governance is something for big companies and boards. In fact, it is applicable to ALL organisations – small and medium businesses and also not-for-profit organisations....
by Debbie Millard | Sep 22, 2022 | Business Coaching, Financial Coaching
Identifying the Key Numbers in Your Business Knowing the important numbers in your business is essential to making informed decisions that impact your business. As a Business Owner, Executive Leader, or Non-Executive Director, are you: Frustrated by the quality and/or...
by Debbie Millard | Sep 19, 2022 | Leadership
Respect for one of our Elders and most significant Leaders of our generation Today is a very special day. Monday 19 September 2022 marks the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I admired Queen Elizabeth II’s leadership. I am English, and the events of the...
by Debbie Millard | Jul 8, 2022 | Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching, Leadership
The Role of a CFO in Business CFOs – Were you promoted internally to the role? Are you meeting expectations and building relationships? Recently I was invited to speak to Accountants and finance professionals at CPA Australia’s CPA Week 2022 Conference in...
by Debbie Millard | Jun 15, 2022 | Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching, Leadership
Do you think you might be ready to make a move? Accountants – have you ever wanted to change direction in your career or step up into an opportunity but not been sure of the next step? This week I was delighted to be invited to speak to Accountants and finance...
by Debbie Millard | May 9, 2022 | Financial Coaching, Leadership
Understanding the Importance of a CFO in Private Business What is a “good” CFO supposed to do? As a relatively new or emerging CFO, no one necessarily tells you what you should be doing differently from your previous role as a Finance Manager or Financial Controller,...
by Debbie Millard | Mar 28, 2022 | Financial Coaching
Introduction to Accountants’ Jargon Accounting literacy is the language of accountants As an accountant, can you think of examples of when you tried to explain an accounting concept to a client or someone in the business who is not from a financial background? ...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 15, 2022 | Financial Coaching
Financial Forecasting lessons learnt from the Winter Olympics Inspired by the Winter Olympics I admire the dedication and the commitment that has made the athletes Olympians. Devoting everything to the pursuit of a four year goal, the outcome of which can be...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 8, 2022 | Financial Coaching
What happened to the margin? As the Owner of the Business, have you created the expectation that you should be good at everything – the operational and technical stuff, sales and marketing, business development, managing people, IT and be responsible for the...
by Debbie Millard | Jan 31, 2022 | Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching
Tips for Managing Cash Managing Cash and Working Capital continues to be top of the list of tips of effectively managing the finances within the business. Whilst we all know “cash is king”, it is not unusual for small businesses to struggle with their cash flow...
by Debbie Millard | May 11, 2021 | Financial Coaching
As a business owner or leader do you hear yourself say : “I’m not a numbers person”? But you feel self-conscious because in your role others expect you might be more comfortable around numbers than you are, and you don’t like to ask what might...
by Debbie Millard | Apr 28, 2021 | Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
The Role of a CFO in a Company Just stepped into your first CFO role, be it a promotion from a 2IC Finance Manager role, or your first move out of professional services into commerce, and got that sense of unease because you are unsure what you are supposed to...
by Debbie Millard | Apr 7, 2021 | Business Coaching, Financial Coaching
Finding it difficult to understand the numbers? Ever considered that perhaps the reason you are finding numbers difficult and confusing is because you are being given numbers that are either irrelevant, too much information, or presented in a format that you cannot...
by Debbie Millard | Mar 12, 2021 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching
What’s a “Good” CFO supposed to look like? As a relatively new or emerging CFO, no one necessarily tells you what you should be doing differently from your previous role as a Finance Manager or Financial Controller, do they? Here I share my Top 10...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 26, 2021 | Business Coaching, Financial Coaching
How much do you have in the piggy bank? If worrying about the cashflow within the business is not keeping you awake at night that’s a good thing. We have all heard that businesses fail through lack of cash as opposed to lack of profits. But we...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 12, 2021 | Business Coaching, Financial Coaching
Budgeting and Forecasting As an Owner or Leader in Business are you trying to get a better grasp of your numbers and understand budgets and forecasts? This is the 4th in a series of articles to support you as Owner or Leader of a business get on top of what you...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 3, 2021 | Business Coaching, Financial Coaching
Does this jumble of rope visualise the state of your business finances? If the answer is yes, you might want to read on. Would you prefer it to look like this neatly wrapped shank below? Let me help with demystifying numbers. This is the third in a series of articles...
by Debbie Millard | Jan 27, 2021 | Business Coaching, Financial Coaching
Cross eyed and confused by numbers? As the Leader or Owner of a business you need to be on top of your numbers to enable informed and timely decisions when building the foundations for a resilient business. Following on from the 5 Key Financial Questions we started...
by Debbie Millard | Jan 19, 2021 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Financial Coaching
Finance all a bit of a puzzle As the Leader or Owner of a business you need to be on top of your numbers to enable informed and timely decision making, building the foundations for a resilient business. Everyone knows “cash is king”, but not everyone knows it...
by Debbie Millard | Dec 16, 2020 | Financial Coaching
Understanding the numbers in your business is critical. Financial literacy is a must-have skill. Numbers Not Your Thing? But they should be your thing? Does this sound like someone you know? Promoted to a managerial and leadership role because you are so good at the...
by Debbie Millard | Nov 23, 2020 | Governance, Leadership
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” said Peter Drucker. Of course strategy is important, but the implementation of that strategy is more likely to be successful within the context of a strong and healthy organisational culture. Last week I participated...
by Debbie Millard | Jun 2, 2020 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
As social distancing restrictions start to relax, before we too caught up in the wave of returning to auto-pilot, worth taking a moment to reflect on our learnings and which of our new habits we wish to safeguard. I entered into social isolation all bright eyed &...
by Debbie Millard | May 18, 2020 | Business Coaching, Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
Did some very rewarding work with a client last week developing their Values. An on-line workshop with a small team using Google Jamboard was a whole new experience for me, but we got some fabulous outcomes. Values based leadership is such an important area for small...
by Debbie Millard | May 1, 2020 | Coaching & Consulting
Managing cash and working capital Participated this morning in the best webinar I have listened to in recent weeks – the Australian Institute of Company Directors “Managing Cash and Working Capital in a Crisis”. Best in that it was full of practical guidance. From my...
by Debbie Millard | Apr 24, 2020 | Business Coaching, Leadership
Understanding your Purpose, Vision and Values In my capacity as an ADAPT By Design Resilient Business Coach, I have been doing some really rewarding work with a new client, helping them to articulate the Organisation’s Purpose, Vision and Values. The prelude to this...
by Debbie Millard | Apr 16, 2020 | Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
We all have a story that shapes who we are, why we do what we do and how we show up. This is mine. This period of imposed self-isolation as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic creates time for ourselves. Quality time to reflect, refocus and possibly redirect. Time...
by Debbie Millard | Mar 9, 2020 | Coaching & Consulting, Leadership
“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me” ~Carol Burnett It sits with us to take responsibility for our own actions, our own destiny and future. This isn’t something you can palm off to someone else to take care of. This monkey well and truly...
by Debbie Millard | Feb 26, 2020 | Coaching & Consulting
We all know that we we will continue to get the same outcome if we continue to do the same thing, yet so many of us, purportedly intelligent people have great difficulty shifting our mindset, and shifting ourselves into a different gear to try a different approach.As...
by Debbie Millard | Dec 16, 2019 | Coaching & Consulting
I cannot believe it’s 2 years since I gave up my job and have since reinvented myself. Transitioning from an employed executive role with the same employer for 15 years, having followed a traditional education and employment route, to now being self-employed pursuing... 
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