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Inspire SeriesClaudia StuddertTEENAGE ENTREPRENEUREx-Pymble Ladies College girl, Claudia Studdert, had a dreamto start her own business. Fresh out of school she launched Media Connect Consultancy, a digital marketing company specialising in managing your business’ social media world and reviewing its external image. Also a student, Studdert is studying a combined Bachelor of Business/Bachelorof Medical Science degree at the University of Technology Sydney.WHAT YEAR DID YOU LEAVE PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE AND HOW SOON AFTER DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS?I graduated in September 2015, and had my final HSC exam in November. I started the planning stages whilst I was still at school (I was too excited), and by January I was ready to go out and win my first few clients.HOW HAS PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR SUCCESS?Pymble has shaped me into the young woman I am. Being there for 13 years gave me an incred- ible amount of confidence and courage and showed me the endless possibilities for young women in Australia today. I also learnt how to appropriately handle myself and to showinitiative and insight. These traits now help me in running my marketing consultancy.WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE BASED?I predominantly work from my home office but at some stage will look at investing in an office in more of a business setting. I am also able to use my dad’s office in the city. When I meet with clients it is usually in a café or in their own vicinity.HOW MANY HOURS EACH WEEK DO YOU WORK AND WHAT’S YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE? This really fluctuates week to week - it could be as little as 6 hours or as many as 25. Sometimes I will get a lot of work done the week before I have a major show (I am a competitive show-jumper). I work out what must be done at the start of each week so I know how much of my time I must allocate and when.WHAT ARE THE HARDEST AND BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING YOUR OWN BOSS?The hardest is probably being confident in myself and my decisions, all the time. The best is the flexibility that allows me to design each aspect of my own life. And how much fun it is!WHAT MOTIVATES YOU IN BUSINESS AND WHAT’S NEXT? The future. I am always searching for what I can do next to grow my business. Also, how I can improve myself and my skills. I want to keep having fun and continue to make my clients happy by achieving great results.WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS DO YOU USE AND HOW HAS THAT BEEN EFFECTIVE? Instagram has become one of the biggest social media platforms“...communicate what you can do very clearly, and go out and do it...”and a huge marketing utility for businesses today. Each client likes to use a different combination of social media platforms whether it be Facebook, YouTube, Instagram. Paired with publicity and EDMs, you have a winning combination.BEST PIECE OF MARKETING ADVICE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS ON A BUDGET? Research! Find out what works best for businesses such as yours. And find (and hire!) someonelike me who works to budgets of all kinds! Sometimes you have to invest a little bit of money to make money.IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS STARTING OUT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WHAT WOULD IT BE?Be confident – if you don’t back yourself then no one else will. Read books and educate yourself in the area you want to excel in. My dad made me read Rich Dad Poor Dad and How to Win Friends and Influence People before he would even talk to me about any- thing else. Make sure you have some sort of business mentor. My dad was a huge inspiration andI couldn’t have done it without him; I was very lucky to have someone with his experience, success and expertise behind me. Don’t get stuck in the planning stages and logistics for too long, communicate what you can do very clearly, and go out and do it.