Are you an early stage founder looking for support?
Annabel is here to help with 25+ years of founder, people & culture experience.
About Me
Hi, I'm Annabel! I'm a Canadian and a Kiwi.
For over 25 years I’ve worked in digital marketing, technology, communications people & culture.
After co-founding my last two technology startups I knew I wanted to dive into work that would help other founders build positive startup cultures.
Nothing makes me happier than seeing founders be successful at supporting their teams!
I live on incredible Vancouver Island, BC after spending years in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and California.
Victoria, BC is home and I love it.
Why Me
I understand that founding a start up is bloody complicated.
We’re empathetic humans who long to look after our teams, but we also have priorities, a vision and a responsibility to grow our startup.
It is hard, but it is possible to have a positive culture and a rewarding, successful startup!
Annabel:
- 2x co-founder and entrepreneur with experience driving multi-million dollar revenues
- 15 years experience launching tech products into the NZ, US & Canadian markets
- A deep knowledge of building sustainable growth, coupled with a flourishing company culture
- Took a technology company from $0 in sales to over $1.1M USD in 3 years
- Raised Angel, Seed and Seed+ Rounds from numerous Angels, VCs and institutional investors
- Grew startup culture from 2 co-founders to a flourishing team of fifteen motivated, supported and empathetic team members
- Won Viatec Emerging Technology Company of The Year
- I mentor women in technology through online programs and workshops
- Invited and graduated from the BC Tech Hypergrowth series
- Spoken at multiple international events and workshops on creating positive, profitable and sustainable cultures
- Facilitated numerous startups through strategic planning sessions to prepare for people, culture and product growth.
I’ve been a partner, mother, leader and entrepreneur for the past 25 years. I know what it takes to build a people-first culture strategy that’s sustainable and fits the startup you want to grow.
I know the effort it takes to build a startup because I’ve done it two times. It’s not easy, but it doesn’t have to be scary.
I’ll help you with tools, systems and approaches that makes your people and culture goals reachable.
Annabel Inspires Me To Keep Going
"I've known Annabel as a consultant, advisor, executive and entrepreneur. No matter which of those roles she has been playing, the core Annabel is the same - determined, creative, honest and desperately hard working. She inspires me to keep going with my own business, because she's positive without being hokey and professional without being cold. I'd love to work with Annabel - no matter which role - again."
-- Marie-Claire Andrews, Founder/Entrepreneur filled with "get up & go!"
How I Can Help
Free Founder Newsletter
Culture Jam: A newsletter for early stage startup founders who need to build a culture from scratch.
Each Sunday get exercises to build a strong and positive culture at your startup.
Action & Accountability
Having trouble completing the Culture Jam exercises?
Do you need friendly accountability?
Apply to join my weekly checkin group, Culture Action, for $500 a month.
Finally get your work done.
Founder Coaching
Have very specific culture challenges to work through?
Want 1:1 coaching to make smarter culture decisions?
Apply for monthly 1:1 coaching calls: 2 calls a month for $1,500.
Booking into early 2023.
Annabel Is Fantastic To Work With
"Annabel is an outstanding founder who knows how to truly engage online and offline with fellow founders, and she works extremely hard to help them achieve their goals. She is just fantastic to work with and has a unique way to make others feel genuinely appreciated - whether they're a founder, colleague or investor."
-- Stefan Korn, Investor, CEO and lover of a good DJ set
The Workshop Offer!
Founder, are you getting ready to grow?
I suspect you've having some anxious thoughts:
- Which role should I hire first?
- How am I going to onboard them?
- How often do I need to check in with them?
- How will I know it’s working out for us both?
One Day Workshop To Build a Plan
You don’t have a lot of time, so let’s work together in a single day workshop. We'll free up precious space in your brain!
Workshop:
- A full day with Annabel and her 25+ years of founder experience
- We will tackle your people problem areas with brainstorming, strategy development and research
- Uncover what you need to do to grow your people
- Leave with a sense of clarity and calm for your people and hiring strategy in 2023.
Deliverables:
- Five days after the workshop we'll meet virtually to review your Custom Culture and People Plan specifically designed for your startup
- We'll review your templates and other guides for growth and hiring, so you can ask any questions
- You'll receive a final package of your Custom Culture and People Plan designed for your positive, profitable and sustainable growth.
Build a Culture & People Plan that stops
your anxious thoughts
When you are armed with a clear Culture & People Plan you will:
- Attract top talent in a difficult hiring marketplace
- Hire the right people to hit your 2023 growth targets
- Remove your onboarding headaches
- Be organized and efficient with systems in place for team checkins
- Get rid of team clashes and people nightmares
- Easily explain (with data) your culture strategy to investors during fundraising conversations.
Why Annabel
- A 2x co-founder and entrepreneur with experience driving multi-million dollar revenues
- 15 years experience launching tech products into the NZ, US & Canadian markets
- A deep knowledge of building sustainable growth, coupled with a flourishing company culture
- Took a technology company from $0 in sales to over $1.1M USD in 3 years
- Raised Angel, Seed and Seed+ Rounds from numerous Angels, VCs and institutional investors
- Grew startup culture from 2 co-founders to a flourishing team of fifteen motivated, supported and empathetic team members
- Won Viatec Emerging Technology Company of The Year
- Mentors women in technology through online programs and workshops
- Invited and graduated from the BC Tech Hypergrowth series
- Spoken at multiple international events and workshops on creating positive, profitable and sustainable cultures
- Facilitated numerous startups through strategic planning sessions to prepare for people, culture and product growth.
The Workshop Investment
For a one-time discounted price of $1,500 you’ll get:
- a full day with Annabel and her 25+ years of founder experience
- a delivered Culture and People Plan with guides and templates
- a sense of clarity and calm for your people and hiring strategy in 2023.
I normally charge $1500 for 2 hours on the phone with my founder coaching customers.
Instead, for $1,500 you’ll get over 10 hours of my time:
- 7 hours of 1-1 workshop time (virtually or in-person)
- 3 hours of work on your plan, post workshop
- Delivery of a full plan with guides and templates
- A 30 minute virtual walkthrough of your plan
That works out to only $142 an hour!
The sense of relief you’ll feel and the progress you'll make
with your people plan will outweigh the cost
Deep Knowledge of Startup and Early-Stage Companies
"Annabel is the kind of leader who does the hard work along with their team, solving problems, and developing a deep understanding of what her people need. I've seen the magic she creates as a founder -- finding and retaining top talent, steering her company through tough challenges, and always helping her teams be productive, innovative, aligned, and happy. She's incredibly talented, and understands startup and early-stage companies well."
-- Lindsay Carlson, Founder of Mighty Ink and crafter of stories with power
Who's a Good Fit?
If you’re an early stage founder you’re a perfect fit.
That means you've:
- Raised less than $500K
- Got an early product
- Done all the hiring and recruitment yourself
- Realized you're doing almost everything yourself, and it’s just not sustainable ;)
How It Works
- Meet - We’ll have a virtual meeting for 15 minutes to make sure it’s a good fit
- Grow - Your one day session will solve your people headaches and set you up for future growth
- Succeed - Armed with your Custom Culture and People Plan you'll be energized and prepared for 2023.
Let’s stop the anxious thoughts,
get that big piece of work off your plate,
and feel empowered to reach your
people and your culture goals in 2023.
Connect With Annabel
Connect on LinkedIn
Connect with me on LinkedIn
I'm pretty active there - so come join some great culture-first people.
Free Newsletter
My free newsletter, Culture Jam, is for early stage startup founders who need to build a culture from scratch.
Each Sunday get exercises to build a strong and positive culture at your startup.
Paid Support
If you need accountability to get your Culture Jam exercises done, or you want 1:1 personalized support I have a few paid options.