About.
Primary | Penelope Dodd
I’m a business coach and holistic practitioner with over 20 years’ experience who works with individuals, community groups and stakeholders to transform creative pursuits into successful and self-supporting businesses.
I’ve run several boutique businesses myself including elevenses – a cake mix business that was sold in gourmet food businesses Australia wide. Product Relations – where I assisted farmers market producers to grow their brand and market share. I was also the founding General Manager of Whisk + Pin – one of the first gourmet muesli manufacturers in Australia that grew from a customer base of 20 to over 200 and sales from $42,000 to over $750,000 per annum in just two years. I also founded and ran the award winning food security social enterprise Produce to the People - in Tasmania for almost ten years.
I know how to write a grant, lobby, project manage and apply and win an award or two!
I’ve also held coaching positions in Business Enterprise Centres and Small Business Field Officer roles in Government-funded projects based in regional areas and micro-enterprise organisations. As well as my decades of hands on experience I also have a diploma in Community Welfare and a Graduate Certificate in Business, UTAS.
I have observed a need for bespoke assistance for start up entrepreneurs, side hustlers and mums with messy hair buns juggling family commitments and a desire to fly entrepreneurially!
I’ve walked in your shoes. I understand the difficulties of getting a community project/business past the first stages and then some. I’ve felt the lack of confidence that comes with not having someone in my corner to keep me going. I thrive working one on one, cutting through the noise others expectations guiding you with a set of worksheets backed with individual sessions (in person and online).
Awards
I was the winner of The Australian Centre for Social Innovation “Solved” award.
The inaugural winner of the ABC Local Radio Community Award – Delicious Magazine Produce Awards
A finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards
An AMP Tomorrow Maker
And Produce to the People won the Tasmanian Community Group of the Year in 2017, followed up with a Human Rights Award in 2018.
I have appeared on Food Lab, Andy + Ben Eat Australia, Gardening Australia, Food investigators
If you would like to move your idea/business/community venture forward I'd love to listen!