Anna Hill, Founder and Director, Anna Hill Business and Leadership Services
Anna Hill Business and Leadership Services is a specialist range of services created to support executives, professionals and entrepreneurs present with confidence, grow their personal brands, and unlock their full potential.
Anna's services include resume and curriculum vitae overhauls, professional styling, LinkedIn profile updates, executive and leadership coaching, negotiation training and advisory, and health and well-being inspiration.
As a former executive leader at LVMH, Epworth Healthcare and Enterprise Victoria, Anna is known for her expertise in growing brands, businesses, and their leaders. Her specific skills and proficiency in global event management, communications, strategic marketing, business development and sponsorship ensure Anna has both the capability and networks to identify new opportunities for her clients.
Anna is a Harvard Business School graduate and also has a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with 20 years of marketing experience. She has successfully delivered major events and projects in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the US and the UK for high-level luxury brands, corporate, healthcare, government and not-for-profit organisations.
Anna is the consummate professional with an innate style honed over many years working for global brands including DIOR, OMEGA, R.M.Williams, Domaine Chandon Australia and Cloudy Bay New Zealand. Her intuitive understanding of client needs, coupled with her personable approach, has been described as refreshing and transformational.
Anna and her team are committed to empowering those in business and leadership to present powerfully with impact across all platforms. Highly recommended for their expertise, responsiveness, and ability to deliver exceptional results, clients of Anna Hill Business and Leadership Services gain a unique and powerful advantage.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
LinkedIn because I enjoy engaging and connecting with other like-minded executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs, sharing insights and encouraging leadership.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am the Founder and Director of Anna Hill Business and Leadership Services. We provide a specialist range of services to support executives, professionals and entrepreneurs present with confidence, grow their personal brands and unlock their full potential. Services include resume and curriculum vitae overhauls, professional styling for professional headshots, LinkedIn profile updates, executive and leadership coaching, negotiation training and advisory, and health and well-being inspiration.
Overhauling CVs in Australia has been a real trend, and the demand has been driven by The Great Resignation and a deep desire for change post-pandemic lockdowns. I write superb career summaries (250 words) that articulate leaders' professional experience, achievements, and contributions, all within a concise and creatively designed format for their CV that amplifies their brand and reflects their personality.
I also recently graduated from Harvard Business School with a Harvard qualification in Negotiation Mastery. As a result, I can confidently help others negotiate for flexibility, better work-life choices, greater benefits, and salary increases. There really is an art to negotiation, and it is a skill that we all need to learn, both personally and professionally.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love that as a team, we are committed to empowering those in business and leadership to present powerfully with impact across all platforms and to delivering exceptional results in curriculum vitae overhauls, professional styling for professional headshots, LinkedIn profile updates, leadership coaching, negotiation training and advisory.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Treat everyone well, regardless of status or wealth.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I am innately driven to contribute to my family, friends and community. My deepest desire has always been to help others in any way I can.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I am proud and blessed with a wonderful family, friends, business and coach.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Through meaningful connections in person, over a common interest or philosophy.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
My intuition, sense of humour, focused mindset and empathy, coupled with being resourceful, diligent and professional.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
That standing out is better than blending in, accepting your weaknesses and owning your strengths.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Simon Sinek and Brene Brown because they integrate authentic leadership and life philosophy with business acumen and confidence.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I am dedicated to supporting the not-for-profit sector and serving my community. Since 2017, I have become an annual runner and fundraiser for Foodbank Victoria at Run Melbourne. This year, I plan to run my third half marathon (21.1kms) and fundraise with my team to help the hungry and struggling across our state.
I love fine art, classical music, wine, cheese, and cooking. I am a competitive tennis player and keen golfer who is beginning to enjoy the challenge of ocean swimming. I recently began playing my violin after a 30-year sabbatical and am active with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Both positive and productive as it allowed me time to start an exciting new chapter of my life. In the last 12 months, I have moved from the city to the country to be closer to my family and best friend, successfully launched and built a new business and gained a Harvard Business School qualification in negotiation Mastery.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Yes - I've benefitted from many mentors, and over the past 10+ years, I have actively mentored senior marketing directors and emerging businesses to pursue excellence in their field.
One of the most significant mentors I had was Geoff Morris. Geoff was an amazing man and an inspiration to many. Being born blind never stopped him. Initially, he was appointed as my counsellor after my brother had a car accident and was in ICU for a couple of months during my final year (Yr 12) at boarding school.
Geoff taught me how to communicate whilst experiencing trauma; he listened intently during our telephone sessions and gave very encouraging and supportive advice. But, most importantly, he always made himself available. It was a life-changing experience and one I will be forever grateful for. Later, Geoff became my mentor in the early stages of my career and was equally very effective.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
1) Identify the right business for you. Do what you love.
2) Business planning improves your chances for success.
3) Build a support network and appoint a coach.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
I feel one of the most common reasons people fail or give up on their goals is because they lack discipline. So, often, they haven't yet cultivated the habits required to work, not just on the days they feel inspired but on the days they feel uninspired as well.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Don't wish it was easier; wish you were better."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
In light of the horrifying events in Ukraine, FMCG giants P&G and Unilever are getting it right by saying they will halt all media and advertising spending in Russia across their portfolios.
Other global brands such as Netflix, Apple, Ikea, General Motors and Jaguar Land Rover have paused operations in response to the 'needless human suffering' taking place in Ukraine.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
I define success as creating an impact on the world and community, on my team, my clients and my loved ones. Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want. Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change.