An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
“Don’t let fear hold you back!” I’ve really learned to feel the fear and do it anyway. I love Henry Ford’s quote, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right…”. It’s all in the mindset and self belief. A lot of it comes down to acknowledging and understanding where the fear comes from — it’s a sign that something is important to you! However, in those moments of fear, it’s always about what you choose to do next. You can give into that fear, be paralysed by it. Or you can take the leap. I’ve learned to leap!
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Helen Whait.
For more than a decade, Helen Whait has been disrupting the way occupational therapists work in Australia. As the founder of Australia’s first occupational therapy franchise business, Helen gives occupational therapists the tools and support to build incredible businesses that provide life-changing services to over 4000 clients. Helen is an award-winning occupational therapist and franchisor, and above all else, she is passionate about practising occupational therapy the way it was always meant to be practised– with a focus on the whole person– without the unnecessary bureaucracy, KPIs, and paperwork that achieves nothing for the client.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
My career began 30 years ago after I graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy. After a decade of experience working as an occupational therapist in a variety of settings, I founded my first private practice in 2002. In the ten years that followed, I learned about the many opportunities and pitfalls of private practice to provide work-life balance and prevent burnout– as well as improve client care. In 2012, I founded Australia’s first and only occupational therapy franchise business– ActivOT– as a mum with three young sons. I wanted to offer a business model that would empower occupational therapists to achieve true work-life balance and the tools, systems and support to succeed in their own practices without burning out. In November 2022, ActivOT will be celebrating ten years of franchising.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
In 2012, franchising in allied health was virtually unheard of, but I was convinced it was the answer. Not only could it provide much-needed support and guidance for occupational therapists, but it could deliver better outcomes for our clients. Ten years later, ActivOT has more than 45 franchisees and is growing rapidly.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
To be honest, there isn’t a one single, standout moment that comes to mind! Like everyone jumping in and starting a business, it’s been a real learning journey. Starting up Australia’s first occupational therapist franchise, there was no play book to follow and those mistakes did cost some time and money — so I’ve (finally!) learned to laugh at some of those mistakes along the way! When you’re shaking up your industry and forging a new path, a good sense of humour and a positive mindset is a serious must-have!
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
I’ve struck some serious luck when it comes to finding my people along the journey.
A key mentor has been Tamsin Simounds, an incredible people strategist and executive coach. I often say that I asked the universe for a sign and, in Tamsin, the universe really delivered! Back when I was juggling paying bills, feeding kids and a lot of consulting work, I happened across one of her leadership courses. Naturally, I couldn’t afford the course — let alone the time off! — so we agreed that if Tamsin couldn’t fill the last spot then I could have it on a reduced rate and on a payment plan. Lo behold, a spot was free, I got in and it changed my life — and, more importantly, my mindset! I faced some serious fears, refined my performance and, from there, everything just took off. Having Tamsin in my corner, still today, is invaluable.
I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with the best and brightest. And I nailed that in bringing our marketing guru, Danae Sinclair-Jones, into the ActivOT team. In Danae I found someone who understood me and the ActivOT brand and values. Put simply, our business wouldn’t be where it is without her expertise, insights and passion for what we do. Danae makes magic every day and I have complete trust in her judgement.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
I’ll admit it, I love a bit of disruption! Before I started ActivOT, my industry was stuck in a complete rut with the same old systems and approaches. By switching it up and helping occupational therapists to become successful business owners, we’re creating change for therapists and clients alike. We’re creating business owners that are advocates for their community and clients, not simply healthcare practitioners bogged down in paperwork and bureaucracy.
That said, the values that underpin our work in the health space — our commitment to client care and wellbeing — should never face disruption. Client-centred care should always remain the foundational pillar of our work. Through our franchise model, I believe we’re better supporting occupational therapists to support their communities.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
“Don’t let fear hold you back!” I’ve really learned to feel the fear and do it anyway. I love Henry Ford’s quote, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right…”. It’s all in the mindset and self belief. A lot of it comes down to acknowledging and understanding where the fear comes from — it’s a sign that something is important to you! However, in those moments of fear, it’s always about what you choose to do next. You can give into that fear, be paralysed by it. Or you can take the leap. I’ve learned to leap!
“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do” — This is a gem from the one and only Steve Jobs. I read this quote a while back and it really stuck with me. As ActivOT has grown and expanded in the most incredible way, it’s my north star when it comes to my team and potential new business owners. I’m big on bringing the right people on board, it’s the key to create a culture, and it’s foundational to the success of ActivOT.
“Don’t be limited by how others do things — bring your own vision to life!” Although I’ve created an incredible, Australia-first occupational therapist franchise, I don’t neatly fit into the franchise world and I’m doing something very different from the traditional healthcare service model and franchise model. If I’d constrained myself to the way it’s always been done, none of this would be possible.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
There are no signs of slowing down, that’s for sure! Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we’re continuing to experience significant growth, with more occupational therapists choosing ActivOT and becoming business owners, as well as significant increase in client referrals.
In fact, after the Great Resignation, we’re seeing more and more health professionals who want to take control and start their own business. So we’re making sure we can capture that demand and scale our business in a sustainable way, while continuing to provide the tools and support to our business owners and their clients.
Ultimately, it’s about the people we bring into ActivOT and the values we live by — honestly without those two things, we’d have nothing.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Where do I start?! Although our industry is largely female-dominated, with women making up roughly 90 per cent of occupational therapists, we still face challenges. Certainly our time is still not valued as much as men, we know that women-dominated industries often earn less. As women in a ‘caring’ industry, we’re expected to behave in a certain way — there’s an expectation that we’ll be giving which isn’t placed on our male counterparts. On top of that, I feel that women still often face wildly unequal domestic labour. Often, I believe we feel like we’re trying to prove ourselves. That whole mindfield doesn’t leave a lot of time for disrupting!
Prior to starting ActivOT in 2002, I often faced the ‘boys club’ in my previous workplaces. It was a huge roadblock and I was left no option other than to totally step away to continue on this journey outside of that environment. Certainly in ActivOT, I’m working hard to give women the freedom to shake up the game as they see fit. It’s a huge part of our values.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
Without a doubt, Janine Allis’ Super Women We Ain’t podcast. It’s one of those podcasts where you find yourself actually nodding along!
Janine’s approach definitely made me feel less alone — and a little less scary! I laughed out loud when she shared that she hid in the bathroom to escape children and get those last few emails out. As a single mum with three young children once upon a time, I honestly thought I was the only one who had taken it to those extremes!
Janine’s focus on health and commitment to self care after her own health scare is also hugely inspirational. It’s something I take seriously myself — having been diagnosed with Idiopathic thrombocytopenia in 2015 — and I believe it’s a need, not a want. I take it seriously with my franchisees too, ensuring that we’re there when they need to take a break and checking in if something seems wrong. The health and wellbeing of our franchisees is everything.
I can’t leave out Emma Isaacs’ incredible book, Winging It. It made such an impact that I wrote to her and she wrote back! Her stove-top analogy — where each burner represents an area of life, like family or business — was a total light bulb moment. After all you can’t have all burners on high heat all at once! It’s always been a strong reminder to give my high-achieving tendencies a little break! Her tips on networking were also a total god-send. I recommend her book to anyone!
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Fundamentally, the movement I’m most passionate about is kindness. As an occupational therapist, working with people from all walks of life, I know firsthand that a little kindness can go a long way. My email signature reads, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”. It’s about showing kindness to others and yourself.
I encourage my franchisees to be kind to themselves too — after all, well people help make other people well. Our therapists need work-life balance and flexibility. There is a natural kindness in giving yourself that.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right” from Henry Ford is my tried and true go-to quote for life.
For me, at times throughout my business journey, mindset has been my worst enemy and my best friend. I’ve often got stuck in my own head, it happens to the best of us! Once I realised I could get out of my own way, everything changed.
So now I always come back to this quote as a not-so-subtle reminder that if it’s to be, it’s up to me — to borrow another one! Whether I’m facing challenges or jumping on crucial opportunities, tackling things with the right mindset is the real game-changer.
How can our readers follow you online?
Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit ActivOT’s website to read all about our work.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Female Disruptors: Helen Whait of ActivOT On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.