10 Questions in 10 minutes with Jane Kennelly

Jane Kennelly is the company director of Frog Recruitment and a recruitment professional with over twenty years’ industry knowledge.

Interviewed by BtoB, Thursday, 04 November 2010

BtoB - What inspired you to start up your business?
Jane Kennelly - Eight years ago [after 12 years in the recruitment industry] I was struck by the lack of attention around the two crucial relationships at the heart of our industry – namely the client and the candidate.
And the fascinating challenge about establishing Frog Recruitment was to test our beliefs that we could change the way the industry relates to the candidate. This group was crying out for an operator to take an interest in them and their careers – someone, who (shock/horror) treated them with some commercial respect rather than as the last link in the business chain.
Recruitment is a very mature industry so in establishing Frog it’s been an inspirational opportunity to try out some fresh thinking.

BtoB - Who has influenced you the most professionally?
JK - I would have to say Roger Lampen. Roger is the person who instilled in me, by example, the courage to continually think and follow through on the new ideas and fresh concepts that you believe in.
From Roger I learnt that there’s more to business that just the bottom-line. Rewards in business come from creating a culturally compelling environment that attracts great people and seeks to develop each person’s confidence that they can be who they are and perform to the best of their abilities.

BtoB - How would you describe yourself as a business person?
JK - As a business-woman I know what I am not – and that is someone who’s attracted to hype or happy with mediocrity. I would like to think of myself as someone who’s backed themselves, strives to look for a fresh perspective and never tires of the opportunities life offers to learn something new.

BtoB - What do you consider your greatest achievement?
JK - My greatest achievement thus far is definitely creating Frog Recruitment and in doing so getting the opportunity to build a team made up of wonderful individuals.
And equal with this achievement is the on-going juggling of balancing a rewarding professional life with a stable, nurturing home life.

BtoB - With hindsight, what is the one thing you would do differently?
JK - I would have engaged the services of a mentor or business coach earlier on in the piece. Someone with no vested interest but who from day one would have helped to add a perspective and sounding-board instead of doing it all on your own.

BtoB - Who do you find inspirational and why?
JK - I love looking for inspiration and find it everywhere. A great example is a recent visit to the new TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre at the Pah Homestead…what a perfectly imagined project this is!
Also, for the last few years I’ve attended the Australasian Talent Conference. Each time I have been inspired - and have acted on this inspiration.
In my business what’s truly inspirational is witnessing real people immersed in utter service excellence. One of our clients is the Hospice West Auckland. Seeing the positive energy these people bring to their vocation puts our work into real perspective.

BtoB - What is the most inspirational book you have read recently?
JK - ‘Rework’ by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. I would say this book is the wake-up call for those needing to be reminded that a new world of work is fast developing around us at a phenomenal pace. This book challenges assumptions about work and offers ideas, many worth considering.
I’m also loving ‘Wired Magazine’ downloaded into my ipad. Each month I look at the Wired contents page online and if I see something interesting then I’ll buy the digital ipad version. I find the convenience of being able to do this inspirational in itself!

BtoB - What is your favourite website and why?
JK - A daily hop on to Tweetdeck means instantly being thrown suggestions on the latest sites I might be interested in by those I’ve opted to follow.
My two favourite ‘long-term’ favourite sites are Fastcompany.com and ERE.net

BtoB - What is the first thing you would do if you became Prime Minister?
JK - I would create a scheme to encourage and support school leavers and graduates into the workforce. Right now the 15-25 year old group is a disenfranchised one that needs help making choices about their work options and the world of work.
I’d make it advantageous for businesses to open their doors to youth in order for them to learn about the world of work.

BtoB - What is the best thing about being in business?
JK - Eight years ago I believed there was room for a recruitment company like mine who could challenge the status quo…and my team and I are still here and thriving. That’s the best thing about being in business…being in business but running your own race.