Introducing Emma Hatto, Co-Founder of IBLE
Emma Hatto
Meet Emma, Co-Founder of IBLE a technology platform servicing people and businesses, giving them access to a dedicated Expert on a completely pay-as-you-go basis
Here she shares how she started, her top tips for business, the importance of embracing technology.
Website: WEBSITE LINKEDIN
“I started my first career as an EA, supporting CEO’s, mainly in the investment and tech space. In 2014 I launched my own business, Bower, a PA/EA recruitment agency with a friend and fellow EA. After 2 years in that business I spotted a gap in the market to support small businesses and individuals who needed access to top-quality EAs but didn’t have the money or the need to hire full-time. We had these amazing candidates, mainly Mum’s coming back to work who had such a good skill-set but couldn’t find part-time work.”
IBLE
What does a typical ‘day in the life’ look like for you?
IBLE is completely remote so I can be working from anywhere. When I’m in London my day starts at the gym. You can often find me in the cafe for hours after, engrossed in my emails and Slack messages with the team. I’ll then move around visiting clients all over London. We do small pop-up events at co-working spaces once a month so you might find me there too.
I travel as much as I can and take my work with me. I might be taking a call on a chairlift in the Alps or by the pool trying to keep my laptop cool. To me, being able to still do the things I enjoy and work at the same time is really important.
The beauty of this job for me and for and for all our Experts is they can work anywhere, anytime and be doing anything!
What would you say is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt since setting up your business?
To adapt to your clients. You might have the best idea but unless anyone wants to buy it then it’s useless. Ask questions, get feedback and adapt your business to make sure your clients stay loyal to you.
What tips would you give to someone looking to start their own business?
There are good days and bad days and you have to ride through both.
Find a good Co-founder if you can, you’ll be glad when you have a bad day that there is someone else to remind you why you’re there.
Find a few mentors and people outside of the business that can offer advice and support.
Embrace technology and delegate - us entrepreneurs love control but the sooner you learn to delegate the better as you’ll have time to concentrate on the bigger things.
Hire an IBLE Expert to support you!
Emma Hatto - Founder of IBLE
What are your most valuable business resources?
I love Trello for job boards, it’s really helpful, especially when you have a virtual team to be able to have all your projects in one place.
Google Hangouts - I feel like I’m constantly on them!
Slack - to keep in touch with our Experts and create a community.
Typeform - I love to get feedback from clients and this is a great way to do it.
Hellosign for signing documents wherever you are.
Who are your typical clients?
Either small, growing businesses or global remote businesses who need ad hoc support.
What’s your vision for IBLE?
IBLE is an affordable service that can be used by anyone but the people it can help the most are the “bogged-down” entrepreneurs. I want all of those bogged-down entrepreneurs to know about IBLE and use it as much or as little as they like. Whether it’s to support them through a project, run their diary, support their business development and marketing strategy or make sure their kids get birthday presents, there is so much we can do to help them.
How do you see the relationship between personal assistants and technology evolving?
PAs and EAs need to embrace technology as much as possible. It should be their best friend, making them more efficient and better at their jobs. The EA role is so different now to what it was even 10 years ago and the opportunities within businesses are so exciting but you’ll only get those opportunities if you use technology to support you.
Technology frees up an EA’s time to take on the larger tasks. There’s so much that can be embraced to maximise time and abilities.
Have you faced any challenges as a woman in business? If so, how have you dealt with this?
I’d be lying if I said no, but it’s not just being a woman, I’ve been judged because of my age and people’s perception of what they thought I should be without even knowing my skillset. I’ve learnt not to adapt to those people who judge, let them think what they want to think and move on. There are plenty of good people to work with so why work with ones who don’t believe in you, for whatever reason it is.
IBLE
What do you feel are the differences between the way you run your personal and your business finances?
I use technology (Xero) to run business finances and a very good accountancy firm. I’m much more blasé when it comes to my own finances. As long as the mortgage is being paid and I have enough money to buy a few dresses and travel I forget the rest. I need to be a lot better with my personal finances.
Describe your relationship with money and personal finance?
I was taught from a young age how to deal with money, save, plan and spend sensibly. Then I was thrown into London life, surrounded by the glamour of working off Bond Street and the expensive restaurants that my taste buds drew me too so my relationship changed. One thing that has stuck with me is to live within your means. It’s hard when you start a business because the big salary and lifestyle you know is taken away from you so you have to learn how to use money differently at the beginning.
What does financial independence mean to you?
To me it’s having the freedom to do what works for me. Being comfortable enough to live in London but travel as much as possible and have money in the bank to fall back on if everything fails.
IBLE
How do you define wealth?
The abundance of physical and financial assets but for me wealth means being more than comfortable with the money and possessions one has.
What is the best financial decision you have ever made (business or personal)?
Getting on the property ladder early and staying on it. It’s given me that security through a time when having money in the bank hasn’t been the best option.
What did you learn about finance and money when you were growing up?
I’ve always said that the school curriculum when I was growing up lacked enough education on finance or politics. It’s such valuable knowledge that without my parents I’d have had no experience with when on my own. I have my parents, business owners themselves, to thank for sending me work every Saturday and teaching me the right way to manage money.
What are your top financial business tips?
Don’t try and do it on your own, bring in a mentor / financial expert to help you. Then plan well, think about putting money aside to pay VAT and corporation tax. Only spend when you can afford it and make sure you pay yourself well. This all seems so simple but when you’re running a business it’s easy to get carried away and not think about these things.
Who is your role model?
My parents - they’ve worked so hard to give their children a nice life and I’ve learnt so much from them. My Dad gets up at 5am every day and has grown a small local butcher’s shop into a very successful business. The hard work has rubbed off and has given me the grit and determination to do the same.
If you could invite 3 artists to dinner, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
Thomas Keller in the hope that he’d do the cooking and I think his food is art!
I LOVE disco house music so I’d probably invite Frankie Knuckles, the king of house music to entertain us after dinner.
Following Frankie would have to be Elton John. For me nothing sums up a good dinner party more than a sing along around the piano!
Recommended READING and LISTENING?
Book
Girl, Woman, Other : Bernadine Evaristo
Podcasts
How I Built This : Guy Raz
Desert Island Discs : Elizabeth Day
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