Sanja Jovanovic - CEO of Talent Academy

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea?

Sanja Jovanovic: We use theatre based training techniques to help people face public speaking engagements with more confidence, supporting their brand and building their credibility in their field. We started the business when someone approached us after one of our theatre productions and jokingly said "I wish my staff had the confidence you do" and the idea was planted in my mind in that moment. I realised I could teach his staff to have the confidence I do - and in a fun, relaxed and interactive way!

Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company?

Sanja Jovanovic: We offer group training courses for public speaking confidence with teams across Australia. We also have an MC offering to run events on behalf of clients and manage the stage for them. Voice over work is a new service we have started offering as a result of change in business from Covid19 - we hope to support client's marketing efforts with professional voice actors. We are also just about to start offering online training for individual professional development in speaking, confidence, interview skills and more.

Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field?

Sanja Jovanovic: We practice what we preach. We are perform in theatre productions every year, we host an online TV broadcast, we speak on podcasts and radio - we believe it's important for the integrity of business to put into practice everything that we teach. We are on stage and screen every week - we don't teach a skill we've used many years ago. We teach skills that we are actively using and refining every day! And we move with the times so we can evolve with Covid19's effects and offer workshops more broadly across the world.

Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face?

Sanja Jovanovic: In the past, we have struggled to grow and scale as I have been offering the workshops in person and there are only so many hours in the day. In some ways, Covid 19 has presented an opportunity and perspective for how we may scale and offer our work more broadly. This has changed the way we approach coaching and our content has shifted but it should work well! We're working to overcome the very present challenges of Covid19 and will continue to be proactive and creative to come out of this struggle on top.

Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business?

Sanja Jovanovic: Build a network! We have built solid relationships with our clients and referral partners which has been the contributing factor to our growth and success. As a result, we've never had to spend money on advertising as our referral base has been supportive. Also have clear separation of work and life - the balance is important. For me personally, work stays in the office so that home can be the space to connect with others and manage my emotional health. This is important to me and has been a successful model.