The pivotal moment that changed the course of this CEO’s career

If Tahnee Sharp were to use one word to describe what inspired her to establish her own company, it would be this: Frustration.

By Odessa Blain

Leadership

If Tahnee Sharp were to use one word to describe what inspired her to establish her own company, it would be this: Frustration.

By Odessa Blain

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Today Tahnee Sharp is the founder and CEO of the global independent marketing firm, The Marketing Room.

But her career was not always meant to be like this.

“Like many young professionals, I had a career I was deeply passionate about in marketing,” she told the FW Leadership Summit.

“For years, I had thrived in the industry, working with amazing brands and teams and working my way up corporate structures into senior roles and management.

“But unfortunately, like many others, I faced a turning point in my career when I became a mother”.

Sharp described the conflict she felt between motherhood and wanting to return to work as “overwhelming”.

“I ultimately made the decision to take a break from my career to focus on my family. I thought it would be temporary but little did I know it would completely change my perspective on work, family – and the balance between the two,” she said.

“Returning to work isn’t just a problem in Australia, it’s a global issue.”

“I realised there was another challenge we could solve.”

Tahnee didn’t want to stop marketing, but also knew she needed to have greater flexibility. The traditional office hours would no longer suit her.

There was just one catch. She couldn’t find any flexible role that suited her level of experience.

“I was frustrated, disappointed and honestly a little angry,” she said.

“How was it possible that after all my years of experience and passion, I couldn’t find a way to continue doing what I loved on a part-time basis?

“That frustration ignited something inside me. It pushed me to think about how I could create a solution, not just for myself, but for all the talented professionals out there who were in the same position. And that’s when the idea for The Marketing Room was born.”

Sharp addressing a crowded room on day one of the FW Leadership Summit

The Marketing Room is a company where experienced marketers could continue to work in a profession they loved, but in a way that suited their life circumstances.

But Sharp’s vision did not stop there.

“I realised there was another challenge we could solve,” she said.

“Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) often struggled to afford a full-time senior marketing professional … they couldn’t justify the cost of hiring someone on a full-time basis”.

The company Tahnee had created – one where experienced marketing professionals had flexible conditions – was the perfect fit for these SMEs.

“On the one hand, you had experienced professionals who wanted flexible part-time work that could also deliver results, and on the other, you had businesses who needed that very expertise, but without the commitment of a full-time hire,” she explained.

It was a win-win. And while, like with any start-up, there have been challenges for Sharp along the way, the ongoing success of her business is proof of the power of her vision.

“Here’s something that I thought was happening, but once proven, still blew me away: This need for flexible opportunities … and better opportunities for professionals,” she said.

“Returning to work isn’t just a problem in Australia, it’s a global issue … and as we started sharing our story, people started to understand what we were building, and it has resonated wildly”.