LOCAL LIFE
MY OTHER LIFE : Debbie Hatumale-Uy
by Lorna Gordon
We often meet people in everyday life whose roles seem straightforward — teachers , delivery drivers , or council workers . Yet , many of them have another story to tell , a side hustle or passion project that transforms them into something entirely different . Debbie Hatumale-Uy is one of those people , balancing two fascinating yet distinct careers that both reflect her love for helping others .
Debbie is a digital media trainer , working with NSW and ACT businesses to help them navigate the ever-changing digital landscape . Funded by government grants , she provides personalised coaching for small business owners , helping them demystify digital marketing . “ There ’ s so much noise out there ,”
Debbie explains . “ I help people narrow
down the options and find what ’ s achievable for them .”
Through workshops and one-onone sessions , Debbie teaches business owners how to create a meaningful online presence , from setting up social media strategies to building user-friendly websites . She helps them understand their needs , empowering them to make informed decisions about managing their marketing or working with agencies .
The role is more than a job ; it ’ s a calling . “ I ’ ve been coaching since the beginning of the year , but really , I ’ ve always been a coach ,” Debbie shares .
“ I tried to coach people on my own at first , but when I partnered with Realise Business , I knew I had found a place where I felt at home and it let me share the lessons I have learned through my own business growth with other people .”
The grant system Debbie works under allows businesses with an ABN to receive up to four hours of free coaching . For Debbie , this isn ’ t just about business — it ’ s about transformation .
“ I want to turn viewers into doers , helping people go from being overwhelmed to taking actionable steps ,” she says .
But that ’ s only one side of Debbie ’ s story . In her “ other life ,” she ’ s the driving force behind Only the Sweet Stuff , an e-commerce business and online community for craft enthusiasts . While she ’ s less hands-on with the day-to-day operations now , her passion for crafting and community building remains at the heart of the business .
“ When I started Only the Sweet Stuff , I built it to be a space where crafters could not only find what they need to make their craft projects , but support each other ,” Debbie says .
“ It ’ s matured into a selfsustaining ecosystem where the community helps one another . I steer the ship and might not do all the day to day jobs now , but I use what I learn to develop our systems to make sure they continue to work well for the business .”
For Debbie , these two seemingly different worlds complement each other perfectly .
“ I used to think of myself as having split personalities — marketing Debbie and business Debbie — but I ’ ve realised they ’ re just different sides of the same coin ,” she says .
“ When I embraced that , everything became easier .”
Her journey is a testament to the power of following your instincts and starting small .
“ My ethos is ‘ done is better than perfect ,’” she says .
From the corporate boardroom to a crafters dream , Debbie splits her talents over two very different careers .
“ Test your ideas , learn from them , and grow gradually . You don ’ t have to go all-in right away — just take the first step .”
Whether helping small businesses succeed in the digital space or nurturing a global crafting community , Debbie ’ s dual careers reflect a singular passion : helping others find their path and thrive .
If you need help with the digital side of your small business , go to Realise Business and look at Digital Solutions under the Services Menu .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ISSUE 115 // JANUARY 2025 11