TEES TIME
In our regular feature , we find out what makes local business leaders tick .
Name :
Molly Teasdale
Age : 27
Role : founder and managing director , Achieve Hospitality and Achieve Professionals
Born : Middlesbrough Lives : Marton-in-Cleveland
Family : Engaged and soon to be married to my partner Lewis Clennell , who is also my business partner . We have a little boy aged three named Ezra .
Tell us about your upbringing : I grew up in Middlesbrough and met my partner aged 20 . We soon moved in together . I ’ m proud of what we have achieved together , both in business and in family with our son .
Tell us about your first job : My first job was when I was 16 . I worked part-time for one of the UK ’ s largest hotel brands in Middlesbrough , working breakfast shifts .
How different has your career been from how you imagined it at 21 ? Completely different . I would never have imagined I would be in the position I ’ m in today , owning and managing two successful recruitment agencies . But I always wanted more and had the desire to do something big . I ’ m definitely proud of what both me and Lewis have accomplished so far and the direction we are heading in .
What one piece of advice would you pass on to those starting out in business ? Don ’ t take business advice from someone who isn ’ t where you want to be . It ’ s better to take advice from those who have successfully gone through the path you ’ re on . I spent a lot of time in the beginning ( and still do ) watching other businesses I admire . I like to understand how they operate , who their employees are and what growth they have gone through . This definitely helps me understand that building a successful business takes time and sacrifices .
Which part of your job do you most enjoy ? What I love most is that we work with clients in the UK , US , Europe and the Middle East , which gives us the opportunity to build a great network of partnerships on a global basis . It ’ s always nice to build long-lasting relationships with both clients and candidates in our industries .
Which part of your job do you least enjoy ? The time I spend clearing my emails down to zero , but the satisfaction when it ’ s done is the best feeling .
Do you ever doubt yourself as a business leader ? Self-doubting yourself as a business leader creates doubt in your leadership from your team . That being said , we all make mistakes in business . I think making mistakes along the way ( especially in the earlier days ) just comes as part of owning and growing a business and it gives you the opportunity to learn , grow and change direction when it ’ s needed .
How do you switch off from work ? It ’ s difficult to switch off when it ’ s your own business . There are always to-do lists that can be completely overwhelming , stacked up emails to reply to and things to plan for . That being said , I do take every Friday off work to spend time with my son – the best distraction and change of focus from business is having a little one whose childhood depends on you !
Why does your business matter ? Achieve Hospitality and Achieve Professionals matter as both being recruitment agencies , we have the incredible ability to provide candidates with some of the most amazing job opportunities out there in our industries . Equally important , we support our client partnerships with finding the right talent for their business , family office and homes . There are thousands of recruitment agencies out there in the world , but ultimately we do things the Achieve way . Our values – bespoke , committed and transparent – are who we are , what we do and why we do it .
Which of your personal traits has been the most important in your career ? I ’ d say resilience and passion for what I do . Both traits have allowed me to build strong relationships in our sectors , ensuring that Achieve Hospitality and Achieve Professionals not only survive but thrive in a competitive market . Having a great idea is one thing but being able to turn it into a reality is the best feeling and takes true passion .
Which of your own personal traits most frustrates you ? I ’ m not so sure it ’ s a personality trait but one thing I struggle with is accepting praise and compliments from others . I still need to learn how to embrace recognition , but I ’ ll always remain grounded and humble .
Which trait in others do you most dislike ? Indecisiveness – always trust your gut , or weigh up the pros and cons of something before making an informed decision .
If you were to recommend just one book to Tees Business readers , which would it be ? To be honest , I have lots of books at home and at the office but never find the time to read them . The only book I ’ ve actually read from start to finish is The Chimp Paradox : The Mind Management Programme , written by Steve Peters . I won ’ t give too much away but it ’ s definitely worth a read if you ’ re interested in becoming a better version of yourself and wanting to learn how your mind works .
What ’ s your favourite local restaurant and why ? I love Alkaline Kitchen on Albert Road for lunch – they do great açai bowls . The Oven Restaurant on Linthorpe Road is arguably one of the best places for a Sunday roast too .
What social media do you use ? I use LinkedIn a lot ( I think everyone in business does these days ). Does WhatsApp count as social media ? I also use Instagram and Facebook .
Which local business leader would you like to see interviewed in this feature ? I ’ d like to see Atom Financial do this interview feature . We ’ ve recently partnered with Atom to support our agencies ’ finance operations . Matt Herrell , Matthew Fannan and the rest of their team are amazing support for us and are a fantastic business based in Teesside .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 55