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Donna Patricia Sheehy

A picture of Donna Patricia Sheehy

Name:
Donna Patricia Sheehy
Age:
39
Location:
Biggenden, 100km west of Bundaberg.
Current job title:
CEO

Qualifications

I am a Geologist, holding a BSc from the University of Newcastle.

Past experience

Operating a small acid sulphate soil consultancy in Northern NSW is my only active business/corporate experience/exposure. My experience has been gained on the job. In 2003 we had a small company valued at just $200,000. After much time immersed in the worlds of corporate governance, accounting, capital raising and commercialisation of a new technology I quite quickly gained hands on experience. Today our company is valued at $11.4 million dollars. There are still amazing volumes of information to learn and a lot of hindsight to be gained. However, I do not believe you need a business degree to perform in business, but you do need to actively learn to survive, behave and grow - there are many old traps for young players in business.

How did you get started?

Seven years ago my partner and I accidentally invented a new greenhouse friendly alternative to agricultural limestone. After some three years of trialling and testing we realised the opportunity, incorporated a company and begun to listen-we listened to other inventors, business advisors, commercialisation advisors, solicitors, accountants friends and family. Then the enormous task of deciphering all the information we had gathered begun and then the desired morals, ethics and goals of the company were used to identify the best way forward for the technology and the company, along with who the right types of advisors and people were for the technology. Not being able to find the right people, my partner and I decided we had little choice but to become the right people for the job. Listening is one of the most vital learning tools in business. Listening at every level has been my start. I asked how to do it then listened. People were more than happy to tell me what to do. I then chose which directions best suited our needs.

Greatest professional achievement

Positive cash flows.

Challenges the job presents

CEO in any start up is a very lonely place, especially when you are an inventor or company founder, I believe this is due to Managing Directors/CEOs in such circumstances holding the majority of company knowledge. Many tasks cannot be handed over in the early days and often the budget is tiny or non existent. The greatest challenge is to remain passionate, you really do need to become an evangelist for your company/technology. By this I mean any new company or technology is like a new religion, you have to be careful not to form a group of over-enthusiastic followers, or else you risk looking like a cult (or nutter). You have to be careful with your predictions, under-promise and over-deliver in every task you undertake. If you double every date and budget, your followers will not begin to drop off when their perceived judgement day is running late or your promises are not fulfilled. I guess the strongest challenge in my role is not to get stuck in the forest. The need to be in the helicopter above observing is vital to retaining focus. Not staying in the helicopter too long or not long enough is my greatest challenge. This stems from the absolute joy I find in the operational side of the company and the danger of playing in the funniest parts of the business.

What you like most about your job

I get paid to commercialise a vision I was instrumental in creating - it's like being paid to do your favourite hobby.

Typical day at work

5.30am up and immediate dump of overnight list built up (in other words every night my head ticks away while I'm asleep and when I wake in the morning I dump everything I can remember onto a list before I forget). Then coffee and e-mail. Arrive at work at 7am, start up office, toolbox meeting with quarry staff, daily run down with office staff. Back to coffee and e-mail and by this time it is 8am and the phone is off and calling. Around 9am I go through the mail and approve admin works for the day. I will then attend any meetings or continue on one of the many projects we have underway. At present the majority of my time is dedicated to getting our Pilot plant built. After a long drawn out dispute with the original engineering firm we are all working hard to get the project rolling full steam ahead again so construction can be completed.

My day at the office usually ends at 4pm when the site is shut down, I then take a walk around the crushing circuit and head home where I park myself in the home office till around 6pm. Then after some time with the family, at around 9.30pm, I go over my list for the following day, finish off any tasks and shut down the home office.

As such I may be in the boardroom one day and in the quarry pit the next-no day is typical, one of my favourite aspects of my job!!

Advice for other women

If you are working in a male dominated industry don't become or behave as a male - this is a very common behaviour. Women do bring a different (not better not worse just different) aspect to operations, management and the board room. If women do not demonstrate the true benefit of having women in male dominated industries and workplaces then women will always be a minority. The more often women behave as women in the workplace the sooner we will be fully recognised in male dominated industries.

I am a strong believer in 'facta non verba' - deeds not words, if there is inequality then demonstrate that you are the best. If you are not noticed, then that is not where you want to work and they don't deserve your skill set and the benefit of having you - take your talent where it is appreciated.

It can get quite lonely when reminded I am not one of the boys, but I have learned that maybe other women aren't actually wanting to be in my industry (mining and extractive industries), and the boys aren't used to women (especially as bosses) being there. So when I feel left out I make it clear that that is exactly how they are making me feel. I don't whinge and I am not complaining, I simply keep explaining I care about my crew just as they all care for each other. We all know the situation may be that large numbers of women may not want to work in the mining and extractive industry or the construction industry. How lucky are these boys to have such an independent thinker, if only they knew how brave I have been.

Favourite gadget

GPS on my Jasjam phone gives me an extra free hand in the field and allows me to find my own way around exploration sites. This excellent technology just downloads data straight into mapping programs, gives me around one hour per week back. May not sound like much but when every week seems to be too short, any time rescued back is very much appreciated. By the time you read my profile, I will have a new favourite. We are very lucky to live in an age where technology evolves so fast, always looking forward to the new entrants.

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Last updated: 8 April 2008