In 2009, after receiving the prestigious Telstra Young, Private, and Overall SA Businesswoman of the Year awards, I made a bold decision that would change the course of my life. Leaving behind a decade-long Executive role at Harris Scarfe, I decided to take a well-earned break and reset. Little did I know that this pause would spark the beginning of something truly special.

Sitting in a cozy café in Paris, sipping on a latte, I found myself sketching a plan on a napkin-an idea centred around creating workplaces where people thrive. That’s where the dream of building a boutique HR consultancy began, and PK Personalised Services was born.

When I returned to Australia, the wheels of this new journey began turning. A conversation with a mentor quickly evolved into my first opportunity in recruitment and HR consulting. It was the confidence boost I needed to turn my dream into reality. I threw myself into helping fast-growing retail businesses with HR, recruitment, and strategic coaching, and soon after, we welcomed our first major client, Retail Adventures.

In 2010, we rebranded as BespokeHR, and with that, our commitment to providing tailored, people-first HR solutions grew even stronger. A close friend had lovingly pointed out that ‘personalised services’ needed clarity, and I’ll forever be grateful for that nudge—it became the first step toward refining our identity.

I’ll never forget those early days when my phone wouldn’t stop ringing with people reaching out—colleagues, friends, and referrals—needing help with their people challenges. What felt like natural responses to me lifted a weight off their shoulders, and that’s when I knew: we were filling a very real need.

From there, we expanded into new industries, including construction and professional services. Founding clients like Hickinbotham and Solveit Software played a crucial role in broadening our horizons. By 2012, we had established our first office in North Adelaide and launched our first website. This was also the year we became licensed providers of Brian Tracy’s training programs, adding DISC profiling and leadership development to our services. Our reach was expanding, but our mission remained the same: to make workplaces better, one business at a time.

2013 was a transformative year. Inspired by global leaders like Brian Tracy, Anthony Robbins, and Loral Langemeier, I deepened my commitment to integrating high-performance concepts into our work. This drive led to our first DISC profiling session for business owners and the launch of the NAB Rising Stars Program, which ran for five consecutive years and touched the lives of over 100 rising stars and 20 senior executives.

By Year 5, we had grown into a trusted HR partner for over 100 clients, placed 250 roles, and outgrown our North Adelaide office, prompting a move to King William Street. We continued to evolve, adding clients like the Australian Institute of Business and launching our Employee Experience Model.

The years that followed saw continued growth, new services, and deepened partnerships. We developed our Culture Code product, launched our first 90-day online training program, and placed over 430 roles by 2015. By our 10th anniversary, our team had grown to four, and we were supporting 275 clients across South Australia, with services now spanning Organisational Development and Local Government.

The last few years have been all about refining, innovating, and looking forward. We’ve refreshed our brand, updated our website, and streamlined our internal systems to better serve our clients. Today, we are a team of 9, proudly supporting over 500 businesses across a wide range of industries. We’ve delivered more than 150 DISC training sessions, placed over 1,000 roles, and have been fortunate enough to contribute to the success of some truly remarkable businesses.

As I reflect on the last 15 years, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. From that first napkin sketch in Paris to where we stand today, none of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our clients, partners, and team members. Every challenge, every triumph, and every lesson along the way has brought us to this moment.

It’s been an honour and a privilege to support so many businesses, and to be part of their journey has been the greatest reward of all. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation for what’s to come.

Thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to the next chapter of growth, innovation, and shared success!