Hello and welcome to Episode 216 of the People Powered Business Podcast! Today I am thrilled to be joined by returning guest, Leanne Faulkner from Fortitude at Work to discuss her findings from her recent PHD research on mental health for micro and small business owners. About Leanne - small business mental health advocate: Many people in the business community might know Leanne as “the soap lady” or the “goat lady”. Her youngest son had suffered with eczema from birth and in an effort to ease his discomfort Leanne learned how to make goat’s milk soap as a gentle protective skin care alternative. In 2004, Billie Goat Soap began. It was a humble affair initially and started in her kitchen. By 2010 the business had grown to employ over 20 people and sold the products in over 2000 outlets around the country. Billie Goat Soap was the NSW Business Chamber Business of the Year in 2010 and the Myer Supplier of the Year (general cosmetics) at around the same time. Billie Goat sold successfully in 2012. The challenges that came with growing a small business came at a cost to Leanne’s mental health. Needing support, she was shocked to learn that there was nothing available specifically for her – a small business owner. There were resources available for employees and the general public, but nothing for entrepreneurs and business owners. That put here on a path to lobby for change… Today, she works at the intersection of small business ownership and mental health. It’s quite a unique position. It means she knows the realities that come with small business ownership and she is able to link that to our understanding of workplace mental health support strategies. It’s fair to say Leanne is obsessed with supporting the mental health and wellbeing of small business owners. If you’d like to connect with Leanne you can see her website here: https://www.fortitudeatwork.com.au/about/ Connect with her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fortitude_at_work/ Or connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannefaulkner/ An Invitation Would you like to connect with other like-minded business owners, leaders and managers experiencing similar situations with their team? Join the discussion inside our free Facebook Group – HR Support for Australian -Businesses. https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrsupportaustralia Mentioned in this episode: Get Your FREE Employment Contract Checklist Download your free checklist and learn exactly what should (and should not) be in your Employment Agreements to ensure your small business is protected. Simply click this link to get your free checklist: https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/contract