AI Magazine Issue 11 2018

44 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2018 Launched in 2017, FuturePsych is dedicated to assisting companies in embracing emerging technologies and providing insight into how these new technologies will affect their people and practices. In September, the firm’s founder, Kerry Howard, was recognised in AI Magazine’s 2018 Influential Businesswoman Awards programme as Australia’s ‘Most Compassionate Woman in Mental Health Treatment’. We spoke to Kerry to find out how she has made her mark on this niche, but incredibly important, sector. tarting her first business at nineteen years old, Kerry Howard has always had a desire to do things differently, to go against the status quo and form her own path. In the years since, she has embraced her uncanny ability to identify urgent needs on the business landscape, using her honed talents to empower women, and help businesses recognise the influence of new and emerging technologies on operations, processes and – more importantly – people. At the heart of Kerry’s work is Ms Pink Enterprises, which is comprised of; Mindfully Well, a Private Psychology Practice; Ms Pink Herself, which offers life coaching for women; and Future Psych. As Kerry explains, “I have been building businesses under Ms Pink Enterprises since 2012. Before that, I was a public servant, then I branch in Psychology, starting with Mindfully Well. I have grown my private practice from start-up to having a client base of more than 1000 clients, a significant local referral network and a 5-star Google rating.” “In 2015, I added Ms Pink herself as I became aware that many women could benefit from a different level of service, more focused on coaching women to their next phase of their life improvement. In 2017, I launched FuturePsych. I refer to myself in that business as a PsychoFuturologist. Ultimately, I create tools to support the embracing of the new technology in improving mental health outcomes. I developed REMDR, a ground-breaking technology in delivering EMDR Therapy and trauma treatment, and PsychNEXUS – a confidential platform for psychologists and other health professionals to securely consult with their clients via video conference.” Nonetheless, Kerry is a Psychologist at heart, with a need to help others understand the drivers behind their own behaviour – despite the fact that, in Kerry’s words, “Psychologists are often not great business people.” “It is, fundamentally, a ‘helping’ profession. Psychologists are usually quite risk averse, so they often don’t take up a role in businesses, more into academia or solo practice. They also often work 1 on 1 with clients, so there is a lack of an integral Contact: Kerry Howard Company: FuturePsych Address: 10 Euroka Street, Narrabundah, ACT 2604, Australia Website: www.futurepsych.online www.mspinkherself.com Telephone: +61 2 6239 6191 Australia’sMost Influential Woman inMental Health S IW180052 support network around them. In corporate spaces, they are often the only psychologist, held with regard by their peers, but kept ‘separate’. This is not a good thing. This forms a big part of my work with FuturePsych, which is about finding new ways to help Psychologists feel connected and supported in their work. I believe it is important to create connections, to feel valued and included. The energy that you get from the people you spend your most time with cannot be underestimated.” As we come to the end of the interview, Kerry discusses the future of Ms Pink Enterprises and FuturePsych, as she continues to move into new areas. “Moving forward, we are about to launch Rural Help in early 2019. This will provide a network of Psychologists and counsellors who will provide online services to those living in rural areas doing it rough and struggling, especially in times of drought. These services will allow access to mental health services from the comfort of home, to those who cannot travel or who may find it hard to be open about needing help due to societal expectation and demands. I am in the middle of writing my new book, ‘ The Trouble with Trauma ’. I have had to put my writing on hold while we get Rural Help off of the ground. I expect that the new book will launch in the second half of 2019.” Finally, in her closing comments, Kerry reflects on her achievements so far: “I recently had the opportunity to review my achievements in a broader sphere, and I started to see just how much I have done over the past five years. Growth in turnover, staff and business networks in ways I would have never dreamed possible.”