Leah Betts is the Co-Founder of Cachia, and an accomplished entrepreneur, distinguished brand innovator and a creative force who is dedicated to building brands that last.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
My career journey started in 2001 however my passion for business and fashion stems back to my upbringing. My early years were spent in fashion environments due to my mother’s involvement in fashion houses before she owned Studio Kids.
As an entrepreneur, my focus lies in brand development, innovation, and creative leadership all driven by my dedication to building brands that last. With over 20 years of expertise in manufacturing, design, product development, supply chain management and marketing, I have successfully built 7 brands throughout my career. Among these, my current brands are Cachia, Studio Play, Tan-Off and Studio Kids.
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
On a typical day, my routine starts around 5:15am with a workout in my home gym followed by a walk with my mum. By 7am, I am showered, dressed and ready by the time my 3 kids wake up. I have an 11 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old.
My work day commences between 9:30-10am and the days are always full. We strategize for all our meetings to take place on 1 day of the week, dedicate another day to design and marketing and another day for comprehensive planning. Most days I transition from one team member to the next, engaging in discussions about their plans and KPI’s.
I finish my workday at 4:30pm to get a few hours of quality time with my children before they head off to bed.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach in maintaining it?
My work life and family life have always blended into one – a natural outcome of being a business owner. Punctuality isn’t my strong suit however I try not to be overly critical of myself. Occasionally, my focus intensifies on work which leads to less family time.
Conversely, there are times my family demands more of my attention and in these moments I’m fortunate enough to have an exceptional team that readily steps in, enabling me to spend more time with my family. Michelle Obama says “you can have it all, but not all at once” and this deeply resonates with me. Sometimes work requires more and other times family requires more. You just need to embrace the present demands and allocate your time to where it is most needed.
Change is constant, and it’s essential for growth. Have you made any lifestyle changes in the past year to improve your work-life balance?
Throughout this year, my focus has been on my health and fitness journey in order to regain my pre-baby physique. I have also reduced my alcohol consumption and in doing so have noticed that my mental clarity has improved although it has also led to a more challenging process of unwinding and relaxing.
We’re always on the lookout for new resources! Can you recommend any books, podcasts, or newsletters that have helped you in your journey towards balance?
My all-time favourite books are Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Principles by Ray Daly and Good to Great by James Collins.
Before we wrap up, do you have any final words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
People aspire to be a part of a venture that creates excitement and offers a sense of purpose to their contributions. The strength of your team defines your capability. Remarkable outcomes stem from extraordinary individuals who channel their devotion relentlessly. Commitment is paramount. Take people on the journey with you, you can’t do it alone!
