"Be yourself - it is what has made you so good at what you do."
A self-proclaimed payroll whisperer, system wrangler and unicorn, Gemma Mcdonnell brings over 20 years’ of broad experience to Payroll Edge. Gemma’s experience extends beyond ‘traditional’ payroll and extends to an in-depth understanding of HR, Technology, Operations and Finance (and a cheeky side project with building access management) and how all these areas interact with the payroll function.
Her passion for payroll and developing payroll professionals aims to raise the profile of payroll within businesses. When she is not working with businesses to improve their specific payroll needs, Gemma is working to raise the profile of payroll professionals and the value that they can bring to organisations. Gemma has a particular passion around how payroll can be a valuable asset for employers to raise the financial wellbeing of their employees to get back the lost productivity caused by financial stress.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for joining us, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Gemma McDonnell: Gemma, Founder, Director and Independent Payroll Consulting from Payroll Edge Consulting based in Perth, Western Australia.
Can you tell our readers in what ways you are disrupting your industry?
Gemma McDonnell: Payroll in Australia was, for a long time, considered a back office transactional team and the payroll professionals were generally not considered for leadership development opportunities.
As we introduce more focus on technology based solutions, as well as increased flexibility to working arrangements and the significant rate of legislative change and complexity, payroll professionals are seeking support and guidance on how they can continue to provide accurate payroll delivery.
To date, most of this support is provided by Payroll Software Providers through the form of technical solutions experts, however their focus is often on how their specific solution is able to address (or not address) a particular challenge.
Through remaining system agnostic, and by bringing expertise that extends beyond just the transactional needs for a payroll solutions, we are changing the dynamic of how payroll teams are working with their businesses to develop strategies that leverage the natural way in which people work within the business to be able to adapt to the changing environments that each business faces.
Did you become a disruptor by choice or by necessity? Tell us more about the journey.
Gemma McDonnell: I chose to develop Payroll Edge Consulting to provide this independent support.
As a Payroll Manager in large organisations, I recognised that there was a need for more support for the payroll industry, particularly in Western Australia and that while I had the absolute pleasure to work with some amazing vendor based consultants over the years, that there needed to be a more holistic approach to the type of support that is provided.
We still love working with amazing technical consultants, but are able to see the bigger picture beyond just the specific software and see the people, processes and new technology solutions that are becoming available to help businesses do payroll better.
Now for the main focus of this interview: Many readers may wonder what are the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs must overcome to be successful?
Gemma McDonnell: Some of the biggest challenges that I have, and have seen, women entrepreneurs face in knowing how to value ourselves and the service that we provide, and feeling that the quality of our work needs to be multiple times better (or more perfect) that non-female equivalent businesses.
Research says that generally, Men will apply for a role if they meet as little as 80% of the criteria, whereas women will wait until they believe they meet 100% – even if their perception is underestimating their actual ability.
The same is often seen in Business where women entrepreneurs will under value the work they are doing, or even not put themselves in the mix for potential work, feeling that they are not worth the same.
How did you overcome these obstacles? Who helped you during these difficult times and how did they?
Gemma McDonnell: Early in my journey, I sought out other entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to support and be supported. Together we provide a support network to check in and celebrate the wins along the way.
I also work with business coaches and professionals in all areas of my business to help me to form solid foundations of how we work with our clients that fit with our values.
They have taught me to value what we do and that it is ok to ‘walk away’ if our values aren’t aligned.
How did these lessons shaped the way you conduct business today?
Gemma McDonnell: I am proud to be able to work with amazing clients who are aligned with our values, and who see the value in the support that we provide them and their teams.
What advice you wished you had received when you started, that you’d like to share now with aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Gemma McDonnell: Wear the crazy shoes and the dinosaurs in your hair. Be yourself – it is what has made you so good at what you do.
Not everyone is “your people” and that is ok – work with those that share your values – they will be so much more rewarding.
Out of all of your proudest moments as an entrepreneur, is there a particular one that stands out the most?
Gemma McDonnell: After helping a client with a particularly challenging incident, being included as an honorable mention as part of their internal employee recognition program.
While we were not employees, and therefore not able to actually ‘win’ any staff awards it was such an amazing feeling to be able to see the true appreciation the client had of the support that we were able to provide the team and the value we were able to bring to their business.
What do you plan on tackling during the 2022 year? Share your goals and battles you expect to face.
Gemma McDonnell: Payroll in Australia as another round of massive changes coming in 2022.
We have many battles ahead as we help our current and new clients to implement new processes and requirements within their business.
We are also keeping a close eye on the technology developments that will impact not just payroll directly, but how staff and businesses go about delivering their operational goals and what payroll will have to do to keep up with the expectations.
I’m sure our readers will be very thankful for the insights you have shared. What is the best book you’ve gone through lately and please share some take away lessons from it.
Gemma McDonnell: Good Girls Do Sell: The Modern Businesswoman’s Guide to Authentic Selling by Janeen Vosper
‘Selling’ and Business Development are far from my greatest skills. I hate being ‘sold’ to and generally don’t like feeling like I am selling. Janeen’s insights have helped me to understand that my perceptions of selling (the sleezy car salesman) aren’t the only way to build a business and clients, and that by being myself and focussing on learning how I tell the story of what we do, I can achieve the growth I desire for the business.
Thank you so much for your time but before we finish things off, I do have one more question for you. When was the last time you did something for the first time and what was it?
Gemma McDonnell: That’s a good one.
Would have to say it was in 2021 when I learnt and performed a dance routine as part of a dance troop. So different to what I do for a living, but so rewarding, and made more so by the amazing dancers I got to work with.
Never too old to live out childhood dreams!
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Gemma McDonnell for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Gemma McDonnell or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin
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