Amanda Lecaude – On a mission to set school students up for success

It was here that I not only developed business experience including marketing but gained exposure to the world of project management and the rest really is history.

Over the next few years based in Sydney and after a few different roles I ended up working in marketing in professional services which are basically the industry I stayed in until I set up my own business.

I worked for law firms, managed a marketing association for marketing & business development professionals working in law and accounting, and then moved into the recruitment of these professionals in that space. Incorporated into my experience over these years was also a move into general management and responsibilities for not only marketing but Finance, HR, and IT.

For many years I had been looking for an opportunity to create my own business but really had no idea until a good friend/work colleague told me she had come across a body of professional organisers. She told me that it was perfect for me based on my expertise in organisation & project management and I am forever grateful to her.

After conducting my due diligence I knew I had found my tribe and something I was passionate about moving into! Little did I know back then that I would start with general organisation and later niche into working primarily with students!

Organising Students, grew out of my other business, Organising You, whereas an organising expert, I work with many families who primarily get me to come in to help with organisation and clutter in their homes. The key theme is that they didn’t want to pass on any of their ‘bad habits or lack of habits’ to their children.

A little light bulb moment for me was at the time my eldest son was about to go through a transition to secondary school.

I approached his school to conduct a workshop for the Year, 6 students, around knowing what to expect, organisation, and time management as I believed students needed to be prepared for such a major transition in their lives.

Organising Students was born! Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a born organiser with excellent time management skills.

In recent years, when I coupled this with teaching study skills, my life as an Academic Life Coach became a reality.

Now I share my organising and time management skills with students (primary, secondary, and university), parents, and teachers. And I love it!

I work with both neurotypical students and those with learning challenges (typically Year 6- 12 but sometimes younger)

I also see myself these days as being a self-advocate working closely with families, schools, and other support personnel ie Psychologists, Pediatricians, Occupational Therapists, in partnership to ensure students are supported in every possible way when it comes to their learning and education.

Having developed skills in executive functioning over recent years, I also now spend quite a bit of time supporting families to navigate the process of working with schools to develop and implement Individual Learning Plans (ILP’s) for students with special needs and learning difficulties (such as Executive Function, ADHD, Asperger’s and Autism).

As I regularly say to my students it is about ‘studying smarter not harder’ and having the right tools in their toolbox that will work for them!

I can report that these days, whilst I still like to see what others are doing, I am very comfortable in my own skin and what I am offering & doing.

I am very proud of what I have been able to achieve from scratch and for the services I provide to my students, their families, schools, other students, and teachers.

I am also very confident in what I have to say and offer in this space. It is also nice to now be referred to by others as an expert in my space.

I also like to be seen to share my knowledge freely throughout the process as well as for everyone to see that I have a real passion for helping others & making a difference.

As a marketer by background I personally never seem to have any trouble in coming up with ideas to write or blog about and actually enjoy this side of the business as well.

Naturally, sometimes I achieve them and sometimes I don’t – I have learned to recognise that is okay as other things pop up from time to time that needs my focus and attention.

It is also about having a passion and doing what we love & enjoy not because we have to but more because we want to!

Often things continue to evolve and change along the way and its important to be open to any new ideas that pop up.

I am grateful that my business continues to grow and as always I am keen to regularly take some time away from the day to day to reflect and plan the next steps.