My name is Victoria Krstev and I’m Stefani’s Digital Marketing Assistant! Before starting my role, I got the opportunity to interview Stefani to learn more about her and her company. And now I get to share the inside scoop with you!
I have always known that I eventually wanted to work for myself. That was my end goal, but I understood that there were specific goals and milestones that I needed to accomplish first. I knew that I couldn’t just jump to owning my own business right away, I needed to learn a lot first. I enjoyed what I did, I had full benefits, I had a great salary, but I was working too many hours every week and I knew that it was time for me to branch out and start Inflo HR Ltd.!
I learned what I need to know about legal matters when it comes to HR. Even now, this is constantly changing and I’m always on my toes learning the latest information in the business. There really are no grey areas when it comes to HR. It is really black and white. This makes it difficult for businesses to understand sometimes on their own and an HR consultant is a great way to help them through it. I love sharing my intel with them and helping them navigate sometimes these murky waters, together.
It honestly just kind of happened. I was about to start a new job in two weeks in 2014, another corporate role, and I was just sitting and talking to my mom once again about wanting to start my own business one day. We started talking and I like the concept of having candidates flowing into the company and into other companies as new talent, new candidates, etc. So from there came “Inflo”. I always want candidates to be flo’ing towards my clients and ultimately filling roles.
For the first few years, I ran the business providing candidate services only and I was not allowed to market myself over LinkedIn due to “company policy” – which in retrospect, unless this is written in the employment contract, don’t listen to management when they try to scare you with this.
I’m definitely working less even though it feels like I’m working more. I have a lot more responsibilities now so if something doesn’t get done, I may not get in trouble for it but the business itself will suffer. At the end of the day, I call all the shots and make all the decisions so I can decide what I think is most beneficial to myself and the business.
The best part is that because I do make my own schedule and work from home it really means I can work from anywhere! Just last week I was able to visit a friend at her cottage on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, so even though I was technically working, I was working while looking out the window at a beautiful lake outside. Definitely better than sitting at a regular desk at my home office!
I’m definitely working less even though it feels like I’m working more. I have a lot more responsibilities now so if something doesn’t get done, I may not get in trouble for it but the business itself will suffer. At the end of the day, I call all the shots and make all the decisions so I can decide what I think is most beneficial to myself and the business.
The best part is that because I do make my own schedule and work from home it really means I can work from anywhere! Just last week I was able to visit a friend at her cottage on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, so even though I was technically working, I was working while looking out the window at a beautiful lake outside. Definitely better than sitting at a regular desk at my home office!
The first month I actually started the business, I had a trip planned to Mexico. So of course, I went and brought my laptop with me. That week I ended up making more money than working for a month incorporate! It just feels surreal that this is my life, after all the planning, it’s paid off.
I can be as creative as I want! I’m the one in charge so I don’t have anyone telling me what to do or not to do. If I feel like something would be a complete waste of time, I don’t have to continue doing it just because someone else thinks that it would be a good idea. If I see value in something I am working on, I am going to go full force and run with it. But if there isn’t going to be any return then why should I keep going down that path?
Sometimes yes, but honestly everything is just a lesson that will be learned.
There have been a lot of amazing moments for me during this whole process. At the beginning of the year, I hit my first 10k month! Then COVID19 happened, so it has slowed down business quite a bit but everything is picking right back up again.
Hiring my first employee was also a huge milestone. I first hired a contractor to help me with my web development as it began hard to juggle multiple clients at a time. I designed the website myself a few years ago but now I need some help keeping it updated. And then I hired my first digital marketing assistant. I love that Inflo HR Ltd. is continuing to grow and I am so excited for what’s next.
I have also had the opportunity to pitch Inflo HR Ltd. for two different grants. I was approved for the first one I applied to and just received news I got the second!! Incorporating has also been a milestone in itself.
Also, I love how my clients have begun to feel like family. A client recently asked me to be a partner in my business. This just shows me that people really do see value in me and in Inflo HR Ltd.!
I would recommend creating a timeline or a vision map of what your goals are first but also be realistic. That experience in the corporate world is very valuable and you really do learn a lot. It may seem glamourous and fun to own your business but get some experience underneath your feet before branching out on your own. I found this helped me become the person I am today. Everything has been a learning lesson up until now.
I was actually still a full-time student and working on my thesis on employer branding when COVID19 began to become a more serious issue in Canada, so I took some time to just focus more on school since the business slowed down. There was also a lot of government help that was provided for small businesses trying to make it through COVID19. In the summer, around July, things started picking back up again and I actually started realizing even more than ever how important HR policies are. With COVID19 many aspects of small businesses are changing, and they’ll need help now more than ever.
I always start off by looking at the resume, but I never want to judge solely based on what a paper says. I like to schedule a phone or video call (not so much in person now due to the pandemic) in order to get to know the person. I want to know what exactly interests them about the particular position they are applying for and actually go beyond just typical interview questions. It’s easier to show your true personality and skills this way. I also make sure both my clients and candidates know I have a fully open-door policy which means they can call or text me at any time. The last thing I want to do is place someone in a job that they would not be happy in the long run.
Right now I am focusing on the Mississauga area and Etobicoke but would love to expand out west to Burlington and Hamilton region as well. Not only do I want to expand my reach but also my team as well. I’m hoping that in the next six months to be able to hire HR assistants and junior recruiters. This allows me to focus more on the relationship-building side and higher-level HR consulting work. I’d also love to eventually create a podcast to feature on my website!
I find that the main differentiator is that a lot of recruitment agencies don’t have consultants so they can’t really do all of the work we can at Inflo HR Ltd. We are not only strong at recruiting but we can see all of the gaps and fix problems. I am a certified Human Resources Professional and have a lot of educational background revolving around HR.
Honestly, I still can’t believe this is all real. Sometimes I look around and I am so grateful for the lifestyle that I have created and sometimes doubted that it would ever be possible. I manage my personal life with a focus on my health and my growing business, I don’t need to ask for permission to make an appointment during the day or go to the gym. It’s so crazy to think that this is finally happening after just being a thought for so long. I had a manager years ago tell me I didn’t know what I was getting myself into wanting to start my own business as a recruitment agency and I’d never do it, and looking back now, that really motivated me to prove them wrong and show them that if I put my mind to something, I can make it happen, and you can too!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and for giving me and other readers a look inside your life and Inflo HR Ltd.! I feel like I personally have learned quite a bit and I am so excited to start working alongside you!
