Madeeha Usman is a multi-award winning entrepreneur and won gold awards for the below 2020 AusMumpreneur WA-SA categories
- Rising Star AusMumpreneur
- Business Excellence
- Multicultural Business
- Customer Service
Madeeha is a chartered Accountant and registered tax agent. She belongs originally from Pakistan and came to Australia in 2014. Madeeha is the Founder and Managing Director of The Kalculators, South Australia. She is also the Director of Care Plan Management, a Plan Management Company for Disabled individuals which helps them with their NDIS Plan Management. Madeeha is a mother of 2 gorgeous kids – Musa he is 5 years old and goes to Reception. Her younger one is Mirha and she is 2 years old.
When did you start your business?
I started my business around 5 years ago soon after I gave birth to my son Musa. Before that, I was working in public sector in PricewaterhouseCoopers, Adelaide and was doing quite well with my job.
I resigned from my job because managing kids and work was getting tough and I needed flexibility to work and raise my kids my own way.
What was the inspiration behind starting this business?
After the birth of my son, I decided to change the way I work so that I could provide the best care to my son and also continue with my professional growth. Starting my own firm was always in my vision. When I became a mum, I was at the peak of my career and I did not want to compromise my professional success and my son’s nurture. Consequently me and my husband came up with our own tax firm The Kalculators and I started seeing clients at our home office (a small garage) whenever I would get time. The response I got was massive and now we successfully run 8 offices across South Australia and have a client base of over 20,000 clients altogether in a mere span of 5 years.
What are you most excited about in your business?
The fact that I am able to balance my work and personal life gives me immense satisfaction. As the managing director, every new day feels exciting as we head towards new goals, new projects. I can work on my own pace, and I can equally spend time with my kids and be there for them whenever they need. The flexibility is a plus point. I was working 5 hours before giving birth to my baby girl and I was working the night after delivering my baby.
What has been the most challenging thing about starting your business?
Every new business comes with its own challenges. I was doing a highly rewarding and secured job and to come to a decision of starting my own firm, leaving the job behind was a tough one. Life was a bit unkind towards me. Soon after starting my business, I lost two beautiful kids who passed away few months after their birth. I was going through an emotional turmoil and the support I got from my clients, my employees and family during this time was beyond imagination. My husband stood with me throughout as the pillar of support. This gave me so much strength and courage to bounce back and work harder for the clients who put trust in me, the staff who work for me and my family.
What advice would you give to other women thinking about starting a business?
Any woman who is sitting on the fence, I would recommend you to jump up that fence and work towards what you love and dream of. Trust yourself and take a leap of faith. Make focus and resilience your strength, seek support where needed and decide what’s important. As Dhirubhai Ambani said, ”If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build others.”
Why did you enter the AusMumpreneur Awards?
The reason I entered the MUMPRENEUR AWARDS is the whole concept of recognition and acknowledgment of working mothers in the business world. We as mothers are always taken for granted and it feels great when it is recognised that how much efforts we put in balancing the work and family life. The way Mumpreneur awards celebrate the success and achievements of mum entrepreneurs is something I wanted to associate myself and be a part of.
What did you enjoy the most about being part of the awards?
Being a part of the awards was quite exciting and so was the wait for the results. I still remember my son being glued to my phone on the night of the results. He was even more excited than me. Although we did miss the Event night because of Covid, but it was still remarkable to be part of this award journey. The recognition me and my firm have received after winning the awards has been huge and I am truly honoured to be awarded all the awards.
What surprised you most about the awards?
The most surprising moment was definitely the results. My son jumped with joy to his dad that mom has won. But what surprised us the most was when I won the award in all the 4 categories I was nominated for. It felt incredible and emotional at the same time.
How did the awards help you in your business?
Being an Ausmumpreneur winner has had a very positive impact on the business. While I was quite popular in Adelaide, in the community, the ausmumpreneur platform has provided me with nationwide recognition. I have met a number of people who have congratulated me and recognise me as the winner of these awards. I have got some clients who did not know me or our firm and have actually become our clients now.
What advice would you give to other mums thinking about entering the awards?
To fellow mums who are thinking of entering the awards, I would say it’s a great platform to feel valued and empowered. It has been so inspiring to watch so many talented and incredible women win accolades on this platform and I think it is really necessary to have a framework like this in place. Every business mom walks a unique and powerful journey of her and should certainly participate in the Ausmumpreneur awards to reward that journey and hard work of years.
What has been the best thing about starting your own business?
The best thing about running my own business is the liberty I get to follow my aspirations and provide care to my kids at the same time. It brings me in a position in which I don’t have to choose any one between the two. I feel relieved when I can juggle around my interviews with clients according to my own schedule.
I have a business where my clientele is widely ranged. I get clients from various nationalities including Chinese, Indian, Bhutanese, Nepalese, Pakistan, African and Australian Backgrounds. From a factory worker, to a General Physician, from Labourers to Pharmacy businesses, I deal with all types of clients and I can be their accountant and work for them while being a mum to a 4-year-old son and a 1-year old daughter. I take pride in the fact that I work with a multicultural team with accountants from all cultural backgrounds who are available to help any type of client with their accounting, tax and bookkeeping needs.
What are your big plans for the future?
Future awaits so many big projects I am currently working on. In addition to taking our accounting business forward, I am also working day and night on my new venture Care Plan Management. I consider myself very fortunate to be part of this project as it is highly rewarding emotionally to be able to help the disabled with their plan management and funding.
Visit the Kalculators website here or connect with Madeeha on LinkedIn.
SAVE THE DATE – 2021 AUSMUMPRENEUR AWARDS!
Nominations open Monday 3 May 2021.
AusMumpreneur Awards Nights 8-10 September 2021
Conference and Awards Presentation 14-16 September 2021.
>> Nominations are OPEN! Nominate your business or a business you love here <<
