Sanja Hendrick: Winner of the 2025 Great Companies International Women Entrepreneur Award

Name: Sanja Hendrick

Business Name: Talent Academy

Location: Adelaide , Australia

Category: Training and Education

Website: www.talentacademy.com.au

Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjahendrick/

Company Detail:

Talent Academy is a leading provider of expert facilitation and training services, specializing in communication skills development for leaders and organizations. Founded as a solo venture by Sanja Hendrick, Talent Academy has grown into a collective of eight communication specialists. They help individuals and teams enhance their presentation, speaking, and communication skills, enabling them to build stronger, more cohesive teams, pitch for funding, and lead effectively.

Their team focuses on empowering leaders and professionals across industries, offering tailored programs to improve corporate communication strategies. They are passionate about supporting growth through skill development and creating positive impacts for both their clients and the broader community.

Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage:

What sets Talent Academy apart is their commitment to a collaborative, team-based approach to communication. While competitors often work as solo coaches, they offer a collective of experts who specialize in different aspects of communication. This allows them to provide a comprehensive service that addresses various needs, from public speaking and pitching to crisis communication and leadership development.

Additionally, they stand out as the only public speaking trainers in South Australia who use Yoodli, an AI-powered speaking tool. This tool provides real-time analytics and chatbot support to help their clients continuously improve their presentation skills. This innovative use of technology enhances the depth of their offerings, allowing them to deliver better, data-driven results for their clients.

Challenges Faced During the Journey:

Sanja Hendrick’s journey began as a solo female founder, which came with its own set of challenges. Overcoming self-doubt, resource limitations, and the fear of failure required resilience and perseverance. The biggest obstacle came when Talent Academy faced a 100% loss of income during COVID-19 due to the cancellation of events and a halt in speaking engagements.

To overcome this, she had to pivot quickly, shifting their offerings to cater to online presentations and developing new programs that could be delivered virtually. This helped them weather the storm and, remarkably, bounce back stronger, doubling in size post-pandemic.

They also faced the challenge of growing a business in a competitive landscape. She tackled this by focusing on collaboration rather than competition, growing the team through partnerships with direct competitors. This approach allowed them to expand into NSW, launch a second office, and work with international clients.

Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:

To young women aspiring to be entrepreneurs or those already on their entrepreneurial journey: The best advice Sanja Hendrick can offer is to embrace collaboration over competition. Find mentors and build a network of support that can help you grow. Business can be tough, but by learning from others and offering value to your community, you will strengthen your position and create lasting impact.

Additionally, never be afraid to pivot when things aren’t going as planned. Flexibility, resilience, and a strong belief in your vision are essential to overcoming obstacles. And most importantly, always give back—whether through charity, mentorship, or other avenues that support the community.