A coffee with Jacqui Bettio, Jayva’s APAC Managing Director
As Jacqui Bettio takes on the new role of leading Jayva's new APAC division in preparation for the opening of our new Sydney office, we sat down with this seasoned implementation consultant and legal accounts specialist to delve into her thoughts on work and play...
What’s your business/professional motto?
Life at work and home is a seamless blend for me. That’s because I apply the same principles in both realms, believing that “Everything you say and do is a reflection of you”. In other words, I believe you always need to be the best version of yourself.
Another motto I swear by is whether you work for yourself or you’re an employee of a company, approach it as if it’s your own business. I respect every employer’s business as if it’s mine and conduct myself accordingly. It also means you never burn bridges as you never know if or when you’ll work with some of those same people again.
Finally, make decisions based on what’s best for the business as a whole, rather than for one individual or a small group of people. Always strive to be consistent, fair, professional, reasonable and respectful in decision-making processes. I’ve experienced the consequences of making decisions that favour one person only to realise the broader impact on the business too late. If a decision is right for the entire business, go with it, but only then. This often means having difficult discussions and making tough choices.
How do you make contacts which are useful for business?
I seek opportunities in every relationship whether it’s new or established. Most of my business relationships have turned into long-term friendships. I engage in conversations and see if there’s a synergistic relationship that’s worth exploring. In my opinion, the best contacts are made simply by striking up a conversation. You quickly find out if you’ll click or not, and the result can be a lifelong friendship.
My approach to meeting people in business has changed over time. Due to the Covid outbreak, much of my networking in now done remotely. Currently, I’m based in California, while most LEAP clients are located along the East Coast, making face to face meetings challenging. However, even remotely, you can build strong connections and forge meaningful relationships or friendships over time.
In my new role at Jayva, I’m moving back to Canberra, a place that feels like home. My daughter was born there and I have many business connections in Australia. I’ve already started reaching out to my previous business contacts, such as bankers, barristers, and lawyers in preparation for the move. While much of my work will continue to be hybrid, I’m excited about having more client-facing meetings thanks to my geographic proximity where many law firms use LEAP.
Jacqui Bettio
Which individual has inspired you the most in your business life and in what way?
I’ve been inspired by many amazing people over the years, particularly those who’ve given me the opportunity and tools to grow. When told “do what you want”, it permits you the freedom to develop. I thrive on challenges and never miss an opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful to those who’ve supported me along the way.
If I had to narrow my answer down to one person, it would be my grandmother. She taught me about accounting and maths from a very young age. At the end of each day, she would bring her takings home, and I’d organise the bills and roll up the coins for depositing in the bank. These early insights into the world of accounting were formative and it’s revealing that I still work in this field today. Aside from these practical qualities, she was a nurturing and non-judgemental person. People loved her for her kindness, even though she wasn’t the most astute businessperson. She was a good human being and that’s an equally vital lesson.
What’s your proudest achievement in business?
My proudest achievement is obtaining the Law 9000 certification for best practice within a law firm where I was a non-equity partner for eight-and-a-half years. This international legal professional standard is required for securing government contracts and quality clients, and requires documenting all policies, procedures and processes.
Basically, it’s a very detailed quality management system specific for law firms. Achieving this certification was a massive time investment. Over two years, while managing a busy team of ten, I worked towards certification, learned on the go and succeeded through tenacity and hard work.
We were the first non-national law firm in Canberra to achieve Law 9000 certification and it catapulted us to the next level. By ensuring we were operating with best-practice principles, we competed on equal terms with much bigger players by winning substantial contracts.
What do you think makes Jayva different?
Jayva stands out because it’s built upon a bedrock of strong human relationships and collaboration. Our brilliant and skilled professionals come together with a shared goal: to help law firms succeed. We support each other, leveraging our individual expertise to create a cohesive, high-performing team dedicated to delivering exceptional results for our clients. Unity and commitment to mutual success truly set Jayva apart.
In my career shift right now, it’s been important to find a culture and company that’s caring and collaborative. It’s not unusual for people to accept employment contracts based on money and advancement motives. For me, it’s been about joining an innovative, supportive company with real relationships at its core. From the first moments of meeting Nicola Moore-Miller and everyone else thereafter, I’ve realised that every single relationship is unique and real. Unfortunately, like many, I’ve worked in toxic environments, but Jayva is the direct opposite.
What’s Jayva’s greatest asset?
Jayva’s greatest assets are twofold. First, its founder, Nicola, who has a remarkable talent for selecting the right people for her team and the energy to spread herself in multiple directions. I honestly have no idea how she does it.
Second is the team itself which comprises talented and dedicated individuals who collectively drive Jayva’s success. We’ve been handpicked by Nicola, and we work together efficiently and happily. We really are like a family.
How does Jayva benefit from the unique skillset you bring to the business?
Jayva benefits from my unique skillset in several ways. I bring a holistic view of running a business, seeing it as a complex yet solvable puzzle. My analytical nature, combined with a broad range of abilities and experience – from running and growing companies to implementing legal and accounting systems – allows me to contribute positively across various aspects of the business.
These skills largely stem from my experience inside of law firms. I love what I do and love running businesses. When someone comes to me with a problem, I consider the cause and effect, analyse the full business, and thrive on unravelling messes and devising solutions. My extensive legal and business background is invaluable, even if I don’t know everything. On top of this, my strong legal accounting expertise is a big bonus to Jayva with its accounts-focused consultancy and training services. I embrace the tasks others might shy away from, such as complex accounting and auditing which are among my primary strengths.
Give one tip for a successful business.
One tip for a successful business is to hire skilled people and give them the space to excel and chance to grow. By trusting in their expertise and providing them with the autonomy to make decisions, you foster a culture of innovation and empowerment. This not only enhances their job satisfaction and productivity but also improves the business and supports its growth.
Oftentimes, employers don’t appreciate the full skill set needed to run a successful practice. However, placing the right people in the hiring seat overcomes this issue. Employ the right people, invest in their development, have confidence in them and avoid micro-management. You’ll reap the rewards.
Do you dress up or down for business?
For most of my career, I’ve worn suits and heels. Times have changed, though, and people don't dress up as much anymore. Even so, I don't dress down, not even on “casual Fridays”. Even then, I usually wore a skirt and heels.
With remote working widespread, I still keep my dress code professional, always maintaining a standard that's a bit higher than the usual. Expectations are much more relaxed in America nowadays, and they probably are in Australia, but smart casual is my modus operandi, even when working remotely.
If you hadn’t gone down your chosen career path, what would you be doing instead?
In an earlier position, I worked as a produce inspector for a citrus fruit exporter in California, visiting packing house sites and inspecting their produce to ship to various countries around the globe.
After a freeze affected that job, I returned to school and earned my paralegal qualification. From the age of 24, I worked as a paralegal/office manager to utilise my existing accounting skills. At one point, I started studying law but realised it wasn’t for me.
My background is eclectic to say the least. I launched my own consulting business in Australia, providing financial and accounting services across multiple industries. I returned to the legal industry in the early 2000s and have pretty much remained there since.
If I hadn’t gone down my chosen career path, I’d probably be running some kind of business. I come from an entrepreneurial family and it’s in my blood. In an ideal world, I’d incorporate travel into my job as it’s one of my passions. Travelling while being paid would be perfection.
Ultimately, there’s commonality in everything I’ve done. My CV has incorporated my natural gift for finance, accounting and business management. These three things stimulate my brain. I feel that everything thus far has been leading up to this moment of taking on new responsibilities for the Australian and New Zealand arms of Jayva.
What item(s) do you always have with you?
My phone, credit cards and lip gloss go with me everywhere. I used to live in heels and ruined 16 pairs when I worked in Sydney from walking the city. A pair of heels is never far away.
At what time of day are you most creative or inspired?
Recently, I’ve been starting work at 6am due to the time zone differences of Jayva’s jurisdictions. It’s useful to get a head start on the day but, to be frank, I prefer late nights to early mornings. In times gone by, I’d jump out of bed early to go to the gym. That’s not for me now.
My optimum creative and inspired time is at around 10.00am. By then, I’ve got a cup of tea, read my emails and I’m ready to go. Having said that, I do tend to get a rush at the end of the day to download ideas. Really, it’s when I have the headspace to let my creativity flow. When I have time to focus on one thing, I just dive into it.
When do you take your coffee break – morning, afternoon, evening? And where do you take it?
To be honest, I had to reluctantly give coffee up merely because I haven’t found a good cuppa yet in the USA. When I move back to Australia, I’m sure I’ll start drinking coffee again. Until then, I kick start my day with a cup of tea and usually heat it up 3 or 4 times before I drink it. It has to be hot! My go-to drink is chai tea or hot water with lemon, in the absence of a decent coffee.
Espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, macchiato, flat white, frappe – what’s your coffee of choice?
On the rare occasion when I do drink coffee, I order skinny latte extra hot. I have a sneaky feeling that when I return to Australia, I’ll be back to drinking this and I can’t wait.
Who would you most like to have a coffee with?
Albert Einstein would be a fantastic coffee-drinking partner. I admire his brain, uniqueness and quirky-ness. I’d love to pick his brain and delve into his thoughts. To sit with him and hear what he has to say in this day and age would be truly marvellous.
How do you relax outside of work?
In America, I love hiking which is called bush-walking in Australia. It’s a form of meditation for me as I witness beautiful scenery and look at the landscape from a different lens. I also meditate, walk on the beach, and read books or listen to audio books.
When I relocate to Canberra, I’m not going to be close to the beach as it’s a two-hour drive away. I’ll miss that. Here, in California, I take a stunning walk past a golf course and down to the beach. In fact, there are two beaches close by. When I was a child, I lived on the beach. I’d step off my front porch onto the sand. There’s something about the sea air, ocean and water sports that light my fire.
What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read?
I have many inspirational books in my catalogue, primarily being of a self-help, professional-development and leadership flavour. To name a few, there’s The Power by Rhonda Byrne, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, The Four Agreements and The Fifth Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Biology of Belief by Bruce H. Lipton, Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill, Vibrate Higher Daily by Lalah Delia, The 6 Habits of Growth by Brendon Burchard, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki… I could go on and on.
I read and listen to audio books, the latter being really useful when I’m out walking. I’m a slow reader so finishing a book takes a long time. That’s another reason why audio books work well for me.
What’s your favourite film?
No question, it’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I’m the biggest fan and I’ve watched all adaptations as well as read the book a million times. I can literally sing every song. The original film is the best although I do think the Johnny Depp version is great too, seeing as how they’ve preserved lots from the original. I also like the new film. Again, they’ve cherry picked a few original scenes and put a new twist on it. If you haven’t seen these films, I strongly recommend you watch them all.