Guest: Natasha Hawker, EO Sydney Member since 2025 and Founder & Managing Director of Employee Matters
Host: Linh Podetti, EO Sydney Member since 2022 and Owner of Outsourcing Angel

In this episode, Natasha Hawker shares over 30 years of HR expertise and the powerful lessons she learned building Employee Matters from scratch.

From taking on the wrong clients out of desperation to becoming one of Australia’s leading HR voices, Natasha dives deep into the rookie mistakes entrepreneurs make, especially when it comes to hiring, firing, and valuing their own work.

She shares
• Why “if they have a pulse and a cheque book” is the most dangerous mindset in business
• The true cost of avoiding difficult conversations
• How to hire slow and fire fast (without getting sued)
• Why education is the ultimate unfair advantage in business
• How she’s preparing her company for a strategic exit

If you’re a founder struggling with team issues, difficult employees, or client red flags, this episode will save you years of pain.

ABOUT NATASHA HAWKER
Natasha Hawker is the Founder & Managing Director of Employee Matters and a respected leader in the Australian HR space.

With over 30 years of experience, Natasha has helped hire, manage, and exit thousands of employees across businesses globally. She is a sought-after speaker, media commentator, and author of the Amazon best-selling book From Hire to Fire & Everything In Between.

Natasha is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a passionate educator for business owners, and is currently preparing her business for a strategic exit. Outside of work, she is a competitive Squash Masters player and mum to three.

CONNECT WITH NATASHA HAWKER
Website: https://www.employeematters.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashahawker/

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ABOUT EO

Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.

Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.

If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.

For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: linh@outsourcingangel.com.au
General Inquiries: support@eonetwork.org.au
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Ep. 174 - Natasha Hawker on Hiring Right & Building a Sellable Business

The EO Business Podcast