Seven Years of Impact: A Founder Reflection

September 2025 marks the 7th anniversary of Anchor Excellence | SAGE Study Tours | Impactful-Leaders, a milestone that prompts reflection on a wondeful journey. What started as a vision to offer complex advisory, operations support, and assurance services has blossomed into a firm with a wide-reaching impact, extending beyond the aged care sector into diverse and highly complex environments. 

The Genesis of a Startup: Push and Pull of Market Dynamics

Launching Anchor Excellence seven years ago was an exhilarating leap into the unknown. The initial phase was characterised by the inherent push and pull of a dynamic market. As a startup business leader, the challenge was to constantly adapt to evolving requirements, anticipate shifts, and strategically position a much smaller team. This environment demanded agility, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to the core mission. Simultaneously, the focus was on assembling a team that could not only meet these demands but also embody the values and aspirations of Anchor Excellence. 

On a personal level, I also needed to shift from that of an executive with authority in decision-making to that of a consultant—an influencer, persuader, informer, and impactful change agent. The personal element of moving from an established business leader of a large operation to that of a startup was no easy feat. Being able to navigate the complexities of establishing all the underpinning business requirements whilst delivering on client assignment is not for the faint hearted a point only business founders really can relate to.

Building a Team: The Foundation of Success

The growth of the Team has been central to our success. From a nascent group, we have expanded into a collective of dedicated professionals offering a comprehensive suite of services. This includes not just advisory, operations, and assurance services, but also international study tours and national products like Anchor Policy & Anchor Academy for Residential, Support at Home, and Retirement Living. The strength of our team lies in their ability to thrive in highly complex environments, a capability that has allowed us to extend our impact beyond the aged care sector. Today we deliver three impactful brands: Anchor Excellence | SAGE Study Tours | Impactful-Leaders.

Impactful Leaders: Rounding Out Firm Capability

A significant addition to our firm's capabilities came in 2024 with the introduction of Impactful Leaders. This initiative uniquely helps leaders recognise their current position, understand their preferences, and, most importantly, identify what their role and organisations need from them to enable high performance. This rounding out of our firm's capability ensures that we are not only providing solutions but also nurturing the leadership that drives those solutions. We are proudly a Team Management Systems Associate.

This unwavering focus on and support of leaders is paramount because robust and strong leadership is the lifeblood of all human services sectors, enabling them to thrive. Such leadership must be values - aligned and capable of operating effectively in a constantly dynamic and changing world. With new leaders entering the sector driven by career aspirations for impact, we embrace the inherent responsibility to nurture and develop leaders in every context. There is nothing more rewarding than creating a legacy that extends far beyond today.

“Unwavering Focus and Support of Leaders: The Heart of Our Journey”

Time and again, we have earned the trust of boards and executive teams, enabling them to navigate the complexities of their current situations. This support manifests in various critical areas, including ensuring robust due diligence for acquisitions, setting new strategic pathways, and addressing the needs of current situation assessments, including deep dives across complex compliance requirements. There is nothing more enjoyable than seeing our clients work through their current situations, moving onto success with a clear pathway to excellence.

The Journey of a Founder: From Executive Leader to Business Founder

While I remain an optimist, I am also very grounded in the realisation that our ongoing success is solely dependent on the hard work and support of a committed team and executive. We have implemented robust governance structures, which we wholeheartedly encourage our clients to adopt, as we must always exemplify best practice.

This journey, transitioning from an executive leader to a business founder, has been one of the most rewarding experiences. It continues to energise and help me evolve as both a human and a leader. At the heart of our success has been my unwavering commitment to staying true to myself. By consistently aligning decisions with both personal and company values, and leveraging strategic insights with the team, we've navigated challenges and ensured our sustainability and growth. While the path of a business owner is rarely without its difficulties, surrounding ourselves with the right individuals has undoubtedly made the journey toward success the most rewarding element. 

Acknowledging Our Pillars of Strength

I extend my personal thanks to key individuals who have been the longest part of our ongoing journey of impact: Ian Neal, Carla Beheram, Dr. Irene Stein, Payal Kapoor, Alexandra Brockhurst, Sarina Rodgers, Hanna Beaver, Ingrid Fairlie, Akanksha Bernard, Judy Martin, Sue Smith, Britt O’keefe. They continue to embody our values, helping us stay strong, focused, and adaptable to the changing landscape.

To our more recent Team members- we welcome and appreciate you - Nona Bai, Nandini Challapalli, Dr Shae Hourigan, Sarah Marciano, Dr Maggie Haertsch (returned) , Dr Angela Littleford, Tracey Mackie, Mary Otten and Lorraine Knight.

To those who have impacted  along the way and now work in new spheres- Andrea Payne, John Engeler, Claire Ward, Heather Roberston, Justine Reefman, Kerri Hartney, Olga Braddick, Paul Harris, Linda Taylor, Daniel Goodman, Andy Calwell, Gabrielle Halbgebauer, Ngaire Hobbins, Verena Pirnbacher, Annette Swerydow, Veronica John, Emeche Shanley and Kat Fairlie

As we collectively mark seven years of impact, I express my deepest gratitude. Thank you again.

Cynthia Payne

A special thank you to the unwavering support of my life long partner Neville and our four children- Jack, Andrea , Nick and Grace- Love you to the moon and back.