Hello! I'm Angela Raspass
I’m happiest when I'm connecting people, ideas and possibilities.
Strategy is the work that makes the most of my flavour of strengths – curiosity, synthesis, ideation, activator, catalyst, esteem builder, empathy, and growth are at the top of the list and my fast, divergent, thinking is courtesy of (diagnosed very late in life) ADHD.
My brain wiring helps explain why I’m so good at connecting dots, seeing gaps to close and opportunities to pursue, easily switching between creative and analytical thinking and moving from big-picture thinking to gritty detail.
It's also why I identify and leverage the natural strengths and values of my clients in their business models, services, and marketing. Playing to your strengths provides an unmatchable advantage that simply makes good business sense.
I work one-on-one and in small groups and believe great strategy is underpinned by strong self-leadership skills that help you to be confident and decisive.
I impulsively came to Australia in 1988 for a 3-month stay, so it's safe to say things have worked out quite nicely!
Who and how I help
Quite simply, I get your ideas out of your head, shape them, and then together, we put them into action.
My clients most often get in touch because they’re at a plateau or a turning point in their business.
They want clarity. They need someone to talk through their business and ideas with. Someone who can offer a fresh perspective and stretch their thinking. And most importantly, someone who can identify the priorities and then develop and help execute an action plan.
They value how I don’t hand over a one-size-fits-all formula; they welcome my digging into where they’ve been, who they’ve become, and where they want to go next, delighted that I ask the questions that ignite new thinking and unlock game-changing ideas.
I was made for this work! It energises and delights me, and as you know yourself, you do your best work from that place.
Whether you run a solo consultancy or practice, own a micro business or SME, or chair an association, my approach delivers great results. I've worked across dozens of industries and am equally happy to collaborate on a single project or to roll up my sleeves and fully recalibrate you and your business.
Louise Gardner
Founder, Pledge Consulting
Project Management
"I return to the table with Angela at least twice a year as my ideas build up and I need her external eye on the business. The value she provides is measurable and tangible - it's dollars on the bottom line. The strategies she suggests and helps put into action create significant revenue returns every single time. Her insights and experience around marketing, consulting, and social media and her network and contacts have significantly contributed to my business growth".
What's my background?
My self-employed story started after pausing my marketing and events corporate career in 1999 to have my first child. When #2 came along I turned my marketing smarts into freelance work, launching Ideas Into Action in 2003.
This dining-room-table-business morphed over time into a small business marketing agency. I bought an office on Sydney’s North Shore and employed a small and talented team serving clients across three Australian states.
At the same time, my corporate escapee husband was unlocking his next chapter, swapping management consulting for the marine industry where he is the co-owner of the Flagstaff Marine Group and SailTime Australia.
I’m actively involved in the marketing and event management of these family businesses (we first exhibited at the Sydney Boat Show in 2014), though Graham often asserts there is more scope for him to be my number one client!
Since I closed my agency in 2012 to streamline and simplify my work and life I’ve focused on what I love most - working with smart, purposeful founders and leaders of service-based businesses who want sustainable growth in a business that serves them as much as they serve their clients.
Amanda Lecaude
Founder
Organising Students
"With support from Angela Organising Students has evolved from simply hosting School Transition Workshops to a multi-faceted business with mentoring, keynotes, products, webinars and staff. I’ve become well-known in my industry, have been invited to speak on podcasts, and give keynotes at conferences and I had my first book published in May 2024. Our turnover has quadrupled and our services are booked out with extensive waitlists!".
I'm a "Generalist" and that's great news for you!
I was excited to discover there's a definition for people like me developed by the Neuroscientist Erica Warp which I recently discovered on the website and community Generalist.World (The Value Pyramid sketch is also from this site and when I posted about my discovery in a Linked In Post it resonated with lots of people)
"A generalist is an expert learner, problem solver and big picture thinker who can effectively apply their strengths across varied fields and roles. They are skilled at spotting patterns in complexity and are often empathetic and future-focused".
A Generalist like me is fantastic to have on your support team because I can envision the larger system at play (the market, your vision and your business), can quickly connect the dots that others miss, and use (in my case ADHD-enhanced) divergent and creative thinking to develop innovative solutions (aka strategy!).
I know this also has a lot to do with the sheer number of businesses across multiple industries I have worked in over many years and my appetite for learning - there are few business scenarios I haven't seen or heard about.
Gary Nugent
DFKANZ Chairman
Angela is a consummate strategic advisor, excellent presenter, and clear-thinking facilitator. She helps provide the sparkle we all look for to make our organisations better.
Angela has provided consulting services to DFK ANZ for several years, and both the individual firms and our Association more broadly have more compelling market positioning, messaging, and enhanced marketing skills as a result of her input and counsel.
What do I believe?
- Strategy is most effective when it is coupled with Self-leadership - the shift from external validation to internal authority that fuels effective decision-making.
- What you see on the outside businesses - websites and social platforms - seldom tells the true story. This is why I fiercely guard you from falling into the Comparison Trap that leads to setting goals and adopting strategies that just don't fit you.
- Aligning your business model, services and marketing with your natural strengths just makes sense.
- Frameworks, not formulas are what you need. Every business is unique and that's why I meet you where you are and fit the strategy to you, never the other way around.
- A blend of contribution, fulfilment and financial reward underpins every sustainable business
- Your business needs to serve you as much as you serve your clients and that principle always guides my work.
Gary Nugent
DFKANZ Chairman
Angela is a consummate strategic advisor, excellent presenter, and clear-thinking facilitator. She helps provide the sparkle we all look for to make our organisations better.
Angela has provided consulting services to DFK ANZ for several years, and both the individual firms and our Association more broadly have more compelling market positioning, messaging, and enhanced marketing skills as a result of her input and counsel.
The last little snippets...
A little more food for thought...
- I'm a voracious reader and have three books on the go at any given time on my nightstand, in my handbag, and on my audible app.
- I achieved a bucket list goal in 2020, publishing "Your Next Chapter, Ditch your doubt, own your worth and build the business you really want". You can order a copy here.
- In 2006 I joined a 12-step program, closing the door on an addiction that had been limiting my potential and eroding my self-worth. My lessons in identity shifts, self-compassion, rewiring internal narratives, and building self-belief have been invaluable.
- I'm deeply curious and a life-long learner. Most recently I've completed a Diploma in Positive Psychology, Strengths Profiling Accreditation, the Essential Facilitator Certificate, a Vertical Stage Leadership Program, and a Neuroscience and Wellbeing Certificate.
- Graham and I have been married since 1995, our son Cameron (who lives in Canberra) is 25, and our daughter Charlotte is 21. We live in beautiful Bayview on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and our family is completed by Remy, arguably the world's cutest Cavoodle.
I'm delighted you've found my world and look forward to understanding yours.
Client feedback
Angela Bueti
Program Manager, Specialisterne Australia
Angela is an exceptional listener who draws out all your random thoughts and reflects them back to help you make sense of what’s important and then guides you with a framework for change. A wonderful combination of warm and engaging, with a no-bullshit, direct approach, she instils confidence and promotes action.
Sarah Denholm
IMPROVE YOUR PUBLIC SPEAKING
I hired Angela to get an expert outside perspective on my business and help me to refine and streamline my offerings. She’s given me so much more than that! It’s been such a relief to have someone “in my corner” to bounce ideas off and to offer clear suggestions for improvement. Angela embodies what she promises, is truly generous with her time and resources, and does it all with warmth and energy.
Esther Zeledon
Be. Act. Change
I loved having you as my strategist because you utilised all the information available and came up with ideas and the way forward that is perfectly aligned with me. Everything we covered was personalised for me and the synergy and energy in the session was so inspiring.
Carolyn Tate
Purpose Educator, Author, Speaker
Within two hours of working with Angela, we had a new 5-step process to help companies articulate their new purpose statement. I’ve secured two new major clients with this process and use it as the basis of all sales conversations with prospective clients.