Allison Ganko, Founder My Household Managed
Name: Allison Ganko
Company: My Household Managed - Chicago's Domestic Staffing Agency
In less than three sentences tell us about your company and what you do.
Founded by a former recruiter - turned nanny - turned household manager We are Chicago’s private household and estate staffing agency offering employment services for a wide range of domestic staff. Our placement services include, but are not limited to: nanny services, tutors, newborn care specialists, mother’s helpers, household managers, family assistants, personal assistants, private chefs for hire, housekeepers, chauffeurs, executive assistants, estate managers and more.
What is the story behind your mission?
My mission comes from personal experience as a job-seeker. I want to be the resource I needed when I was looking for jobs. It also comes from the needs I have seen from families that are looking to hire help for their household. There is a big education gap and power imbalance between families and household staff and we are working to change that.
At what point did you make your company a full time gig? How did you know the time was right?
One year ago I made the leap to switch from being a full-time House Manager to focus exclusively on running my business. I knew that if I wanted to succeed I needed to be all-in, and I was prepared to fail, lose all of my money, and start over if needed. The timing will never be perfect for any big endeavor, and I was afraid of living in regret if I decided to continue living a life that did not challenge me to reach my full potential.
What lesson or skill did you take with you from a prior job to help you succeed in your role today?
Coincidentally, all of my previous jobs have come to play a role in what I do every day. My college catering job has applied to my knowledge of hospitality and private service, which helps me when interviewing private chefs. My role as a recruiter directly applies to what I now do every day. My time as a salesperson gave me the confidence to speak to people on the phone and close deals. My time as a nanny and house manager give me first-hand experience of working in a private household. I am fortunate to have worked for very kind families and very affluent families that exposed me to a world and lifestyle that was once unfamiliar to me, which has allowed me to have an understanding of what High Net Worth Individuals require of their employees.
Let’s talk social media—who handles it for your company (you, an internal team member, an outsourced solution?) and what is the secret to making it successful? What is the biggest challenge?
I hired a woman to assist with my social media and we work in tandem to produce content. I believe the secret lies within adhering to a specific brand guideline, posting consistently, and making a personal connection with your audience. I am working with my social media manager as well as my creative director to keep the content visually appealing and practical. I am still working to build my audience, but once I figure out the "secret", I will be sure to share.
What is something you do differently from the industry standard?
Professionalism, attention to detail, and a personalized, consultative approach are a part of our company values. There is a big difference between a nanny agency and a traditional domestic staffing agency. A nanny agency is very limited in their ability to provide solutions, while the current market for domestic staffing agencies is very impersonal & cold. We are working to bridge that gap, by bringing the warmness of a traditional nanny agency with the resources and professionalism of a domestic staffing agency.
Who was your first hire and why did you hire for this position and this person?
Social media because it was taking me too long to do it myself.
What are three pieces of advice you would give to a female founder starting out?
Create a business plan/ Understand your costs Identify your target market.
Develop your branding and maintain consistency.
Beware of imposter syndrome.
How do you support other female founders and women in business?
I am a member of the West Loop Chamber of commerce and I have been working with a nanny agency consultant for the past year, which has been instrumental in helping me to meet other agency owners across the United States. I recently attended a retreat where we shared best practices and participated in professional development workshops. This year I have been invited back as a guest speaker where I will lead a workshop on branding and social media. I have been featured on guest blogs by other Chicago female business owners and I am making it a practice to highlight strategic partners throughout Chicago in my newsletter and blog posts.
What does BEING a FoundHer mean to you?
For me, being a female entrepreneur means financial freedom and ability to pursue my goals. It means advancing in my career beyond any limitations set by someone else. Sometimes we just need someone to reassure us, or someone to inspire us when we are feeling stagnant. I hope to be that person for another female founder if I can, and learn from the pros that have been doing this longer than I have. I am extremely humble and grateful for everything I have accomplished so far and I am not afraid to ask questions or admit when I don’t have the answer.
