Gail Geronimos
Gail’s experience and knowledge is in demand both nationally and internationally. She has presented workshops and delivered speeches throughout Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Malaysia and Hong Kong.Gail is passionate about helping entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. In the last five years alone, she has helped over 220 information technology companies expand, raise capital and establish overseas markets.
In the beginning…
Gail Geronimos can thank bikies and dodgy finance executives for her career evolution from research chemist to internationally respected business guru. Working in a University of Queensland laboratory in the 70s while studying part-time, Gail teamed up with a colleague to boost her meager income by flogging army over-coats and boots at a suburban flea-market. The heavy-duty clothing proved a massive hit with local bikie gang members.
“We’d go to army auctions and buy truck-loads of the stuff and pull in $400 to $500 every weekend which was huge money when I was a student,” Gail recalls.
The flea-market success ignited Gail’s interest in business, an interest that was further stoked when she found herself juggling her science job with the running of a financial institution.
Unhappy with her credit union, Gail went along to a meeting to complain and was elected to the board. She was later voted chairman, finding herself working with a CEO and auditor who were part of the problem. After major changes and a clear focus on building the business the credit union grew from $3 million to a massive $48 million in assets.
For Gail the experience was the start of a new career. So in 1989 she took the leap joining the University of Queensland’s Centre for Entrepreneurs. This was a commercial unit that worked with entrepreneurial companies. During this time Gail honed her own business skills and learnt a lot about the world of entrepreneurs.
Frustrated at the university’s reluctance to go international Gail and a colleague, Noel Lindsay, launched their own business, The Achaeus Group, in 1994. The company specialized in helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Within a year the company expanded into South Africa to become Number 3 in the market. Gail successfully exited this business through a trade sale.
A key focus for high growth companies is raising capital. Gail focused her efforts on the capital raising side of the business. Over the years Achaeus clients have participated in International Business Competitions such as Moot Corp and NASDAQ to take away the Top Honours and also raised capital from investors. As well, Gail is co-author of ‘Business Opportunities Made Investor Ready’ published in the US for the MBA market.
Gail has participated on many State and Federal government committees on policy guidelines to assist entrepreneurial companies.
