Spotlight on Qavio Consulting: Experienced business advisors in Fiji
L-R Benjamin Sikuri and Napolioni Batimala, co-founders of Qavio Consulting, Fiji
“When you follow your passion, your interest, and your heart, you can never go wrong, because when you do that, then you create value.”
Those are the sentiments of Benjamin Sikuri and Napolioni Batimala, co-founders of Qavio Consulting, one of BLP’s business advisory services providers. We chatted to them about their views on the SME sector in Fiji and how being part of the BLP network has changed Qavio for the better.
Qavio Consulting joined the Business Link Pacific network in early 2018. Through the BLP programme we have connected Qavio Consulting with a variety of local businesses including; Janice Stewart Home Catering, Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort, Sorovi Kava, Kadavu Kava Farmers Cooperation, Dolphin Watch Fiji and more.
The duo having assisted corporations and SME operators for over 10 years, offer advisory/support services such as; tax, accounts, business advice, finance, cash flow, loan proposals, loan write-ups, bank negotiations, brokerage. As well as these standard services, they also put together tailor-made packages, perform project conceptualisation and serve as finance and investment managers.
Each small business receives quality business advice and guidance on how to further develop their venture through the implementation of best business practice skills and processes.
For Benjamin Mr. Sikuri choosing this entrepreneurial path has meant trade-offs:.
“If I remained going to work from 8 to 5 and reporting to a boss, I would have initially made more money, but I wouldn’t be able to create as much value and now, it’s all starting to even out and work in my favour.”
“I am now talking to more people, meeting more people, helping more people. I think indirectly all the things that you say don’t matter, will definitely find a way back to you in great wealth,” he said.
He continued saying that if decisions were being made based on the dollar value, then it would be very hard to be truly motivated to do your best because you’re being driven by money.
“It’s a limited resource, it’s finite, and it’s something that only goes into the bank or into the wallet. In life and in respect to SMEs, it needs to be about the heart. You need to feel what you’re doing, and then only you’ll give it your all. If I were driven by money, I wouldn’t have come [to Qavio Consulting]. I guess we wouldn’t even be here. We probably would have gone for easy CFO or CEO jobs, and then rested on our laurels and went by what everybody went by. A lot of people still ask me today ‘why did you leave the bank’ [ANZ and World Bank], ‘why are you here’, ‘why are you doing all this’, and ‘how much rent does it cost to be based here.’”
Both Benjamin and Napolioni view SMEs as a unique expression of innovation, and believe it’s essential for them to seize windows of opportunity
“SMEs are the next wave of growth, important to Fiji’s expanding economy and new industries and new players are vital for supporting new trends in economic development.”
Being part of the BLP network has helped Qavio Consulting gain more visibility within a larger audience, while also exposing them to a greater database of SMEs. The extra visibility has boosted their own corporate profile well beyond the SME work, where they initially had decided to allocate additional support resources.
As a result, many people have messaged them on their firm’s Facebook page about their services. Benjamin personally received over 300 friend requests over a two week period, after a video of himself and Napolioni attending the Xero Accounting workshop hosted by BLP in Fiji last November, was posted online.
In the end, we can all learn a lesson from the Qavio team: Purpose is a powerful motivational mechanism. Vinaka Benjamin and Napolioni for this heartfelt reminder.
If you’re a small or medium sized business based in Fiji and would like to learn more about the Business Link Pacific program or how you can gain access to quality business advice, contact:
Kitione Nadaro