She’s so boss.
When her marketing agency suffered a $65,000 tax debt, Maddy Birdcage fired half of her employees and started from scratch.
Birdcage, 34, blamed her own micromanagement. Now, the millennial boss lets her employees make their own schedule and wear what they want — plus, she’s vowed to treat them to private yacht trips.
Birdcage says Birdcage Marketing now makes a $58,800 monthly profit.
“I have always loved what I do, but I used to hate business. I really resented my business at times,” Birdcage confided to SWNS. “Now I’m doing it my way — I’ve never been happier.”
The mom of two, who hails from Queensland, Australia, started her marketing agency nine years ago after experiencing “toxic” work environments and feeling “underwhelmed” by the support of her previous managers.
After receiving questionable advice and succumbing to self-doubt, Birdcage began micromanaging her staff.
“I was constantly having one-on-one reviews with the team — really structured meetings,” Birdcage explained. “It wasn’t giving people autonomy.”
She said those decisions led to the tax debt and the firing of half of her team.
“I kept half of them and rebuilt it” by hiring self-motivated problem solvers, Birdcage shared.
“I had to hire people who are independent. As your boss, I’m not here to hold your hand,” she added. “I’m here to empower you to solve your own problems and to build your own career.”
She lets her team of nine wear what they want (Birdcage recently donned a hot pink glittery suit to work); bring their kids to the office during school holidays; set their own schedule; and work from home when necessary.
“Some might say, ‘I only want to work three days a week.’ Another might say, ‘I want to move away, but I want to keep my job,’” she noted. “A lot of them have school-age kids, so [they] need school hours.”
She revealed that she even has a TV room in the office for the kids.
Birdcage also feels it’s important to treat her staff, and she has set her sights on taking them on a $26,000 overnight yacht trip when they hit a team goal.
She says that since making the changes, her employees are “happier,” and the business is turning a sizeable profit.
“I always thought if I have a team, I want everyone to enjoy coming into work,” Birdcage said.
“I have really high expectations with my team. We work really hard,” she continued. “Their value is not derived from how long they are sitting at their desk.”
She said her agency now touts a 98% client satisfaction rate.
“The morale and supportive culture is really, really good,” Birdcage bragged. “I like having a really open and honest family and building a safe space. It’s been incredible.”
