SoulCentre® & SoulKids® Managing Director and
Co-Founder Sally Forrest was recently interviewed for FLA Malaysia Magazine.
1. What was your feeling when SoulKids won the“Licensor of the Year Award 2014”?
We were all delighted when
the announcement was made.
We felt that 10 years of
inspiring work had paid off.
We were very proud that all
our processes, systems, training, content and results were recognized.
We knew that our vision “ to
Inspire children the world over to be happy and successful in life “ and to the
known as the “brand of excellence in Life-Skills for children “ was supported
at the highest level by the FLA.
2. Can you name some of the factors that contributed
to SoulKids' exciting growth?
SoulKids® is the brand of
excellence in teaching essential life skills such as happiness, success, leadership,
teamwork to name a few.
Our methodology and training
content is fun and inspiring.
Children learn and apply the
teachings immediately and it really makes a difference in their lives.
Parents see the difference
and then want to learn the techniques themselves.
We provide support for the
parents and so it’s an all-inclusive training for the family.
3. How does SoulKids stand out from the competitors?
SoulKids® offers our
proprietary transformational programs that develop positive, balanced, self
assured and confident children.
Children from the ages of
5.5 – 15 all benefit.
SoulKids® training is
inspiring, powerful and fun.
Our highly trained Mentors
walk the talk.They have undergone rigorous training with the founder himself
and have applied this training in their own lives first.
SoulKids® works with small
groups of children and we have strict ratios of children per Mentor. This ensures
each child receives the necessary attention.
Parents are educated and
supported too!
We create a community where
children feel loved and connected; reunions, blogs and inspirational messages
are all part of the offer.
We support the training with
a professional retail offering - our range of best selling SoulKids® books,
DVD’s, notebooks, badges.
SoulKids Coaches are able to
offer one on one support for children
Both the founders Vikas
Malkani and Sally Forrest are qualified CFE graduates.
4.Has SoulKids won other awards?
SoulKids® was recently voted
best in class for life skills by Harpers Bazaar readers for the following
reasons;
- Helping children to become more confident, empowered, happy and successful in all aspects.
- Teaching children how their mind works and how they are responsible for their own choices.
- Modules that encourage learning through actual life experiences.
- Fun essential Life-Skills Programs taught in a happy, safe environment, with lots of attention for each child.
5. What are some of the setbacks and challenges faced
by SoulKids when starting out in licensing?
And how did it overcome them?
We always see challenges as
opportunities.
One of the initial
considerations was our intellectual property and how we go about protecting
this in 37 countries.
Time, energy, effort and
substantial investment went into securing the correct intellectual property protection.
Another consideration was
how to document all the processes and systems that we have been using
successfully for so many years.
Manuals, videos and training
processes had to be created in a professional manner.
There is a phase in growth
where you simply have to take time out to set the foundation. If you enjoy
procedures and processes then this can be an exciting period, however many find
it a little laborious and tedious documenting each and every aspect of the
brand.
However its time well
invested and necessary for future growth.
6. If you had to start over, would you do anything
differently?
I think there is always a
danger initially that you try and do everything yourself.
One moment you are inspiring
children and parents, the next you put on the hat of an accountant, then a
marketing manager, then an IT specialist…and so on.
This is natural as small
companies try to keep costs down.
However on reflection I feel
it would be more efficient in the long run to have key functions of the
business staffed from the outset.
Invest in the best staff you
possibly can find.
Do not compromise.
7. What would your advice be for someone starting in a
franchise business?
First decide if it truly is
your passion?
Do you think about your
brand/business 24/7?
Are you totally committed to
making it a success?
Are you willing to invest
the time, energy, effort and finance in starting the business and in making it
a success?
Are you good with people and
able to manage others?
Are you able to deal with
comments and advice from others?
Its exciting and fast paced
and with todays technology a 24/7 operation. With this in mind are you able to
balance business and your personal life?
8. Why should anyone consider a SoulKids license?
SoulKids offers a turnkey business
module that works across boundaries and cultures.
Unit, area & country
licenses are available.
There are multiple streams
of income available.
The SoulKids programs are
offered in different formats to suit different timings and client preferences.
Full day, half day, extra
curricular and tuition programs are all available.
Group programs and one on
one coaching are available.
The brand is IP protected
Unique retail products
support the brand
Full business and
communication training is offered to all licensees.
Constant R&D of training
programs
Impactful branding and
unique content are all part of the license.
9. What is in the pipeline for SoulKids?
Our mission is to inspire
everyone we meet to be the best that they can be.
So we focus on inspiring
each and every child that comes through the SoulKids program.
Our SoulKids Mentor Training
program offers adults the opportunity to work with the brand and spread the
message to children.
Our growth is organic; people
have been so inspired by their training and have seen their own change, and they
decide to take the license and spread SoulKids® through our business models.
Interested business
executives are always welcomed and we are happy to discuss options to grow the
brand even more.
To find out more about becoming a SoulKids® Mentor, one of
our SoulKids® programs or starting your own SoulKids® Academy with
us please contact:
Sally Forrest
Mobile: (65) 9875 2372
Email: info@soulcentre.org
