Commando Edition 17 2023

Women in defence - shaping a new civilian life
Looking for a new passion and purpose post ADF? Owning a franchise business may well be your pathway to
shaping a fulfilling civilian life. The military discipline, teamship, and skills you gained are the perfect makings
of a successful MAXIMUS Trade and Retail Centre. With the added bonus of enjoying the work-life balance
you crave!
Following are excerpts from an article written by Sarah Stowe for Inside Franchise Business.
Maximus, the industrial franchise with a difference, is a
standout opportunity for women seeking pathways to
business ownership in a unique market sector.
“Maximus is for women exploring business ownership
but are not attracted to the predictable opportunities in
beauty, fashion, wellness and food,” says the brand’s
marketing director Wally Davey.
This new-generation one-stop-shop is a solutionsdriven
business merging hydraulic, industrial and
irrigation products for the first time. Its trade and retail
centres cater for customers in multiple industries.
Wally, who co-founded the internationally successful
industrial brand Pirtek, is keen to see women take up
exciting opportunities that empower them as business
owners. In franchising, there are still very few women
entering the industrial sector. Women became business
owners as a consequence of a family crisis or personal
circumstance, Wally points out. “These transitions are
often highly successful yet we don’t recognise women’s
leadership skills as being natural, with gender stereo -
typing coming into play,” he says.
“The Maximus business is particularly favourable to
women with a farming background, trades experience
or simply with an interest in mechanical disciplines,”
Wally says.
Yet Maximus franchisees don’t need to come armed
with technical expertise. Wally points out that the
trades-oriented skills of a prospect franchisee are
secondary to relationship-building knowhow, a skill set
that women easily excel in. As for management
acumen, the brand’s robust training and support
system can quickly develop novice franchisees into
knowledgeable business operators. Maximus also has
tech forward digital business tools that enable
franchisees to optimise their business_potential.
“There are lifestyle benefits for the family oriented,”
says Wally. “Within the business there are diverse roles
for young and old members, from admin to warehouse
operations. You can build, train and then rely on an
invested team that can easily run the business while
you pick up the kids or help look after the elderly.”
“The role also involves sales work in the field,” Wally
says, “you’re not tied to the desk.”
78 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 17 I 2023