Our Kin: Cherie Clonan | Melbourne, Australia
Cherie Clonan is one of those people who simply makes you feel SO DAMN GOOD when you spend time in her presence (or, even, simply watch her stories on Instagram). Real, relatable and transparent, the way Cherie does life - both at home and in business - is something we really admire here at Kin.
As the founder of one of Australia’s most respected digital agencies, Cherie always pushes herself and her team to do what is not only good, but right. From championing monthly mental health days for her team, to creating sustainable internships for young Australian’s facing homelessness, Cherie is leading by example when it comes to living and breathing company values.
At home she raises two awesome young humans and fur baby, Rosie, and navigates the daily juggle of wearing ALL of the hats (founder, parent, wife, and more!) that so many of us can relate to, while also being a voice for neurodiverse humans. We’re big fans of Cherie and love having her as part of the Kin community. It was an absolute honour to explore these questions with her.
2020 was a hectic year for you and your business, The Digital Picnic. You went from having to let people go to being busier than ever, while needing to homeschool two young children for the majority of the year. What was the biggest lesson you learned personally during this time?
I know 2020 was such a hard year for so many [myself included], but I don’t think there’s ever been a year in my life where I’ve fallen in love with myself as much as I did in 2020 … and in doing so? I learnt that no matter what life throws at you if you love yourself [like, really love yourself], you can get through anything life delivers you.
In my 37 years of life, I’ve never known [a most unexpected] romance like the one 2020 delivered me: the one where I fell in love with myself [for the first time in my life].
How will this lesson shape the way you approach 2021? What is your vision for the way this year will feel/look? What will you do differently?
I’m sure I speak on behalf of anyone who’s been through a similar experience, but once you reach that point in your life where you really love yourself … you can never go back to what you had going on before then.
For me, self-love looks like a point in my life where I’ll never go back to the toxic things I used to do to myself, and the associated toxic people-pleasing, nor the autistic masking I spent 37 years doing [exhausting!].