Having worked in the corporate sector for decades, leading significant technology and business change programs across companies based on the nuances of human behaviour, Salmon discovered a gap in the market in terms of quality talent assessment to ensure people are aligned to their role and enable productivity.

“I’d worked for small businesses to blue-chip companies who carried out personality assessments and I didn’t find any positive impact in them because all they did was pigeon-hole everyone and there was no transformational value,” she explained. 

“I embarked on a personal transformation journey and came across techniques such as Business DNA assessment.”

Business DNA is a talent assessment tool that guides individuals, organisations and families to communicate more effectively, operate in their strengths and make smart decisions in all areas of life including work, relationships, leadership and investing.

“When I was assessed by chance, I was blown away by the results,” Salmon said.

This prompted her to become a licensed Business DNA advisor and establish Free to Achieve, using the platform and related techniques to equip individuals and teams with the insight, knowledge and skills to reach their full potential.

Her mission is to empower individuals and businesses by fostering emotional awareness, unlocking innate talents, facilitating risk assessment and creating positive behaviours.

“Employers may need to understand their staff better, create a more productive team or increase employee engagement and retention,” Salmon explained.

“When people have awareness of their strengths and struggles and how to manage them this becomes part of the transformation across all areas of their lives.”

The tool is based on a survey that assesses 24 innate talents and strengths which are cemented in individuals at a very early age and unlikely to change throughout their lives.

“It has a high level of predictability and if you were to resit it years later, the results wouldn’t change,” Salmon said.

Once individuals complete the survey, they are given the results and able to debrief in a one-on-one session with Salmon, followed by a team session in the case of companies.

“We go through and look at what the results actually mean for individuals and teams, how they impact on relationships and work and what modifications can be made in their talents to achieve success,” Salmon said.

“It raises a lot of awareness and creates a level of respect in teams because when people understand their colleagues’ talents, their expectations of them change.

“We look at the strengths and then the struggles and what it means if individuals don’t manage their struggles across all relationships – both professional and personal.

“For example, you may find that someone is really direct and they don’t know that their struggle is that when they’re very direct it could be quite blunt or hurtful.”

Gabriella (Paoli) Salmon

The workshops involve exercises in which team members explore how they may approach one another moving forward with this newly acquired information.

“Once I highlight what everyone’s strengths and demotivators are, managers and team leaders understand how to manage and communicate with different people better,” Salmon said.

“For example, as a manager, if I were to ask a question of my team in a meeting, I’d go to the ‘reflective thinker’ last because they need time to process and think deeply.”

Salmon also prompts clients to consider the costs and risks associated with their traits.

“For example, if you’re group-oriented that could mean you like being popular with the team,” she said.

“What’s the financial and emotional cost of that?

“It could be not firing people when you should; holding onto poor performers could demotivate high performers.”

Salmon has worked with groups of up to 80 people, offering her services beyond the initial workshop if further needs are identified within teams or particular individuals.

The versatile tool is also used for candidate assessments, personal relationships and individuals who may be struggling to find direction in their personal or professional lives.

“There’s also specifically what we call the Career Assessment,” Salmon said.

“It’s a Business DNA product and still assesses talent, but it’s a lifetime tool for considering the suitability of career options in terms of individual strengths.”

While COVID-19 has put a halt on face-to-face workshops, Salmon is still assessing people and teams and consulting with them virtually.

Born to Italian migrants from Calabria and Trieste, Salmon is also an active member of the Italian community in Melbourne, having joined the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and, more recently, the Australian-Italian Leaders of Tomorrow (ALTO).

“I became a lifetime member of ALTO in 2017, after attending my first networking event and being blown away,” she said.

“First and foremost, the variety of people attracted me; there were people from all professional backgrounds of all ages and everyone was looking to connect.”

A true people person, Salmon seems to have found her calling... and she may just be the key to helping you find yours.