WOMEN IN AGRIBUSINESS
Taranaki farmer Gemma Adams who has dyslexia found visual learning best suited her so established VizLink to create communication tools for others.
The business of communication Passion is at the heart of every successful business. It is a passion for communication, planning and graphic design that led a dairy farmer to start her own business. Cheyenne Nicholson reports.
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ARANAKI sharemilker Gemma Adams is proof that being dyslexic is no barrier to creating and running a business. She established VizLink, which creates personalised whiteboards, farm maps and signs that can be used as visual communication tools. She is no stranger to the world of business, she’s been around it her whole life. Her parents own and operate a successful manufacturing company started by her grandfather after World War II. “I’ve learned a lot from my parents over the years and watching them definitely 36
helped me decide what my strategies were going to be for this business,” Adams says. “From the start I wanted to be able to fit the business into four hours a day to fit around our family and the farm though I’m more of a floater on-farm now.” The original idea of VizLink came out of necessity when she started dairy farming. Having grown up in town and worked in town as a graphic designer she lacked the knowledge her husband Terry had when they started sharemilking 13 years ago. “I found our communication styles really different. I have dyslexia and have always worked best off visuals. Being raised on a farm Terry just got everything and that reflected in his communication
style.” Off her own back she made herself a farm map, which meant she could work more autonomously on the farm and it helped build good communication between her and Terry. As they progressed in their farming careers and had staff start to work for them it became more apparent they couldn’t rely on verbal communication alone. “Having information on a whiteboard ensures everyone on-farm knows what’s going on at any one time.” It wasn’t till four years ago after the couple bought a dairy farm at Pahiatua during a low payout year that she looked into the viability of turning it into a business.
DAIRY FARMER
August 2020