We had the good fortune of connecting with Vicky Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vicky, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was actually pushed into it by the President at my last corporate position. When that company closed, he suggested I start my own HR consulting company……and I said ‘absolutely not’. You see, to my mind I was an excellent #2 – the Chief HR Officer, sitting on the CEO’s shoulder, listening to their challenges (because in my role, I was a safe space), asking them ‘did you think about this’ or ‘what about that’ as they were making decisions.

I never considered myself as #1 in a organization – I actually had never even thought of it.

So, when I said no – he waited. A few weeks later he became CEO of a new company, asked me to do contracting HR work for him, and eventually expanded that role so much that I realized I needed to incorporate. After all, we needed contracts, insurance, a corporate veil – all the things.

And that was his ‘evil’ plan all along. And thus, Idomeneo was born.

The moral of the story is – if you see something in someone, nurture it. I had no idea I was cut out for this role, but he did, and he took steps to make sure I explored what I was capable of.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
OK – so a bit about Idomeneo Enterprises. We’re a human resources consulting company based in West Hollywood, and we essentially function as an outsourced HR department for small and mid-sized businesses. What sets us apart? We combine HR solutions with a personalized partnership approach – we’re not just checking boxes for compliance, we’re creating real relationships (dare I say – partnerships) with our clients.

My path to where I am today wasn’t exactly straightforward. After 20 years in corporate leadership roles, I decided to venture out on my own in 2001. Now, even though I had HR expertise – and I mean, that was literally my job – starting a business was a whole different ballgame.

I remember thinking, “Wow, I know how to lead teams and manage HR systems, but how do I market my services? How do I set up my own systems? How do I handle the finances?” I was asking all these questions and facing all these challenges – and that’s when the lightbulb went off.

If I was struggling with these things after years of being on the front line in business leadership, imagine how overwhelming it must be for entrepreneurs who are experts in their fields but have never touched on leading a team, or the real operations of running a business. That realization sparked my passion for helping other entrepreneurs navigate these waters.

So we started by getting all the HR compliance and administration in place for small and mid-sized companies. And we have been able to help countless companies by taking that piece off the CEO’s plate. They know their compliance is handled, they know payroll is done, they have someone to turn to when they have a question, or are just stuck.

Then we turned our attention to delving more deeply into helping entrepreneurs and their management teams become better leaders. That’s why I created the Leaders Journey Experience – it’s an education platform that gives entrepreneurs and business professionals the tools and guidance they need to tackle HR and leadership challenges. And it’s not just theoretical stuff – it’s practical, step-by-step guidance based on real-world experience. So if they’re not ready for, or don’t have the budget for, outsourcing HR just yet – LJE is a valuable alternative.

What am I most proud of? Honestly, it’s seeing the relief on an entrepreneurs’ face when they realize they don’t have to figure everything out on their own. No matter if it’s full HR outsourcing with Idomeneo, or specific support so you can DIY it with the Leaders Journey Experience membership – we designed everything to meet people wherever they are in their journey.

And then there’s the “More Human More Resources” podcast – the HR podcast for entrepreneurs. I love being able to break down complex HR topics into bite-sized, actionable advice that makes sense to people who aren’t HR experts.

Was it easy getting here? Absolutely not. There were plenty of moments when I thought about throwing in the towel. But I kept going because I truly believed in what I was building. That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned – entrepreneurship isn’t just about expertise, it’s about resilience and believing in your vision even when things get tough.

I want people to know that both Idomeneo and Leaders Journey Experience were born from real challenges and a genuine desire to help others avoid them. Fun fact – my background as an opera singer actually comes in handy when I’m speaking and presenting workshops – who knew? And my experience as an educator helps me translate complex HR concepts into language that makes sense to everyone.

When entrepreneurs succeed in building healthy teams and thriving cultures, it creates a ripple effect that benefits not just the business owner, but their employees and customers too. That’s what drives me every day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s easy – everyone who knows me knows I would head straight to the ocean. Grabbing a house right on the sand is my idea of perfection.

I’m heartbroken over the recent LA fires – in addition to the horrible loss of life, home and livelihood, the impact on our beautiful city is awful.

I know we are strong, and will rebuild – but it’s a devastating situation.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My team. They make Idomeneo far more than I could have ever imagined (and I have a pretty strong vision!).

They’re bright, innovative, diligent, creative and just downright great people. Their support, talents and commitment have propelled us to where we are now, and will drive us forward into the future.

My job is to give them the tools, environment and leadership to do their best work. And to do that I try to move forward each day as well. Learning new things, benefiting from the brilliance of my network, and doing the hard personal work. I always say – growing a business is also about growing yourself.

Website: https://idomeneoinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadersjourneytv_vickybrown/

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3R4fy5D

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadersJourneytv

Youtube: https://bit.ly/3XEDMqW

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