Meet Debbie Hatumale-Uy

Mother, wife, sister, dog mum

✔️ Top 50 Small Business Leader 2025
✔️ Advisor, Federal Government funded Digital Solutions Program
✔️ Founder, Only the Sweet Stuff
✔️ Founder, The Colab Co.
✔️ Chief Marketing Officer, Realise Business
✔️ Member, Optus Small Business Council
✔️ Small Business Champion
✔️ Guest Contributor: Inside Small Business, Dynamic Business and many more.

Past:
✔️ Senior Social Media Manager, Transport for NSW
✔️ Social Media Manager, McDonalds

When I started Only The Sweet Stuff, I was a mum with a crafting passion, a second-hand heat press and no roadmap. I know first-hand how overwhelming it can feel to start and grow a business when you’re wearing every hat.

Before launching my own ventures, I built a career in the corporate space, working with major brands like McDonald’s and Canon in marketing, communications and brand management. Those years taught me how to think strategically, communicate with impact, and create brands people connect with. These are lessons I now adapt for small business owners so they can compete with confidence, even on a lean budget.

What sets my approach apart is the balance between strategy and heart?

Yes, we’ll talk numbers, marketing funnels and growth plans, but we’ll also talk about what matters to you as a person and as a business owner. I believe small business growth should feel sustainable, authentic and aligned with your values.

Today, I wear three hats:

Advisor & Mentor — guiding small business owners through growth and change
eCommerce Founder — running a creative brand with a loyal, engaged community
Speaker & Advocate — representing small business voices in the media and on stage

Every strategy I share is grounded in lived experience — from running my own business to advising hundreds of others — and every conversation is led with genuine care for your success.

Debbie Hatumale-Uy is an Australian business advisor, eCommerce founder and CMO of Realise Business - a not for profit specialising in growing small businesses. She has worked with leading corporate brands, built thriving online communities and appeared across national media advocating for small business growth. Her philosophy is simple: strategy matters, but heart builds lasting businesses.