Faces of women-led businesses: Kimberley Chesney

Kimberley Chesney, founder and president of Prime Management Group, shares her unique perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a successful venture

London Inc. is proud to present its inaugural look at some of the city’s leading female owned and/or operated businesses and the faces that run them. Twenty-four women who are shaping industries, redefining entrepreneurship and inspiring generations of women to come, share the challenges they’ve overcome, what they attribute their success to and what it takes to build and scale a brand.

Kimberley Chesney
Founder & President
Prime Management Group Inc.
519-672-7710 • pmg.on.ca

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FOR KIMBERLEY CHESNEY, who founded executive recruitment and human resources consulting firm Prime Management Group in 1990, work-life balance was a leading consideration long before it was part of our everyday business lexicon. “My children were my biggest motivation,” she recalls. “As a single mother with HR and recruitment experience, I needed flexibility, which was scarce in the 1990s.”

And while acknowledging that sales techniques have changed, Chesney says the requirements to build a strong company culture and secure valued clients still follows the principles of common sense and integrity. “Starting a recruitment firm in London as a young female was challenging,” she says. “Many assumed we were a temp agency, not handling management searches — especially in a male-dominated industry. Breaking that perception required face-to-face meetings, which built trust and long-term client relationships that still exist today.”

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For entrepreneurs, she says it is vital to surround yourself with genuine supporters. “Don’t just envision what you want your company to become — take action every moment, every day. Keep your family engaged and listen when they tell you it’s time to pause. Have faith. Success is a journey, not a race, and maintaining balance ensures you have the energy and clarity to keep moving forward.”