From an external perspective, Jessica Kane’s career was always written in the stars. But now the recent graduate has found her calling carrying on the family’s bus business legacy.
When Jessica Kane graduated from high school in 2015, she had no clue what career path she wanted to veer down.
She eventually settled on pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business, motivated by her family’s company in Kane’s Buses. Kane was still uncertain about her future while studying until one conversation changed everything.
“During my six years of study there was one pivotal moment that shaped the course of my studies and career,” Kane told ABC. “I was chatting with an acquaintance when the topic turned to family businesses.”
The acquaintance didn’t know of Kane’s background, of her family’s school bus and charter service business that had been operating for half a century. They told Kane that family businesses must all eventually be bought out by bigger companies for the benefit of small communities. It didn’t sit well with Kane.
“While I never said anything to the individual at the time, I felt so passionately that this statement wasn’t true. I felt a genuine desire to prove them wrong,” Kane says.
Growing up, Kane didn’t see joining the family business as inevitable. Kane’s Buses was started by Kane’s grandparents Lynette Marie Kane and John Leo. It is now run by her father Dennis and his two brothers Patrick and Peter Kane. Kanenow works full-time as an administration manager with cousin and apprentice mechanic Adam and her aunty Carolyn, who is a bus driver and cleaner for the operators.
Kane grew up with her family’s business surrounding her. She remembers hearing many stories about her grandparents starting the business more than 50 years ago throughout her childhood. Kane says she’s grown to see her father and uncles build upon the family legacy in recent years.
When Kane first began working at the business part-time while studying, she saw the value her family’s business provided to the surrounding community. Unlike what her university acquaintance tried to tell her, Kane saw a small family business benefiting Henty individuals in the rural and regional communities in the Greater Hume Shire.
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It was enough to entice her into considering a career in the transport industry where she could continue the Kane family’s involvement in the company.
“I began working only a few hours a week at the business through university, but from that point onwards I had a growing interest in the family business,” Kane says. “I had a desire to learn as much as I could in the hope that one day I could play a role in continuing my grandparent’s legacy.”
“My hours and work within the business continued to grow throughout my first and second degrees, and now ends with me working full-time there.”
Once Kane worked out where she wanted to go in her career, she worked harder than ever. Kane completed her bachelor’s degree at Charles Sturt University in 2021 before graduating with a Master of Commerce majoring in Human Resource Management and Corporate Communication in 2022.
While completing her master’s degree, Kane won two Deans Awards before graduating with distinction. Kane says her motivation to study hard while also learning valuable industry knowledge through her part-time work with Kane’s Buses combined into a busy yet helpful schedule.
Kane is adamant the mix of Charles Sturt University’s flexible schedule and Kane’s Buses real-life experience proved key to her winning the Deans Awards.
“One of the many things I appreciated about Charles Sturt University and its learning platform was the way it so seamlessly fit into my day-to-day life,” Kane says.
“I’m also forever grateful to my father and uncles for being so open and supportive in allowing me to undertake different projects and make changes to different systems throughout my six years of study and now into my full-time work.”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Kane. Halfway through the final semester of her master’s degree, Kane’s grandmother passed away 10 days after a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Although it came at a gut-wrenching time, Kane used the pain to motivate her towards graduating and working full-time at her family’s business.
“I was deeply saddened that both of my grandparents weren’t alive to see me graduate,” Kane says. “But I feel a lot of pride and motivation each day as I walk into work and think about how I’m able to play a part in continuing their legacy.”
“It may sound silly, but buses have been in my blood all along. Although I was initially unsure of what I wanted to do after school, I’m confident that I have found my place in what is an incredibly interesting and exciting industry.”
Kane successfully graduated from Charles Sturt University’s School of Business this April after completing her degree in 2021. The now administration manager at Kane’s Buses chose to complete some of her master’s degree from distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kane says it was a welcome change to be able to graduate and celebrate in person after six years of studying.
“COVID-19 robbed many of us the opportunity to celebrate major milestones and it’s so nice to feel like we are able to celebrate what has been a lot of hard work and a pivotal part of our lives,” Kane says. “Being able to actually have and attend a graduation ceremony is so exciting.”
But now Kane turns her eyes towards the family business and its future in the transport industry. Unlike what her university acquaintance told her, Kane says her family’s business isn’t dying. Instead, she says it’s continuing to benefit Henty’slocal community.
Kane says it’s an amazing evolution that she now works on complex technical systems that she played a role in integrating – work that her grandparents once did using a pen and paper.
While the transport industry continues to evolve, Kane says she feels well-placed to continue being a leader of change at Kane’s Buses.
“The transport industry is going to continue evolving and facing challenges like increased regulation, integration with technology and the challenge to provide sustainable solutions,” she says. “I’m excited to use my learnings to help address them.”
Kane says she wants to help the people around her through her role at the local transport operator.
Whether it be through managing coach services or mapping out local school bus routes, Kane says she will continue to tackle challenges facing her regional area.
“The luxuries which so many metropolitan areas have in relation to their public transport systems don’t extend to these rural and regional areas where Kane’s Buses is located,” Kane says.
“I hope to play whatever role I can in helping improve or remove some of these barriers for our own communities in the public transport space.”