Becoming a successful entrepreneur owner is no easy feat, particularly if you are a woman. However, we are lucky enough to have many inspiring Australian examples of women who have achieved great success in their industry – women who’ve been trailblazers and continue to inspire other business owners.
Everyday these women demonstrate the strength, passion and ingenuity it takes to achieve success, inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs to create the change they want to see.
But change does not come from simply having a vision. It takes hard work, the ability to be daring and a penchant for refusing to back down when others say no.
All the women in the Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame have undergone their own journey and overcome plenty of obstacles. But they share a number of common strategies for success:
- Define what success is for you. It is important to realise success is not a homogeneous concept. What success means to one woman is not the same for another. Ronni Kahn, founder and CEO of OzHarvest, encourages women to define what success means to them and to have a clear idea of what it is they are trying to achieve.
- Be an innovator, not an imitator. Shelley Barrett built her cult beauty brand ModelCo on the premise of being different from her competitors. The key to success for many Hall of Fame inductees is the willingness to go above and beyond what everyone else is doing, and to dream big. Managing Director of Retail Zoo and founder of Boost Juice, Janine Allis, agrees, “Don’t be better, be different”.
- Believe in yourself and banish all doubts. For many entrepreneurs, realising professional ambitions takes a leap of faith. Founder of RedBalloon, Naomi Simson, began her foray into business with only a second-hand computer and a few thousand dollars. Having faced her fears and trusted her instincts, she emerged a successful innovator and is now recognised as a thought leader. “All the preparation, planning, discussion and debate finally comes down to backing yourself and trusting your ability and those around you,” said Simson.
- Have a strong team around you. As much as it is about having a strong entrepreneurial vision, it is also about the people around you. Many of the Hall of Fame inductees attribute their success to the support network which they surround themselves with. The ability to listen to others and to foster a healthy professional culture is critical to business growth and longevity. “Understand that business is about people and human relationships – look after people and success follows,” said Annie Crawford, founder of Can Too.
With these four common strategies and an extra dosage of passion and persistence, these women have come a long way to stand proud as today’s role models for businesswomen across the country.