Four Hunter businesswomen have been named amongst Australia’s best female entrepreneurs in the AusMumpreneur Awards.
The awards are presented by the AusMumpreneur Network and recognise businesswomen Mums who are achieving outstanding success in areas such as business, product development, services and innovation and the four local businesswomen have been named in four separate categories.
Tara O’Connell of The Baby Diaries has been judged by a panel of Australia’s business leaders as one of Australia’s Top 10 Emerging female entrepreneurs.
After having her second child Tara developed the app, The Baby Diaries, which could collate the medical details, developmental milestones and daily care details her sleep-deprived brain struggled to track. The app it is available in 15 different languages and has been downloaded by users as far afield as India, South America, Russia and Ukraine, listed amongst the Top 10 “must have” Apps for new parents in 2013.
Tara says it can be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst raising a family, believing that a successful life balance is essential if you are to have a successful business.
“While ‘success’ will mean different things to each of us it’s important to identify what it means to you, to identify the priorities for your children, your family and yourself, and create a work life that supports rather than hinders this,” Tara said.
“For me success will mean that, at the end of my days I can reflect on my life and be happy that I’ve made a difference in the world, and to other people’s lives. Accolades such as being a Finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards helps me to know I am on the right path.”
Like Tara, Danielle Proctor’s business, The Rocky Road House, was born out of a need within her own life as a Mum and now she has been voted as one of Australia’s Top 10 female entrepreneurs in the “Hand Made Products” People’s Choice category.
“When my daughter was 6-months-old old she had 26 allergies ‚Äì she was allergic to eggs, anaphylactic to peanuts and gluten intolerant. With eczema on 70% of her body I spent my days baking allergy free foods. The only way I could be confident in giving her an allergy free option was to do it myself,” Danielle said.
“After selling handmade rocky road products locally I decided in early last year to expand the business due to demand and start an online store, but I was then diagnosed with Cancer (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma).”
“Going through treatment set me back nine months according to my business plan but I was determined to make up for lost time when I got back on my feet.”
Sally Mortimer of Neat Freak wanted to be able to combine her determination to have fun whilst doing the housework which her wish to have a flexible work life in order to spend time with her son.
Sally has been voted as one of Australia’s Top 10 female entrepreneurs in the “Customer Service” People’s Choice category.
“I believe in being happy, and sharing my happiness!. NeatFreak is about sharing my thoughts, ideas and self ‚Äì without question, expecting nothing in return,” Sally said.
“I am still amazed people have taken a punt on NeatFreak, and am so excited to be a part of AusMumpreneur.”
And finally, Sarah Osmotherly of Sugar Coated Mama has been voted in the Top 10 female entrepreneurs in the “Blog” People’s Choice award.
Established in late 2012, Sugar Coated Mama came about from Sarah’s insatiable desire to sugar coat anything and everything while on a sabbatical from her 15-year career as a Public Relations Consultant for the TV Industry.
“Being a Finalist in these awards is a fantastic celebration of the amazing journey that has followed in the two short years since starting Sugar Coated Mama,” Sarah said.
“Part of this journey has been an awareness that there are extraordinary opportunities that come when you follow your heart and earnestly seek to be the best person you can be. I have found a gap in the market and capitalised on it. I have discovered a new talent and monetised it while also being at home with my family”.
The awards are separated into two categories ‚Äì one a panel of judges decides that and the other that is awarded via popular vote. While a panel of business leaders will now judge Tara’s award, the other three finalists have been listed in the People’s Choice awards, meaning their nominations are open to public voting, which can be done online.
Voting closes at midnight on Monday, 6 October 2014.
Image | Sarah Osmotherly of Sugar Coated Mama