“Thank you so much to the SA Woman Awards and awards sponsors for this amazing honour. I’m so grateful to accept this Rise Up Award, especially in the company of the other outstanding finalists – congratulations to all of you for the great work that you do.

Since establishing Bec Hardy Wines in 2015, I’ve had a strong focus on creating an attractive workplace for people from all backgrounds and life experiences, offering flexible opportunities and championing women in a male-dominated industry.

As a proud, born and bred SA woman, I can’t ask for a higher recognition that this award – thank you!”

“Wow what a thrill to be awarded the 2021 Emerging Woman in Business at the SA Woman Awards!

I spend a lot of time celebrating the amazing achievements of my clients that it’s quite a thrill to be able to sit back and celebrate my business! It’s been a big year so far in my businesses life with so many life lessons learnt and this award really is the icing on a pretty delicious cake.

Firstly I’d like to thank SA Woman Australia for not only running such a wonderful awards but also for creating a space where SA Women can come together and celebrate each other’s business achievements.

Thank you also to Louise from Pottering Around for sponsoring this category. Wonderful businesses like yours really do trailblaze the way for us newbies and encourage us to keep going.

It was a scary step to leave comfortable full time employment to go out and start That Hashtag Girl and one I simply wouldn’t have done without the help of my mentor Jo Schneider who pushed me to go out on my own with the simple words, “yeah look I reckon you should just do it!” Every day I’m thankful for your confidence and drive that helped me make the leap.

Thank you to my amazing partner Wes who picked up the slack and supported me so much, especially while I was working a full time job weekdays and a full time job after hours! Also to my trusty floofy four legged colleague Barry who never leaves my side no matter how loudly I bash the keyboard!

Thank you also to my family and friends who have offered advice, support and simply asked how the business was going. When you’re starting out just asking how things are going and being excited about my wins means so much so thank you all!

Most importantly thank you to all of my amazing clients, who have trusted me with their businesses social media and marketing. You are what makes being in business so great and I truly cherish every interaction I have with you all. I’m always getting off the phone or stepping out of a meeting thinking “Wow, how did I get so lucky to work with such lovely and inspiring people every day.” Here’s to another year of making magic together!”

“Wow, thank you so much to Carly & the SA Woman team for bringing fabulous women in business together to celebrate all that we offer in SA! To be a part of this celebration has been a truly humbling experience.

I would like to thank my amazing team at ROAR. I would not be here without each of these truly brilliant and inspiring ladies. Day in and out they give their absolute all to support our wonderful children & their families providing the very best speech pathology services across Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

To my coach, Hayley Hall. What an incredible year we have had, growing our team from 3 to 8! I’ve learnt an astounding amount from you and would not be where I am today without your support, ideas, and gentle reminders of how far I’ve come and holding my vision for Roar in the forefront of all that we do.

Finally, thank you to my family; Adam, my boys, mum and dad & in laws, for always believing me and supporting me through every happy moment, and also the more challenging ones… Running a small Business is not always easy, and without their support, love and guidance, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love to do. “

“I would like to firstly acknowledge the amazing work that goes on behind the scenes by the whole SA Woman team to make these awards possible and bring such an amazing night together! Thankyou so much.

I was so privileged to even be a finalist with the caliber of this years nominees I am blown away to be the winner of Regional woman in business. Thankyou to Your Estate Lawyer for their generous sponsorship for this award.

As every person in business knows it takes more than one to make a business, it takes a team. Whether they are staff, family, or friends it takes a team. I have surrounded myself with supportive, honest and driven people who continue to inspire me with what they achieve and that helps drive me to push myself in so many areas of my life. I am coming into my 16th year of being a business owner and I still aim to grow, learn and better my management skills, my business and networking skills and my leadership skills. I cannot express how important self development is.

I am so proud of what I have achieved aver the last 15 years, marriage, business owner, three children, separation, continuation of running this business with my ex husband and all of the curve balls life and business throws at you along the way.

Compartmentalising work from personal was huge mental achievement for us in still being able to run a welcoming and safe space especially in times of stress for our community when they needed somewhere to gather and support each other.

Lastly I’d like to thank that one man who in 2007 came into the shop in my first week of business and heard we were making some changes and told me I’d never make it work. Thankyou for unleashing the most stubborn part of me and that’s the part that when someone tells you you can’t, it so much more enjoyable when you do.”

“Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land I live and work on, the Kaurna people, and all First Nations people across Australia.

It is such an honour to have been nominated amongst so many inspirational women and to accept the SA Woman Heart Award.

Thank you to the judges and the people who voted, for acknowledging the importance of building a village of support to protect the mental health of mothers and advocating for their rights.

For those who don’t know me, I am Dinah Thomasset Hearn, an advocate for mothers and the founder of Villagehood Australia, a not-for-profit centre for mothers based in Adelaide.

Villagehood Australia was launched in March 2020 and despite all the challenges we have faced due to the global pandemic, we kept going – one small step at a time – because of a story you may have heard before.

Today, as my acceptance speech, I would like to tell you more about that story.

This is the story of a mum who wasn’t prepared to become a mum,

The story of a mum who is struggling with anxiety & depression,

The story of a mum who thinks she is failing as both a woman and a mum,

The story of a mum who believes she is not enough,

The story of a mum who feels lost and isolated despite being loved by her family and friends,

The story of a mum who wishes to enjoy motherhood more but finds it so hard at times,

The story of a mum who loves her children unconditionally but doesn’t want to “mum” all the time,

The story of a mum who wants to be better for herself and her family,

The story of a mum who is setting healthy boundaries around her,

The story of a mum who feels empowered to speak up and stand tall,

The story of a mum who holds space for other mums so they can feel safe too,

The story of a mum who is on a journey to become more and whole again,

The story of a mum who will help change the world we live in.

This is the story of a “woman who mums”.

This is your story.

This is my story.

This is our story.

And our story is our voice.

With your help, we can amplify our voice so we are heard.

With your help, we can join conversations that will impact the life of so many mums.

With your help, we can create a better reality for all South Australian families and communities.

With your help we can be change to lead the change.

Join Villagehood Australia and help us extend that village of support.

Because our story matters, our voice matters.

We – women who mum – matter.”

“I am still in shock that I won and feel very very blessed!

Firstly, I would like to thank Carly & the amazing team at SA Woman for creating such an amazing, accepting & incredible business built on the foundation of women supporting women. I feel so blessed to be a part of this journey moving forward.

Thank you to my gorgeous, supportive, hard-working, extremely talented, amazing team: Fab, Sam, Liv, Jess, Talia & Taylah. Having them in this business makes every day incredible. I have never met a more like-minded, driven bunch of ladies in this industry and we are absolutely in awe of the work they do & the environment they create for our clients.

I will always believe that HHC has a team culture like no other. I’ll never take any of my team for granted. They are the soul of this salon, and I love them all ENDLESSLY.

Thank you to our NAK Hair tribe for always believing in us. Having the incredible colour techs & brand reps that we do with this amazing Australian company makes this job/business so much more enjoyable. Jess & Emma- you guys ROCK & thank you so much for having faith that HHC can and will do big things for the hair industry.

Lastly, but mostly- my husband Fraser. He has been my biggest & best support from day one. When all of this started as a little idea (that grew quite rapidly) he was by my side helping me & our growing team in any way that he could. Fraser, who owns his own electrical business Evolve Electrical SA, knew a lot about business before we started HHC. He has taught me so much, and I will be forever grateful for what he continues to do. He is a wonderful father to our children & a wonderful businessman too.

Winning SA Young Business Woman of the year is just- WOW. I am truly humbled. I am proud of myself, & blessed that I have the best village of supporting people around me that make what I do possible.

THANKYOU!”

“OMG I am absolutely gobsmacked!

It was an honour to be nominated, even more so to be named a finalist. To be named the inaugural 2021 Disabled Woman in Business has to one of the biggest things to happen in my world, especially this year.

This year has seen some of my biggest hurdles, on both the personal and professional front.

My world is pretty crazy and I juggle so many balls so to be recognised for all this hard work is quite humbling.

But in all honestly, I wouldn’t be able to achieve any of it without the AMAZING Spiral Coordination team who have my back, who share my passion and who I truly adore.

Without my AMAZING parents, whose unwavering belief and encouragement I wouldn’t have even achieved half of it.

My kids, who are my WHY!, they are the reason I get up every morning and why I fight for the system to change, for people to live as independently as possible, to achieve anything they set their minds to because they deserve a life where their disability is their superpower and not their curse.”

“This award is not only about an acknowledgement of me or my achievements. Winning this award, for me, is a wonderful tool, to leverage my position within our region. Showcasing that a female, from a small business, in regional Australia, in a male dominated industry, who is a mother of four, is capable of making a difference – to her business, to her region.

It gives me credibility to what I’m trying to achieve via my role as Chair of Regional Development Australia Murraylands Riverland. To all those people who I coach & mentor and to those small businesses I listen and give advice to this award would be validation for them.

It gives confirmation, that one small person, can make a difference and hopefully it gives someone out there the courage and determination to forge their own path and create their own story.

To my husband, who often wonders why I put so much on myself, telling me, “I’m my own worst enemy”, validation for us, that juggling work, parenthood and our marriage isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it. That sometimes putting others before us, isn’t my long-term goal, but it’s what I feel I need to do right now, whilst I have a calling of something to give.

To my kids, who think the laptop is attached to me. Who I hold accountable and to a very high standard, and bring them up with a sense of gratitude, rather than that of entitlement, it isn’t easy, and that motherhood has been my hardest job, but also definitely the most rewarding as well. That my hard work and dedication has been recognised at a personal level, not just at an industry level.

To our business clients, that when we have a purpose of “Together we Thrive” that we mean it. One of our core competencies of “Committed to the Community” arn’.t just words, it’s a way of life, it’s in our DNA.

To our male dominated blue collar staff, that running a business isn’t easy and not always profitable, but that we are only as strong as our weakest link in the chain and that I rely on their commitment and support, just as much as they need me to process the payroll. That we aim for win/win solutions, that keep all stakeholders happy & engaged.

To me, when sometimes during my sleepless nights, when I question my own WHY, that all that really matters is that hole-heartedly I’m true to myself and that I try to help others forge their own path.

And lastly, to my mum, who is my role model she’s the true winner here and taught me how to have a backbone, she is selfless and committed to her community, she’s tough but supportive, and has always encouraged me to be the best version of me, my true authentic self.”

“I am so honoured and blessed to receive the Mum in Business Award for 2021!! 🎉

Thank you so much to Carly and the amazing team behind SA Woman who have made this all possible!

I feel so blessed that I’m able to combine motherhood with business.

I started Adelaide Bakes when my firstborn was 4 months old and sleeping in 45-minute blocks.

I found my studio while my toddler was napping in the car.

I found out I was pregnant again one month after signing a 5-year commercial lease.

I built my business between nap times, feeds, and nappy changes because I had a driving desire to create a business on my own terms.

I am a mother and a business owner and I love both roles tremendously.

I want every parent out there who has a burning desire to start a business, who is listening to training and podcasts in nap times, who is making plans while feeding, whose baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet, but you have the ambition to start or grow a business, you can totally do it.

Surround yourself with the right people, be kind to yourself, ask for help, find a mentor and just go for it.

Being a mum in business has its challenges but I feel so fulfilled every day.

What a blessing.

I could not do this without the wonderful support of my family, my fiancee Kyle, kidlets, Alex & Maddles and our family who have always supported me in every way to achieve my goals.

And finally, I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who nominated me, voted for me, and supports me every day to build such a wonderful community.

You’re all so amazing and I am so honoured to share this journey with you!

Thank you.”

“Winning this award signifies a lot for me – it’s for every single girl who was told no. It’s for every immigrant parent that had to fight to build a better life for their children.

It’s for every girl that got told they weren’t enough, or in my case ‘you’re just a hairdresser’ For every girl who got told they were too uneducated, too inexperienced and were too different – this award signifies that anything really is possible!

What an honour it is to be a part of an incredible calibre of women in business. I really believe in women empowering women and helping each other out. Thank you for bringing this amazing event together to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

I’ve been working on my career for a long time (precisely 29 years, but who’s counting), always evolving and changing up my direction to stay with the times. It’s nice when everything aligns and your hard work is recognised. I hope by winning this award, I can encourage other women to persevere in with their dreams.

I would like to thank my husband and business partner, Vlad, who has always believed and supported me from day one. He stepped in to facilitate our rapidly growing business and team and helped me overcome the many challenges that presented themselves throughout this journey. Vlad, you really are the best partner and father I could ask for.

My incredible, resilient little humans; David and Teya. Mummy loves you and hopes to encourage you to follow your dreams and don’t be afraid to try something new. I love you for all your support and understanding of the sacrifices we’ve had to make.

Thank you to my hardworking, funny as hell and supportive team. We all knew from day one we were making an impact by restoring confidence in women. I couldn’t have pulled this off without their dedication, attention to detail and exceptional work ethic and I am so very grateful for them. This appreciation extends to my mentors and colleagues who have helped, advised and supported me along the way.

A huge thank you to all our incredible clients who believed and trusted us from day one and really helped push us forward. We truly cherish each and every one of you! The reward that comes from our makeovers has become everything to me, my team and our community.

Lastly, I can’t thank my fellow hairstylists enough for taking a chance on me. Our industry has been massively undervalued, and I feel very grateful to have this opportunity to share a little of my experience and journey with so many amazing, talented hairstylists. The impact this has had on so many already, assures me we have found our purpose and we are only just getting started.”

“I would like to thank SA Woman for showcasing women in business and providing a platform where together, we can celebrate the remarkable achievements of so many women. The SA Woman team have done an awesome job of creating such a spectacular celebratory worthy event, particularly with the restrictions we have all been living with over the last 2 years.

I would also like to congratulate all of the nominees and finalists. You have been recognised by your teams, customers, friends, communities and families because you are doing work that is valued and makes a difference to them. You are all great examples of what women are capable of achieving. Well done!

I would like to recognise my phenomenal work team who nominated me. They are the most fabulous group of people who each bring individual uniqueness and strengths to our team to achieve our common purpose. They are a phenomenal group who continuously go above and beyond for which I am very grateful. We achieve together, so this award is definitely because of, and for you.

Thank you to my wonderful husband, Al, who is always a source of inspiration, strength and encouragement. You are one-of-a-kind. Thank you for being you.

Finally, my favourite phrase at the moment is “growth and comfort do not co-exist”, so ladies, let’s keep following our dreams and convictions, seize opportunities as they arise, break through the glass ceilings, celebrate and achieve amazing things together.”

“A close business colleague once said to me, ‘Surround yourself with women who will mention your name in a room full of opportunities. At the SA Woman Awards, I heard an entire function room of people praising, recommending, referring, complimenting and congratulating. That’s the culture I want to be a part of. That’s the roomful I have been searching for.

To be a nominated for a SA Woman Award in the Allrounder category was an absolute honour. To be a finalist alongside a lineup of smart, successful businesswomen was a privilege. To receive the award was a highlight of my professional life.

Thank you SA Woman. Thank you to the community and thank you to the nominees and finalists. I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful culture of positive, hard-working and inspiring people. Thank you so much and cheers to all of the nominees, finalists and award recipients. Let’s keep lifting each other up and mentioning each other’s names in a room full of opportunities.”