Business
4 October, 2024
Cairns businesses make waves at Ausmumpreneur
TWO FNQ women-run businesses have been awarded at the national AusMumpreneur awards in the ‘Professional Service Business of the Year’ category for their excellence as businesswomen and mums.
Crystal Leonardi from Bowerbird Publishing in Julatten and Christine Foudoulis from Superior Recruitment in Cairns have been awarded silver and bronze respectively in the category of ‘Professional Service Business’ at the August 16 national AusMumpreneur Awards in Melbourne.
Bowerbird Publishing, founded in 2021, provides publishing, editing, design and mentoring services to up-and-coming writers across Australia and New Zealand while Superior Recruitment, founded in 2020, has been helping hundreds of jobseekers in the region find their ideal job.
As a first-time winner, Ms Foudoulis said it was an honour to be recognised for her efforts and passion.
“I created my business in 2020 during a very challenging time personally having lost my own job and building a business during Covid and post-Covid has its own challenges,” she said.
“But for me this award means that I’m being recognised for offering a professional service in the recruitment industry sector in FNQ - now Gold Coast as well - and providing a professional service to business clients looking to hire staff but also to job seekers.
“My business assists a lot of working mothers so as a working mum myself and a mumpreneur I understand how hard it is to find meaningful and flexible work, so this award means a lot on a professional and personal level.
“It was quite special to win this award alongside Crystal who I’ve gotten to know over the last two years, even though we operate very different businesses in different industry sectors we know personally the challenges that we’ve had to overcome to get to where we are.
“It was very special and unique.”
For Ms Leonardi who’s previously won at AusMumpreneur it was very exciting to share the podium with another Cairns mumpreneur.
“It was a lovely surprise, she was awarded bronze in the same category and we were really supportive of each other going into it and I was hoping we’d both do well but equally happy if it was just one of us,” she said.
“I’ve been an author for many years but to actually be recognised as a businesswoman and someone who’s providing professional services in this industry was a real thrill.
“Writing has always been my creative outlet to help myself and others navigate difficult times so becoming a publisher was stepping that up so to be celebrated as a professional in that area, to step out of that comfort zone was outstanding.”
