SPARK Founders

#awinewith Leanne Hughes, Business Advisor, Keynote Speaker and Author of Work Fame  https://www.leannehughes.com/    In this episode we talked about...    * The quarter-life crisis at 25 that changed everything: leaving Accenture for Wicked Campers as their "Wicked Evangelist", and the boss whose "get the keys and go" energy gave hera taste of running her own show.  * How she ...

#awinewith Samantha Hunter, Founder of Bloom Organics  https://bloomorganics.au/    In this episode we talked about...    * The supermarket moment that started it all: standing with her sister reading a soap box for her nephews' eczema, unable to pronounce a single ingredient, and deciding "we can do better than this".  * Researching her way from a COVID lockdown hobby to a handmade...

Grant Winner Interview: Dr Bethany Fisher, Founder of Dr Bethany's Tooth Tales - Round 12 $10k Winner  https://drbethanystoothtales.com/    In this episode we talked about...    * From dentist's chair to centre stage: how regularly extracting teeth from four-year-olds convinced Bethany the real work was prevention - and that it should be fun.  * The two songs she wrote "just randomly&...

#awinewith Emma Grojnowski, Founder of My Beauty Swap  https://mybeautyswap.com/    In this episode we talked about...    * Thirty years in beauty: three award-winning Bondi day spas, a skincare range sold by the thousands in the US, and the garage-turned-salon where she's done treatments for the lastnine years.  * The moment behind My Beauty Swap - realising during COVID that she couldn't...

Grant Winner Interview: Jacinta Meyers, Founder of F.A.C.T.S - Round 12 $5k Winner  https://cosmetictestingservices.com/    In this episode we talked about...    * The pivot: after being a cosmetic brand owner since 2011, Jacinta stopped competing in a crowded market and built a business around her real strength - R&D and the lab bench -creating her own cosmetic testing laboratory and small-ba...

#awinewith Faith Limantono, Founder of Inknite Labs  https://www.inknitelabs.com/    In this episode we talked about...    * How Faith went from a law degree (and a first marketing job at a vibrator company) to founding her own digital marketing agency - and why the winding path was the point.  * Why she's fervently anti-niche, and how working across coaches, consultants, AI startups and not-f...

#awinewith Jennifer Bicknell, Founder of Bicknell Law & Consulting  https://jenniferbicknell.com.au/    In this episode we talked about...    * The "Seth Godin concert" moment that made a happy international law firm partner realise she no longer fit her tribe - and why the only person who'd let her do the crazy thingsshe wanted to do was her.  * Why Jen calls herself a dispute p...

#awinewith Natasha May, Marriage Celebrant and Founder of Elite Elopements  https://eliteelopements.com.au/    In this episode we talked about...    * How 18 years in event management, from running around Queensland weddings at 20 to big-budget corporate events, led Natasha to celebrancy - and why she waited until the timing(and life experience) was right.  * The business born while waiting - how ...

#awinewith Shannon Blackbourn, Founder of Panacea Landscapes https://www.panacealandscapes.com/ In this episode we talked about... *Leaving school at 16 for a landscaping apprenticeship, then falling in love with learning - 12 more years of study across horticulture, landscaping and landscape design. *Starting Panacea Landscapes four years ago with no money and no borrowed money - just her husband...

#awinewith Elisa Choy, Founder of Quantum Energy Shift  In this episode we talked about... Your biggest blocks often aren’t about strategy or knowledge - they’re subconscious patterns, fears, and beliefs that keep you stuck, even when you know exactly what to do.  Healing and personal growth don’t always happen slowly. Sometimes one major life event can completely shift your perspective, relations...

#awinewith Taryn Watson, Founder of Fit Right Women's Health  In this episode we talked about... Growth means nothing without sustainability - a business can look successful externally while struggling financially behind the scenes. Profitability, strong systems, and financial stability matter more than rapid growth alone.  COVID became the catalyst for a complete business reset, forcing diffi...

Answering all your FAQs on the SPARK Women in Business Grants - applications close 31 May 2026 midnight AWST.    Get more SPARK in your business…  SPARK Instagram Community |   Instagraminstagram.com/sparkbusiness.global   FREE SPARK CEO Scorecard |   SparkbusinessFREE The SPARK CEO Scorecard — SPARK  $15k Quarterly Cash Grants for Women in Business |   Sparkbusiness2026 SPARK Biz Grants — SP...

#awinewith Rebekah Pozzoli, Founder of Intuitive Mummas  In this episode we talked about... How Bek turned a deeply isolating motherhood experience into a business that creates real community.  Building a business from a genuine gap in the market can create powerful impact.  Sometimes the best business ideas come in your hardest seasons, not your easiest ones.  Growing organically through word of...

Interrupting our usual female founder interviews to share the $5k winner of Round Eleven of the SPARK Women in Business Grants!   Meet Jariah Kaissis, Founder of Nagula Physcology. https://nagulapsychology.com/ Nagula Psychology is an Indigenous-owned telehealth practice delivering culturally responsive psychological services across Australia. As a First Nations psychologist and sole trader, Jaria...

#awinewith Fi Mims, Founder of Fi Mims Photography fimimsphotography.com.au   In this episode we talked about... Why women in business over 40 face a completely different set of challenges and opportunities.  How your business should evolve alongside your life, energy, and responsibilities.  Building a successful business is not just about profit, it’s about sustainability.  Personal branding star...

Interrupting our usual female founder interviews to share the $10k winner of Round Eleven of the SPARK Women in Business Grants!    Meet Allison Marron, Founder of Bartender's Daughter. https://www.bartendersdaughter.co/ Hear how Allison was inspired to launch Bartender’s Daughter, bringing small-batch cocktail mixers from her home in Miami, Florida to Australia. Growing up, she watched her da...

#awinewith Lisa Thomson, Founder of Harmonie Health  In this episode we talked about... How Lisa turned a deeply personal family experience into a health tech business. Building a product that supports people to stay safe and independent in their own homes. The complexity of speaking to multiple customer groups in one business. Why emotional storytelling is such a powerful marketing tool. What cha...

#awinewith Anastasiya Ovechkin, Founder of the Osteo Den  In this episode we talked about... The reality of living with conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and autoimmune disorders—and why they are so often dismissed. How lack of education about our own bodies strips women of autonomy and informed choice. The broken healthcare narratives women are still being told (and why they need to change). Wh...

#awinewith Tracey Mylecharane, Founder of TM Legal Atelier https://www.tmlegalatelier.com.au/   In this episode we talked about...    Why legal documents are not just compliance, but a powerful tool for growth, cash flow and client retention. How poor contracts can lead to business destruction and costly legal battles. The hidden risk of using templates, borrowed contracts or AI-generated legal do...

#awinewith Loren Bousfield, Founder of Gemini Creative Studio https://geminicreativestudio.com.au/   In this episode we talked about...    How Loren built her business from pure survival mode after losing her job during COVID. Why being called “too much” became the foundation of her brand philosophy. The messy reality of starting a business before you feel ready. Learning boundaries, process and p...

#awinewith Thuy Pham, Founder of Spectrum Tuition https://spectrumtuition.com/   In this episode we talked about... How Thuy “fell into” Spectrum Tuition after her brother grew tuition services. Taking over a business and making it your own. Developing your own IP for business success. Growing a tutoring business through franchising. The systems and structure required to scale beyond yourself. Les...

#awinewith Bec Wakeham, Founder of The Dyslexic Clinic https://www.thedyslexicclinic.com.au/   In this episode we talked about...   How Bec built a niche clinic focused specifically on supporting dyslexic learners. The gap she saw in the system and why she decided to fill it. The emotional drive behind creating a business that changes children’s futures. Educating parents and schools while running...

#awinewith Lisa Stephens, Founder of Aroma Hug  In this episode we talked about... What it’s like to launch a new business after running multiple. The lessons Lisa carried forward from previous ventures. Why experience gives you clarity - but doesn’t remove the fear. What it takes to grow a product based business. Exploring new funding options like crowdfunding. Growing a waitlist before you launc...

#awinewith Sarah Petty, Founder of Olive Business Partners https://olivebusinesspartners.com.au/   In this episode we talked about...   What rapid business growth actually looks like 12 months in. The realities of scaling quickly and the pressure that comes with it. Hiring team members and learning how to truly step into leadership. Letting go of control and trusting others to deliver at a high st...

#awinewith Aleace Macpherson and Rachael Radulovic, Co-Founders of Aloca https://aloca.com.au/    In this episode we talked about... How Aleace and Rachael identified a real-world problem and turned it into a tech solution. The realities of building a startup without a traditional tech background. Why having complementary skills is critical in a co-founder partnership. The importance of clear comm...