Listed: Meet 10 innovative businesswomen in South Australia

We received a huge response following The Advertiser’s 80 innovative women in business package and decided to do an encore.

These women have found their niches and followed their passions to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams, expanding their businesses across the state, country, and the world.

Here are a further 10 businesswomen from across the state to celebrate.

 

Stacey Wilson

Business: CUTCH Skincare

Location: Berri

Founder of CUTCH Skincare Stacey Wilson has always had a passion for skincare and a strong connection to her heritage, launching her brand in 2022.

“CUTCH Skincare is a brand that prides itself on using Australian native plants and natural properties that were utilised throughout Aboriginal culture,” she said.

“By creating products that reflect my cultural background and personal journey, I feel I am taking an empowering step towards embracing my identity and celebrating Australia’s diverse culture.”

The 31 year old, Ngarrindjeri woman launched the skincare line, which features a lemon myrtle body mist and a strawberry gum antioxidant infused serum, in 2022.

“My biggest challenge so far would be perfecting the CUTCH formulas, establishing the network to expand into retail spaces for consumers to buy and experience first hand,” Ms Wilson said.

“My biggest success with starting a business comes with the benefit of having complete control over my products and brand and the flexibility to design it according to my vision.”

 

Emily Ciardiello

Business: Foil Me

Location: Clarence Gardens

Foil Me creates and supplies hairstylists and salons across the world with pre-cut foils sheets, colour brushes and foiling boards.

Emily Ciardiello, who runs the business with husband Iliano “Ili” Ciardiello after a post- hairdressing appointment lightbulb moment in 2013.

“After my appointment, Ili asked about the foil that was in my hair,” Mrs Ciardiello said.

“I explained that foils were used in the lightening process by the hairdresser, and while saying those words I could literally see his mind ticking over. I knew where this was going.”

At the time, Mr Ciardiello was running a business in the food distribution industry as well as working as a waiter and photocopier salesman to make ends meet while Mrs Ciardiello was on maternity leave from teaching.

“After many conversations and brain dumping, we were not united in our vision – Ili wanted to be the ‘Foil King of Australia’ and sell the cheapest foils out there,” Mrs Ciardiello said.

“I wanted to elevate the hairdressing industry by providing a high end product and service.”

Since starting in 2015, the company has continued to grow and is now sold in stockists across Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Croatia and Hungary.

The Clarence Gardens couple also revealed they are just about to launch in the USA.

 

Jasmine Hancock

Business: Lucee Designs

Location: Whyalla Jenkins

Jasmine Hancock’s funky pet and pals accessory business started after she was asked to make some scrunchies for a work Secret Santa gift.

The 25-year-old officially launched Lucee Designs, selling scrunchies, hair claws, pet products and treats in December 2021.

“I attended my first market in March of 2022 which is where I started getting my name out there,” Ms Hancock said.

“Since that first market I have since done many other markets and events, including most recently the Whyalla Show. I believe it’s been successful, but I’m still only a very small one-woman business.”

The Whyalla Jenkins woman said her biggest success had been watching the business – which is named after both of her dog – “blossom and grow”.

“In the short time I’ve been a business, looking back on what’s worked and what hasn’t as well as seeing all the products we now offer instead of the few little sad baskets of scrunchies we had at our first market, it honestly makes me proud,” she said.

 

Dianne Dumanovic

Business: Topknot Management

Location: Adelaide

Dianne Dumanovic is the founder of Topknot Management, a bespoke PR & Communications Agency specialising in personal brand management.

Ms Dumanovic’s first client was none other than the 2023 Australian of the Year, Taryn Brumfitt, and since then she has worked with dozens of women of varying backgrounds and

stages, helping them elevate their visibility and influence, positioning them as the go-to authority in their respective field.

“My core focus on personal brand management is quite rare,” she said.

“Unlike other leaders in this space, I not only develop the strategy but execute it on behalf of my clients.

“My skill set in marketing, PR and comms, and talent management which is unique, and I tap into all three areas with my work.

“Being able to help my clients achieve ‘vision board’ goals is the core reason why I love my work.”

Her clients have appeared in more than 40 news and media publications such as news.com.au, 7NEWS, Forbes Australia, New Idea, Who Magazine, Studio10 and more, and have unlocked unique opportunities to be showcased for their skill and talent, whether it be via media exposure, speaking engagements, award wins or unique collaborations and partnerships.

“All of my clients are amazing individuals that have such amazing stories and insight that deservedly needs to be shared,” she said.

“Being able to amplify their visibility, position them as industry leaders and showcase their talent is one thing, seeing their reaction to their exposure and opportunities secured is another.”

 

Olivia Jenkins

Business: Olivia Jenkins Consulting

Location: Woodville South

Known as the CEO’s Wing Woman, Olivia Jenkins is a leading business consultant specialising in eCommerce.

The 15-time award-winning authority has worked with more than 200 CEOs and business owners including several seven- and eight-figure consumer goods brands including Lust Minerals, Kosmea, Vani-T and more.

“I’m not just a consultant in the traditional sense; I’m the CEO’s wing-woman and business partner, a title coined by my clients in 2020 that has become both my business tagline and a registered trademark,” she said.

“My approach is holistic, immersing myself completely in a business to help the CEO achieve the cult-like status their brand deserves.

“My clients have been able to achieve incredible achievements, some that are life-changing. Knowing that I have played a role in their success is everything to me.”

Ms Jenkins has helped her clients collectively amass more than $50m in the four short years she has been in business.

An entrepreneur herself, Ms Jenkins is the owner of multiple businesses and

understands first-hand the complexities of running a successful business.

“What sets me apart is my signature formula of strategy and execution, allowing me to devise laser-sharp, bespoke strategies and dedicate my days to implementing them for my clients,” she said.

“It’s this unique blend of roles – business consultant, coach, marketing adviser, and problem-solver – that fuels my passion for my work.”

 

Sarsha Harvey

Business: Local Kitchen Co

Location: Malvern and Parkside

With a mission to help people spend less time worrying about what’s for dinner and more time enjoying it, Sarsha Harvey launched Local Kitchen Co in 2021.

“I started cooking in 2019 for busy families from my home kitchen, and when the demand started to get overwhelming for my family home, the search for a larger kitchen started,” Ms Harvey said.

“I was lucky enough to find our wonderful kitchen on-site at our shop in Malvern. I have also had the joy of finding other wonderful food lovers to help with all the cooking.”

The business offers the Malvern community and surrounding areas with an array of pre-made meals, and it has even expanded to a second location in Parkside.

“Our new store on Unley Rd is a little different vibe to our Duthy St store. We offer coffee and light meals in addition to our broad range of pre-made heat and eat meals and beautiful salads,” Ms Harvey said.

 

Jessica Fantasia-Capoccia

Business: Sent With Love Giftbox Co

Location: Paradise

After coming up with an idea while on maternity leave with her first son, Jessica Fantasia-Capoccia launched Sent With Love Giftbox Co in August 2019.

At the time Ms Fantasia-Capoccia was working in admin after a seven year career as an interior designer.

“I was missing being able to express my creative side and I always had a love of putting together gifts,” she said.

“I came up with the concept of edible gift boxes that could be personalised and tailored to suit any occasion.”

The 33-year-old said her favourite part of her job was making someone’s day.

“I have always found so much joy in bringing happiness to others so my favourite part about my business is the happiness out gift boxes bring to anyone who receives them.”

Ms Fantasia-Capoccia said running a business was stressful, especially when trying to balance being a mum but over four years it had flourished through word-of-mouth and repeat customers.

“It was a lot of hard work, and still is, but it has definitely paid off,” she said.

“(It’s) also a challenge to keep my husband and kids from stealing treats out of my work room.”

 

Kelly Baker Jamieson

Business: Edible Blooms

Location: Keswick

It’s no secret online retail gift destination Edible Blooms has been a booming success story across the country and overseas.

But, growing up on her family’s broadacre farming property in South Australia, Kelly Barker Jamieson never dreamt she would run one of Australia’s largest online businesses that delivers joy every two minutes somewhere in Australia and New Zealand.

“I loved learning from an early age and would read everything I could growing up, ” she said,

After a working holiday in the UK, including working for Time Out Magazine, Ms Barker Jamieson moved into a professional services career at Minter Ellison before co-founding the national award-winning online gift delivery business Edible Blooms with her sister Abbey in 2005 at 26 years of age.

Edible Blooms has grown to be the winner of Canstar’s 2022 Australian Online Gift Delivery Company award and has recently been short-listed for the AFR Boss Innovation Awards for 2023 for their InstantGift-it technology.

A member of the Industry Leaders Fund in SA, Ms Barker Jamieson completed an executive study program at Oxford University in the UK.

She is a strong advocate for women leading in business and is a former SA Telstra Business Woman of the Year, a member of the Premier’s Women’s Council, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Winning Women program, co-founder of the Fearless Female movement and facilitator for Behind Closed Doors.

 

Donny Walford

Business: Behind Closed Doors

Location: Rose Park

Donny Walford is a passionate leader and advocate for women in business achieving success in working with boards, executives and business owners across industry, government, defence, and the not-for-profit sector nationally.

She has a long history of challenging the gender imbalance in corporate Australia and nurturing the next generation of female business leaders.

She was the first woman to be appointed to senior management at the State Bank of South Australia in 1984, then a 130-year-plus organisation with 3500 employees.

A sought-after board director, her roles have included chairman of the Australian Dance Theatre and a director on the following boards: the ABC, KeyInvest Ltd, Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee Adelaide Football Club, Social Inclusion, Zero Waste Management, Australian Associated Advisors, Repat Foundation, Heart Foundation SA, SA Great, SYC HYPA, and Founding Member of International Women’s Forum Australia.

Her accomplishments include winning the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women, Woman of Distinction Award in Economic Development and Investment category and serving as a national judge for the Telstra Businesswomen of the Year and Business Awards nationally.

Ms Walford is a graduate and scholarship winner of the Macquarie University Executive Management Program, an AICD Fellow, and was selected to both the AICD Chairmans’ Mentoring and Mastering the Boardroom Programs.

She works tirelessly with her team at Behind Closed Doors to ensure women in business are developed and supported by a network of professionals positioning them for career growth and seats at the boardroom table.

 

Shannon Schedlich

Business: Siblings Australia

Location: Adelaide

Dr Shannon Schedlich, joined Siblings Australia as chief executive in January 2023, after running the Media Centre for Education Research Australia and working in leadership roles in government, corporate affairs, and community engagement.

Holding a PhD from the University of Newcastle, she sits on two school boards and has been a non-executive director for numerous inclusive organisations.

Dr Schedlich, warmly describes her path to the role of leading Siblings Australia as having an “eclectic work background” but it is one which positions her perfectly for the job of focusing on the needs of siblings in families supporting people with disabilities.

A mother and also a stepmum of a little girl with multiple disabilities, Shannon has a lived experience of navigating those challenges the more than 2 million siblings of Australians with disabilities may face.

Dr Schedlich and her team of five are energised for the job ahead with their first priority to cement the message nationally that siblings can be vulnerable and need our support.

Raising the public awareness of siblings issues, making sure siblings have opportunities to articulate their lived experiences, and providing access to support which help siblings are among Shannon’s the next steps to achieve with the support of all Australians.

 

 Read the article here.