This week has been one of great celebrations in the Queensland Business Community.
I've attended four events of celebration that have inspired me, and reminded all of us that hard work and dedication do pay off.
Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame
On Tuesday night, a large and illustrious crowd gathered to recognise nine companies and business people newly inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. Governor Penelope Wensley graciously welcomed these Queensland business icons into a prestigous and growing group of businesses who have made their mark on the Queensland economy.
New inductees for 2010 were:
Bundaberg Distilling Company
Golden Circle
Jack Hutchinson (Hutchinson Builders)
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Ray White Group
Kate Mary Smith (K.M. Smith Funerals)
Graham Turner (Flight Centre)
James Tyson (Entrepreneurial Pasturalist)
Xstrata Mt Isa Mines
You can read more about the fascinating stories of these businesses and how they have built their success in Queensland at the Hall of Fame site. This project is run as a collaboration between the State Library of Queensland and QUT Business to help preserve this important part of Queensland's history.
To me these stories were inspirational and remind us all of what is possible with hard work, determination and a clear vision. Most of these businesses started out small, with one shop or one product. These are not stories of 'overnight success', but of a long term focus on building a business for the future.
Telstra Business Women's Awards
The celebrations were continued on Friday at the presentation lunch for the Telstra Business Women's Awards. The sixteen finalists are all outstanding examples of women doing fantastic work and achieving great success in their own businesses, in the corporate world, and in our communities. Congratulations to all the finalists and to the winners, who will now represent Queensland at the national awards.
These women and their businesses all have the potential to the be the Hall of Fame inductees of the future.
Women in Technology
On Saturday night, women from technology industries across Queensland gathered to celebrate their achievements at the annual Women in Technology Awards. Finalists were 'women who are excelling or who have demonstrated leadership in their field.' I was very proud and excited to be named as a finalist among some outstanding women, for the WiT Executive Award.
Thank you to the judges for honouring me as the winner of this award, and thank you to Women in Technology who sponsored this category. Like any awards, it is the process itself which is most important. It provides an opportunity to reflect on your achievements, to look at how far you've come and to think ahead about your future direction and how you can improve. I encourage everyone to be involved with these events as a part of your own professional and personal development.
Girl Guides celebrate 100 years
The other celebration this week, was not what we think of as a business, but nevertheless an organisation that has a lot to celebrate. Girl Guides is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and women in the world and this year they celebrate 100 years of changing lives. With a mission to grow young women into confident, self respecting community members, Girl Guides have over 6000 members in Queensland.
On Tuesday night Premier Anna Bligh welcomed Girl Guides Queensland to Parliament House to honour the work of this organisation in the Queensland community. It was amazing how many parliamentarians, including the Premier have previous associations with Guiding.
As part of their outreach to the community Girl Guides Queensland has a group of business and professional women, called Women of Substance. Women of Substance run a mentor program for high school girls to help them with their worklife choices.
The next mentor breakfast, for year 11 girls, will be held on Friday the 8th October at Parliament House. If you are a woman who'd like to help inspire the next generation of leaders in business and the community, please join us for a wonderful event. More details are at the Girl Guides website, or contact Monique.
How do you celebrate?
It's been a long and exhausting week of celebrations for me, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. I believe it's important in the rush of our busy lives, and all the hard work we do, to step back occasionally and congratulate ourselves on a job well done.
Celebrate your wins, no matter how small.
Share your stories of success, to inspire others.
How will you celebrate this week?
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