40under40 Winner - Caroline Ambrosini

Caroline Ambrosini has worked at elite corporate players Rio Tinto, JP Morgan, Hartley Poynton and Wesfarmers. 

In 2001, however, Ms Ambrosini decided she needed a new challenge and set up her own recruitment firm, Ambrosini Professional Placements. 

The inherent risk of the venture is evidenced by the fact she is the sole shareholder and used her own start-up capital. The company has flourished under her guidance and is establishing itself as a thriving enterprise.

To leap out of a comfort zone into something completely different is not a very easy thing to do, but Ms Ambrosini has found it very satisfying. Graduating with a bachelor of commerce from the University of Western Australia, she declined an offer to enrol in the honours program, deciding instead to take up a position at Hamersley Iron, where she was quickly selected to write speeches for the CEO.  One of her most notable business achievements is her in-house MBA, which she completed at JP Morgan in New York in 1995.

Ms Ambrosini says she sees every day as an opportunity to learn and apply the wisdom of past experience to new challenges. Staying ahead of risks by understanding them first has allowed her business to get through some shaky times. She also believes that entrepreneurs are only as good as their most recent decision.

The company has been actively involved in the community by offering substantial discounts on recruiting services to the Australian Red Cross, and through sponsoring a child through the Save the Children Foundation.