Busy times for winners

Market Equity managing director and shareholder Julie Beeck has had little time to take stock of things in the four years since she was named a winner in the inaugural WA Business News 40under40 Awards.

The marketing consultancy has expanded rapidly across the nation and, in the past few months, been acquired by a global research company Synovate – after a typically hectic period of due diligence.

Ms Beeck has been with the firm from the start.

A commerce graduate, she was a co-founder of Market Equity in 1992, and has been involved as it grew from that a two-person operation to a consultancy with 50 full-time staff operating Australia-wide and turning over $6 million annually.

Ms Beeck said she entered the 40under40 awards to add some profile to Market Equity.

“That was the motivation for doing it, not for myself,” she said.

Since its inception in 2002, the 40under40 awards have recognised 160 of the state’s most business savvy men and women – with many in business or public service deciding to enter because they want to showcase their version of leadership.

The area of leadership is where City of Wanneroo economic development manager Ian Martinus seems to be moving since winning earlier this year. He has been short listed for Leadership WA, a program run by a not-for-profit organisation which provides experiential leadership programs select groups of high-potential leaders drawn from across all sectors.

“You have to figure out how to leverage it [40under40] and make the most of it,” said Mr Martinus who is travelling next month to Taipai for a training program on Information Communication Technology (ICT) Businesses Development. 

For Glass House Graphic Design Studio owner Nikki Griffiths (a 40under40 winner in 2002 and 2005) making the most of winning a 40under40 award and reaping the benefits from her achievement has always been a focus and part of her advancement strategy.

Ms Griffiths already has four businesses on the go.

And, as if that is not enough, the South West-based entrepreneur is also in the process of developing a unique device for putting in contact lenses and a business grant for young entrepreneurs.

“I had the idea for the device about eight years ago, but this is the first chance I have had to work on it,” she said.

Ms Griffiths’ achievements in her existing businesses have won her recognition beyond 40under40, reaching the state finals of the Telstra Business Woman of the Year.

Ms Griffiths said her passion for promoting the South West had also been helped by 40under40 because it had bought attention to the number of fantastic business people located there.

“I am leading the way as an ambassador to get more people from here involved,” she said.

Taxi Council of WA chief executive Joanna Ammon said the 40under40 award was endorsement of “what I do and continue to do”.

“It gave my confidence a boost, and this was great because I have real trouble putting myself on a pedestal,” she said.