Addressing gender inequality with 21.7% discount for female-led companies

In an era where the pursuit of equality in the workplace is more vital than ever, the Pause Awards takes a proactive stance to narrow the gender gap.

Acknowledging the 21.7% gender pay disparity as reported by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), we’re proud to announce a 21.7% discount on entry fees for female-led companies and founders.

This initiative not only reflects our dedication to supporting women in the realms of business and technology but also acts as a catalyst for change, encouraging more female-led ventures to come to the forefront of innovation and leadership.

It’s essential to recognise the remarkable achievements of female entrepreneurs, past winners who have not only led their companies to success but have also significantly contributed to reshaping the business landscape in Australia.

Notably, the Pause Index reveals an encouraging trend: 41% of total winners are unique female-led companies, with 44% of all awards in 2023 being taken home by female-led businesses. Let’s dive into a few past winners stories to see where they are now and how they got there.

Great Wrap: Revolutionising Sustainability

Great Wrap, Co-founded by Julia Kay and Jordy Kay, stands out as a testament to innovative thinking and sustainable practices. The company’s dedication to ending plastic waste has not only led to the invention of crucial products but also attracted significant investment, closing a $24 million Series A funding round in 2022. 

Their recognition at the Pause Awards in the same year for categories such as Defiant Ones, I wish I’d done that, and Grand Prix for Going Green underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions in today’s market. They entered Pause Awards to connect with other founders, entrepreneurs and other businesses to be at the forefront of innovation and what’s happening in Australia.

When we asked them which business skill is the most important in business, they responded:

“Self-awareness. The ability to be quiet, take on feedback, look, listen and learn will help any high-growth venture scale fast. Not all feedback or advice is great but it is important to take it on and process it through the lens of yourself and your business.”

The Sheet Society: Redefining Comfort with Style

Hayley and Andy Worley’s venture, The Sheet Society, is another exemplary case of how innovative thinking can transform a traditional industry. Sparked by a desire for a career shift in 2017, Hayley’s transition from the fashion world to creating high-quality, stylish beddings has led the company to remarkable success, achieving $15 million by 2020. 

“I’ve worked in the fashion world for the past ten years and really just fell out of love with clothes! I wanted a career change and still wanted to be involved with fabrics and colours so the idea of creating bed sheets ticked all the boxes for me,” Hayley told Inside Small Business.

The company’s recognition in the Prodigy and Big Noise categories at the Pause Awards 2020 highlights the importance of their innovation and quality in product development.

“Personally, Pause Awards gave me that recognition that I’ve been working so hard for.”

Hayley Worley

The Sheet Society’s silent journey from conception to becoming Vogue Australia verified illustrates the potential of creative vision coupled with strategic digital marketing, high-end product and endless dedication to shoot their business into the stars.

Chau Le: Driving E-Mobility Forward at Origin Energy

Being a woman in leadership is rare, and it’s especially rare to be a female executive in both the energy and automotive fields. Chau Le is breaking down barriers and paving the way for more women to enter male-dominated industries. She’s been instrumental in the growth of the electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia and is passionate about creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Winning the Pause Awards for New (Business) Model, Champion in Going Green, and Woman in Business category in 2023, Chau Le’s contributions reflect the growing recognition of female leaders in traditionally male-dominated sectors and their crucial role in steering industries towards greener futures.

“This award is great recognition of Origin’s innovation in delivering a range of e-mobility solutions to customers, and the work and dedication of our teams to help Australians switch to cleaner transportation.”

Chau Le

Ally Watson OAM: Championing Diversity in Tech 

Ally Watson’s initiative, Code Like a Girl, has been instrumental in addressing gender disparities in the tech industry. Since its inception in 2017, the organisation has made significant strides in empowering women and girls in technology, reflecting Ally’s vision of a more inclusive and diverse industry. 

Her early recognition at the Pause Awards 2018 in the Prodigy category underscores the impact of her work, which has since seen a 46% growth, employment of eight people, and placement of 130 women into tech jobs, bolstered by grants from notable corporations like Toyota, writes SmartCompany.

“I am driven by a vision of a tech industry that is inclusive, diverse, and representative of all voices. It’s not enough to have more women using tech – we need more women building tech.”

Ally Watson OAM

Frank Body: Scrubbing the Way to Success

The story of Frank Body, co-founded by Jess Hatzis and Bree Johnson started in 2013, and is a compelling narrative of bold innovation and market understanding. Their unique coffee-based skincare products quickly captured the attention of a global audience, leading to significant investment in 2021 from China’s EverYi Capital, valuing the brand at about $100 million AUD. 

“You’re dealing with a lot of men in the startup sector who predominantly give money to men. Here we were with our female-led brand, producing products for women. What became obvious to me was the disconnect between the people that had the funding and the consumer group that we were targeting.” 

Jess Hatzis told SuperReview

Their 2018 Pause Award in the ‘I Wish I’d Done That’ category reflects the inventive spirit and entrepreneurial courage that define successful female-led ventures in the competitive beauty industry.

As we acknowledge the accomplishments of these incredible women and their companies, it’s clear that the landscape of technology and business is evolving, with female entrepreneurs at the helm of this change. 

The investments and awards garnered by these trailblazers not only signify individual achievements but also highlight the collective progress towards a more diverse and inclusive industry. The job is not done yet so we must — “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.” 

At Pause Awards, we love hearing the success stories, because we know they have not come without sweat and tears, so we want to wholeheartedly support her mission with a 21.7% discount on new entries.

On this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the resilience, creativity and leadership of women who are shaping the future of technology in Australia, one innovation at a time.

Other female-led businesses winners at Pause Awards, since 2018:

• AirRobe (Hannon Comazzetto, Founder & CEO)
• Airwallex (Lucy Liu, Jack Zhang, Max Li, Xijing Dai, Ki-lok Wong are the Founders)
• Ally Watson OAM, CEO & Founder, Code Like a Girl
• Angela Harbinson, Co-founder & CEO, The Separation Guide
• Bri Johnstone, Senior CX Manger, Telstra
• Brittany Garbutt, Founder, Pretzel Australia
• Carers Couch (Martina Clark, Founder)
• Chau Le, Group Manager of Strategy and E-Mobility, Origin Energy
• Circle In (Jodi Geddes and Kate Pollard are the Founders)
• Christina Hobbs, Co-Founder & CEO, Verve Super
• Connect Labs (Soumya Indurti, Founder & CEO)
• Cyan Ta’eed, Co-founder, Envato
• Dianna Somerville, Chair, Regional Development Australia Riverina
• Driveschool Enterprises (Lisa Skaife, Founder & CEO)
• Edda Hamar, Co-founder & Director, Undress Runways
• Emma McAllister, CEO, Education Perfect
• Emily Blanch, Co-founders and Head of Community, XY Advisor
• Fiona Wood AO FAHMS, Plastic Surgeon and Director, Royal Perth Hospital
• Five Mile Radius (Clare Kennedy, Founder)
• Fluff™ (Erika Geraerts, Founder)
• Frank Body (Jess Hatzis and Bree Johnson are the Founders)
• GippsTech (Dr. Elena Kelareva, Founder)
• Goterra (Olympia Yarger, Founder)
• Great Wrap (Julia Kay and Jordy Kay are the Founders)
• Inspiring Rare Birds (Jo Burston, CEO)
• Jan Owen AM, Council Member, World Economic Forum, Global Futures Council
• Jasmine Batra (Arrow Digital, Founder)
• Jess Scully (served as a Councillor on the City of Sydney Council from 2016 to 2023 and was Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney from 2019 to 2022)
• Jericho Clearly (Founder, Bountie)
• Jodie Imam, Cofounder and Co-CEO, Tractor Ventures
• Julia Waite, CN30 Project Manager, Meat & Livestock Australia
• Judy Anderson, Group CEO, Euphemia
• Kalinya Communications (Jirra Lulla Harvey, Founder and Director)
• Kate Pollard, Co-founder at Well™ and Circle In
• Law On Earth (Katie Richards, Founder & CEO)
• LVLY (Hannah Spilva and Verity Tuck are the Founders)
• LunchFox (Louise Fisher, Founder)
• Marcella Romero, CEO, Arriba Group
• Michelle Akhidenor, CEO, The Peers Project
• Michelle (Mannering) Duke, Developer Advocate, GitHub
• Mel Stubbings, Head of Engineering, Hide and Seek Digital
• Melinda Farley, Director at Kollektive
• Modibodi (Kristy Chong, Founder)
• MrYum (Kimberly Teo, Adrian Osman, Andrei Miulescu)
• Neighbourlytics (Jessica Christiansen-Franks and Lucinda Hartley are the Founders)
• Ovira (Alice Williams is the Founder)
• Pronto Bottle (Shannon Gilleland, Founder)
• Rae Johnston, STEM Journalist and Broadcaster
• Rita Arrigo, Strategic Engagement Manager, National AI Centre
• Sally Hill, General Manager, Tripple
• Scale Investors (Chelsea Newell, General Partner)
• SBE Australia (Nicole Cook, CEO)
• Stephanie Palmer-Derrien, Co-founder and Editor, The Club
• Switch4Schools (Phil Slade and Roshelle Weir are founders)
• The Community Collective (Paz Pisarski, Co-founder)
• The Sheet Society (Hayley and Andy Worley are the Founders)
• The Women’s Business School (Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner are the Founders)
• Treble Notes (Mya Whatson, Founder)
• Vanessa Doake, Chief People Officer, Art Processors
• Winitha Bonney, Founder, Amina of Zaria