I Won The Melbourne Young Entrepreneur Award (PR & Events). Here’s What This Means To Me.

I can’t believe it.

I’ve won the Melbourne Young Entrepreneurial Award (PR & Events).

Here’s what this means to me.

I shouldn’t be here.

I’m the child of refugee parents.

I saw my parents work tirelessly to build a life for our family. They faced racism, language barriers and financial challenges throughout my life.

Growing up, we didn’t have much.

I shared a pullout bed in the living room until I was 15, and school necessities were often a stretch for my parents to afford. Every holiday, every school event, and every birthday was filled with love—but it was also colored by what we didn’t have.

But they were always there for me.

They supported me the best they can, and have been my number #1 supporters. Through thick and thin, I knew I could always depend on them to support me.

Winning the Melbourne Young Entrepreneurial Award is incredibly validating.

It’s recognition of the sacrifices that my parents made.

They built our lives from nothing. They sacrificed their dreams so I could chase mine. I never want to forget that every step I take today is on the path they paved.

I can never fully repay my parents for the sacrifices and compromises they made. I’ve got a better life because they decided to leave their friends and family to start a new life in a country where they didn’t speak the language.

This award is not just mine. It belongs to them, too.

Embracing discomfort & adversity.

Aside from being a parent, entrepreneurship is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Every day is filled with challenges and uncertainties.

There were many moments when I thought my business wouldn’t survive. I can never forget what it felt like being an in-person events company during the early stages of COVID-19. It was horrible.

Everyday we had clients canceling.

Cashflow came to a grinding halt. And then started going into negative.

I went to bed every night with anxiety. We weren’t sure if we would ever have events again. It felt like a crushing defeat. 10 years of work gone in under 30 days.

But if there’s one thing being an entrepreneur has taught me, it’s resilience.

I knew I couldn’t let go of the dream I had worked so hard to build. So, I leaned into everything that mattered—community, adaptability, and finding innovative ways to stay afloat. We shifted gears, tapped into virtual events, and adapted our offerings.

It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was like learning to walk again.

But, bit by bit, we made progress.

Those tough times taught me lessons that helped shape my journey, transform my business, get business mentoring and lead to moments like winning the Melbourne Young Entrepreneur’s Award.

Without adversity, this success wouldn’t have happened.

I’m just getting started.

I’ve been in business for more than a decade.

But I feel like I’m just getting started. We’ve made some big changes at JTPM including hiring a CEO, General Manager, and moving our company into a group structure.

This award signifies a checkpoint, not a finish line.

On a personal note, this year has brought growth in ways I could never have anticipated. I welcomed my second baby, a beautiful boy who already has my heart.

Our family, like our business, is now growing.

Balancing motherhood (part 2) with entrepreneurship (phase 2) is both a challenge and a joy, and it’s one that continually teaches me the power of resilience, adaptability, and unconditional love.

This year has been a year of growth.

But it’s also been about setting the stage for even bigger things. We’re building a team and culture that reflect our values – resilience, community, and innovation.

One of my favourite saying is:

“What got you here, won’t get you there.”

I expect to be pushed, challenged, and face more uncertainty that I’m comfortable with. But that’s where growth happens, and I’m ready for it.

We already have ambitious projects in the calendar for 2025 and beyond.

The journey continues, and I’m excited to see where it takes us.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this adventure so far!

I want to inspire others on a similar path.

I’ve heard ‘be realistic’ more times than I can count.

The first time I ever told a mentor about my business dreams, she told me that I was being naive. That my business would never work. I left that meeting crying to my mum on the phone.

Growing up, I was just a kid who needed a break.

I know how crippling it can feel to be limited by circumstances beyond your control. But I also know the power of someone believing in you, the way Western Chances believed in me.

Now, I’m focused on creating those same opportunities for others.

I want to especially empower other female founders and mothers who are navigating the challenges of growing a business while raising a family. For many women, the journey to scale a business can feel like an endless balancing act.

But I want them to know it’s possible to do both.

With the right support and community, they can thrive in both roles.

This award is more than just a trophy.

It’s about:

• Breaking barriers,
• Honoring my parents,
• Pushing to the next level of growth.
• Inspiring future generations to go beyond me.

P.S - If you're keen to follow my journey, I write a weekly newsletter that has exclusive content and updates about life, business and everything in between.

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