Kate Toon of Umina Beach has been named the country’s most influential woman in small business at the Australian Women’s Small Business Champions Awards 2022.
The founder of Stay Tooned took out the Champion Influential Woman award at the inaugural awards night on November 12.
The awards program, aimed at recognising Australian small business women achieving excellence, received more than 2,500 entries in total, with 30 finalists in the Champion Influential Woman category.
Toon operates a number of digital businesses including The Clever Copywriting School, Digital Masterchefs and Recipe for SEO Success, which offer courses, memberships, resources, training and mentoring to thousands of small businesses in Australia and internationally.
“This is a win for all of the misfit entrepreneurs working smart, day after day, to achieve their small business dreams,” she said.
“My business is not an overnight success; it’s the result of 14 years of persistence, innovation and determination.
“But I’m still here, turning up and supporting my community every day.
“While I don’t see myself as an influencer I think my honest sharing about the highs and woes of my business does have a positive impact.”
Managing Director of Precedent Productions and founder of the awards, Steve Loe, said more and more women were taking up leadership positions throughout the small business community.
“The time has come to accelerate visibility of the incredible entrepreneurial spirit that so many women in small business display,” he said.
“Kate heads a group of digital educational businesses helping business owners, freelancers and entrepreneurs develop business success by improving their digital marketing and building their online visibility.
“It is important to her to build a positive legacy by fearlessly educating thousands of businesswomen and giving back to worthy causes, through educational courses, resources and training and mentoring.”
Toon was also named the Businesswoman of the Year at the national My Business Awards and included in the Top 50 Small Business Leaders of 2022 by Inside Small Business magazine, along with achieving many other regional, national and international accolades.
Operating a seven-figure business from her ‘Toon Cave’ backyard shed, she employs a fully-remote team of staff and contractors, and aims to provide her community of business owners and entrepreneurs with the skills, wisdom and connections they need to thrive in a digital business world.
Toon was also a finalist in the Education Services category at the Australian Women’s Small Business Champions Awards 2022, in recognition of her courses and education offerings, including her Recipe for SEO Success courses which have helped more than 12,000 other businesses.
Source:
Media release, Nov 22
Stay Tooned