16 Female-Founded Businesses In The Sutherland Shire You Should Know About
Let’s hear it for the girls
The Sutherland Shire is home to many things: beautiful coastline, fabulous food, coveted watering holes and nature-packed pockets. And here, in this little slice of beachside paradise, one category we exceed in is the representation of talented females kicking ass in the world of business.
From marketing to homewares and everything in between, these 16 humble women are out there breaking glass ceilings, climbing the corporate ladder and paving the way for others to follow. In celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, we had the pleasure of getting to know them.
16 female-founded businesses in the Shire you should know about
Bronte Leghissa — Shire Scout & Scout Socials
After building a career in marketing and social media, Bronte captured a shining opportunity four years ago - during COVID-19, in fact. “After seeing so many businesses close or pivot during lockdown, I wanted to create a platform to share what was happening in the Shire while supporting local businesses,” she says. And so, Shire Scout was born. “I have learned that the spirit of collaboration not only strengthens our community but propels us forward. No matter your career, supporting other women, sharing ideas, and being open to opportunities will bring you a sense of empowerment that transcends individual achievements.”
Kirby Lago — Pelo By Lago
When asked, Kirby describes her journey in the hair industry as “quite the adventure”, which includes time spent training with industry leaders, directing editorial campaigns, owning salons and as a colourist to the stars, before landing herself Pelo By Lago four years ago. “As a female business owner in the beauty industry, the most valuable and important thing for me is creating a nurturing and empowering environment where women can thrive and break barriers,” she says. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of our clients, and I look forward to many more years to come.”
Raquel Bouris — Who Is Elijah
It’s been six years since Raquel launched boutique, boundary-free perfume brand WHO IS ELIJAH, and she says it’s been nothing short of amazing. Her imaginative scents and knack for capturing various essences in fragrance form has grown her repertoire from one scent, HIS/HER, to an ever-growing list. “As a female business owner, what I find most valuable is the opportunity to empower and inspire others, particularly women, to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Never take no for an answer. If you do get a no, you’re asking the wrong person,” she says.
Cony Henriquez — Cony’s
If you’re a fan of Cronulla, or of South American food, you’re probably familiar with Cony’s. But what you may not know is that its creator, Cony Henriquez, was once a manager in a beauty salon and a bilingual executive assistant for the Australian embassy. Then, while spending her days working at Grind Espresso, she found herself in a golden position when she was offered the opportunity to use the space at night. And so, after a renovation, Cony’s was brought to fruition. “I feel very grateful that the Shire community has welcomed me so warmly. Bringing my culture as a South American to Cronulla has been amazing. I'm also grateful to have an amazing supportive group of women around me, I wouldn't be where I'm right now with them.”
Kathryn Batty — We Are Mindful
It began in 2018 with the cheapest space she could find: 30 square metres in Cronulla. “Looking back, I didn’t have much of a plan. Instead, I took it one step at a time, learning as I went,” says Kathryn, who has since expanded and created a brand synonymous with the Shire retail experience. “We Are Mindful is an extension of myself. The more I gain confidence, embrace my style and share my passion with others, the greater the response. Owning a business has taught me that I am worthy, my interests are valuable, and I am deeply grateful for that.”
Elysha Vom Bruch — Raw Edge Boutique & Oli’s Cafe
“I have always worked in customer-facing roles, but it was time spent studying fashion design that led me there,” explains Elysha, who was fresh out of study when she created her first business, Raw Edge Boutique, five years ago. Seizing the opportunity to embrace her other passion, food, when the sun-filled space next door became available, she and her partner created local fave, Oli’s. “I love cheering on all the other amazing businesses in the Shire - especially those that are female-led. I think it's so important to always nurture a sense of community, not competition, in the business world.”
Alyssa Rae Clark — To The Core & Under The Bar
Running one business is a challenge, but for Alyssa Rae-Clark it wasn’t quite enough. “I opened my first training business in my parents’ garage at the age of 19,” she says. After building a client base, her second business, Under The Bar, and third, pilates studio To The Core, soon followed suit. “I have such a passion for training women,” she says. “Being surrounded by women who show strength in so many ways other than exercise is incredible. There's absolutely nothing we cannot do when we all support one another, that's for sure.”
Sheree Knobel — Bixie Colour
For Sheree Knobel, the owner of colour-specialist studio, BIXIE, the decision to build a business was as much a lifestyle choice as it was about career. “I had my second baby so I decided to open a salon closer to home in Caringbah for more flexibility.” Despite moving away from the CBD, Sheree’s client base - and following - went from strength to strength, thanks to a clever combination of social media and sheer talent. “We had people travelling from interstate and driving hours just to visit us. It was a wild and exciting time.” But if there’s one thing she’s learned through it all, it’s the importance of asking for help. “It’s impossible to do everything on your own. I have always outsourced when I needed to, which means that I, my clients and my team are getting the best support possible.”
Bec Castle — Bec Bakes
Like many business owners, Bec started small, with a shared commercial kitchen three days a week. But now, settled in her very own Caringbah store, things look a little different. Shedding her background in journalism in favour of her passion for baked treats, Bec now enjoys the sweet life in more ways than one. “From the moment I started Bec Bakes I made a promise to myself that I was going to give this my all until my work spoke for itself and people knew who I was,” she shares. “The value of non-judgmental conversation with like minded ‘sisters’ on this roller coaster we have chosen to be a part of as business owners can never be underestimated.”
Brooke Jensen — Papa J’s & Jensen’s
Brooke Jensen opened the doors of her very first venture way back in 2006. Since then, she’s proved herself a force to be reckoned with. Most would feel accomplished with just one ultra-popular hospo joint on their resume, but Brooke? She has three. “Leading a growing hospitality group makes me excited for the future. We are constantly building our team, and I’m proud to say that 80% of our leaders are women,” she says. “I am proud of what I have achieved as a woman in hospitality and am even prouder that our industry is now made up of 60% females working as ground level floor service, sommeliers, bar managers, general managers and hospitality business owners.”
Natalie Ettingshausen — Ettingshausens Performing Arts
As the daughter of long-running and much-loved local icon, Shire dance studio owner Kaye Thomas (a.k.a. ‘Miss Kaye’), a flair for performance runs in Natalie Ettinghausen’s blood. A background in primary education met her passion for dance, and Ettingshausens Performing Arts was born, followed by her second venture, Ready Set Dance, which sees her mentor dance studio owners across the globe. “I work to be a positive role model for women in business and mentor the next generation. More than anything, I want to demonstrate to my daughter that she can achieve anything her curious and creative mind can imagine.”
Tiarne Bova — Zahlia & The Yard
Helming not one, but two businesses is no mean feat, but Tiarne makes it look like a cake walk - and she’s been doing it for 10 years, no less. “I started the fashion label ZALIAH with my mum, before co-founding THE YARD GYM with my husband, Dan,” she explains. She and Dan make quite the team, with him overseeing the gym floor while Tiarne takes care of the marketing and front-of-house design. But underneath it all lies a passion for the women - and the mothers, in particular - that form a large portion of the pair’s clientele. “I believe in fostering a culture that promotes diversity, equality, strength, and empowerment.”
Bronte Hendricks — Stellar Experiences
“It is insane how fast it has gone by,” says Bronte Hendricks, who co-founded her business Stellar Experiences five years ago. Aiming to give young people with disabilities the same experiences as everyone else via social outings, Bronte started at just 22 years old alongside her business partner, Luke. “We wanted to create a community where young adults - no matter their disability - had the same opportunities to have fun, make friends, travel and try everything that life has to offer. Now we have over 550 guests operate in three states and a have a team of over 70 staff.”
Bree Peters — Bliss By Bree
“I always knew I wanted to work in an industry where I could make people feel good and have a positive impact on someone's day,” says Bree Peters, who founded Bliss By Bree 12 years ago. Although Bree spent years studying and training in Beauty Therapy, what really drives her is the power she holds to give people - women in particular - a break from the everyday. “The human touch is an extremely powerful thing - it's amazing how good you can feel after a treatment. Making someone feel wonderful is what our little salon is all about, and I feel so blessed to be around such amazing, strong women every day.”
Lauren Brenton — One Mama Midwife
Remember the height of COVID? Endorsed midwife Lauren Brenton certainly does. Seeing soon-to-be-parents entering the hospital system during the height of the pandemic without access to education sources fuelled a determination in her. “The inspiration behind One Mamma Midwife was truly just helping families get the support that they deserved - especially during COVID. It originally started as a free resource, but now I run antenatal classes both in person and online.” Despite the fact that Lauren herself is changing the game, it’s the mothers she works with that are her focus: “women are so bloody strong!” she says.
Bronte Lang — The Flower Posse
After falling in love with floristry from a young age, Bronte Lang launched The Flower Posse in 2017. Bronte's unique touch and creative mind quickly led her to become renowned across the Shire for head-turning floral arrangements in pretty, soft and muted tones. Now well-established within the industry, Bronte continues to follow her passion, recently shifting gears to focus on weddings and special events, with the occasional exclusive drop for special days like Valentine's Day and other noteworthy holidays.
Posted: March 2024