Since moving to the Far South Coast over four years ago, Mia Maze has supported, inspired and mentored many local women in business to work towards achieving their goals.
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Mia was named last week as a finalist for the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards in the Professional Services Award category, receiving acknowledgement for her dedication to fostering support for women in business in the community she loves being a part of.
The national awards have been running for 12 years, celebrating outstanding achievements of mothers in small business and the growing number of women who successfully balance business and mothering.
Mia is the co-creator of Sapphire Coast Business Women and the founder of Mazey Consulting & Coaching. She featured as a Community Hero on Channel 10's The Project, and said she aims to "change the game for women in business one enterprise at a time".
"My real work in the region began when the Black Summer bushfires impacted practically every aspect of the local community economy," Mia said.
"I wanted to help strengthen the local ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship."
Her role as manager of the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, a federally funded business incubator for the University of Wollongong, led her to succeed in assisting over 150 enterprises to receive support, with 95 percent of these run by women.
Mia is thrilled to have been named a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards and is proud of her achievements.
"It's about championing other women in business, especially regional businesses, who are looking for support and encouragement," she said.
"When we lead support for regional businesses from local professional services, the support stays around.
"Shining a spotlight on regional women in business shows they are equally as capable as those that may have higher incomes and access to broader social networks and industry support.
"Some of the benefits of balancing business and motherhood include remaining visible, solidarity, kinship, and team building with other women and creating role models for younger women and girls.
"Most importantly, we need to lead the change for boys, young men, and men in business to create supportive and inclusive possibilities for women, now and in the future," Mia said.
Through the support and networking group Sapphire Coast Business Women, Mia hopes to assist women in business to stay ahead of the curve in the aftermath of the bushfires and now COVID.
"The struggles are real, the juggles are real. I am inspired by the impact I could make on the community and other businesses, inspiring others to change the conversation, to turn it around so it will include great women leaders of both today and tomorrow."
Being a successful businesswoman while raising a family can be difficult, and Mia offers some advice to others considering establishing their own business.
"Find your people, connect like you've never connected before, share like you're already successful, create your perfect testimonial and build the business to realise it... and just get started, illusions hold you back."
In 2021 there were 2200 nominations and 550 finalists for the AusMumpreneur awards. Winners will be announced at an online event in September.
For more information visit: www.ausmumpreneur.com.
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
