Local mums named finalists in this year’s National Business Awards

Local mums Sally Newman of First Line Productions and Emily Fogg of Wise Owl Tuition have been named as finalists in this year’s AusMumpreneur Awards. Ms Newman has been nominated for the creative entrepreneur award and Ms Fogg for the best children’s educator award. Award winners will be announced in Sydney on August 24. The AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate and recognise women across Australia who achieve outstanding success in business, product development, customer service and digital innovation all while balancing motherhood. Both Ms Newman and Ms Fogg were inspired to start their businesses after seeing a gap in the community and having a passion to make a difference. First Line Productions, created by Ms Neman, is a multi-media storytelling platform that helps people share their stories in the community. Wise Owl Tuition by Ms Fogg aims to help children reach their academic goals. Both women have a strong focus on supporting the disability sector. Wise Owl Tuition primarily tutors students who are neurodiverse and First Line Productions advocates for all abilities to be included in the professional arts scene. Last year Ms Fogg won the Rockingham and Kwinana Chamber of Commerce small business award and Ms Newman recently finished second in the global Women Changing the World Awards. Ms Fogg said there were many benefits to balancing business and motherhood. “Leaving my full-time career as a teacher to develop my tutoring service has given me so much more freedom to be with my daughter,” she said. “It has also allowed my husband to move into a standard 9-5 work week and leave the demands of FIFO.” Ms Fogg said “guilt or fear” shouldn’t stop women from being an amazing business woman and an amazing mum. Ms Newman admitted that it could be challenging to be a successful business woman while raising a family, but had some advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise. “If you have a passion and a purpose, the rest works itself out,” she said. “Families are built on good morals and supporting one another, and this does not change if you decide to be a mum in business.” For more information on the AusMumpreneur Awards visit ausmumpreneur.com.