Empowering Lessons from Forbes Australia’s 30 Under 30: Celebrating Women in Underrepresented Fields

Forbes Australia has released its inaugural 30 Under 30 list, spotlighting exceptional young leaders, innovators and trailblazers across different sectors. These women, excelling in underrepresented fields, show how passion, resilience and creativity can break barriers and inspire future generations.

Together, these founders have raised more than $100 million in funding, highlighting their drive to create positive change.

The 30 finalists were chosen by a panel of independent, expert judges, assessing them in areas including funding and revenue, social impact, scale, innovation and industry potential.

Let’s dive into some empowering lessons we can learn from the inspiring women on the list.

Pursue passion over prestige

Many of the women on the list chose paths not for fame or financial gain but out of genuine passion for their work. Whether it’s environmental sustainability, mental health advocacy or tech innovation, these high-achievers demonstrate pursuing what you love can lead to success beyond measure.

Take the sporting superstar, Jessica Fox. Born in France and raised in Sydney, Jessica is the most decorated paddler in history. She is the first Australian canoe slalom athlete to compete at four Olympics and was the flag bearer at the Paris Olympic Games. She debuted at the 2012 London Olympics as an 18-year-old and won silver, which inspired her to win gold in Tokyo and two more gold medals in Paris.

How did she achieve greatness so early? In high school, Jessica set her sights on a dream ATAR (97.4), writing it down and pinning it to her bedroom wall. She stared at it every day, studied hard and eventually achieved her goal (yet, true to form, Jess received a 99.1 ATAR and was dux of her school).

Initially, Jessica questioned whether paddling was the right path for her.

“It was what my parents did, and it felt too close and under too much pressure – and too hard to do.” But at the mere age of 14, she felt inspired to chase her calling and entered into junior championships, climbing up the ranks with plenty of dedication.

Key learning: Follow your passion. When you align your work with what you love, you’re more likely to excel and inspire others along the way.

Resilience is the hero ingredient

The road to success is rarely smooth. Many of these young women have faced challenges, from societal expectations to industry biases. Their stories echo the sentiment that setbacks are often stepping stones to greater achievements.

Chanel Contos turned an Instagram story into a movement, garnering 44,000 petition signatures to reform Australia's consent curriculum. Contos launched an NGO, Teach Us Consent. With her team of 10, she has raised $3.5 million in grant funding and distributes social media resources that aim to reduce violence against women and children.

“When I posted the Instagram story, my dream outcome would have been if my old school and nearby schools changed. I never thought beyond that. The petition – it felt so silly, at first,” Contos recalls.

Key learning: Cultivate resilience. Learn from failures and setbacks, and use them as motivation to keep moving forward.

Invest in your network

Networking is vital in any field, but women in underrepresented sectors must often create their own support systems to navigate challenges. They actively seek mentorship, collaboration and community, understanding that lifting each other up is crucial for collective success.

Steph Claire Smith co-founded the fitness and wellness app Kic alongside business partner Laura Henshaw in 2018. Steph is the sole woman featured in Forbes’ technology category. Since its launch, Kic has seen consistent year-on-year revenue growth, with non-app revenue projected to rise by 200% this year.

And, the company’s podcast KicPod has been downloaded more than 14 million times, boasting 160,000 unique monthly listeners.

Smith is a firm advocate for networking and often guest speaks at conferences and industry events. She expresses the importance of staying strong in your beliefs and not pandering to anyone who devalues your worth.

Key learning: Invest in your network. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, challenge you, and support your goals. Together, you can achieve more.

Challenge the status quo

Many women on the Forbes list are not just participating in their industries: they’re challenging norms and advocating for change. By pushing boundaries, they’re creating opportunities for others and reshaping their fields.

24-year-old mechatronics engineer Grace Brown has been building robots since she was 15. But her hobby turned into a business in 2022 when she launched Andromeda Robotics with a view to deploy the first empathetic robot throughout nursing homes in Australia. Andromeda’s AI-driven robotic companions support children’s hospitals and aged care facilities, positively impacting patients’ well-being, independence and quality of life.

While Brown secured $3 million in funding for her venture, her parents believed she was completing her master’s degree in mechatronics engineering at Melbourne University.

“I didn’t tell them I’d deferred my studies for a whole year,” Brown says. “They were asking me about graduation and how I was balancing my time in the US with my studies. My mum is Chinese and Asian culture is very traditional. They wanted me to get a real job.”

Brown is the only female listed in Forbes Australia’s 30 Under 30 list for the science and healthcare category.

Key learning: Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Questioning traditional practices can lead to meaningful change and open doors for others to follow.

How did these women get here?

Besides being high achievers, the women on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list are role models, innovators, and advocates for change. Their stories teach us that success is not just about individual accomplishments but about how we uplift each other and drive collective progress.

We hope these stories inspire you to pursue your passions and embrace your unique superpower to make a positive impact on our world.

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