Susannah, Founder & Creative Director

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

International Women's Day to me is a chance to celebrate every woman's personal journey. I think of it as a day where we all cheer for the incredible, diverse paths we're all walking. Our whole operation at Billini is a living, breathing shout-out to female empowerment and equality. Every design, every step forward is a testament to women and what we can achieve. It's about more than just acknowledging the power and potential of women, it's about actively living it every single day. Our journey at Billini isn't just about creating fabulous shoes, its about acknowleding the women walking in them and empowering them to achieve whatever goals they have set.

HOW DOES SUPPORTING WOMEN WITH TRAINING AND JOBS IMPACT THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE AND WORK IN?

Every woman has a right to shine. When we support them with training and development, its like watching them shine brighter and brighter, one by one. This is such an impactful and porud thing to watch, especially those team members who have been on a long journey with us. At Billini, witnessing this ripple effect of empowerment is nothing short of inspiring and keeps me going every day as I work alongside so many talented, passionate and truly amazing women!

HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR WORK-LIFE AS A FULL-TIME BUSINESS FOUNDER & MOTHER OF 3?

Balancing being a mother of three and a fast paced, growing business is a daily challenge. Yes, I manage (sometimes barely) by being super organised, planning out my days and weeks in advance, as well as utilising my amazing support network, including my mother who pretty much dedicates every spare minute she has to our family. I am forever using calendars, reminders, charts, task management tools, routines, and everything else in between to keep running this tight ship! Ultimately, my children come first no matter what, even though I set very high expectations of myself and the guilt is real, I try not to be too hard on myself.

WHAT ARE SOME HIGHS AND LOWS YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN STARTING AND RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

SO many! Some of the lows would be the jump start into motherhood and how I dealth with that whilst building a young business. Further to this, the constant struggle of being a mother of three, the demands of a business of this size and the impact this can have on work-life balance, the constant strive for perfection and expectations I have on myself. The business has been through highs and lows including COVID, bad seasons, quality issues, growth pains and more which have been some of the more challenging times we've had to get through, but with the support of our team and my support network, we have come out of these times bigger and stronger than before.

Highs include watching something grow froma small operation running out of my garage into the size it is today, as well as the awareness of the brand which I am extremely proud of also. Watching my fellow team members grow and achieve the results we have had over these years has also been extremely rewarding. The opening of our 30th store was a recent pinch me moment that I am extremely proud of!

Wendy, Head of Retail

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

International Women's Day is a great reminder to acknowledge and appreciate the amazing fierce females that are in my life. From talented peers to my own two daughthers, I wouldn't be able to be the leader that I am at work, if I didnt have happy and healthy relationships and support for them both.

AS A LEADER AT BILLINI, HOW HAVE BALANCED YOUR ROLE AS A WORKING MUM?

At work I take charge when in charge to drive progress whilst passionately inspiring others. At home, I prioritise family time and the simple things in life - making meals together, building forts and planting new seeds in the garden. We also love to travel, taking time off when we have the opportunity to do so. Always trying to find new adventures and experiences - holidays have been essential to recharge and reconnect with family.

" At work, I take charge when in charge to drive PROGRESS whilst passionately inspiring others. At home, I PRIORTISE family time and the simple things in life."

WENDY

Angelina, Production Manager

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

International Women's Day holds great significance for me as it represents a day to celebrate the achievements, resilience and potential or women worldwide. It symbolises a collective recognition of the remarkable women who have paved the way for progress, acknowledges the challenges women continue to face and reaffirms our commitment to gender equality. This day inspires me to amplify the voices of women, foster solidarity and actively contribute to a world where every woman and girl can thrive free from discrimination and limitations.

HOW HAS BILLINI SUPPORTED YOU IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT AS A WOMAN?

Billini has supported my professional growth and development through supportive leadership, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, and one where women uplift and inspire one another. I started my journey with Billini back in 2018 as a Production Admin Assistant, and very early on recognised the power of working in a female dominated industry. Being surrounded by strong, capable women who excel in their respective fields for me has demonstrated the importance of collaborative environments where ideas can flourish freely. Fast forward to five years, and I am now the Production Manager at Billini and have aquired an abundance of skills and insights along the way through supportive mentorship. I'm proud of how far I have come in my professional career and am appreciative of the trust placed in me to achieve my goals and grow individually and professionally.

Emily, Digital & eCommerce Manager

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

International Women's Day to me signifies a day to celebrate the strenght and determination of each and every woman globally. It's also a day to celebrate how far we have come, whilst also being an opportunity to look forward and acknowledge existing barriers that need breaking down in our quest for equality.  

HOW DO YOU SUCCEED IN A COMMONLY MALE-ORIENTED FIELD?

i believe a big part of my success in a male dominated field has come from surrounding myself with likeminded females - not only mentors and managers, but friends and peers too who are also chasing their goals - whether they be in the same field of work or not. I truly believe success is not achieved alone but as a team - women supporting women is a powerful and beautiful thing.

" OWN your story - every bit of it - the mess-ups, the WINS, the tears and the LAUGHTER.
Your journey is incredibly
POWERFUL and uniquely YOURS!"

SUSANNAH

Diana, Store Manager, Narellan

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

To me, International Women's Day means the empowerment of women in all aspects of life. Recognising the strength of mothers who juggle the demands of work and family, breaking barriers and inspiring change as well as women wanting to start their career or family, follow their dreams and have the freedom to do what makes them happy.

AS A LEADER IN BILLINI, HOW HAVE YOU BALANCED YOUR ROLE AS A WORKING MUM?

As a leader in Billini I encourage my team in many ways leading by example and creating a positive, fun supportive environment that inspires growth and development for women in the workplace. My positive and supportive nature is something I am very passionate about and the culture we have here in Billini. My biggest achievement is to inspire working mums who juggle their career and family as well as working a full time role. I love what I do and I love to inspire those around me.

Allyson, Warehouse Operations Coordinator

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

IWD is an opportunity for women to come together and highlight the importance of equal rights for women. It's to recognise what women before us have fought for and what we have achieved to this day - the right to vote, equal employment opportunities and equal pay for equal work. IWD makes me and all women around the world proud of our achievements, what we have accomplished and how far we have come!

HOW DO YOU SUCCEED IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY?

After starting my role with Billini in retail stores over 7 years ago, I've now moved to a new role as our Warehouse Operations Coordinator. While the warehouse is commonly seen as a male-dominated industry, I am proud to say we have a great level of equality and diversity between female and male team members. I think its important to continue to push the boundaries between the perception of workforces being singularly gendered and am really proud to continue to break this mould, while it can be very physical, I believe in being confident, committed and knowing your strenghts really allows you to excel and thrive in these environments.

"I think its important to continue to push the BOUNDARIES 
between the PERCEPTION of workforces being singularly gendered. I am really PROUD to continue to BREAK THIS MOULD."

ALLYSON

Ava, Store Manager, Wollongong

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

To me, International Women's Day signifies unity, empowerment, and celebration. This day allows time for reflection on the challenges and barriers that women may face. International Women's Day is a beacon of inspiration and reflection for me, both personally and professionally. It's a day that ignites a sense of inspiration as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women everywhere.

HOW HAS BILLINI SUPPORTED YOU IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT AS A WOMAN?

This International Women's Day, I'm proud to be part of a company that not only talks the talk but walks the walk when it comes to women's empowerment. International Women's Day holds a special place in my heart, not just as an employee of BILLINI but as a woman striving to make her mark in the world. For me, International Women's Day is a reminder of the endless possibilities that lie ahead when we empower and support one another. I'm fortunate to be a part of a company that holds a work culture that values the growth and development of women.

The company's unwavering commitment to supporting the career development and growth of women is evident in every facet of our operations. BILLINI goes above and beyond to support my career journey. Whether it's through supporting my ongoing education, flexible work arrangements, or opportunities for advancement, I feel empowered to reach my full potential. I love that BILLINI offers us a platform to celebrate the hardworking women we surround ourselves every day with. Here's to the remarkable women who inspire us every day, and to the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Happy International Women's Day!  

Leeanne, Store Manager, Castle Towers

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TO YOU?

International Womens Day for me is a day to celebration all the strong, inspirational women and all their achievements. It is also a reminder of the progress we have made towards gender equality and the work that still lies ahead.

HOW HAS BILLINI SUPPORTED YOU IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT AS A WOMAN?

I am grateful to work for a company where I am surrounded by so many inspirational and career-driven women who also recognizes the challenges of being a working mum. The support and understanding of having a good work-life balance from my coworkers and family allows me to find fulfilment in my work whilst still being present for my children.