Central Coast Women in Business 2023

Gone are the days of a women’s place being in the kitchen. In our latest Coasties mag released on March 1, 2023, and right in time for IWD we caught up with the Central Coast women in business who are leading the way. We were so inspired by these boss ladies of Central Coast business and we are sure you will be too. So, whether it’s the inspo you need to take the leap and finally leave that soul-numbing corporate role or turn your side hustle into a full-time gig dive right in and lap up the pearls of wisdom they shared with us.

1.  Kate Toon 

Meet Kate Umina-based SEO “Google taming” guru, copywriting coach, speaker, author and podcaster. We ask is there anything this award-winning digital marketing entrepreneur can’t do?

What motivates you?

This has changed over the years. At first, when my son was born, I was driven by a need for time and flexibility. Then it became all about financial gain and creating security for myself and my family. After that I wandered in ego land, feeding my slightly low self-esteem by speaking at events and being ‘famous’. These days I really am just motivated by having a good day. Doing some solid work, helping people where I can, staying mentally and physically well, and working on my relationships. It’s not a big sexy ‘why’ but it serves me.

What advice would give to your younger self or any aspiring entrepreneurs?

It’s a tad trite but it would definitely be not to waste time comparing yourself to others. Oh, the endless hours I’ve lost falling down the rabbit hole of comparison. And every second I’ve spent admiring someone else’s (largely fake) successes is a second I’m not spending working in my own business.

I may not be the cutest business owner or the smartest, and I may not have the whitest toothy grin or a huge following, but no amount of following others is going to change that. So, accept my enoughness would be my advice – how very woo woo!

What is your favourite Coastie haunt?

There’s nowhere finer than Umina. It may not be up there on the list of lala suburbs, but we have an awesome Woolies, Coles, Bunnings and Aldi (the four essentials of life).

Love ProJuice for coffee, Margarita Daze for a night out, great massages at Sabai Sabai, and the best book shop on the Coast, The Bookshop Umina. And of course, the beach of dreams, I have to pinch myself that I live here, it’s a far cry from miserable Reading England where I grew up!

Check out what Kate is up to here.

2. Mel Archer

Before WFH was a thing, this coworking queen had visions for a better way to work. With aspirations of prioritising mental health at work, Mel started the Foundry Cowork Erina and soon after added Gosford.

What are you passionate about?

People. I love meeting people, helping people, collaborating with people and connecting people. The Foundry serves this passion well.

Advice you’d give to your younger self?

Don’t listen to the naysayers! There were so many voices telling me I wouldn’t succeed in going out on my own, it really affected my self-confidence.

What are you most proud of?

It’s taken a long time to get here, but I’m finally proud of my professional achievements. I’ve always sought validation from others, but have realised that validating myself is enough.

What is your favourite Coastie haunt?

We truly are so spoilt for choice on the Coast now, it’s great! But I’d probably have to say my all-time fave is Hotel Gosford – consistently great food and cocktails for date nights and perfect for a night out. I love Friday nights with karaoke out the front / DJ out the back and open into the early hours. They’ve got it all.

Visit Mel at either of the Foundry Cowork Spaces or her online home.

Celebrating Central Coast Women in Business

3. Sarah Spence

With a vision to treat brands more like humans than just numbers, Content Copywriting was founded by Avoca local Sarah. They now work with some of the biggest brands in the country.

What are you passionate about?

I’ve come to settle on this one only recently, thanks to my ADHD. I’m always doing a lot of different things. In gaining a better understanding of how my brain works over the past year, I’ve realised my biggest passion is change.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My parents – despite never identifying as such, they’ve both been lifelong entrepreneurs and creators. My dad is a commercial photographer and my mum is a sculpturist, paper artist, florist and nurse. They both also care deeply about the world and its people. They’ve both taught me so much about how to be in the world, how to overcome setbacks and how to lead a life of purpose.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Keep going – even when it gets tough, keep pushing forward. There will be so many times that you want to give up, but the challenges are only going to make you into more of the leader you want to be.

4. Rose Mascaro

Writing from the heart feels like home for Rose, the writer, editor and teacher behind HeartWriting: a writing school which teaches people how to build a life of creative bliss.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My mother, who never let a challenge get in the way of her goals. We’re very different people, but she has taught me to be an incredibly strong person, and I will never forget the lessons she has taught me about standing up for myself as a woman in a patriarchal world. Pretty cool for a traditional Italian mum, hey?

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Stop worrying about what other people think of you, and just write all the wild things, and try to get them published a lot earlier! I was actually such a good little writer when I was young and so full of ideas, but I let society shut me down and I went with the safe career choice before I’d even given my talents a go.

You teach people to write from the heart. How did it all start?

I always had a dream to write – I just didn’t believe in myself enough. After ten years as a senior school English teacher, I was burned out beyond belief. I found myself booking a one-way ticket to Latin America, solo.

When I got back to Australia, I knew I had to listen to my heart and get back to my writing. I’ve since been on a journey of reclaiming my creativity, mastering the art of and publishing my writing, becoming a magazine editor, and finally opening up my dream workshops. My biggest motivation in life is to share the joy of beautiful words with others.

What is your biggest passion?

Besides creativity – TRAVEL! Travel always inspires my creative side to open up in glorious ways. The sprawling colours of street art in faraway cities, the sensual smell of spices cooking in alleyways, the rolling countryside of the Sacred Valley in Peru.

What is your favourite Coastie haunt?

Bamboo Buddha Cafe in Holgate is the most gorgeous not-so-secret treasure of the Coast.

Interested in one of Rose’s creative writing courses?  Learn more here.

RELATED: Lady Startups To Support on The Coast This International Women’s Day

5. Elaskia

Not only has she shared the stage with some of the biggest artists in the country, but Kelly Griffith (known professionally as Elaskia) has also seen her original song ‘Calling Out My Name’ be featured on Netflix series Dynasty.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

Without a doubt Stevie Nicks. She is such an incredible songwriter and is responsible for creating so many of the songs that have influenced me growing up as well as my own songwriting. There are so many more obvious things to love about her but for me, it’s her relationship with her songs and the way she connects to the stories she writes that is so inspiring.

You can really tell that she just puts herself right back in the moment they were written when she performs them. Watching her do that is just so incredible and it’s the same feeling I get when I perform my own music.

What are you passionate about?

I’m one of the lucky people that can say my job also happens to be my biggest passion. When I write songs I take experiences and transform them into something meaningful for other people. The best part is I also get to relive those stories and experiences all over again each time I perform them live.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

It’s so important to be authentic to yourself. I think when you can create something that you are really passionate about and believe in, other people can feel and sense that too. That’s what really connects you to other people, not trying to create something you think people will like but your heart isn’t in.

Follow our rising star Elaskia’s journey over on IG @elaskiamusic

6. Chelsea Berman

At just 24, “ambitious” has to be Chelsea’s middle name. Her biz Blossom Media helps brands bloom and turn $1000 into $1,000,000 through a strategic approach to social media.

What advice would give to your younger self or any aspiring entrepreneurs?

Always keep learning! The business and online world change so often, you need to be on top of things to be able to keep up and innovate.

What are you passionate about?

My biggest passion is helping small business owners become more confident on social media AND actually see results from their efforts. It’s such a sore point for so many people, so when I can teach them something that makes their lives easier and their businesses more successful – it lights me up!

What are you most proud of in both your personal and professional lives?

Having the determination to start my business at 20 years old. It’s not something most people can say they’ve done, and it was a huge risk and learning opportunity for me.

What is your favourite Coastie haunt?

As a Wamberal local, I spend most of my weekends in Terrigal so I love The Joker and Thief for cocktails and the live music! My favourite restaurant on the Coast is Fedele’s in East Gosford – the BEST Italian food.

Learn more about Blossom Media here.

7.  Tara Senam

Hospitality leader, industry innovator and all round powerhouse. At the helm of Meraki Group is Tara who’s single-handedly brought to the Coast six of its finest eateries including Motel Mezza and Pinocchios.

What is your biggest motivation?

To enhance the Coast’s quality of dining establishments. I feel that we’ve been deprived of and lacked variety for too long. I feel this sense of obligation to do something about that. Well, someone has to do something – so why not me?

What advice would you give to your younger self or aspiring entrepreneurs?

‘Great things never come from comfort zones’. Don’t sit around wishing and hoping for great things, you must go out there and get them. Whatever that may be – big or small. You don’t want to wake up one day when it’s too late and wish you had done more in your life.

What is your biggest passion?

Being a leader and a mentor. I love to create great environments where people can grow and learn and create a pathway for a successful career in hospitality. Our industry has been treated poorly over the years, and I am passionate about changing this and people’s perspectives.

If we don’t do this, we won’t have any passionate, career-focused people left to operate our venues – or continue to grow the hospitality industry on the Central Coast.

Tara is at the helm of the successful hospitality group Meraki