Naomi Simson worked within a successful corporate marketing company for many years, yet she always had a desire for something bigger. Naomi had a clear vision – give people more good times. In 2001, her vision became a reality with the launch of RedBalloon.
“After a long corporate career, I wanted to create a business that gave me the flexibility around my family, and I was no longer able to find that in the corporate environment. Plus, the Internet was just starting to gain traction, so that also inspired me to ‘invent’ a business using this emerging technology.”
Naomi has created a business that is both flexible, as well as fun. Currently, she has one big goal of selling two million experiences by 2015, which she is well on track to exceed. Naomi also wants to challenge the ‘stereotype’ of the corporate working environment and explore ways of increasing engagement through simple reward and recognition programs. Mentors and role models
Naomi Simson has had numerous role models and mentors who have played a role in the success of developing the popular online company RedBallon.
Entrepreneur Verne Harnish had a great impact on her professional development and many of the practices that were put in place in the early days of RedBalloon. “Kirsten Munachen, our business development manager at the time and I attended Verne Harnish’s first Rockafeller Habits seminar in Sydney. Both of us were incredulous and inspired to discover what amazing resources were available to RedBalloon in its start-up phase – we were not alone – others had travelled this path before. We could learn from other great businesses. Verne’s key message was about vision, values and alignment.” Another great mentor for Naomi was her mother who was a ‘career woman’ and who always dressed in beautiful suits. “My mother taught me that women need to have the guts to speak up.” Mentors have played a large role in Naomi’s life, and as such, she has made the commitment to becoming a mentor for others. To empower people to do great work, not let them down and embody RedBalloon’s value of integrity – ‘doing what we say we are going to do.’ Recognition of women Naomi Simson thinks that women in the industry should be more sufficiently recognised for their success and contribution in businesses.
“There is a strong economic argument for positive action and legislation in regards to women on boards and equal pay, and while I firmly believe that this sort of legislation will create an important, defining shift in regards to business leadership, there are wider community implications too.”
Naomi makes the point about the issues of paid parental leave and how it is not the answer to encouraging women to return to work. She is happy to see that there has been an increase with 18 weeks parental leave, but what support will be provided for parents in the next two decades?
“RedBalloon thrives because of its great team. Part-time roles, the flexibility to work from home or take time-in-lieu are not ground breaking or innovative on our part. Everyone’s contribution here is valued equally as highly, no matter the hours they work, or whether they are working virtually. So we need leadership from the top, from government and with more women on boards.”
Naomi Simson has been inducted into the Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame honours and celebrates Australian female business owners who demonstrate an inspiring and aspiring business journey. To learn more about Naomi Simson, visit her Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame profile.
