Envato Co-Founder receives Women in Business nod
The Telstra Business Women’s Awards celebrate women who have the courage to start their own business and lead their industries, but also offer them a platform to encourage others to challenge the status quo and think differently,
By Envato
Envato co-founder and Executive Director, Cyan Ta’eed, has been announced as a Victorian finalist in the 2015 Telstra Women in Business Awards.
Cyan co-founded Envato, one of Australia’s most successful start ups, in 2006 at age 25. Earlier this year she and her co-founder, husband Collis Ta’eed, were awarded Entrepreneurs of the Year (Services Division), as part of the global EY Entrepreneur of the Year award program.
Envato is a network of products and sites , powered by a global community of 5.5 million creatives in over 200 countries. Envato Market sells over 4.5 million digital products. Envato Studio has taken on 50,000+ jobs for clients, and Envato Tuts has delivered training and courses to more than 250 million students.
The business has returned over $300 million to its community members – earnings that are changing lives.
“Now in their 21st year, the Telstra Business Women’s Awards not only celebrate women who have the courage to start their own business and lead their industries but also offer them a platform to encourage others to challenge the status quo and think differently,” said Telstra Chief Operations Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, Kate McKenzie.
“It was already exciting to be nominated for the Telstra Women in Business Award, so being a state finalist is an amazing honour,” said Cyan.
“Looking at the nominees you can see how many women are out there accomplishing remarkable things, and young women need to hear more of those stories.
“The more high profile examples we have out there of women who are leading industry and creating cultural and social change, the higher young women’s aspirations, goals and expectations, will be.”
Note: Cyan would go on to win the top award in the Telstra Women in Business Awards
In addition to her work leading Envato, Cyan was acknowledged for her ‘New Day Box’ project (which delivers skin-care, make up and other treats to women emerging from a domestic violence situation), and for her commitment to encouraging more women in technology, including diversity initiatives at Envato, and mentoring, judging or sponsoring industry initiatives.
“The numbers of women in tech are actually going down,” she said.
“Awareness has improved, but there is a lack of female candidates to hire. I aim to get out there as much as I can and inspire young women to take up this dynamic career.”
Cyan intends to use any prize money to create technology scholarships for women and fund organisations connecting people in disadvantaged communities to technology that can empower and transform lives.
The Telstra Women in Business Awards are the longest running women’s award program in Australia. State finalists will be announced throughout October and the national ceremony is set for November 18 in Melbourne.
