By Elisabeth Champion
MOUNT Gambier businesswoman Karen Bryant has proven that women can have it all, being nominated in three categories for the AusMumpreneur awards.
The awards recognise mothers who are who have seen success in business, product development and innovation and customer service, and is nationally recognised.
Mrs Bryant runs Latitude Recruitment, a thriving human resources and recruitment company, while also juggling three children, and has been shortlisted for the Regional Business Award, B2B Service award and the Rising Star Ausmumpreneur Award.
She said she was thrilled to be shortlisted, if a bit shocked.
“I was really surprised – I actually checked the email a number of times to make sure they had it right!,“ she said.
“I was surprised and really, really happy. It felt like all the hard work had paid off.
“It’s really nice to be recognised so I don’t really mind if I win or not, I’m just really happy to be nominated.“
Running a business while raising a family can be challenging, but Ms Bryant said it worth it.
“It’s certainly interesting and I think that it’s great, my kids are really supportive,“ she said.
“I am definitely talking to them like ’hey, this is what I get to do today, it’s really exciting, or, wow, Mum’s going to work, or I’m going to a conference’, I really try and involve them just so they can see someone who really enjoys their work.
“There’s lots of different things happening in the world, and you can do different jobs, and especially women can do lots of different jobs and still be a mum and still have a really enjoyable and rewarding career.
The idea for Latitude Recruitment came while living in Santiago, Chile, and as she prepared to return to South Australia, she realised she was pregnant with her third child, but she did not let it slow her down with her business plans, even messaging clients while in labour.
Mrs Bryant will now go through an interview process which will determine the winner, which will be announced in September.
