Aussie entrepreneur rubs shoulders with world’s most influential thinkers
Announcement posted by RedBalloon 03 Oct 2012
redballoon.com.au founder Naomi Simson one of only two highly influential business leaders targeted by professional networking site LinkedIn
Naomi Simson, Australian entrepreneur and founder of the $50 million online experience retailer redballoon.com.au, is keeping popular company with the likes of US president Barack Obama, Virgin’s Richard Branson and acclaimed author and physician Deepak Chopra as part of a new professional “Influencer” project launched overnight1.
Simson is one of only two Australians selected by professional networking site LinkedIn as part of their latest campaign designed to share unique knowledge and professional insights from some of the world’s top business leaders. (The other is Matt Barrie, founder of freelancer.com).
The pair are among 150 of the world’s most influential thought leaders to be targeted by the professional networking site, which has a global membership of 175 million, or eight times the population of Australia.
On the program, Simson said she was both flattered and enthusiastic about the opportunity and was blown away that her story had captured the imagination of a big corporation.
“I always believed I could build a successful business based on having fun. So it’s humbling to know the story behind RedBalloon’s extraordinary growth and success will now reach many more people, Ms Simson said.
“I started RedBalloon in the front room of my home in 2001, using little more than a few thousand dollars and a second-hand computer, with my canine companion Dexter as my sounding-board.
“Eleven years later we’re on track to becoming a $100 million business, and have delivered more than 1.5 million memorable experiences to Australians and New Zealanders.
“We’ve helped people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, mother’s days, father’s days and Christmas. I’ve heard personal stories from proposals, to dying wishes to sweet sixteens. This business has given me a fleeting glimpse into the lives of our customers, and I am so thankful to be a part of their big life moments.
“Through this opportunity I hope to be able to share my knowledge on the importance of gratitude, generosity and integrity within the business world, and show that organisations can have fun, look after their employees and customers, and be successful at the same time.
“I’m so thrilled to be able to build on and continue this conversation with a whole new audience.”
Simson’s first submission, “Is happiness at work a ‘dirty’ word?” looks at how businesses can promote an environment of fun, gratitude and celebration, to promote increased productivity.
The list of contributors includes universally-recognised leaders and industry-specific movers and shakers, including Tony Robbins, US Governor Mitt Romney and UK PM David Cameron.
Check out Naomi’s article, subscribe to her blog - naomisimson.com - listed in the top 15 of Australia’s Best Business Blogs - or join Five Thanks a Day to learn about the power of gratitude.
1 The program was launched at 11pm Tuesday October 2 (local time).
- Ends –
For more information or to arrange an interview with Naomi, please contact
Lauren Ashton, PR & Communication Specialist RedBalloon – 02 8755 0034 / 0404 136 765 / lauren@redballoon.com.au
High res images available: http://www.redballoon.com.au/mediacentre/naomi-simson-founder
About RedBalloon
RedBalloon has been giving people the chance to fulfil their dreams for 11 years in Australia and New Zealand, and has supplied more than 1.5 million memorable experiences in this time. With over 3000 unique gift ideas and experience gift vouchers like race car driving, hot air ballooning, horse riding on the beach, tiger moth flights to massages, romantic dinners and getaways, RedBalloon has the perfect present for any occasion. RedBalloon experience vouchers, gift certificates and gift boxes can be purchased online or in selected retail outlets.
About Naomi Simson
Imagine running a business based on fun – that’s what Naomi decided to try when she left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon in 2001. Naomi received the 2008 National Telstra Business Women's Awards for Innovation and in 2011 she won the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Industry category. Naomi writes a blog - naomisimson.com - which is listed in the top 15 of Australia’s Best Business Blogs. Her first book “I want what she’s having” was reviewed as an “essential business read” by The Australian and is now available as a free download for subscribers of her blog. Naomi has also launched the Five Thanks A Day gratitude project, soon to be released in book format.
Simson is one of only two Australians selected by professional networking site LinkedIn as part of their latest campaign designed to share unique knowledge and professional insights from some of the world’s top business leaders. (The other is Matt Barrie, founder of freelancer.com).
The pair are among 150 of the world’s most influential thought leaders to be targeted by the professional networking site, which has a global membership of 175 million, or eight times the population of Australia.
On the program, Simson said she was both flattered and enthusiastic about the opportunity and was blown away that her story had captured the imagination of a big corporation.
“I always believed I could build a successful business based on having fun. So it’s humbling to know the story behind RedBalloon’s extraordinary growth and success will now reach many more people, Ms Simson said.
“I started RedBalloon in the front room of my home in 2001, using little more than a few thousand dollars and a second-hand computer, with my canine companion Dexter as my sounding-board.
“Eleven years later we’re on track to becoming a $100 million business, and have delivered more than 1.5 million memorable experiences to Australians and New Zealanders.
“We’ve helped people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, mother’s days, father’s days and Christmas. I’ve heard personal stories from proposals, to dying wishes to sweet sixteens. This business has given me a fleeting glimpse into the lives of our customers, and I am so thankful to be a part of their big life moments.
“Through this opportunity I hope to be able to share my knowledge on the importance of gratitude, generosity and integrity within the business world, and show that organisations can have fun, look after their employees and customers, and be successful at the same time.
“I’m so thrilled to be able to build on and continue this conversation with a whole new audience.”
Simson’s first submission, “Is happiness at work a ‘dirty’ word?” looks at how businesses can promote an environment of fun, gratitude and celebration, to promote increased productivity.
The list of contributors includes universally-recognised leaders and industry-specific movers and shakers, including Tony Robbins, US Governor Mitt Romney and UK PM David Cameron.
Check out Naomi’s article, subscribe to her blog - naomisimson.com - listed in the top 15 of Australia’s Best Business Blogs - or join Five Thanks a Day to learn about the power of gratitude.
1 The program was launched at 11pm Tuesday October 2 (local time).
- Ends –
For more information or to arrange an interview with Naomi, please contact
Lauren Ashton, PR & Communication Specialist RedBalloon – 02 8755 0034 / 0404 136 765 / lauren@redballoon.com.au
High res images available: http://www.redballoon.com.au/mediacentre/naomi-simson-founder
About RedBalloon
RedBalloon has been giving people the chance to fulfil their dreams for 11 years in Australia and New Zealand, and has supplied more than 1.5 million memorable experiences in this time. With over 3000 unique gift ideas and experience gift vouchers like race car driving, hot air ballooning, horse riding on the beach, tiger moth flights to massages, romantic dinners and getaways, RedBalloon has the perfect present for any occasion. RedBalloon experience vouchers, gift certificates and gift boxes can be purchased online or in selected retail outlets.
About Naomi Simson
Imagine running a business based on fun – that’s what Naomi decided to try when she left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon in 2001. Naomi received the 2008 National Telstra Business Women's Awards for Innovation and in 2011 she won the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Industry category. Naomi writes a blog - naomisimson.com - which is listed in the top 15 of Australia’s Best Business Blogs. Her first book “I want what she’s having” was reviewed as an “essential business read” by The Australian and is now available as a free download for subscribers of her blog. Naomi has also launched the Five Thanks A Day gratitude project, soon to be released in book format.