What making the Forbes 30 Under 30 list can do for a business

Thursday, 18 April 2019

Since making it on Forbes 30 Under 30 list earlier this month, Nelson drinks company co-founder Chia Sisters, Florence Van Dyke, has been fielding business offers from Germany, Taiwan, China and Australia.

The 29-year-old said the phones were running hot after her recent accolade. Van Dyke, nominated herself with her sister and business partner, Chloe Van Dyke's endorsement and on the recommendation of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Van Dyke was recognised as a game-changer by Forbes, in its annual list that highlights young entrepreneurs who have made their mark on their respective industries.

Florence Van Dyke's phone has been running hot since making the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

The 30 Under 30 list is broken into three regions; Asia, United States and Europe and within each region, 10 categories, including marketing, entertainment, healthcare and technology.

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'Hopefully [the phone calls] will lead to something.'

Public relations guru Sarah Munnik of Pead PR said that was what was what building a personal brand and being recognised for personal achievements internationally could do for a business owner,

Sam Stuchbury from the Motion Sickness creative agency says being one of the 30 Under 30 influential people had given his company credibility.

'You can have a great product but if people don't like you or get a good vibe from you then they won't necessarily want to do business with you. That personal brand piece there becomes really important but having that personal recognition opens doors,' Munnik said.

Being recognised by Forbes first and foremost brought international exposure to the person and their business.

Van Dyke was one of six New Zealanders to be recognised on the list.

But last year founder of Motion Sickness, Sam Stuchbury was the only Kiwi to make it in the Asia-Oceania category.

Stuchbury said while there was no significant difference in the numbers of offers, the recognition built his young advertising agency's credibility.

Pead PR managing director Sarah Munnik says being recognised by Forbes brought international exposure to the entrepreneur and their business.

Munnik said businesses needed to strategically show what they had achieved without looking like they were blowing their own trumpet.

'Personal brand is all about authenticity – do you walk your talk. People want to do business with people they know, or with people who have been referred to them as this provides a layer of trust. But if your personal brand and business values differ, this could lead to a lack of trust.

'People are more likely to refer people they like and have done business with before and have seen succeed.'

Unfiltered founder Jake Millar made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of people in education to watch in the North America category last year along with his business partner Yuuki Ogino.

Millar said opportunities for both himself and his business grew as a consequence of the international profile.

Unfiltered co founders Jake Millar and Yuuki Ogino made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of individuals in education to watch in the North America category in 2018.

In the United States the awards more taken more seriously than in New Zealand, so founders and creators should consider applying if they had global aspirations, he said.

'One multi-billionaire in particular read about us in Forbes which helped secure a 90-minute exclusive interview with him.'

Millar said the tall poppy culture in New Zealand was 'very real', and the fear of being cut down to the ground made people more hesitant.

'Understandably, Kiwis doing big things on the global stage often feel like they have to keep their head down due to this culture. You just don't get that in America,' Millar said.

For Van Dyke success was not making it onto the Forbes list, rather it was doing a job she enjoyed. The former triathlete and corporate lawyer, made the switch to running Chia three years ago.

'It wasn't until I was 25 that I realised for me working long hours for corporates wasn't success,' Van Dyke said.

'Making it to the Forbes list wasn't a goal. Success for me is working my own hours and being able to go trail running in the morning and seeing all the team here grow and succeed and working with my sister and dad.

'Forbes is an awesome recognition for our company and shows that consumers are looking for values like ours.'

In 2018, the company bought a brewery in Nelson and installed 30 solar panels and specialist brewery equipment. Chia also became a living wage accredited employer.

Tips to winning awards from the winners:

* Unfiltered founder Jake Millar: 'Applying at the right time, in the right country and in the right category is important. Timing is critical.

'You have to be genuinely pushing boundaries, breaking rules and disrupting the status quo. Then, of course, having the right friends – both nominators and references – on doubt helps too.'

* Chia chief executive Florence Van Dyke: 'You're likely to succeed if you're doing something different and being innovative.'

* Motion Sickness founder Sam Stuchbury: 'What sets a winner apart is a fresh approach, either on a campaign or a new take on operating a business. That's what wins awards.'