Women At Work Profile: Carolyn Creswell, Founder of Carman’s Fine Foods

Pictured; Carolyn Creswell, Founder of Carman's Fine Foods

Path to the top: As a teen, Creswell held jobs as a waitress, check-out chick and a babysitter before ‘helping out’ at a small muesli business. After six months at the age of 18, Creswell bought the company for just $1000 and now, a little over 20 years later, Carman’s exports to 32 countries worldwide. Creswell hopes to change perceptions about working mums. “Being a good mum and running a successful company are not mutually exclusive things,” she says. “I’m proud to say that I run a company and I’m a good mother.” Her commitment to work-life balance is reflected in the office, where employees (many of which are mums working flexible hours) have access to a nanny and are encouraged to attend their children’s sports days and assemblies. “Carman's is an employer of choice and we have a strong maternity leave policy, which means we top-up government payments to meet the employee's regular income,” says Creswell. “We also have a kids room set up with a TV, games console, bed and a hot desk, so an employee can work alongside their child when they're ill or on school holidays. They're small things but they make a big difference.” She was the very popular winner of the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year Award.

The defining moment: "I was invited to have dinner with Prince Charles and Camilla while they were in Australia. When I was introduced Prince Charles said he would love to try one of my muesli bars one day. Always prepared, I had a muesli bar in my handbag, so I offered it to him. There was Prince Charles standing with his gin and tonic in one hand and a Carman’s muesli bar in the other! Later on, Camilla came up to me and said that she was going to make him share it. It was so surreal. I must say that winning the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year Award was also a real honour.”

Career tip: “You have one life, so you need to ask yourself: ‘What do I want my life to look like? What do I want to do with my life?’ Don’t just sit back. If you’re unhappy in your job, go and do work experience or try something different.”

The #1 thing I’ve learnt: “Be honest. Sometimes you don’t want to hurt people with the truth, so say what you need to say and say it quickly. You can still deliver something truthfully that’s respectful.”

If I had my time again I would... “Not change a thing. Temptation is to change some of the mistakes you’ve made but I wouldn’t. I’m better at business because I’ve been through some tough times. Live with no regrets.”

On a personal note... “I have four children and every Saturday night we do ‘Saturday night disco’ which is my absolute favourite thing. We have a smoke machine and strobe lighting, we dress up in crazy outfits and wigs have a big dancefest. They’re the cutest dancers, they’re really into Gangnam and know all the moves.”

Why she’s on our list: “Carolyn has thought deeply about what she wants from her life and how to organise herself for success both as a mother and a great businesswoman. She is passionate about removing stereotypes that say it is not possible – she is living proof that it is.” - Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director Telstra Innovation, Products & Marketing and Telstra Business Women's Awards Ambassador.