Celebrating Excellence: Starts with you Shines at the She Inspires Awards 2024
The She Inspires Awards was an evening of celebration, inspiration, and recognition of outstanding achievements by women making waves in their communities and industries, locally, nationally and globally. This year, Starts with you had the incredible honour of seeing three of its senior managers as finalists—a testament to the team’s dedication to driving meaningful change and empowering others.
A Night of Achievements
The event, celebrating its 10thanniversary, held to highlight the impact of women across various sectors, was particularly special for Starts with you. Our Managing Director, Hayley Hulme, was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Hayley’s unwavering leadership, vision, and commitment to encouraging innovation has inspired change far beyond our immediate work. Her recognition as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is a well-deserved tribute to her relentless efforts to uplift others and make a positive change in the community.
Hayley’s acceptance of the award was a proud moment for everyone at Starts with you. Her win reflects her deep passion for empowering individuals and creating opportunities for success, both within the organisation and across the wider community.
Starts with you’s Chair of the Board, Scott Darraugh, says:
"Hayley has proven to be an exceptional leader, a visionary strategist, and a tireless advocate for social impact. She embodies the values of inclusivity, compassion, and collaboration, ensuring that the enterprise not only meets but exceeds its objectives in supporting individuals and communities to thrive. Her integrity, empathy, and unwavering focus on creating positive change inspire all those around her. Hayley has cultivated a positive, dynamic, and high-performing culture at Starts with you, enabling her team to deliver transformative services that make a tangible difference in the lives of those they serve.
I am absolutely thrilled that Hayley’s remarkable contributions have been recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Her leadership has left an indelible mark not only on Starts with you but on the many lives she has touched through her work. This award is an acknowledgement of her vision, determination, and ability to inspire those around her to achieve great things."
Hayley Said: "I feel incredibly fortunate to do what I do—it’s so rewarding to see the support we offer empower individuals to grow and thrive. It’s a testament to everyone who has embraced this journey, helping us build a network of women and like-minded individuals who share our values, creating a ripple effect of positive change. I’m both surprised and honoured to be recognised, and I’m committed to using this platform to make an even greater impact."
A Team of Changemakers
Alongside Hayley’s exceptional recognition, two of our senior managers also stood out as finalists:
- Claire Calman: Finalist in the Agent of Change category, Claire embodies the ethos of driving transformation. Her work has been pivotal in promoting inclusion and creating a positive impact within and beyond our organisation.
- Jayda Mulligan: Finalist for Women in Leadership, Jayda’s dynamic leadership style, dedication to her team, and commitment to excellence have made her an inspiration to all who work alongside her.
Celebrating Women, Celebrating Teamwork
As we reflect on the evening, we’re reminded that the strength of Starts with you lies in the collective passion, ambition, integrity, and drive of its people. To have three of our leaders recognised on such a platform is a moment of immense pride and a reflection of the culture we’ve nurtured—one of empowerment, collaboration, and commitment to making a difference.
The She Inspires Awards not only celebrated individual achievements but also under scored the power of shared vision and purpose. At Starts with you, we are incredibly proud of Hayley, Claire, and Jayda for representing the spirit of our organisation and showcasing the impact women can have when they lead with authenticity and determination.
Continuing the Legacy
As Starts with you approaches its closure in April 2025, the recognition from the She Inspires Awards feels particularly meaningful. While the organisation itself may be coming to an end, the legacy of Starts with you will live on through its incredible people—our One Team.
The passion, resilience, and commitment to creating positive change that have defined our journey will continue to shine through the actions of our team members as they embark on new chapters. Wherever they go, they will carry forward the values and spirit of Starts with you, driving inclusion, opportunity, and social impact in their future endeavours.
To all women honoured at this year’s She Inspires Awards, congratulations! You remind us that leadership, in all its forms, has the power to change the world.
You can learn more about She Inspires here: SHE Inspires Awards 2024