Meet Canberra’s 14-year-old CEOs
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If your kids have spent most of their school holidays superglued to their devices, then here is a story that may inspire them to think beyond their next TikTok routine or Minecraft battle.
Téa Devow and Sofia Green are two 14-year-old Canberra entrepreneurs who have spent a steady chunk of their school holidays (not to mention countless other hours before and after school and on weekends) nurturing their own small businesses.
When Téa was just six years old she joined her dad Dion in helping sell his Indigenous label Darkies Design clothes, hats and bags at the Canberra Multicultural Festival.
By the time she was 11, she and her friend Belle were bursting to set up their own business—one which promoted positive stories about Indigenous culture.
The Téa and Belle Collective is now a busy website selling unique and ethically-produced Australian gifts. The girls’ tenacity has also secured them contracts supplying gift hamper for LendLease and they have products available in the exclusive Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.
A Tea and Belle gift hamper
Sofia is a lip gloss queen.
The 14-year-old Canberra Girls Grammar student is obsessed with makeup as well as business. Her entrepreneurial streak began after a market day event in Year 4 where she designed and sold stationary.
Earlier this year she set up Apollo Cosmetics and has her first products, lip glosses, for sale online and represented in a shop in Tarago.
She plans to expand into other makeup products as the business grows.
We ask both girls to explain what motivates them, how they got the business bug and where they see themselves in the future.
Téa Devow
Téa Devon, of the Téa and Belle Collective
What are the biggest challenges you face?
Probably the fact that I am still a kid, and that people might not think that I am really serious about business. I suppose I am a still young, and I have a lot to learn but I enjoy it and I am trying my best to learn about business.
What is the best thing about working in your own business?
That I am my own boss! I also want to share a little bit about my culture and other Indigenous cultures because I experienced racism at school a few years ago and I wanted to make Indigenous culture more known to people through the T-shirts, hats and other things and by sharing stories.
What is the most stressful thing?
I had to pitch one time in front of 200 people and I also did an Acknowledgement of Country at Parliament House which stressed me out a bit. But afterwards, I felt really good, and I then got to meet the Prime Minister and gave him a gift, which was cool.
What advice would you give to other 14-year-olds?
Just be yourself and pursue your dreams. You can do what ever you want to do, with some goals and support from your parents, family and friends.
Sofia Green
Sofia Green is runs Apollo Cosmetics
Where does the name Apollo Cosmetics come from?
It comes the space expedition. On Apollo 13 everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong, but they persevered and made it home without losing everyone. I have always believed in women becoming bosses, becoming CEOs, and being in STEM and I wanted my brand to show that.
What were the biggest challenges in setting up the business?
The two biggest challenges I found included getting known during [the pandemic] and being able to keep up with the costs and responsibilities behind starting a business. With ingredients, packaging, and marketing, starting a business is not cheap.
I am only 14 and coming up with the kind of money I needed was not easy. I saved and saved (doing work around the house, cleaning, gardening and using birthday and Christmas money savings) until I came up with enough money.
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What have you learnt along the way?
I have learnt a lot about how to work in customer service, being the only one behind the business. I have also learned a lot of valuable skills such as advertising, website design, and product development. All skills which I am sure will come in very handy in the future.
What is the best thing about working in your own business?
I think the best thing is being able to do what I love on my own terms. I get to decide the products I made, the advertising I do and how I handle the business, which makes doing what I love that much better.
What advice would you give to other 14-year-olds?
I would tell other 14-year-olds to keep taking risks and doing what they love. I think sometimes people my age get scared to take risks and don’t do the things they really want to do.
