Almost eight years ago, if you had told me that a small local networking event for women in business would grow into a national community, an awards platform, a podcast, memberships, events and thousands of connections across Australia, I probably would have laughed while nervously eating a cupcake.
Because truthfully? When the Penrith Blue Mountains Ladies in Business networking events first began, I was an anxious mum with two little ones, trying to figure things out as I went.
I remember walking into rooms full of women who I believed had their lives and businesses completely together, while I sat there wondering if I even belonged in the room myself.
Back then, I didn’t realise something important: most business owners are figuring it out as they go.
The conversations happening over coffee at those early events weren’t about perfection. They were about courage. About women backing themselves despite fear, self-doubt, setbacks, burnout, pivots, family pressures and the invisible mental load that so many carry quietly behind the scenes.
What started as a local networking group slowly became something much bigger. That community grew and created the Australian Ladies in Business Initiative (ALIBI), a national movement built on connection, authenticity, fun, courage, integrity and genuinely supporting women through every chapter of business, not just the polished highlight reel.
And from that community, the ALIBI Awards were born.
The awards were created because I kept seeing incredible women doing amazing things but never recognising their own impact.
Women who were changing lives in their communities, building businesses while raising families, starting again after hardship, supporting others behind the scenes, or quietly showing up every single day without ever being acknowledged for it.
Too often, business awards can feel like popularity contests or only celebrate a very narrow version of success. I wanted to create something different. Something that recognised heart, resilience, growth, contribution, creativity, and the real stories behind the businesses.
Now, as we prepare to launch the 5th Annual ALIBI Awards on June 1, I find myself reflecting on how far this journey has come.
From small local networking catchups in Penrith and the Blue Mountains, to hundreds of events, thousands of women supported, national finalists, community partnerships, and an awards night that continues to celebrate the courage it takes to simply keep showing up.
The truth is, ALIBI was never just about business.
It has always been about people.
It’s about the woman who nearly gave up but didn’t.
The woman rebuilding after loss.
The woman starting from scratch.
The woman learning to believe in herself again.
And perhaps that’s why this next awards season feels so special. It marks five years of honouring not just achievements, but the journeys behind them.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is remind someone that their story matters too.
Kylie King is a hypnotherapist, business and mindset mentor, and the founder of the ALIBI Awards, a national business awards program that celebrates women doing business their way. She believes every chapter of your journey deserves to be honoured. especially the ones that required the most courage. Visit: www.alibiawards.com.au
Access News is the media partner for the ALIBI Awards.
