Women Inspiring us This International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is the perfect opportunity to celebrate, connect and reflect on the achievements and progression of women everywhere. This year, we sought inspiration from within the Prezzee family, picking the incredible brains of three women whose businesses are listed on Prezzee, as well as our very own co-founder.

Claire Morris, Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director Prezzee

As the co-founder and director here at Prezzee, Claire has been on the journey since the get-go. She’s passionate about sustainability and loves that Prezzee can help solve the problem of physical gift cards entering landfill across the world.

What’s the most memorable gift you have ever given or received?

I enjoy giving gifts more than receiving. A few years ago I helped my close friend fly home from Venice to visit her mum in Sydney. It was pre-COVID and luckily she was able to see her mum for the last time.

If you had to pick a favourite career moment so far, what would it be?

That's a hard one. Here's three!

1. Landing my dream job after college. I called Moon Design every week for six months before they finally agreed to meet with me. The next week I was working there – I had found my tribe!

2. Creating a culture of inclusiveness and innovation at Prezzee is what I'm most proud of. It's the team that turns up each day and helps bring your dream to life that is most rewarding.

3. Hearing from strangers that they love Prezzee without knowing who I am.

Which woman has made the greatest impact on your life?

My mum. She's strong, creative, and kind. All qualities I admire and strive to embody.

Claire Morris. Image: Supplied

Larah Loutati, Co-founder Vitable

Vitable has been delivering (literally) personalised vitamin packs to Aussies since 2019, and an extraordinary woman is at the forefront of the growing wellness brand.

What’s the most memorable gift you have ever given or received?

I’m big on gifts! I love to give or receive little attentions. One gift I still remember is when I had just moved to France on my own to study at 17. My new friends had organised a hamper for my birthday of all the things I loved to eat, then took me out on a nice picnic. I was really surprised that they had paid that much attention to what I liked and it meant so much to me!

If you had to pick a favourite career moment so far, what would it be?

As a founder, every day is a new challenge and a new (small) success! The moment I’m most proud of is leaving my consulting career behind and taking a leap of faith to move to Australia and join a startup. I always felt like I would thrive in a more dynamic, creative environment and I’ve never looked back! It was definitely a critical step to then becoming the founder of my own business.

Which woman has made the greatest impact on your life?

I would say without a doubt my grandmother on my mum's side. She was always unapologetically her authentic self: a strong, independent woman. She had a special spark and a great sense of humour – the heart of the party. She sadly passed away last year, but she’ll always remain in my heart.

Larah Loutati. Image: Supplied

Beth Levis, Founder & CEO By Beth

By Beth is a natural Australian label specialising in natural, edible beauty sustainably sourced and made from Australian bovine collagen and native botanicals.

What’s the most memorable gift you have ever given or received?

For me, the gift of giving is the most special of all. The joy across my children’s faces is priceless, but the most heartfelt moments are when we give together as a family. We try to be as charitable and philanthropic as possible – nothing beats the gift of personally giving to those in need. The most memorable example is a trip we did to Cambodia. We had contacted a rural school facing financial hardship and asked them how we could make the most impact, which lead to developing a plan with our children. Together, we prepared stationary kits, organised new bicycles, and arranged for ceiling fans to be installed in the school. It was such a humbling and memorable experience to be giving these gifts to the children in Cambodia directly, especially for my children to be witnessing it firsthand and realising how lucky we are.

If you had to pick a favourite career moment so far, what would it be?

Launch day for By Beth! Without a doubt an incredibly proud moment for me. I’ve been fortunate to work in family businesses and learn valuable lessons, but to start my own business was still a huge leap of faith and something I’m very proud of. It’s an achievement which was important to me to be a role model to all my children, but especially my three girls.

Which woman has made the greatest impact on your life?

My mother, of course. Business experience can give me priceless tools and expertise for my professional career, but only a mother can shape you into the woman we are destined to be.

Beth Levis. Image: Supplied

Phoebe Yu, Founder & CEO ettitude

Phoebe Yu has been making buttery-soft sheets since 2014 when she launched her own business, ettitude. They’re carbon-neutral and she partners with LOOP, who collect old textiles for recycling.

What’s the most memorable gift you have ever given or received?

A portrait of me that my husband commissioned one of our friends to draw, based on one of our wedding photos.

If you had to pick a favourite career moment so far, what would it be?

ettitude is finally a B corp!

Which woman has made the greatest impact on your life?

Marie Curie. She was my teenage role model. Her courage to devote her life to her scientific research was really inspirational.