WA businesswomen inducted into hall of fame

Two Western Australian business owners have been inducted into the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Hall of Fame, joining 16 other inductees in the lead up to International Women’s Day this Sunday.

Founder and chief executive of Perth-based cleaning brand ENJO Australia, Barb de Corti, was among this year’s inductees, with her business now reaching the US and turning over more than $100 million each year.

Ms de Corti launched ENJO natural cleaning products in Australia in 1994 after discovering them in Austria, and used $40,000 in savings to bring the products here.

While the beginning of Ms de Corti’s journey was fraught with testing trials and financial strains, the business now has an online store and has partnered with Perth-based Azure Capital to expand into the US.

Ms de Corti said it was important to ensure a business had a purpose.

“Ask yourself what will it achieve for yourself and others? Many ideas fail because success doesn’t just come from a passion – the purpose needs to be there,” she said.

Fellow Western Australian and chief winemaker and managing director of Cullen Wines Vanya Cullen joined Ms de Corti in this year’s inductions.

Ms Cullen took the reins of the wine business from her father 16 years ago and became one of the first in Australia to make the family winery completely carbon-free.

Ms de Corti and Ms Cullen join more than 180 other female business women in the ABN Hall of Fame, including Liz Davenport, Collette Dinnigan, Lisa Curry, Maggie Beer and Lorna Jane Clarkson.