2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
Brigid Koenig is CEO of The Sammy D Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that educates and empowers young people to make positive life decisions for a stronger community. With a background in sales and marketing, Brigid made a bold leap into the not-for-profit sector in 2013. Initially taking on a fundraising role with the MS Society of SA and NT, she went on to hold senior management positions with St John Ambulance SA from 2014 to 2018.
Today, as CEO of The Sammy D Foundation, Brigid provides strong, strategic operational leadership to the organisation and its staff and volunteers. She oversees the day to day operations of the Foundation, leads a team, develops and maintains relationships with stakeholders and partners and provides strategic advice to the Board of Directors. Brigid has been instrumental in the growth the Sammy D Foundation which has seen revenue increase dramatically and a 500% increase in young people educated to ensure they are looking after themselves and their mates to end violence.
In May 2023 , Brigid added Director to her portfolio joining the Rugby Union South Australia Board and in February of 2024 joined a Director and Partner In Australian Activewear Label Strivve4. In April 2020 Brigid was recognised as a South Australian State Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in the ‘For Purpose and Social Enterprise’ category for her work in the sector. In June 2022, Brigid was named as one South Australia’s top young business leaders in Indaily’s 40under40.
// Favourite inspirational quote
“I raise up my voice-not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard….” ― Malala Yousafzai
// Let’s get to know you
My passion has always been people which is why I applied to get into a Bachelor of Behavioural Science at Flinders University. I eagerly attended my first year at Flinders University, but with a number of other family circumstances, I had to defer my studies. While finishing my schooling and studying I was working on a shop floor at a department store, which gave me some great interpersonal skills. Once I decided to defer studies I applied for a part time role at a new apparel store opening up at a new shopping centre here in Adelaide. After the interview they actually offered me an Assistant Management role. 2 years later I was their youngest Store Manager and Multi-Site Manager. This position then lead me to talking to a recruitment company; Retail world about my next area management role, but instead of placing me they asked me to join their team as a recruitment consultant. I spent the next few years helping them build up their South Australian networks. I ended up building up WA desk from SA but was burnt out so left my role there at the start of 2008. I had a few weeks off before being offered an Account executive role with Yellow Pages where I was responsible for new business and retaining existing clientele across SA and western Victoria. I did move between Retailworld and Yellow Pages one other time as I was asked to assist for different projects, For example to build the SA and WA markets to franchise the offices and Yellow Pages asked me back into a new position of State Campaign Manager.
After spending 10 years in the corporate sector in sales, recruitment and marketing channels. I started to explore new career opportunities when there was a restructure in the business. I was volunteering for the MS Society of SA & NT after my mother was diagnosed with the illness. After a few lengthy discussions post volunteering at a BBQ with the CEO, developed a role for me, based on my skill set.. This role was the start of my career in the NFP sector and since then I have spent time with St John Ambulance as head of sales, Head of Fundraising and as the General Manager – Commercial. I was then approached for the General Manager at the Sammy D Foundation. I heavily researched the organisation to ensure that it aligned with my values and discovered the struggles the Foundation was facing along with the endless opportunities. I read about the value the education programs deliver to young people and their parents and after meeting the people involved I couldn’t say no to the opportunity. The business was looking for a real operational GM and with 4 staff it was all hand on deck. Over the past 6 years, I have built an exceptional team of 45 mix of casual and permanent staff and our reach of participants educated is now reaching 41000! My title moved to CEO as the business grew.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
I am very humbled to have been nominated and wasn’t going to complete this application, but this process has enabled me to reflect on how far I have come as a women, a mother, and a leader. I aim to empower my team, my network and always want to better myself. I have a people’s centric leadership style,( yes slightly feminist leadership ) but I care about our people and by doing that I believe we our team is truly connected, with authentic conversations and psychological safe working environment. I believe I carry this in all areas of my life, which is why a strength of mine is connecting my network. I added the Director role at Rugby Union SA to drive growth of players through sport and earlier this year in I added Business Owner to my portfolio by buying in to and all inclusive activewear brand in Strivve4.
I believe and embody that if you want to go for it, just go for it. There is nothing we can not achieve. Even as a plus size person, in 2023 I climbed a mountain in NZ, rode my bike 100km up hills, with some falls yes, but just kept going! We can truly achieve what the mind believes!
// What is your goal or intention for the year ahead? And how are you going to achieve it?
I am a goal setter in ALL areas of my life and a business planner.
Sammy D Foundation – its about increasing our reach in South Australia and nationally through collaborations and partnerships to end youth violence. Our goals are aspirational, through our transformational funding requests, but if not us then who?
For Strivve4 we are about increasing our reach to all women, to empower them to be their best themselves and to be active no matter the size, we aim to do this through social media and ecommerce.
For Rugby Union SA it’s about increasing participation in the sport. I believe that sporting organisations are the microcosm of society and they provide pro social opportunities for all involved but in particular, they are a place for young people to build their protective factors and I we are aiming to increase participation through challenging the usual recruitment and retention strategies.
// What would being a Woman to Watch mean to you?
It would have a number of benefits…. It would enable me to show other women that you progress your career at the same time as a growing family!
It would also help elevate the Sammy D Foundation brand and the vital violence prevention work we do in the community!
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
A future where all girls and women are SAFE, safe to go for a run, to walk home by ourselves, to date freely, to be in workplaces in supportive and flexible environments, where there are more women in executive and board roles, where our salary or role is not determined by gender….!
Get in touch with Brigid:
LinkedIn: Brigid Koenig
Website: www.sammydfoundation.org.au
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
To become an SA Woman Member, check out our Membership Options here.
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