Fiona Harrison of Chocolate On Purpose has been announced as the winner of the Business Pivot Award at the 2023 AusMumpreneur Awards.
The AusMumpreneur Awards presented by The Women’s Business School celebrates and recognizes mothers in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation. The awards are designed to recognize the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.
Fiona is a proud Wiradyuri woman, living and operating her business in Regional NSW.
Founder and CEO of Australia’s first Indigenous Chocolate business, she’s built a unique social enterprise fusing a love for chocolate with social good.
Fiona’s business was birthed during her journey to heal from complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), during which she discovered the healing power of Australian native botanicals and embarked on a mission to share this knowledge through storytelling with chocolate.
Fiona is passionate about the empowerment of Australia’s Indigenous People, the oldest living Culture on earth, and equity in participation and leadership (by women in particular) in the Australian Native Food and Botanical Supply Chain, so it is valued and secured.
As a mother of three, Fiona knows only too well the multitasking working mums do to care for family, home, business and self, and is grateful for the flexibility her business has provided in managing this.
Chocolate On Purpose creates delicious chocolate experiences infused with ancient wisdom and a mission, blending premium gourmet chocolate with Australian native botanicals to create their unique ‘Bush Food Chocolate’ range.
The mission is simple: disrupt the cacao supply chain through sourcing sustainably grown, palm oil free chocolate; build an Indigenous led & owned supply chain to increase participation of Indigenous people in the growing native food & botanical industry; and while sharing the traditional use of the botanicals leverage segues to discuss the bigger Indigenous issues and truth-telling towards Reconciliation.
Their legacy is Chocolate for Good™.
Fiona is thrilled to be recognized in this category because the last three years have been tough for everyone and, with her regional area experiencing the effects of drought and bush fires even before the COVID Pandemic hit, the journey for her business has especially been one of huge ups and downs.
The AusMumpreneur judges’ recognition of Fiona’s business resilience and creativity to pirouette during the Pandemic, and innovation to achieve continued growth during such a difficult time for business, has made Fiona proud.
It can be challenging to be a successful businesswoman whilst supporting a family and Fiona gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise, ” When you have a vision that is greater than yourself and your business, know you’re in the right place. So when you’re full of worry thoughts, be kind to yourself and know it’s because this is the first time you’ve been in this space and you’re figuring it out… and you will.”
