Very seldom has an AIMES Award been won by the same recipient two years in a row. But this is the case with 23 year old Sian Simpson receiving the Innovation Award again in 2016, after also receiving it in 2015.
Sian attended Pinehurst School, Rangitoto College and Massey University. She now talks at all of these places. She's a self-confessed "jack of all trades” from leading an exciting athletic life, representing New Zealand in Dancesport as a youth, and now presenting New Zealand as a young entrepreneur, marketer and community manager at the Kiwi Landing Pad in San Francisco, where she’s helping Kiwi technology companies expand into the US market.
Sian is also passionate about giving a helping hand to the next generation of New Zealanders, using her community management and experiences from the Kiwi Landing Pad. She actively speaks at many New Zealand schools and universities and takes an active role in mentoring students.
Sian’s busy entrepreneurial year has included:- Launching a new website called NZinSF (NZinSF.com) which is a Kiwi guide for New Zealanders to assimilate better into San Francisco; Starting a new innovative program called BNZ Shouldertap to help fund and accelerate high growth New Zealand startups; Enabling New Zealand’s Youth 'Future Festival' working with Guy Ryan, previous Young New Zealander of the Year and Founder of the Inspiring Stories Trust and Future Festival; Speaking to Schools and also hosting them at the Kiwi Landing Pad; Becoming a Video expert – working with SaaStr, developing their entire video brand, producing all of their videos that get three million views to their blog a month; Started a new company (Quirk Media) to work on digital marketing and brand strategy; Was one of 12 speakers at Christchurch Tech Summit which is one of the biggest conferences in New Zealand for businesses and entrepreneurs; Mentoring youngsters, with one landing a permanent job in San Francisco; Mentor for top New Zealand Accelerators – Lightning Lab Accelerator and Vodafone Xone Accelerator; In late 2015 started the Sales and Marketing Jam (NZSMJ) – helping New Zealand companies to create something to build capability and fill the gap before they land in the US market. These are now running every six months in New Zealand and are supported by ATEED, Grow Wellington, CDC, Ministry of Awesome, Air New Zealand, Vodafone, BNZ, NZTE & 90 Seconds.
Sian has a strong passion for community, technology, people, women, education and travel. She goes to many countries a year and meets with local influencers; she embodies the don’t travel ‘live’ with an effort to encourage other people to get local and experience the real nature of a place not just gloss over the top of it. She’s a self proclaimed global citizen visiting many countries a year studying community and the impact of technology and investment in these communities. She is particularly fascinated by developing countries skipping technology generations and what this means for the workforce of the future.
During the year Sian travelled to Africa to participate in Bike Zambia which is a seven day, 500km+ bicycle ride from Lusaka to Livingstone to raise money and awareness for AIDS, girls’ education, and poverty in Zambia. She took an active role and raised over USD$4500 for the cause. The group of 30 riders from all over the world raised USD$165,000.
As you would expect Sian has some firm plans and future aspirations: These include:- Handing over the Kiwi Landing Pad at the end of 2017 as a successful community for New Zealand technology companies; Working with top New Zealand brands/agencies on their community strategy (Air New Zealand, BNZ, NZTA); Being a published author by 2018; Start a technology company in 2018.
We put these questions to Sian Simpson for Northside in December 2016, just a few weeks after she received her second AIMES Award.
What does winning the AIMES INNOVATION AWARD mean to you?
It was amazing and humbling to receive the award again. It was a great moment for me to look back at the year and realise how much i'd achieved. It's crazy to think that in 12 months I've made so much progress so keeping up the consistency and doubling down was a great milestone for me.
What will you be using the funds for?
I'll be using the funds to work on side projects and for investing. I also have a huge emphasis on personal and professional development that I will spend some money on.
What will you be doing in 2017?
In 2017 I will be running the Kiwi Landing Pad, we have a great strategy and are going large for 2017 - watch this space, we have some awesome things planned. There will be a lot more travel as we are changing our strategy slightly, I'll be backwards and forwards between New Zealand, US & Australia regularly. I'm looking forward to helping the group on the North Shore set up the Youth Innovation Hub using my community experience and local connections.
What are your long term goals/ambitions?
Long term goals and ambitions is to help people design their perfect lives, to be financially independent, build a meaningful business and continue seeing the world. Short term is continuing to supercharge New Zealand and make technology the number one export. Long term, find a way to help billions of people be more comfortable with themselves and part of the global community.
What do you miss about home – New Zealand and the North Shore?
I've been home 4 times in the last 3 months which is really lucky. Things I miss, include friends and family that I have known for a long time. The familiarity of everything and how easy it is to do things. The kiwi lifestyle and being able to get away often and stay in friends holiday homes in beautiful parts of the country. I also miss driving a lot on our windy roads with music blaring and the multitude of fun outdoors activities that there are. Mostly the kiwi culture that is kind, gentle, authentic and humble.
Any advice for others following in your foot steps?
Be real, unashamedly you. Be the best person you can be for you, surround yourself with good people and do good honest work. Don't be defined by the status quo. Work hard but be gentle on yourself, remember to have some fun. If there are some things that you think you will get around to but you have don't them yet, let them go you never will get around to them and they consume cognitive load. Be apart of as many awesome communities as you can, it's all about people, people, people. Lastly, some advice I was given recently, if you are a smart person, don't just take from your smarts, make sure you nourish it too with reading and discovery.
In 10 years time I want to be....
Doing something expansive with meaningful resources, entrenched in community and the world, a true global citizen and financially independent. Still learning, being true to myself, having fun and surrounded by great people.
As the recipient of the NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES INNOVATION AWARD (sponsored by Massey University)… Sian Simpson received $15,000.
