Carolyn Creswell is an inspirational leader whose success proves that you can run a multinational business, love what you do and have a genuine work-life balance.
As an 18-year-old university student, Carolyn Creswell founded Carman's in 1992. She bought the tiny business for $1,000.
At the end of 2022 Carman's will proudly celebrate its 30th birthday and is Australia's number one selling muesli brand along with being a leader of deliciously good for you bars and nutritional snacks.
From humble beginnings where Carolyn used to park her tiny Daewoo alongside semi-trailers in supermarket loading docks, Carolyn's determination and focus on producing quality products using whole foods, has seen Carman's build a strong following in more than 30 countries around the world.
Carolyn's passion for healthy food made from real ingredients has cemented Carman's reputation as a food brand that customers around the world can trust to be natural, healthy and delicious.
As a proud mother of four children aged 18 and under, Carolyn understands the importance of producing nourishing foods for herself and her family and applies this to every Carman's recipe.
Current Work:
Calling the Carman's staff her “second family”, Carolyn put them at forefront of her mind when designing the new office that the business moved into in 2018. Now one of Australia's most enviable working spaces, Carman's HQ offers its employees access to a gym, yoga studio, sauna and massage room, free barista-made coffee and on-site chef. Carolyn has also loved extending the space to the public, via the Carman's Kitchen Store, and other businesses, with conference facilities and meeting rooms for hire.
Carolyn's business acumen has led to a number of accolades including the winner of 2007 Ernst & Young's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and being named the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year. She is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
As Carolyn looks to the future “I'm amazed at the achievements of Carman's thanks to our loyal consumers. The growth we've experienced is thanks to hard work, a talented team and a range of products that we're really proud of and that people love to eat. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in the next thirty years!”
Talking Points
Achieving true work-life balance: how a hands-on mother of four young children runs a multinational company
Achieving true work-life balance: how a hands-on mother of four young children runs a multinational company
Carolyn's story: how she turned $1,000 into a highly successful multinational company
Carolyn's story: how she turned $1,000 into a highly successful multinational company
The Carman's way of doing business
The Carman's way of doing business
Easy, genuine, cost-effective ways to become an employer-of-choice for women
Easy, genuine, cost-effective ways to become an employer-of-choice for women
Staff retention and how to empower staff to build an autonomous team
Staff retention and how to empower staff to build an autonomous team
Video
Business tips from Carolyn Creswell
Carolyn Creswell opened the Geelong Small Business Festival this year and she had some great tips to share on starting and growing your own business.2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year
2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year, Carolyn Creswell, Carman's Fine Foods, Victoria. Carman's founder Carolyn Creswell is an inspirational leader whose success proves that you can run a multinational business, love what you do and have a genuine work-life balance.A very warm and engaging speaker who hit the mark with the home-based, small businesses present at the Maroondah Business Breakfast. Carolyn brought with her a visually appealing presentati ... keep reading Maroondah City Council
I just wanted to give you a big thank you for your inspirational talk today... You gave a wonderful speech and showed us to make a difference and enjoy the moment... and that women do not have to completely sacrifice family for work and vice versa.
I wanted to personally congratulate you on your talk from Tuesday's women's luncheon as well as congratulate you on your business success. I don't get impressed very easily by speakers and being in marketing have heard many people over the years talk about their successes. It was a delight to listen to you on Tuesday and it was very motivating. You are about the same age as me and I have one child and consider myself to have had a successful marketing career. I have just returned to work part time and I am not sure how you juggle 3 children and a business of your size. There are not many successful business woman around and it is always a delight to hear one speak. I have reported back to my partnership some of your fabulous tips. I wish you further success in the future and hopefully our paths will cross again.
Carolyn was the perfect choice for our event and the ideal mix of entertaining, inspiring, informative and also very down to earth and relevant for our target audience. I am confident that the current and aspiring business operators at the event would have taken home invaluable insights from the session and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Carolyn to others seeking an engaging women in business speaker.
