Naomi Simson
businessperson, blogger, entrepreneur

Last century I worked for big brands, IBM, Apple, KPMG and Ansett Airlines – all of which influenced who I am today.

I have many labels: speaker, author, blogger, entrepreneur, innovator, and influencer, to name a few.

With more than 2.6 million LinkedIn followers, I believe my gift is the ability to share my insights, experience and observations about business, innovation and success.

I’m passionate about shifting the way people experience life and we do that at the Big Red Group by serving people experiences. It may be an experience at RedBalloon, but it also extends beyond just that and flows onto our suppliers, distribution partners and the people we come into contact with.

I want people to create truly vivid memories and live lives worth remembering – and I believe that shared experiences are at the very heart of this.

As a judge on Channel TEN’s Shark Tank, I am an investor and supporter of the startup community. I am also the author of the best sellers ‘Live What You Love’, and ‘Ready to Soar’.

I am a Governer of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and a director of the University of Melbourne Faculty of Business and Economics

The things I believe

Happiness is a journey – resilience, respect and responsibility are equally important

Passion, persistence, positivity, and purpose create a vivid experience of life

People need more shared good times we are meant to hang out together

Saying thank you [a lot] spreads a sense of well being

Everyone deserves to have a great day at work, and feel proud of their work

What I learn is better shared

We believe life is vivid, interesting and challenging. With a sense of pride, accomplishment and purpose we do great work – and we make a difference in how people experience life. We work as one team (and we treat our brands as clients). For REDBALLOON it’s about the experience of gifting; REDII is about the employee experience; MARKETICS helps brands deliver seamless marketing experiences to their customers. It is our commitment to our vision and values, as well as our technical innovation, that helps each brand prosper.

If you do nothing else but explore the range of RedBalloon experiences, you will soon be inspired to fill in your wish list and share it with your friends. From the many thousands of experiences that we have sourced from our partners around Australia and New Zealand you will find something that truly delights. To find out more about Redballoon visit www.redballoon.com.au

Albert is the world’s first and only Artificial Intelligence (AI) Marketing Platform, delivered by Marketics for Australian and New Zealand Enterprises. Built from the ground up using AI he is a truly autonomous machine that requires little human manipulation and is able to execute seamlessly across all channels, paid and nonpaid, including email, mobile, social, search and display.

Starting its life as the internal software built to support RedBalloon’s employee framework. In 2014 Naomi, along with a few of the original RedBalloon team founded Redii.com. With a vision to support other SME’s to grow; through harnessing the power of their greatest asset, their people. To find out more about Redii visit www.redii.com

At any given point more than 10% of adult Australians are considering ‘an innovative idea that could be the next big thing’…. Do you have an idea, you think it might have potential — perhaps people will even spend their hard-earned cash on it … if you could just get started. In Ready to Soar, I show you how to develop your brilliant idea into a thriving business. I wrote Ready to Soar because I want people to start their businesses with their eyes wide open so that they don’t get blindsided. Whether you want to make oodles of money, help create a better world or simply become your own boss, Ready to Soar can help. You will learn how to avoid the pitfalls that many start-up businesses make, formulate your ideas, make plans and develop your individual roadmap for success. You’ll be challenged to think through things that might never have occurred to you, I do reveal the questions I wish people had asked me all those years ago. Ready to Soar will help you turn your dream into a reality. You can grab your signed copy here or on iBooks and on podcasts: Apple, Dymocks. Are you #ReadyToSoar?

If there is one thing we all have in common, it’s that we’re “time poor” (and I know that even more now being a part of the team for Channel Ten’s Shark Tank Australia). Time is our most precious asset – we are all given only 24 hours a day so how you choose to spend those precious seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks will ultimately determine your sense of well being or success. I know your pain, as it is mine too. The hardest thing I have had to do — ever — is to make the choice on where I spend my time. So many choices: education, reading, events, socialising, let alone work, family, friends and fitness. And there’s so little time. And now I am presenting you with a new book to read… if you buy it will you read it? I wrote Live What You Love to inspire you to choose it over the others on the pile next to your bed. If you choose to spend some of your precious time investing in reading this book, you will be far better equipped to make great choices for your life and your future. If you give your time to discovery, you will reap the reward… whatever that reward may be. It might be simply flourishing, or career guidance; perhaps some insights on starting a business, or you might find the inspiration you need to succeed on your academic journey. This book will make a difference towards living a life you love. I know if you take the time, contemplate the words, make them your own and do the exercises I have included, your experience of life will shift – and you will have a few laughs along the way. You will discover your passion, understand the power of persistence, know the difference that comes from being positive and ultimately experience a life filled with purpose.. Grab your signed copy here or on iBooks plus I've also set up a LinkedIn group so that people can share their stories on about how they have put into practice #LiveWhatYouLove.

MOMENTS I AM A LITTLE PROUD OF

Pearcey ICT Tech Entrepreneur of the year

[ 2013 ]

National Winner Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

[ Industry Category – 2011 ]

National Winner Telstra Business Women’s Awards for Innovation

[ and the NSW Business Owner Category – 2008 ]

RedBalloon voted one of Australia’s Best Places to Work

[ BRW 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 ]

Deloitte Tech Fast 100 Five Times

[ BRW 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 ]

The RedBalloon community program and my philanthropic work