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What is 30under30?
30under30 is an Anthill initiative launched in early 2008 to encourage and promote entrepreneurship among young Australians. Each year, we invite our readers to nominate young Australian entrepreneurs deserving of recognition for their outstanding entrepreneurial endeavours. More.
Adrian Rokman, VIC (b. 1987)
Name: Adrian Rokman
Age: 24 (Born: September 1987)
Gender: Male
State: VIC
Known for: Allsportz
“Energetic, unique, crazy, fun, childish.” That is how Adrian Rokman characterises the nature of his work.
Then again, at Allsportz, kid’s play is everything. The Melbourne child care centre gives classes for youngsters from five months to 10 years featuring basketball and soccer, tennis and go-karts, hockey and gymnastics. As general manager, Rokman is involved with making all children feel safe and welcome and every parent leaving with a smile. Put simply, he’s having a blast being the biggest kid around.
Rokman is serious business when it comes to business. Prior to his current gig, he sold silicone products in China and mobile phone parts online.
In 2010, he was contracted by the 20-year-old European School of Tennis to re-brand the company to reflect its growing number of sports programs. He was so smitten by the concept that he asked to buy into the company.
Now Allsportz, the company is enjoying an impressive second youth. While highly regarded as a tennis school then as now, Rokman at the helm has transformed it into something else.
His coworkers have taken note. “I am quite a laid-back, joking-around sort of boss and will do any job required,” says Rokman. “I like my coaches to feel that I am not above them, we are equal and I can do all the crap jobs too.”
This egalitarian spirit also informs his rapport with the kids: “I know every single one of our 600 current students by name.”
He gets to know mums and dads and initiates his charges with a secret handshake. And then — wait a sec, did you just say six HUNDRED?!
“Upon my joining AllSportz, there were approximately 60-80 kids per week,” states Rokman. “We now boast over 600 children every week and 1,000 kids every holiday program.”
He winks. “I have a semi-photographic memory.”
With the potential for opening new centres in other suburbs, one might forget that there ever was a pre-Rokman era. Still, like a true Big Kid, he is cautious about growing too much, too fast.
“One of my main concerns,” he insists, “is being able to always manage the clients we have and offer them the same, high-quality service!”
Game. Set. Niche.
Anthill asks: Adrian Rokman, have you ever been lucky, punk?
At Allsportz we have had quite a high number of successful clients. I believe word of mouth is the best possible advertising; I’m lucky to have superstar clients who let everyone know about me.
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To check out the full list of Anthill’s 30under30 winners, click here.
