Fleur Madden-Topley, 2009 Anthill 30under30 winner

What is 30under30?

30under30 is an Anthill initiative that was 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. Anthill’s editorial team then trawls through hundreds of applications and identifies and profiles the top 30 Australian entrepreneurs under the age of 30. The process culminates in an event held in Melbourne where the 30 winners network and celebrate. We’ve been releasing profiles of this year’s Anthill 30under30 winners via our Twitter account – youngest to oldest. Check out the full list.

Name: Fleur Madden-Topley

Age: 29 (b. 1980)
State: QLD
Industry: Public Relations
Company: Red PR

Fleur Madden-Topley launched Red PR when she was only 23. After six years of hard work she has developed the agency into a force in the industry and a player on the international PR scene.

Today, Red PR is one of Australia’s leading PR firms, with a portfolio of 65 clients, 11 staff and an array of business award nominations and wins. Red PR is also the only Australian PR agency to become a Public Relations Organisation International (PROI) partner.

As the company’s ‘Big Red’, Madden-Topley describes her role as a combination of business development manager, team cheerleader and company spokesperson. “I am a big picture person — I know what has to happen and I put the right people into place to help us achieve our goals,” says Madden-Topley. “I carry the daily responsibility and stress that comes along with that on my shoulders, without stressing out my team.”

Being a passionate supporter of the PR industry, Madden-Topley regularly speaks at industry conferences, such as the Australian Marketing Institute, Westpac Women in Business and Network Marketers events. She has also represented Australia at international conferences such as PROI and PRSA.

Red PR experienced 200 percent growth for 2007-2008, and has partnered with an Indian PR agency for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

“I am always looking for new business ventures and I never think I can’t achieve what I set out to do,” she says. “I take risks that others may not take in order to ensure the company reaches its full potential.”

To Madden-Topley, entrepreneurship is all about turning opportunity into multiple successes — personal success, success of the employee, and clients’ success with their businesses.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCORDING TO FLEUR

What advice would you give to new startups?

“I think every business owner makes mistakes that they hopefully learn from…. The biggest mistake I think I have made is not having tighter contracts in place initially, which saw some clients take advantage of a new business. We learnt pretty quickly and now have legal contracts in place and strict payment systems to avoid any issues. I always see the good and people have surprised me with their unethical ways.

MULTIMEDIA

Red PR’s Fleur Madden-Topley was the second speaker for the affirmative team at the Australian Institute of Management’s 2008 International Women’s Day Debate. The topic: “that heels have a rightful place in the boardroom”.