Sienna Jovcevski has been recognised as one of the country’s most successful young entrepreneurs at the 2023 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. The Year 9 student took out the title of Australian Junior Small Business Champion Entrepreneur for her skincare venture, Tweeny Skin, at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by Peter Overton. 

Sienna, who was also a finalist in the Online Business category, said the award means a lot to her.

“I think just being recognised and being a finalist is a big deal, let alone actually winning!” she said.

“Winning the national title has definitely proven to me that I’m doing something right. It motivated me to do even better and it’s also proven to me that I do have a real business and it is a successful one.”

Sienna came up with the idea of a skincare company exclusively for tweens and teens during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown and launched her line of products online in May 2021. She trialled a range of active ingredients on her own skin as she developed bespoke natural and effective formulas that include turmeric, milk and honey. 

Her company now commandeers her parents’ garage, which has been fitted out in Tweeny Skin’s signature yellow hue and, from there, Sienna ships her products across the globe. 

Sienna said her parents’ support, and her education at St Ursula’s, have played a vital role in developing her business.

“I have used skills I learned at school, such as presentation skills, which have given me the ability to speak confidently and articulately in front of others, and have been essential in pitching business ideas and being interviewed by journalists for print, digital and TV media.”

“School has also equipped me with critical thinking and problem solving skills that help me analyse information, make sound decisions and solve problems creatively and effectively. And, most importantly, school has developed my time management skills, which help me in prioritising tasks and managing time to stay organised and productive,” she said.

Sienna is certainly productive! While the 14-year-old manages her burgeoning business, she continues to excel at school, including in her accelerated Mathematics class, while also attending dance classes several times a week. 

Sienna said the most important lesson she has learned in building her business is to embrace uncertainty.

“Take the chance and just do it!” she said.

“Don’t be afraid of failure or what others may say or think. I could easily have shelved the idea and continued doing what I was doing but I believed in my idea so much that I thought to myself, ‘I’m just going to do it! What’s the worst that can happen? No one buys my products?’ I was okay with that. At least I would have given it a shot and learnt a few things along the way. So, just take the chance and don’t let anyone else’s opinion stand in your way.”

One of the many reasons behind Sienna’s success is her connection with, and care for, her clients.

“When I started Tweeny Skin, I had one goal in mind and that was to educate other tweens and teens about the importance of skin health and self care and help build their confidence. But the teen years can be extremely challenging, and my evolving hope is to be able to build a community, a safe place for young people, a place they can feel confident and inspired in. Social impact is a huge ambition for me. I am also currently tweaking my packaging in order to be able to create a positive social and environmental impact through sustainable practices, community outreach and charitable giving.”

So, where to from here? Sienna still has a few years to decide on a full-time career path! A young woman of many talents, she once considered being a professional dancer but now says she wants to attend university and her business has impacted the direction of her aspirations. 

“In the last couple of years, my interest in skin, and skin conditions, has grown so much, so I’m considering a career in dermatology. But at the same time, I’m currently studying Psychology as one of my electives at school and I’m really enjoying it; I find it fascinating,” Sienna said.

And her vision for her business?

“Growth and expansion is another ambition of mine! Having a loyal customer base, a strong online presence and, who knows, maybe you’ll see Tweeny Skin on retail shelves one day!”

Whatever is next in Sienna’s journey, it is sure to be powered by the same drive, courage and vision which got her to this point. The St Ursula’s College community looks forward to watching her journey unfold.