Following a successful debut last year, Dermalogica and SABEN have confirmed the return of their EmpowHER scholarship. Once again backed by The Icehouse, the 2024 edition is set to offer even more opportunities for Kiwi female business owners to take their businesses to the next level.

Entries for the EmpowHER scholarship will officially open on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2024), marked by a launch event, which will take place at The Icehouse in Parnell, Auckland. This year’s programme promises to expand its impact by broadening the range of categories to benefit a greater number of women in business.

Natasha Bourke, founder of Skintopia and CEO of Two Hundred Doors (New Zealand distributors of Dermalogica) and SABEN’s founder Roanne Jacobson, are regarded as trailblazers in their respective industries and passionate advocates of female entrepreneurship.

“We were overwhelmed by the response and the calibre of the entries we received in our first year of launching EmpowHER,” said Bourke. “In 2024, we are excited to offer additional opportunities for the winner to develop their business acumen and financial skills. Plus, in 2024 we will also have prizes for the runner up and for a start-up business to help them to create their own path in their chosen industry.”

Roanne Jacobson, Founder of SABEN, echoed these sentiments, adding: “The EmpowHER Scholarship is a testament to our commitment to fostering talent and innovation. We have loved working closely with Anna Barlow, the 2023 scholarship winner, to support her bringing her own line of products to the market and cannot wait to extend this prize to more women in business to help them take their businesses to the next level.”

Pictured: Roanne Jacobson (SABEN), Liz Wotherspoon (The Icehouse), and Natasha Bourke (Two Hundred Doors)

The purpose of the EmpowHER Scholarship is to make an impact on the lives of aspiring women in business, as it did for the 2023 EmpowHER scholarship winner, Anna Barlow, owner of Mom Store.

“The support and expertise from both Roanne and Natasha as well as their teams of experts has been invaluable. I have already learnt so much and been inspired to continue working on both our existing offering as a business, as well as working on our own product ranges,” said Barlow. “Getting this industry specific insight has been a game changer for my small business and has motivated us to continue growing and changing in what is currently a really tough economic climate. The Icehouse business course has also been really great for me. I have no formal business training and this hands-on course has been really relevant to the growth phase our business is currently in.”

EmpowHER 2024 programme inclusions

• A total prize pool valued at $27,888
• A substantial prize for the runner up valued at over $5,694.
• The addition of a new prize category for an up and coming female-founded start-up to the value of $2,999.
• One-on-one coaching with each of the three Chief Executive Officers for each of the prize categories.

Competition timings

March 8th – March 29th: Competition announced, entries open for 3 weeks

April 12th: Shortlist chosen

April 12th-26th: Public voting for the top 5 begins for 2 weeks

May 3rd: Dermalogica, The Icehouse & SABEN select the overall scholarship winner, 3 runners up and 1 emerging start-up business winner.

May 6th: EmpowHer winner, runner up and start-up business winner announced via www.dermalogica.co.nz and www.SABEN.co.nz

Interested in applying for this year’s EmpowHER scholarship? Secure your tickets to the free launch event here.

Head to empowher.co.nz for the eligibility criteria, full list of winner and runner-up scholarship and start-up prize inclusions.