TODAY is a big day for Spring Ridge businesswoman Phoebe Lane, who will find out at lunch time if she's this year's winner of the Veuve Clicquot Award.
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Ms Lane, managing director of PKL Personnel, is one of five finalists for the award, which is held in 16 countries around the world.
It celebrates the life and achievements of Madame Clicquot (1777-1866), a woman who was widowed at 27 but defied the conventions of the day to build up the international champagne house Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.
"The award seeks to find an Australian woman of the 21st century, who embodies the values of Madame Clicquot: entrepreneurial drive, charisma, dynamism, innovation and audacity," the award's Australian website reads.
Ms Lane divides her time between her and husband Ben Clift's property at Spring Ridge, Sydney and Melbourne in the running of her company, which she founded in 1995.
PKL specialises in the recruitment of temporary and permanent office support and call centre staff, growing from a one-woman office to a company employing 36 people nationally and revenue sales of more than $18 million.
As well as overseeing PKL's two offices in Sydney and Melbourne, Ms Lane speaks at conferences and breakfast seminars for the recruitment industry and caters to the needs of almost four-year-old Charlie and 17-month-old Lachlan, who frequently travel with their mum.
"I live the best of both worlds [between the city and the country]," she said.
"It's mad though - constant all the time - but I think that just comes with having your own business, it never leaves you. I also have a terrific family who give me so much support."
Ms Lane was nominated for the award by a friend she's known since school and didn't know of her nomination until she was contacted about being a finalist.
"I was just blown away," she said.
Fittingly the winner is being announced on International Women's Day and Ms Lane said it was an honour to be selected among such esteemed
company.
The other finalists are Sarina Bratton, founder and managing director of Orion Expedition Cruises; Zahava Elenberg, director of Elenberg Fraser Architecture and Move-In; Sue Ismiel, creator and chief executive officer of Nad's Hair Removal; and Varina Nissen, managing director of Manpower Australia and New Zealand.
