Alumnae Business Spotlight

Alumnae Entrepreneurs

Ave Maria College seeks to empower our students in their strengths and passions, providing a foundation of belonging and giving them the curiosity to explore, courage to excel, confidence to thrive, compassion to love and community to grow.

A great example of this supportive College culture and the confidence we instill in our students can be seen through our Alumnae who go on to follow their passions and start their own successful businesses.

We have reached out to two past students and entrepreneurs and sole traders to celebrate their stories.

MADDISON COTTLE (CLASS OF 2018)

For The Soul AU

For the Soul AU is a small business Maddison started in lockdown from the comfort of her bedroom. It includes framed prints of zodiac signs, angel numbers, mindfulness and wellbeing prints for those close at heart and for special occasions. What Maddison first thought would be a side hobby has now evolved into a fulltime job she operates from an office, working with social media influencers and receive orders from all around the world.

@forthesoul.au @forthesoul.au For the Soul AU

www.forthesoul-au.com Fondest memory of your time at Ave?

My fondest memory of my time at Ave was the time I made my final speech as College Academic Captain at a whole school assembly. I felt proud of my personal and leadership efforts as I reflected on the past year.

Favourite subject or favourite teacher?

Two teachers that I will forever remember and appreciate for their support are Ms Stangherlin and Ms Hammer. Both teachers were always there for me, believed in me and supported me during year 12 which was a personally challenging year for me.

What inspired/drew you towards starting your own business?

After working incredibly hard in Year 12 to get into my dream university course, I surprisingly did not enjoy the course at all. During the time that I began questioning my willingness to continue with the course we went into lockdown and my part time job was closed. I began a small business in lockdown to keep me occupied but instead found my passion and I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do.

Do you have any future plans for your business?

Growing my business is something I am truly passionate about and continually working towards which is evident through growing thousands of followers on social media platforms, thousands of orders and endless amounts of work. My future plans include hiring a few employees and a bigger office/warehouse!

Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers?

My advice to students thinking about their future and career would be that things don’t always turn out exactly how you expect them or plan for them to. So take every opportunity that comes your way because you never know, it may just be the best decision you ever make.

SHANELLE THOMPSON (CLASS OF 2012)

Cocoa Shanelle Cakes

Cocoa Shanelle Cakes is a small home-based baking business specialising in all kinds of cakes and sweet treats. Run by Shanelle, a Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef who has worked at large production kitchens and luxury venues around Melbourne.

@cocoashanellecakes

Fondest memory of your time at Ave?

I look back at most of my time at Ave with fondness. My younger sister only recently graduated herself and I would occasionally pick her up from school or attend events like the Arts and Technology Festival and reflect about how great my own time at Ave was. I think there is an inner pride in being an Ave girl that never really leaves you. Even the seemingly mundane, simple things like meeting my friends at lunch every day and eating lemon chicken tender bites from the canteen is something that I took for granted at the time.

Favourite subject or favourite teacher?

I’ve loved food, both eating and creating, since I was a kid. That passion was nurtured by teachers like Jo Hammer in Food Technology. My firsttime making macarons was actually in the food tech kitchen for my year 12 folio. Even though it didn’t work out the first couple of times, my confidence in trying something quite temperamental for a major final assessment is a testament to the encouragement I felt during my time at school.

What inspired/drew you towards starting your own business?

It’s something that’s always been at the back of my mind. When I used to make birthday cakes for family parties before I got my qualification- just as a hobby on weekends, I loved putting my blood, sweat and tears (figuratively of course) into something with a particular person in mind. You hold yourself accountable for making that person’s day in a way and I liked the idea of being able to do that as a profession.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, I lost work, as many in the hospitality/ events industry suffered. The spare time became a great excuse to legitimise a self-run business- Cocoa Shanelle Cakes. It kept me in practice with what I love to do and gave me a taste of what it’s like to have full creative control of everything I make.

Do you have any future plans for your business?

Learning as much as I can in the professional kitchen settings is an invaluable experience that I am still enjoying in conjunction with my small business venture. However, my longterm goal is to expand Cocoa Shanelle Cakes to operate outside of my home and be able commit to it full-time in the future.

Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers?

As cliché as it may sound, my advice would be to follow your instincts and pursue what you are most passionate about. It may be easier to follow the straightforward path but cultivating your unique talents regardless of what others expect of you will always pay off in the end.

In saying that - don’t pressure yourself to have it all figured out straight away. Try not to map out your future too rigidly and of course be open to any opportunities. If you are honest with yourself about what you want out of your life, you’ll find your niche.