APAC Insider- Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2025 | 12 Based in Brisbane, 16th Ave Creative Studio is a female-led design agency delivering exceptional marketing services rooted in empowerment. Since its inception, the agency has upheld an unfaltering dedication to supporting female-led service businesses in building brands that truly stand out. 16th Ave Creative Studio is headed by Samantha Bell, its Founder, CEO, and Creative Director – an innovative individual who stepped away from the monotonous corporate lifestyle to follow her dreams and inspire others to do the same. We spoke with Samantha below, in the wake of her recent success in the Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2025. Before Samantha Bell had ever held a title, built a brand, or earned an award, she lived a rich and varied life that equipped her with a wealth of transferrable skills, real-world resilience, and deep, personal insight. Her journey to CEO isn’t one described as “climbing the ladder” but rather building the staircase from scratch – a feat accomplished with a fierce sense of purpose and a deep belief in what women can achieve when empowered to rewrite the rules. In 2018, Samantha decided to take a leap from a longstanding corporate career – desperate to liberate herself from the creativitykilling monotony of her nineto-five career. She felt that her time and talent had been wasted fuelling the greed of the corporate giants and yearned to follow her own dreams – carving out a life that she loved while inspiring purpose-driven female entrepreneurs to build their own. From this dream, 16th Ave Creative Studio was born, helping women build standout brands, scalable platforms, and fulfilling businesses that directly align with their unique values and lifestyles. “At the heart of 16th Ave Creative Studio is a powerful belief: when women lead, the world changes,” said Samantha. “We are more than a brand studio – we are an advocacy-driven, strategic creative partner for women who are committed to making a meaningful impact in the world. Our mission is to elevate female founders into premium leadership through powerful digital platforms, bold messaging, and sustainable business models that honour their energy, values, and vision.” As CEO of 16th Ave Creative Studio, Samantha leads her team with clarity, calm, and purpose. She doesn’t believe that leadership is about control, but creating a strong vision, providing a clear direction, and then empowering others to take ownership and thrive within that framework. Samantha recognises that her role within the agency is to hold the bigger picture – the vision, values, strategy, and future direction – while equipping her team with the trust, tools, and support they need to bring that vision to life. When establishing 16th Ave Creative Studio, Samantha was not merely building a design studio; she set her sights further and built a platform for change. Her vision extended far beyond branding and websites. As she explains: “At 16th Ave Creative Studio, we don’t just help women look professional – we help them feel powerful. We help them be seen for who they truly are and where they are going. We support their evolution into becoming leaders, visionaries, and changemakers. Because when women lead businesses that are aligned, profitable, and spacious, the impact ripples far beyond their own success. It strengthens families, shifts industries, and reshapes communities.” Samantha’s mission is a powerful reminder that design can be a catalyst for deeper empowerment – and that when women rise in business, the world changes with them. The future of 16th Ave Creative Studio is wholly focused on doing what matters, as Samantha steers the agency with an expert hand – remaining anchored in strategy and expansion in vision. Moving forward, she aims to continue building and scaling a business that not only supports women in rising but also models what is truly possible when they lead, create, and live differently. It is this approach that enables 16th Ave Creative Studio to thrive in a market saturated by big voices and limited support – driven by an exceptional CEO’s unrelenting commitment to female-led empowerment. “Being named Queensland’s Female-Led Design Agency CEO of the Year 2025 is an incredible honour,” she shared, “not just for me, but for every woman I’ve collaborated with, mentored, and lifted up. This award isn’t the destination – it’s a launchpad. It’s a powerful moment of visibility, and I plan to use it to uplift other women in business, share more of my frameworks publicly, and continue advocating for systems that centre women’s voices and experiences. Because this award isn’t just a reflection of my work – it is a celebration of every woman building a business on her terms.” Contact Details Contact: Samantha Bell Company: 16th Ave Creative Studio Web Address: www.16thavecreative.com Female-Led Design Agency CEO of the Year 2025 (Queensland): Samantha Bell Jul25146
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