2022 Honorees

Lillian ‘FlexMami’ Ahenkan

Founder

“I share my thoughts over as many mediums as possible. I'm a Professional Opinion Haver of sorts.”

Rising Star2022

Tell us about where you work and what you do there.

I am a multidisciplinary millennial in media, but you could also just call me a slashie. I’m a bestselling author, TV presenter, podcaster (I have a Spotify Original!), influencer and Founder of Flex Factory. My career consists of sharing thoughts over as many mediums as possible. I’m a Professional Opinion Haver of sorts.

How would you describe yourself?

A mildy chaotic, realistically delusional creative with aspirations of MORE. More happiness, more enjoyment, more success, more everything. A reforming picky eater, who loves losing sleep to read smut, is an expert lucid dreamer (then overanalyzes those dreams) and sucker for a highly resolved outfit. I live in Sydney, but I’m currently trying to half-move to Tasmania because I feel like it’s calling me.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In the next 10 years, I would’ve delicately bowed down from influencing in favor of doing creative direction for my companies (beauty, fashion, and consulting). I would’ve moved to Tasmania, bought a dog and would be living a life that looks purely like leisure from the outside.

Pattern art Pattern art

What do you think is the next big trend in eCommerce?

AR for sure! A big downside of eCommerce is that consumers have to constantly guess what things will look like before they arrive.

Name an eCommerce brand you admire and why.

Fluff, a sustainable casual cosmetics company in Melbourne with a clean, transparent, and inclusive business model. They’re leading the way.

What do you think has been your biggest professional success so far?

I’m torn between these two options. The first is scaling Flex Factory from merch that sold out in 24 hours to a Black woman-owned company that’s made more than a million in sales, hiring a group of amazing young women, with products made and designed locally in Australia. That’s incredible. Followed by becoming a bestselling Author for my first book, “The Success Experiment.” Anyone who has written a book KNOWS that it is arduous and unlikely to go into its second print run, let alone achieve bestseller status. So that’s cool.

What do you geek out over?

Vampires and personality tests.