NICOLA MILLS
Founder & Director
Sunny Balcony
Finalist – 2025 NSW Business Awards : Taking a moment to reflect and celebrate
When I founded Sunny Balcony back in 2012, the dream wasn’t to build a sprawling group of companies. It was much simpler and way more personal: I wanted to create something that empowered great people to do great work. I believed then—as I still do—that business success begins and ends with people.
To now be named a Finalist in the 2025 NSW Business Awards for Outstanding Business Leader (21 Employees and Over) is a huge honour. But more than that, it’s a moment to reflect on the journey, the lessons, and the incredible team that’s made Sunny Balcony what it is today.
Over the last two years alone, we’ve added seven new businesses to the group. From angel investing with Impactiv, to clean energy through our joint venture Ready Energy, to expanding our recruitment services via Tier One Recruitment into the UK and UAE, it’s been an extraordinary period of growth. Our client base has grown by more than 88, our team by 42%, and revenue increased by 18.5% in the last financial year. But for me, those are outcomes—not the true measure of success.
Awards are wonderful, but the real reward is seeing others succeed, knowing you’ve played a part in helping them get there.
The true measure is seeing leaders step into their power. At Sunny Balcony, we’ve built what I call a “Supported Start-Up” model. It’s a framework that gives our internal founders the tools, infrastructure, and freedom to run with a vision—treating their part of the business as their own, while knowing they’ve got a trusted team behind them. Legal, finance, HR, IT, marketing—it’s all there, so they can focus on what they do best: leading, delivering, and growing.
This model was born out of my own lived experience. I know what it’s like to take risks, to burn out, to fail, and to rebuild. I bring that honesty to every mentoring conversation, and it’s why mentorship—both formal and informal—is such a big part of my role today. Whether it’s through Mentor Walks, internal coaching, or backing early-stage founders through Impactiv, I find real purpose in helping others grow.
The culture we’ve created across the group is also one of support. We’ve created a workplace where diversity is celebrated—across more than 9 nationalities—and where we take care of each other in all different ways. From job-share arrangements at senior levels to COLI-adjusted salaries, wellness programs, and recognition initiatives like our “5- and 10-Year Clubs,” we’ve built a high-trust, low-ego environment where people are seen, supported, and encouraged to bring their full selves to work.
What does being a finalist in the NSW Business Awards mean to me? It means that this way of doing business—human-first, values-driven, growth-focused—is being recognised. It means that the effort we’ve put into building not just companies, but an ecosystem of possibility, is making a real impact.
And it’s not just me. None of this would exist without the brilliant team of leaders who’ve come on this journey with me. From the early days of a single office to today—multiple brands, 100+ employees, 3 continents—they’ve stayed curious, courageous, and committed. I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside them.
Looking ahead, my focus remains the same: back good people, share what I’ve learned, and build businesses that not only grow—but do good. Awards are wonderful, but the real reward is seeing others succeed, knowing you’ve played a part in helping them get there.
— Nicola Mills