Aussie Gen Z boss horrified by ‘rich’ comment

A young Aussie who has launched her own business has replied to a comment that she felt completely underminded her success.

Skyla Kennedy just opened her own business at the age of 25, and she’s been left fuming after someone claimed she must have “rich parents”.

Ms Kennedy resides in Melbourne and has recently opened Sunset Disco, a content and working space for creatives.

She’s been documenting her business journey online and shared that she took the biggest “risk” of her life by signing a three-year commercial lease.

“For a business that didn’t even exist yet for a state I hadn’t even lived in for a full year yet. Some people think I’m crazy, but no risk equals no reward,” she said.

Skyla Kennedy runs her own business at 25. Picture: Instagram/ skylanikennedy

She took a big ‘risk’ starting her business. Picture: Instagram/ skylanikennedy

Most people online applauded her work ethic for deciding to invest in herself and create a business, but one comment got under her skin.

“Must be nice having rich parents,” someone wrote.

Ms Kennedy then created a separate TikTok and responded to the bold assumption.

“Not that I owe anyone an explanation. But to give you an idea, my mum passed away when I was 18 months old, which means I’ve grown up my whole life without her and also grown up in a single-parent family,” she said.

“I’m not here to complain or ask for sympathy. I never share this information, simply because it is no one’s business, but I think it is just a good reminder that you never know what someone’s story is.”

She explained she’s been working since she was a kid. Picture: Instagram/ skylanikennedy

She also grew up in a single parent household. Picture: Instagram/ skylanikennedy

The business owner said the comment highlights how women’s success is often downplayed or ridiculed.

“I do think that we unfortunately still live in a stereotypical society where it’s hard for some people to believe in women’s success. I also think it’s common for males to feel intimidated by women who may be more successful than themselves,” she said.

Ms Kennedy added that she left school at 15 and has been working full-time ever since, working for everything she’s ever earned.

“If I wanted something I had to work for it,” she added.

The young Aussie explained to news.com.au that the comment was hurtful because she had worked so hard to start her business.

“For this business, I needed a deposit equivalent to three month’s rent upfront to secure the lease. This gets paid straight away to the real estate and doesn’t go towards your actual rent, so then you need to pay things like the actual rent upfront. There are also other upfront costs like insurance, bills, and general housekeeping,” she said.

“I was fortunate the space I found didn’t need work done so I could move in as is and set it up as I go, as the budget would allow for it. If I had all the money in the world, it would be set up by now but I’ve had to start somewhere and work with what I’ve got.”

Ms Kennedy explained how much she had to invest to start her business. Picture: Instagram/ skylanikennedy

She explained what she’s missed out on to invest in her business. Picture: Instagram/ skylanikennedy

Ms Kennedy has only been freelancing full time for two years now, but before that, she worked in hospitality and had an online fashion label, which she built up from her sewing room in her spare bedroom.

She’s been hustling and trying out new business ideas for years.

“My business career and success hasn’t come overnight. I’ve tried other businesses and, coming from someone who was expelled from high school and didn’t go to university, I have worked my way from the bottom up, working and interning alongside other businesses to gain my experience,” she said.

She’s also missing out because of it. Sure, her life might look shiny online, but nothing has been handed to her and she’s had to forgo other wants to start her business.

“A lot of people my age are in Europe right now and not for the first time either, whereas I have never been. I’m not saying there’s a right or wrong, but I’ve had to make sacrifices over the years to work for myself and start my own business,” she said.

Ms Kennedy said that people might assume that because she runs her own business, she’s wealthy, but that isn’t the reality.

“I think a lot of people assume that if you work for yourself or own a business, you are rich. I’m still in the early stages and most of the money I make goes straight back into the business to build it up long term,” she said.

“If I wanted to make quick cash, I wouldn’t have started a company where I needed to commit to a three-year commercial lease. “