Danielle Seymour on juggling _SOUTHSTART festival with motherhood

She’s an industry leader, company owner, director, innovator and mum. But Danielle Seymour firmly insists when it comes to having it all: “I don’t”.

Not many people can label themselves an industry leader, company owner, director, innovator and mum.

Fewer still can do so before the age of 30.

But Danielle Seymour, the director and co-owner of the _SOUTHSTART innovation festival, firmly insists when it comes to having it all: “I don’t”.

“I haven’t found the perfect balance,” Ms Seymour, 29, told The Advertiser.

“It’s hard. And so my mindset towards productivity has shifted dramatically since becoming a mum.”

She’s an industry leader, company owner, director, innovator and mum. Picture: RoyVPhotography

But Danielle Seymour firmly insists when it comes to having it all: “I don’t”. Picture: RoyVPhotography

Ms Seymour, who lives in the Adelaide Hills, concedes she had “no idea” what she was doing when she found herself – back in 2017 and then a 21-year-old law school dropout – suddenly thrust to the helm of _SOUTHSTART.

“I’d dropped out of law and switched to commerce, with a mission to finish my degree via travel learning,” she says.

“When I landed at a tech incubator in Jakarta and had no idea about AI and start-ups, I knew that was an issue”

“I came back to Adelaide determined to learn more, and found myself working on a ‘pitch feedback’ start-up start-up with Moonshine Lab. Then, the opportunity to host _SOUTHSTART arose.

“And suddenly, I found myself at the helm.”

The festival, which was founded in 2013, brings together tech founders, investors and thinkers.

Today, it has been attended by more than 5000 people – representing more than $30bn in capital.

But in 2017, it was calling for new operators ­– and within months Ms Seymour found herself installed as the company’s new co-owner and director, alongside Craig Swann and Jason Neave.

Danielle Seymour with Craig Swann in 2023. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” Ms Seymour says.

“It had started as a grassroots conference, but we saw an opportunity to import global knowledge to SA in a way that wasn’t done.

“We knew we could break through the bonds.”

Under her direction, _SOUTHSTART has been announced as Australia’s most recommended festivals for start-ups two years in a row.

Locally, organisers estimate millions of dollars have been generated for SA through attendee spending alone, with more than 40 per cent of registrations coming from interstate.

“People often don’t understand the economic impacts of importing global knowledge.

“But global festivals like _SOUTHSTART play a crucial role.”

In her 20s Ms Seymour has developed _SOUTHSTART into a three-day event, attracting speakers from companies such as Netflix, Tesla and Canva. She’s also become a first-time mum to her 16-month-old daughter.

By any measure it’s a remarkable journey.

Not that she set out to become a role model to ambitious women dreaming of taking on business ownership and motherhood at the same time.

It just never occurred to her to do anything else.

“I’ve been celebrated for having my baby with me at work. I’ve also been pitied for my lack of maternity leave,” she says.

“But my identity is grounded in creating.”

Danielle Seymour says her identity is “grounded in creating”. Picture: RoyVPhotography

Now she hopes to use her experience to spark conversations for aspiring parents and business owners, noting: “our society looks at parenting and working in a very binary way”.

“Whatever your choice is, it feels very ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’.

“And truthfully, I need not care what anyone says or observes. And neither should you.

“We need to look at more awareness and support around pathways that look different to a typical maternity leave/daycare situation. Particularly for business owners (because) it’s harder than it needs to be.”

While Ms Seymour says she’s been “privileged” in her opportunities to pursue both career and family, she says when it comes to where she wants to invest her time the answer is clear.

“No problem is bigger than your baby crying, no event is better than a night at home and no one is more important than my tiny human.”

_SOUTHSTART will be held at venues across SA from March 4 to 6. For more information, visit their website.

Originally published as Danielle Seymour on juggling _SOUTHSTART festival with motherhood