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Colette Grgic

Colette Grgic

Head of Startup Ecosystem, AU & NZ at Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Activator

Colette Grgic is a dynamic leader in the startup and innovation ecosystem, currently serving as the Head of Startup Ecosystem for Australia and New Zealand at Amazon Web Services (AWS). With a passion for enabling founders to start and scale cutting-edge startups, Colette leads a team dedicated to supporting the growth and success of the startup ecosystem in the region. Her career is marked by significant achievements, including her role as Chief Innovation Officer at BlueChilli, where she helped build 147 new tech startups and led the company's innovation division and international expansions.Colette is recognized as one of Australia's top innovators, having been listed in The Australian's Top 100 Innovators for 2023 and 2024. She is also a frequent speaker, mentor, and volunteer on boards focused on innovation, education, climate change, and diversity and inclusion. Her specialties include startups, strategy, program design, business models, and strategic partnerships. Colette holds a B.Comm in International Business from the Haskayne School of Business and is based in the Greater Sydney Area.

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In their own words

From Colette Grgic explains why diversity is crucial · The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series
Whatever layer you put between you and the customer is going to be the hurdle that you fall over.
▶ Colette Grgic explains why diversity is crucial

Career

  1. Now Head of Startup Ecosystem, AU & NZ · Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  2. Earlier · Startup Chief Innovation Officer · BlueChilli
  3. Earlier · Startup Founder · Arribaa
  4. Earlier Manager, internal startup Autogenie · Smartgroup (Autogenie)

Sources: dayone.fm

Key moments

Jump straight to the part of Colette Grgic explains why diversity is crucial you want.

  1. 0:29 Meet Colette Grgic
  2. 1:23 Overview of AWS Startups Support
  3. 2:19 Importance of the Activate Program
  4. 3:27 Passion for the Startup Ecosystem
  5. 4:45 Colette's Journey into Startups
  6. 6:06 First Steps in the Startup World
  7. 7:20 Experiences with Startmate and Push Start
  8. 9:01 Importance of Co-Working Spaces
  9. 10:20 Transition to BlueChili
  10. 12:40 Bridging Startups and Corporates

Heard on

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Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem · 19 December 2022 The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 3 With Michael Batko, Wayne Gerard, Petr Adámek, Peter Devine, Rohit Bhargava, Terry Hilsberg, Peter Bradd, Zrinka Tokic, Rachael Neumann, Zoe Piper, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Murray Hurps, Rachel Yang, Yolanda Redrup, Peta Ellis, Sarah Pearson, Niki Scevak, Colin Kinner, Mark Pesce, Ian Gardiner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Melissa Widner, Cameron Adams, Georgie Turner, Baden U'Ren, Evan Thornley, Alan Noble, Kate Jones, Kate Cornick, James Alexander, Dharmica Mistry, Emily Rich, Lars Rasmussen
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Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem · 19 December 2022 The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 4 With Simon Thomsen, Tim Boyle, David Burt, Rachel Yang, Sarah Pearson, Bruce Tulloch, Cheryl Mack, Lucinda Hartley, Joshua Flannery, Megan Sebben, Alex Scandurra, Phil Ireland, Julie Trell, Peter Devine, Dean McEvoy, Craig Swann, Pete Horsley, Aaron Birkby, Annie Parker, Paul Bassat, Maxine Sherrin, Malcolm Turnbull, James Alexander, Melissa Widner, Hamish Hawthorn, Lauren Capelin
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Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem · 19 December 2022 The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 6 With Leslie Delaforce, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Wayne Gerard, Nicole O'Brien, Alex Carpenter, Evan Thornley, Baden U'Ren, Tim Fung, Trevor Folsom, Peter Davison, Craig Swann, Moira Were, Allan O'Connor, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Brendan Hill, Aaron Birkby, Malcolm Turnbull, Jodie Fox, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Yolanda Redrup, Andrew Nunn, Melissa Widner, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak
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The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 5 May 2022 Colette Grgic explains why diversity is crucial

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. It offers a wide range of services including computing power, storage options… 4 people · 9 episodes →

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