From finalist to First Among Equals: The lasting impact of 40 Under 40
As the state prepares to celebrate Queensland’s young leaders at tonight’s InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards, a former finalist and award winner reflects on how the event has shaped her both personally and professionally.
For Kristen Souvlis, recognition can be a powerful catalyst for what comes next.
The CEO and co-founder of Like A Photon Creative was named First Among Equals in the 2024 InDaily Queensland 40 Under 40 Awards – an achievement she says brought new attention to both her and the company, while pushing her to keep building.
“Once the shock of winning wore off, it became apparent that I had a lot to live up to, and the award lit a bit of a fire under me, in the best way, to continue to develop LAPC,” Souvlis says. “Winning this award has brought so much recognition and interest to both myself and the company, and has allowed me to make more connections to continue to grow professionally.”
Souvlis’ path to leading a global creative company wasn’t mapped out from the beginning. After studying drama at university, she moved into television entertainment before eventually co-founding Like A Photon Creative, working alongside creatives, technology specialists and production experts to develop original and adapted content for global audiences.
“It was less of a conscious choice and more of a combination of opportunity, luck and hard work,” she says. “Though maybe not where I thought I’d be back when I was roaming QUT Kelvin Grove, I seized the opportunity to bring more female representation to Australia’s animation industry and haven’t looked back since.”
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Today, Souvlis leads a team creating content for audiences around the world – or, as she puts it, “I make movies for kids”.
But building a successful business has come with its own challenges. As a woman leading a company in a predominantly male industry, Souvlis says navigating expectations and judgement can add another layer to the demands of leadership.
“Being in business on its own is hard enough, but being a woman at the forefront of a business in a majority male industry adds a whole other level,” she says. “You can draw a lot of judgement, especially when balancing a family and heading a production company.”
For Souvlis, however, the opportunity to create change and support other women has outweighed those challenges.
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“Inspiring others to pursue their own passions and building a company that puts women first easily overshadows the negative experiences that come with it,” she says. “Having the honour of watching the women I work with flourish is more than gratifying.”
She returned to the 40 Under 40 stage as a keynote speaker in 2025, using her experience to highlight the realities of business leadership that are often hidden from view. Her message focused on the importance of interconnectedness and strong support systems, as well as the perseverance required to navigate the inevitable setbacks that come with running a business.
“Often we don’t get to see all the ‘Oh no’ moments that go on behind the scenes,” Souvlis says. “It was my goal to call attention to the perseverance and drive needed to thrive in the industry.”
She believes recognition has an important role to play in supporting the next generation of female leaders, particularly in industries where women remain underrepresented.
“As a historically underrepresented group, especially at the forefront of businesses, it is vital to note when exceptional women do exceptional things,” she says. “Recognition for their efforts along with opening up opportunities for them to further grow their businesses and knowledge of their industries is tantamount to continuing to support women and balance the scales.”
And while recognition can open doors, Souvlis says the work to create greater equality needs to continue behind the scenes, too. At Like A Photon Creative, that means regularly assessing pay banding, workplace flexibility and hiring practices to ensure the company is creating the change it wants to see.
For those stepping into the spotlight at this year’s 40 Under 40 Awards, Souvlis’ experience offers a reminder that recognition can be about more than the accolade itself.
It can create connections, open opportunities and provide the momentum to take the next step – while giving emerging leaders the confidence to keep going when the inevitable “Oh no” moments arrive.
The 2026 InDaily Queensland 40 Under 40 Awards will be held at the Rivershed, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane, on Thursday, August 27.
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