Give to Gain: The Power of Giving in Business

Ahead of International Women’s Day, co-director of Australian Power Equipment Abby Crawford reflects on what business is truly about, and how giving helps individuals and organisations to create meaningful contributions to industries, and the world around us.

There is a common misconception in business that success is something you ‘grab’. Revenue, market share, recognition – all framed as things you ‘hustle’ to acquire. But over time, I’ve learned that the most meaningful and enduring success rarely comes from what you take. It comes from what you give.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with me, not just as a female business owner, but as someone whose career has been shaped by the generosity of others. When I entered the high-voltage electrical sector, I did not come from an engineering background. It was unfamiliar territory, and at times, intimidating. What made the difference was not formal pathways, but people – individuals who gave their time, their knowledge, and their trust. They gave introductions, shared decades of experience, and created space where I might otherwise have remained on the outside.

Those acts of investment and mentorship changed the trajectory of my career.

RECOGNITION, VISIBILITY & SPONSORSHIP

What I have come to understand is that giving in business is not an act of charity. It is an act of leadership. Giving visibility to someone’s work builds confidence. Giving credit strengthens trust. Giving mentorship accelerates growth. Giving opportunities unlocks potential that may otherwise remain unseen. These actions create momentum – not just for individuals, but for organisations and industries.

“I am deeply grateful to those who gave me a chance, shared their knowledge, and helped open doors I didn’t even know existed.”

In 2025, I was deeply honoured to be named a finalist in the Women in Industry Awards. That recognition was not just a personal milestone, but a reflection of the people who had invested in me along the way. It reinforced how powerful it is to be seen and supported. In 2026, Australian Power Equipment will proudly sponsor the Women in Industry Awards – a meaningful way to give back and help ensure more women are recognised, supported, and encouraged to step forward.

Because recognition, visibility matters and sponsorship all matter. Giving also builds stronger organisations. Businesses are ultimately networks of people, and when those networks are built on mutual respect and shared investment in one another’s success, they become more resilient and more capable of navigating change.

At Australian Power Equipment, this philosophy extends beyond our internal team. It shapes how we work with our global partners and the broader communities we are connected to. In industries that have traditionally been male-dominated, we believe that long-term success is built on fairness, equality and shared growth. It means ensuring women are visible, heard, and supported. It means expanding upon what leadership looks like, and that extends beyond business.

RESPONSIBILITY, STEWARDSHIP & CONTRIBUTION

From the beginning, we made a conscious decision that our company’s growth would also contribute to something larger than ourselves.

As a primary sponsor of Taronga Zoo and our partnership with Aussie Ark, we support the protection and recovery of endangered Australian Wildlife. These initiatives are not directly connected to the products we supply, but they reflect the values we believe business should represent– responsibility, stewardship, and contribution.

Some of the most capable leaders I have met did not begin with perfect confidence, but rather, with someone who believed in them. There is a powerful multiplier effect to giving. When someone is supported, they go on to support others. When someone is trusted, they learn to trust. When someone is given a voice, they help amplify the voices of others. This is how industries evolve.

International Women’s Day is an important moment to celebrate progress, but meaningful change happens in everyday actions – giving time, giving encouragement, opportunity, and recognition.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful to those who gave me a chance, shared their knowledge, and helped open doors I didn’t even know existed. Their investment made my journey possible. And as a business owner and a mother, I’m conscious that the examples we set today shapes what others believe is possible tomorrow.

If I can help create opportunities, build confidence, or open doors for others in the same way others once did for me, then that is the most meaningful success I could hope to achieve.

When we give, we don’t lose anything. We build something fargreater than ourselves.

Abby Crawford of Australian Power Equipment interviewed for Rex Airlines AusBiz magazine

Abby Crawford Australian Power Equipment builds meaningful connections and focuses on the needs of wildlife

Abby Crawford is Co-Director of Australian Power Equipment, a Newcastle-based supplier of high- voltage infrastructure solutions supporting mining, renewables, and industry across Australia and Internationally