Kirsten Spek is the winner of the 2024 Women In Business Inspire Award. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

IN THE COMMUNITY

Winner of Medicine Hat business award passionate about supporting other women

Jun 10, 2024 | 5:12 PM

Competition for this years Women In Business Inspire Award was a close one, with the top three of six nominees within a single voting point of each other.

The award is given each year to a local woman who has overcome obstacles, mentored and inspired others and has great achievements.

The 2024 winner is Kirsten Spek, owner of Couture Hair and Beauty.

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She has also purchased and developed multiple properties on North Railway in Medicine Hat over the past four and a half years to help create cost certainty for hers and other business owners.

Spek and her husband started by buying the current Couture Hair and Beauty, formerly an old cabinet shop converted to a salon.

“The salon is one aspect where it allowed me to be involved in a lot of other business women’s lives, everybody here essentially runs their own business,” Spek said.

“We were able to open the back half of the salon building to a dance studio, which is also owned by another female in business, and then Botanicals, another woman just thriving in business,” she added.

“As the years have gone on, being a female entrepreneur, it’s become a huge passion just to be able to support other women and make sure they’re thriving, not just surviving.”

Spek said she is humbled to win the award with so many other nominees also worthy of the honour.

“I don’t think anybody knows until they open the envelope at the event who won, and I would say it was a lot of nerves and then excitement and a little bit of disbelief,” Spek said.

“There was a lot of really other amazing women in our community that were nominated for various reasons. When you look at how many amazing things they’re doing in the community, it’s impactful to see and to read about their stories and very inspiring.”