Top Tips from 7 Previous Winners of Gef’s 30 Under 30

It’s been a year since Gef’s 2023 30 Under 30 winners knocked our socks off with the power of a hoolie on Douglas Head during an Amber weather warning.

New here? Allow us to tell you what we’re on about. Gef’s 30 Under 30 is our technicolour campaign to celebrate the island’s future leaders and rising stars in all their youthful genius glory. Each year, 30 exceptional up-and-comers are recognised across ten different categories. We then showcase the winners across our digital, social media, and print platforms, telling everyone on the island about our winners’ achievements, talents, and contribution to the Isle of Man. And it’s all capped off with a big winners party where everyone gets dressed up and boozes and schmoozes. The Manx Oscars, if you will. (Not held at Oscar’s. Confusing I know, but try to keep up).

Nominations are now open for the next year of winners for 2024 at 30under30.im. You can nominate a friend, colleague, a sibling, or even yourself! Anyone you think is a total legend and has made a positive impact on our island in the last 12 months. We’re collecting entries until May 3, so in the meantime, here are some words of wisdom from a few of our 2023 winners.

Ana Dawson – Achievement Winner

“Don’t be afraid to fail. It can be so disheartening when you don’t get the result you want, but it really does make it so much better when you finally achieve it. Failing is a massive part of succeeding. If you never fail, you can never succeed.”

Adam Drummond – Community Impact Winner

“No matter what opportunities are thrown your way, take them. You never know what the result could be. If you don’t say yes, who knows what you could miss out on?”

Ruby Biscoe-Taylor – Creativity Winner

 “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. This gave me the freedom to make choices I believe in, instead of what I think I ‘should’ be doing.”

Jack Garret – Entrepreneurs Winner

“Never give up on something you are working towards, no matter how hard and unrealistic it may seem at the time. Don’t worry about what other people are up to, concentrate on you.”

Alexandra Koyfman – Innovation Winner

“Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo and, if you progress in your career, do your part to help the next person do so too.”

Owen Atkinson – Trailblazer winner

“It’s okay to make mistakes! It’s okay to be scared! Just do it anyway and you’ll learn from the process.”

Emma Blackburn – Game Changer Winner

“Losing my brother was something that made me the person I am today. I guess that was a ‘game changing’ experience for me and I believe I am living proof that good things can come from bad.”

If you know someone under 30 taking the Isle of Man by storm, now’s the time to show your support. Nominations for Gef’s 30 Under 30 for 2024 are open now at 30under30.im.