As a new judge to the 40 Under 40 panel, Lindsay says applicants to any business award should take their cues from writing a successful business case.

Besides being well-written, concise and supported by facts, Lindsay says that passion needs to be reflected in any business application for it to stand out.

“Do not outsource the writing of the application to a ‘professional’,” Lindsay says.

“Write it yourself. Often when a professional writes it, the document looks too slick. It is better for it not to be perfect and for ‘you’ to be reflected in the document.”

This personalisation is important for the 40 Under 40 Awards because they recognise not only the personal determination and commercial drive of young leaders from diverse industries but also the philanthropic pursuits that balance these individuals’ professional achievements.

Lindsay says that although no one wants to give away their business secrets when proving their commercial drive, they can still articulate their vision without making their numbers too public.

“The focus should be around the quality of the opportunity,” says Lindsay, who is also Pro Vice Chancellor Entrepreneurship at the University of Adelaide.

“The numbers do not need to be disclosed as all these do is confirm the quality of the opportunity.”

Lindsay joins the 10 member judging panel for InDaily’s 40 Under 40 Awards this year and says he is excited to discover South Australia’s new crop of young business leaders.

“I am looking forward to gaining insights into the diverse range of exciting opportunities that are being developed in our great State of South Australia, and to gain an appreciation of the talented group of entrepreneurs and leaders driving these opportunities,” he says.

The Adelaide Business School is a sponsor of the 40 Under 40 Awards and Lindsay says the awards align with the school’s mission.

“The Adelaide Business School’s mission is to ‘assist existing and future leaders create, transform and lead sustainable innovative enterprises that contribute to the development of a better society’.

“Consistent with this mission, the Business School is delighted to be involved in celebrating the passion, vision and achievements of South Australia’s young entrepreneurs and business leaders.”

The Adelaide Business School is sponsoring the “Game Changer” award this year, one of the nine individual awards open to the final 40 winners.

“The notable economist, Joseph Schumpeter, once said that innovation involves ‘creative destruction’ where the current is replaced with the new,” Lindsay says.

“With this Game Changer Award, we are looking for an entrepreneurial leader who, through innovation, has overcome adversity and challenges through replacing the old with the new and this is underpinned by significant change.”

Applications are open for InDaily’s 40 Under 40 until April 1, with winners announced at a gala night on June 9 at Adelaide Oval.