We’ve got some exciting news to share. Susan Toft, our Founder and CEO, has been named the winner of the 2026 Women in Leadership Award at the CEO Magazine Women in Leadership Awards, presented by Commonwealth Bank.
It’s a huge honour, and one that recognises not just Susan’s journey but the growth of The Laundry Lady as a whole, including right here in New Zealand.
From Spare Room to Global Business
Susan started The Laundry Lady back in 2012, working out of her own spare room in Queensland, Australia. Like a lot of busy parents, she found herself buried under a mountain of washing and figured there had to be a better way. So she picked up her laptop, found a handful of local helpers, and started matching them with families who needed a hand.
Fast forward to today, and that idea has grown into a technology-enabled marketplace supporting more than 550 independent Laundry Partners across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK.
The award judges recognised Susan for combining strong business growth with real social impact. That’s something we’re proud of too. Every laundry pickup booked through our platform supports a Laundry Partner, many of whom are women looking for flexible work that fits around their family life.
The Laundry Lady in New Zealand
The Laundry Lady launched in New Zealand in 2023, bringing the same award-winning wash, dry and fold service that had already built a strong following in Australia. Since then, our network of local Laundry Partners has grown steadily across the country, helping busy households and businesses get their washing sorted without the hassle.
Whether you’re in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or a smaller town nearby, chances are there’s a Laundry Partner ready to pick up, wash, and deliver your laundry back to your door.
Why This Award Matters
Awards are nice to receive, but this one means something a bit deeper. It’s a recognition of the model Susan built from scratch: a business that helps busy households and businesses get their time back, while also creating genuine, flexible income opportunities for our network of Laundry Partners.
It also sits alongside a growing list of recognition for The Laundry Lady, including wins at the Smart50 Awards and a standout pitch at SXSW Sydney. Each of these moments reflects the same thing: a laundry service built around real people, real flexibility, and real results.
What This Means for Our Customers
You might be wondering what an award like this actually means for you as a customer. Simply put, it’s proof that the service you rely on is backed by genuine leadership and a business that’s built to last.
Whether you’re booking a one-off wash dry and fold or a regular weekly pickup, you’re supporting a platform that’s been recognised for doing things the right way. Behind every booking is a founder who set out to solve a very ordinary problem (an overflowing laundry basket) and turned it into something that now helps thousands of households and hundreds of small business owners across four countries.
Congratulations, Susan
From everyone at The Laundry Lady head office to every Laundry Partner across New Zealand, congratulations to Susan on this well-deserved recognition. It’s a proud moment for our whole community, and a reminder of why we do what we do: giving people their time back, one laundry basket at a time.
If you haven’t tried our laundry service yet, now’s a great time to see what all the fuss is about. Book a pickup with your local Laundry Partner today and let us take laundry off your plate.
