Emma Brown is an entrepreneur obsessed with taking something good and turning it into something spectacular, as she did with her first business, a recruitment company called Staff it, and her current passion – Business Chicks, a philanthropic networking organisation for businesswomen.
Briefly tell us about your business and how you got started.
I was invited to a networking breakfast early last year. It was called Business Chicks and it was run by the children’s charity, Kids Help Line. I could not believe this event! I walked in and it was like no other networking event I had attended. The energy in the room was beautiful and you could tell that amongst the 500 or so businesswomen in attendance, there was a commonality of people wanting to achieve and learn, and wanting to give back. Perfect! At the time of my first Business Chicks breakfast, I was running my recruitment business, Staff it. After the event I raced back to the office and booked tables for the next breakfast and become a member of Business Chicks. The three months before the next event rolled around quickly, and on that morning the Marketing Director for Kids Help Line announced that they wouldnt be running the Business Chicks series any longer. I knew it was my destiny to step in and help them out. So, after much negotiation and discussion, they chose me to partner with them. I now produce events, such as networking breakfasts, cocktail evenings, speed networking functions, gala balls for Kids Help Line, and run the group Business Chicks.
What have been your major achievements?
I adore business. I am passionate about creating and building businesses that make a difference. It’s all I think of when I wake, and it’s the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep.
I bought into my first business (Staff it) at the age of 18, ran that company as its Managing Director for eight years, sold my shares after that time, and bought Business Chicks. Im now 26 and it’s my plan to buy and sell many more businesses in the future. Ive only ever really been an employee once (when I was 14) and I dont plan on ever being one again.
It’s hard to name achievements when youre an entrepreneur. I just go about what I do and look for the next big goal.
I suppose buying my first property and business at age 18 was big; selling my first business presented huge learning for me; buying Business Chicks was a dream come true (it’s a marriage of entrepreneurship and philanthropy – my two passions); winning the award for three consecutive years as Australia’s Favourite Recruiter in the SEEK Awards; leading Staff it to win Small Business of the Year in 2005 in the Westpac Business Awards; my board work with Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) also fulfils and challenges me.
Hands down though, my greatest achievement is my relationship with the love of my life, Rowan. He is the male equivalent of me which poses many challenges (Im hard work!), and offers endless opportunity for learning and self-discovery.
What have been your major challenges?
Learning to say no is my major challenge. Im a very generous person and a self-confessed, serial over committer. I hate to admit when I cant do something for someone else. It’s my nature to try to help everyone, often to the detriment of myself.
Who has been your greatest mentor?
Muhammad Yunus and Anita Roddick come to mind for their social entrepreneurship. Bill Gates and Richard Branson are my heroes. Locally, it’s my partner, my EO buddies and my parents.
Spiritually, it’s Gregory David Roberts (author of Shantaram) who Ive met and come to know through my Business Chicks journey. What a man.
How do you stand out from your competitors?
I dont really believe there’s pure competition in the space Im in. There’s an abundance of everything available to us all, and I think if you come from that place, everyone wins.
Having said that, our product is unique in that it combines business and fun; networking and sisterhood; achievement and celebration; and it presents massive value for our stakeholders – our charity and our Business Chicks.
Quality and value underpins everything we do, and I am passionately obsessed with continuous enhancement and development for the group.
Where would you like to see your business in five years from now?
Business Chicks will be Australia’s premier club for businesswomen, providing once in a lifetime opportunities to access knowledge, education, sharing, fun, and experiences. Well be connecting people all around the world through our events and forums, and raising a lot of money to support Kids Help Line.
What are your Top Five Strategies for Success?
- In the words of Jim Rohn, readers are leaders. I read anything I can get my hands on. My library is full of business books and biographies of successful people. I rarely read a novel – my idea of a relaxing read is a personal development book, or reading over my old journals (I write in one every day, and have done so for years) – it reaffirms how far I have come, and what Ive learned along my journey.
- Only do what youre good at. Forget doing stuff that you have no innate talent for. Find people who can do that which you struggle with, and concentrate on your strengths. Trying to fix weaknesses is fruitless.
- Before every action, project, or activity that you take on ask yourself: Who has done this before? We spend so much time trying to be clever, and re-invent the wheel. It’s unnecessary and futile. Dont be scared to ask for help. It took me many years to learn this.
- Get a support crew. I have so much support around me, and have created it that way. In return, I form part of the support crew for many people. I have an assistant who manages my life personally, and I have help around my home. I have support in my business with very astute and talented people, and have support from my beautiful partner Rowan. My parents support my endeavours, as do my siblings. Never underestimate the power of having people around you.
- Inertia is one of the greatest saboteurs of success. As women, we often think too much. Try not to think about getting it perfect or knowing exactly where youre going (all will be revealed!), just get into action.
