10 Questions With Emma Willman

1. Tell us what you do in 10 words or fewer

I help women unlock identity, style and success though alignment.

?2. How did you go about starting your business?

After completing my certification with the Academy of Professional Image, I literally came home and registered my trading name and set up shop in my home office. My first clients were friends and family and then I started doing free workshops in the community and at schools.

?3. What services offered by the City of Logan were you able to utilise to build your business?

Along the way, I benefited from getting advice from the Small Business officer in the Logan City Council Economic Development and Strategy Branch. I also attended numerous events at both Innov8 Logan and Hive Central (the co-working spaces for small business owners).

?4. What's the best thing about working in Logan?

?The beauty of working in Logan is the lack of keeping up appearances and pretence. Logan is a diverse and colourful community and there is great freedom to be exactly who you are and run your business exactly the way that suits you and your lifestyle. And the lack of traffic of course!

?5. What has been the biggest challenge starting your own business?

?When I first started out, I wasn’t connected with my professional association or any networking groups and I felt very isolated as a soloprenuer. Over the years I have built my network and now, despite being mostly online, I feel incredibly connected.?

?6. To what do you attribute your success?

?Years ago I might have said my analytical mind, my quick wit or my technical skills but after 8 years in business, I can only really attribute my success to my willingness to trust my own inner guidance and challenge the status quo in my industry in service of my clients. Without this innovation, my business would not have survived the competitive online marketplace created by covid.

?7. What 3 bits of advice would you give someone looking to leave the corporate world to start their own business??

• Get really clear on the people and the problem you are passionate about solving but don’t be committed to the how. Do market research. Speak to your dream clients. The more you know about their needs, the more you can tailor your business to serving them.?
• You don’t have to start big. If you can run a relatively lean operation to begin with you can keep your expenses down whilst you cut your teeth and build your business presence. If you start right, you will gain organic reach through referrals and word of mouth.?
• Get a good mentor or coach as soon as possible. Having someone who has navigated the transition before is worth its weight in gold and will save you money in the long run.?

8. What's the best advice you've ever received??

You first. Relationships second. Business third. If you don’t invest in your own wellbeing and that of your family, your business will suffer anyway.

9. What gets you through your day?

I am incredibly intrinsically motivated. I have a picture in my mind of the the change I want to create in the world. Every day the steps I take are towards the end goal of seeing women more empowered, more expressed and taking up more space. I believe we need women in every room where decisions are being made.

10. What's next for you?

I have launched my 6 month immersion program Woman of Influence for female leaders and founders so I want to give that my full attention. I am also keen to start a podcast later this year. I have met so many talented, likeminded women and I want to spotlight the collective wisdom we have in this space!?