“Nothing compares to the feeling I get from walking on stage and seeing my three girls watching in awe from the audience,” says FIFO mum Emma Williams.
“Empowering them to be the best versions of themselves is what drives me to be better.”
Emma is the founder of Mandurah-based business SociallyEm, which has just been named as a finalist for the 2020 AusMumpreneur Awards.
The mum of three young children runs her business entirely from home, juggling 25,000 clients worldwide, while her husband works a demanding FIFO schedule.
Launched last year, SociallyEm is on track to become a million-dollar business this year, providing a social media and digital marketing service.
As a business owner with experience starting three successful businesses (two have since been sold), Emma wanted to use the skills she learned along the way to encourage other women to follow their dreams, no matter what obstacles they face or what background they come from.
Emma herself survived an abusive childhood, became a mum at a young age, and moved to a new town for her husband’s job. She says her business became her sense of belonging where she found and connected with other mums.
Emma says there are many benefits to balancing business and motherhood.
“As a mum to three young girls, I want to show my daughters what is possible with hard work and dedication, and how important it is to support, encourage, and collaborate with other women,” she said.
It can be challenging to be a successful businesswoman while raising a family and Emma gives this advice: “Lower your expectations; not just of yourself, but of your business’s growth and profitability. Striving for perfection from the outset is not only unrealistic, but it also puts unnecessary pressure on you and any staff you may have, which could cause you to fail or quit when you’ve barely started.”
Emma’s vision for SociallyEm is that it would become a hub for women supporting women, not just in business but in their everyday lives as mums, wives, sisters, and friends.
Her business has emerged from COVID-19 intact, not just surviving but thriving, she says.
Just before the pandemic, the inaugural SociallyEm National Tour sold out in four cities, generating revenue of $110,000 and had an audience of 850 women. Then in May, in the middle of the pandemic, the business launched its first online course, The Six Figure Instagram System, which sold out within two hours ($90,000 revenue).
Winners of the AusMumpreneur will be announced at an online event in September.