Successful women to be honoured in Telstra Business Women’s Awards

SINCE buying networking community Business Chicks nine years ago, Emma Issacs has transformed it from 250 members to more than 35,000.

Pictured in her offices in Sydney CBD today is Emma Isaacs who runs Business Chicks. Picture: Tim Hunter.

EMMA Isaacs is one woman who knows what she wants — and she’s making it everyone’s business.

Having bought Business Chicks — a networking community for “like-minded souls” nine years ago — Ms Issacs has since transformed it from 250 members to more than 35,000.

And is about to go global with the 35-year-old next month launching her company into the lucrative US market with events planned in New York, Los Angeles and San Fran Cisco, as well as Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island..

She also has Asia and Europe in her sights.

Ms Isaacs said Business Chicks was about “unlocking the boldness in women and showing them they are capable of achieving”.

“It’s about telling the stories of successful women,” Ms Isaacs said.

“Women are always looking to be part of community, whether it’s church, a sporting group or within family. What we bring together are women and men from a whole range of industries and levels in their career.”

“Nothing will replace hard work. Competition gives you the strength of character to continue what you are doing.”

The company hosts hundreds of events nationally every year as well as running it’s own successful website.

All this in between raising four children aged between six and seven weeks with her husband.

Asked what piece of advice she would pass on her three daughters Milla, 6, Honey, three, Indie, 2, and baby son Ryder, Ms Isaacs said: “Hard work and resilience.”

“Nothing will replace hard work. Competition gives you the strength of character to continue what you are doing,” she said.

“I enjoy being in the business of creating and I enjoy my family. It’s not one or the other.”

Ms Isaacs was a finalist in last year’s Telstra Business Women’s Awards in Young Business Woman category.

The Sunday Telegraph is the official media partner for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.

Entries for the 2015 awards close on June 29.

For more information or to enter, go to womensawards.com.au or phone [phone].

Originally published as Successful women to be honoured in Telstra Business Women’s Awards