Working with family isn't for everyone, but it's been one of the best decisions I've made for my business (and my personal life). I recently jumped on a call with my sister, Serena, to chat about what it’s like behind the scenes at Emma McQueen Ptd Ltd —the perks, the challenges and the crazy in between.

Initially, Serena was hesitant to join me. She worried that working together might mess with our personal relationship, especially if things got rocky professionally. Fair concern, really. But once she stepped in, she never looked back—and neither would I want her to. She’s the yin to my yang. 

For anyone considering working with family, traditional performance metrics and rigid boundaries might not apply—and that's perfectly fine. As long as you communicate effectively and understand each other's strengths and areas for improvement, you can create something that works for both professional success and personal satisfaction.

I'm incredibly grateful to have Serena by my side, not just as my sister but as a valued and irreplaceable team member. This dynamic isn't for everyone, but for us, it works like a dream. 

Have you worked with family? What's your experience been like? Whether you're considering it or already doing it, I'd love to hear your stories—they might just help someone else navigate their own family business journey.

Emma McQueen:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

YouTube Channel

Hands up if you have time in your diary to do business development. If you do, excellent! But everyone I speak to does not. It always drops to the bottom of the priority list, and here's what I've noticed: people think they're doing business development when they're writing content—they're not. You're creating content, posting regularly, but the sales aren't following. The good news? There's a way to cut through the noise and get straight to what actually works.

It's called the Business Development Sprint, and let me tell you, it works. We've run it live several times with participants collectively making over $530,000 in just 10 days—in a market where people are saying "it's hard to sell"! In this episode, I'm walking you through the crucial first two days that can change everything. You'll discover why marketing isn't sales, how to carve out that crucial hour daily for actual relationship building, and the simple paper-and-pen exercise that maps your client journey from cold to sold.

I share my exact nurturing sequence and why your client journey needs 10-13 touchpoints before clients buy from you. We're not talking automation here—we're talking systematising in a way that keeps interactions human and thoughtful. These first two days are about shifting how you think about sales and creating a foundation for real growth that aligns with who you are.

LINKS

BD Sprint

Thriving Women 2026 Signup

Emma McQueen:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

YouTube Channel

Referrals have been the secret ingredient in my business for years, and they're one of the easiest ways to get new clients. If you've ever wondered how some businesses always seem to have a steady stream of new clients whilst others are left scrambling, it's rarely about having the flashiest website or biggest ad spend—the real magic happens through word-of-mouth. According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family more than any other advertising method.

In this episode, I share how I keep referrals flowing year after year by building real relationships rather than just collecting business cards. You'll discover why consistency is everything when it comes to being referable, the importance of going the extra mile with handwritten thank-you notes and follow-up calls, and why you shouldn't be shy about actually asking for referrals when you've done great work.

I break down my complete 8-step referrals strategy that I've refined over the years, covering everything from identifying your key referrers and setting up tracking systems to creating personalised touchpoint plans and building a community of advocates. This isn't about hoping referrals happen by accident—it's about creating an intentional, systematic approach to nurturing the relationships that will make your business flourish!

Emma McQueen:

Thriving Women 2026 Signup

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

Our recent trip to New York was a meticulously planned gritty, beautiful and amazing whirlwind. My daughter Evie had her heart set on one particular treasure: a Jellycat unicorn from FAO Schwarz. If you have an 11 year old, you'll understand the obsession with these adorable, fluffy toys.

So we get to FAO Schwarz and it was packed. No unicorn in sight. Evie was disappointed and she settled for an avocado Jellycat instead. But let’s face it, she really wanted that unicorn.

24 hours later, two girls walked past holding the exact unicorn Evie wanted. Her eyes lit up. Her dream was still alive! 

We all get disappointed in business don’t we?   It's not what we do with that disappointment, it's how we bounce back.

In sales,  you don't always get to the yes straight away. Sometimes you get silence, sometimes you get a hard no. But with curiosity, with better questions, with persistence, with follow-up, things can shift.  Sometimes really really quickly.

So if you're lacking a few unicorns lately—whether in sales or broader business objectives—maybe it’s time to regroup. Gather your team, get curious and keep your sights set on that goal. You never know what can happen in 24 hours.

What's your unicorn? And more importantly, what's your plan to get it?

Emma McQueen:

Thriving Women 2026 Waitlist

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women

One of my clients was staring at a blank sales sheet on 20th July with zero sales for the month. Eleven days later, she had $14,000 in the bank. This isn't some magical funnel story or complicated sales system—it's what happens when you stop overthinking and start doing the work. In this episode, I share the exact step-by-step process we used to turn 40 cold Facebook leads into real revenue.

You'll hear about our small group coaching approach within the Thriving Women community that's been delivering incredible results—over 30% of our members had their best months and years in July, with one client billing $82,000 and another tripling her revenue month-on-month. I break down the five-step strategy we implemented to get these amazing results.

The real transformation wasn't just the $14,000 in sales—it was watching this remarkable mum go from dreading sales calls to actually enjoying them. This episode proves that sales isn't about complex funnels or overwhelming strategies; it's about genuine human connections, clarity and consistent action. If you're sitting on cold leads or feeling stuck with your sales, this is your roadmap to stop overthinking and start converting.

Emma McQueen:

Thriving Women 2026 Waitlist

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women

Here's my dirty little secret: after five years of podcasting, I still get sweaty palms before hitting record. Every. Single. Time. In this episode, I'm joined by Brianna Ansaldo from Bamby Media, who has been gently pushing me toward sharing more of myself and my personal stories—away from the safe harbour of interviewing guests and into the terrifying waters of actually talking about me, my life and my mistakes.

You'll discover why those supposedly "inappropriate" or "unprofessional" parts of our stories are actually gold, creating those "oh my god, me too" moments that build real connection. We discuss the crucial difference between sharing your story and trauma-dumping on the internet, emphasising the importance of sharing from a healed place rather than the raw, bleeding edge of whatever you're going through right now.

I share what happened when I started getting more human in my content and why vulnerability enhanced rather than hurt my credibility. In a world where AI can generate decent business advice in seconds, your messy, beautifully human stories are your competitive advantage that no algorithm can replicate.

Connect with Brianna:

Website: https://www.bambymedia.com/ 

Instagram: @bamby_media 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn6XPp0MVgHZMndAh-25_Qw 

Emma McQueen:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women

As we glide into the second half of 2025, I've been taking this mid year mark as an opportunity to go back through some of my most popular episodes from last year... This one was too good not to share again.

It's as relevant today as it was when I first released it. Enjoy!

------

I am a raging introvert. Yes, I love getting out running business events, meeting new people and being around other humans, but I also need a lot of downtime afterwards.

As an introvert, I need a lot of space on my own so that I can recharge.

When you run your own business, networking and building relationships is one of the key activities that you need to give attention to. But if you’re an introvert, that’s often not something you feel particularly enthusiastic about doing. 

So how do you reach out to other business people as an introvert?

I have a few key strategies that have helped me build valuable relationships as an introvert, and my hope is that they help you too.

LINKS:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women

As we glide into the second half of 2025, I've been taking this mid year mark as an opportunity to go back through some of my most popular episodes from last year... This one was too good not to share again.

It's as relevant today as it was when I first released it. Enjoy!

If you had to choose between in-person or virtual offering, what would be your preference?

You might be sitting there thinking, well hang on there are pros and cons to both of them. I want to show up in my pj bottoms and a top knot which is great for virtual, but in-person that may be frowned upon. In-person is a lot more effort.

But maybe in-person is better because we feel more connected to the other humans in the room, and we can achieve more results.

You’re probably now more confused and for that, I’m not apologising. It’s a long-standing debate and one I’m eager to tackle for you. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each approach for your business, and see where it leads.

LINKS:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women

I have a confession that might shock you: I am not a romantic. In fact, I might just be the worst romantic you'll ever meet—just ask my husband Mark, whose first ever birthday gift from me was a mop (yikes!). But this seeming shortfall in romance has actually emerged as a distinct advantage in business, and I'm here to explain exactly how my extremely practical nature has become one of my biggest strengths.

In this episode, I share how practicality drives everything from building intentional communities at our Go-Getter Days and Thriving Women dinners to obsessing over sales numbers and tracking every detail that keeps the business moving forward. You'll discover how I've turned ideas into tangible intellectual property assets like masterclasses, books and guides that genuinely help women in business, and why measuring what matters beats playing guessing games every single time.

We’ll also explore the balance between practicality and intuition - that connection between head, heart and gut needed to ensure we’re making the right decisions. If you've ever felt like you're too practical for this romantic world, this episode is your permission slip to embrace that strength and discover how it can become your secret business weapon.

Emma McQueen:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women

Growing up with a mum who battled bipolar disorder taught me one crucial lesson early: I had to rely on myself. While other kids were playing, I was managing daily routines, providing emotional support and stepping into the role of the responsible adult. 

While still in highschool I had moved out of home and got a distress call from my mum. She was married to a man who was no good and I knew I had to act. I drove over there, packed her bags and took her to a safe house to escape domestic violence. Terrifying? Absolutely. But even at that young age, I realised that if I didn't take charge, no one else would. 

Years later, this lesson was cemented into my professional life as well. Despite being repeatedly told by an old boss that I was terrible at sales (gee, thanks) I realised I needed to re-write that narrative. If I was starting my own business, I couldn’t afford to believe that I was terrible at sales. It was up to me to make it happen.

Having a community is amazing and it’s great to have support, but at the end of the day, you need to do the work. You’ve gone into business to create freedom, choice and generate revenue - so go out and make it happen.

Emma McQueen:

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://emmamcqueen.com.au/want-more/emmas-book/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thriving Women Waitlist

Join The Waitlit for Thriving Business

Thriving Women