THRIVING WOMEN
TESTIMONIALS
Julie Doyle, Cocoon Business Solutions
Karen Andrea, Viva Life Pilates
Jaqui Clark, Allianz Australia
Fi Mims, Fi Mims Photography
Tracy Bell, Uni Super
Melitta Hardenberg, Seek.com
Kelli Brown, Petal Provedore
Thriving Women provides connection to diverse-minded business professionals to safely challenge perspective and expand possibility. Efficiencies gained through skill development in workshops grounds thinking to lean into one’s strengths with intent and reset amidst the bulging to-do list. This is a key benefit of Thriving Women and is at the heart of Emma’s mantra to ‘get shiz done’. Speaking of heart, this group leads with empathy and kindness to build resilience and demolish roadblocks.
In coaching with Emma you become the beneficiary of her knowledge and research in human and organisational behaviours, experience in corporate and start up business contexts, and access to her expansive network of thinkers. This is amplified by the individuals within Thriving Women and the collective insights lifts performance all ‘round. When we help each other out, we all do well and mostly exceed what we thought was initially possible.
Having the right people around you is critical and both a safety net and launching pad at the same time. Thriving Women create a space to be vulnerable and creative, to listen and be heard as well as the opportunity to ugly-cry and snort-laugh. In short, the confidence to step out and soar.
Olivia Giglia, Melba Opera Trust
I also had a sense of what it meant to be one of Emma’s Thriving Women, because I had planned to be an inaugural 2019 member and so I was privy to the FB group discussions for some of 2019.
This meant I had a sense of the fantastic women in the group, and some of the ‘magic’ that happened within it.
I had also been lucky enough to have met a few of the 2019 cohort during the year and heard what they had to say were the benefits of being in the group.
That does not mean I wasn’t nervous though when I walked in on my own to the first TW dinner in February (you remember, when we used to be able to go out for meals. Gasp, shock, horror).
The first night passed in a bit of a blur and I was a little overwhelmed. Truthfully, up until the retreat later in February, I started to wonder if I was ‘good’ enough to be part of this impressive group.
During the retreat I started to get to know people, and started to feel the magic of the tribe. I stopped worrying about if I was good enough and started thinking instead how I could serve the group.
Every week since the retreat I am pretty sure that in our ‘grateful Friday’ FB discussions, I always mention how bloomin grateful I am to be part of the ‘my tribe’ as I like to call them.
For there really is a special kind of magic in being a Thriving Women. Absolutely it is largely due to Emma, for having created the group in the first place and all the tremendously hard and continual work she puts into the group. Making sure we are all ok, checking in on us, frequent ‘surprise and delights’. As well as challenging us and holding us to account. She is the voice in my head that continually pushes me through expressions like ‘progress over perfection’ and how important it is to ‘keep turning up’.
As a Thriving Woman, it is kind of like experiencing Emma on steroids (although she doesn’t need any of the ‘roids, cause she is already a powerhouse on her own!) What I mean by that is, now it isn’t just Emma acting as my cheerleader, pushing and encouraging me in equal measures.
Now I have a bunch of them to do that! The group is a safe space to be the authentic me – if it’s a crappy day, I know I can whine about it to the FB group and I won’t be judged. There will probably be some pouty mouthed or slightly risque humour thrown my way instead – thank god. Or at the very least, I will be shown love and care.
When I want to test out new ideas for my business, the TW are happy to put their hands up to be guinea pigs. Above all else, I know they want me to succeed. And I absolutely feel the same way about them.
I’ve made friends through the group as well, and I am pretty confident the friendships will outlive membership of the group. Every day I hear myself saying to my family “one of my Thriving Woman X….”.
Thank god for this group and our Zoom accountability calls; Friday drinks; remote co-working and workshops during covid (not to mention the spin off groups I am part of such as Holly Cardomone’s Band of Batches). I seriously doubt how I would have made it through ISO lockdowns 1 and 2 without these connections.
A group of women supporting each other is a powerful thing. A group of awesome women who care about each other, as well as cheer each other on in all ways, is friggin awesome.
That my friends is Emma McQueen’s gift of the creation of Thriving Women. As best as I can describe it.
Alison Drew-Foster, Workology Co
There is no need to go it alone. Want connection, coaching and inspiration? Thriving Women is for you.