Emma Stephens on what drives her

How did you become a broker?

“I was on maternity leave when my ex-husband and I decided to divorce. I had two young kids. It was a life-changing event. I set out to build a community of incredible women around me. That really helped me believe in myself and realise that I could go out and build my own business.

“I knew I really wanted to help other women build their financial wellbeing, so when Smartline recruiters reached out to me, the timing was right, and I was really impressed by the culture.”

What have you been up to lately?

“I just hosted a property event in collaboration with the Ladies Finance Club for women in tech called ‘How to get on the property ladder’. Attendees included employees from Google and Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. I talked about how they can get home loan ready and how to get organised for pre-approval. It was the first in-person event we’d hosted in a long time and it was an honour to be in a room filled with intelligent women who are excited to take the next step towards financial security. ”

It sounds like you already had your ‘why’ before you even started your business. How do you think that informs your day-to-day operations ?

“Without a doubt I have a strong female customer base and often my new business is generated from female clients who tell their friends about their experience with me.

“I’ve lived in Noosa about 16 years, so I have a strong network of people who know me from my time at Commonwealth Bank. I tend to attract the complicated clients – I don’t know why but I think I've built a reputation for it. While it can be frustrating to work on these more complex loans, it’s also so rewarding to deliver a great outcome for those customers.”

“While on maternity leave, I was invited to a CBA Women in Focus conference, and a client of mine was standing up on stage in front of hundreds of really inspiring women who are entrepreneurs and executives.  

“I have worked with Nicole Hatherly, a brand strategist and executive coach who has helped me make the right connections, and supported me with things like brand coaching and preparing for presentations .

“I don’t like shopping; but spending money on my own personal development has been so worthwhile. I wouldn’t have made the connections I've made today without the investment in myself.”