“I reallywantedtobe
partofthebusiness,tobe
a managerintraining,so
I spenta coupleofyears
workingunderdifferent
managersandmanageda
rangeofMichaelHillstores,”
saysEmma.
ShethenattendedBond
UniversityinAustraliato
achieveherMBA,and
graduatedwithdistinction,
atthetopofheryear.Emma
workedinadvertisingin
Sydneytogetinsightinto
otherorganisations.“I loved
beinginSydney,inmylate
20s,butI reallymissedthe
business.SoI camebackand
helpedevaluatewherewe
shouldexpandtonext.”
Canadahada similar
population,sizeandculture
toAustralia,soEmmamoved
toVancouver,openingtheir
firstCanadianstorein
October2002.
“I wasusedtothebigger
openingsbackhome,where
peoplewouldsleepoutsideto
befirstinstore,”recallsEmma.
“WhenwelaunchedinCanada,
wedidn’tmakeourfirstsale
until 11 o’clock.I called
Michaelthatnightandhesaid,
‘Persevere,youwillgetit right.’
“OneofDad’sgreatskills
is seeingthebigpictureand
notgettingcaughtinthe
detail– thatcanderailyou.
Seeingthingsasif youare
ina helicopterlookingdown
- keepingperspective.It’s
aboutnevergivingupand
havinganincrediblypositive
attitudethat things can
be done.”
Michaeldispelsany
suggestionofnepotism,
saying,“EmmahastheHill
tenacity,driveandspirit.She’s
extraordinarilyorganised,leans
intochallengesandgetsthings
done.I don’tknowanyone
moredeterminedandfocused
thanher.ChristineandI feel
incrediblyfortunatesheshares
our love of the business.”Emma,now47,moved
hometoraiseherkids,and
juggledmotherhoodanda
successfulglobe-trotting
career.
“I wasa singlemumfor
a longtime,”tellsEmma.
“I takemyhatofftosingle
workingmums– youare
continuallyensuringthe
kids’ wellbeing, plus beingtheproviderandturning
uptoworkeveryday.
“I amfortunateI have
homehelpwhenI haveto
beaway.I’mluckytobeliving
withMumandDadcloseby- thatmakesmefeelbetter
aboutleavingthekids,
knowingtheyarewiththe
family.AndI’mluckyI have
a supportivepartner,Pete,
whohelpsoutenormously.”
Mum’slove
EmmasaysChristineis also
a hugesupportandmentor
toher.“Mumhasincredible
commonsense.Sheis ableto
cutthroughandseethingsat
theheartofwhattheissueis,
andseeit ina matter-of-fact
way.I callherforguidance
andI valueherperspective- it’squitedifferenttoDad’s.”
WhileEmmaandMichael
can’tstoptalkingshop,
evenatfamilygatherings,
theyalsosharea loveof
theoutdoors.
Ona recentfamilyholiday,
theybothwentpaddle-
boarding,andforherfather’s
80thbirthday,Emmabought
Michaela carbonfibre
mountainbike.Shelikesto
runtheperimeterofLake
Hayes where he kayaks the
OarsomeduoinFijithisyear.
Below:Thenatureloversin
Squamish, Canada, in 2003.OnthefarminCanada(fromleft)Emma,Mark,
Christine,Monika,babyOliverandMichaelin2002.
Above left: CarefreedaysinWhangarei,1973. Above
right: Emma aged six.24 Woman’s Day
Dadand
daughterwith
Christineand
pup Sneaker.