BACK when she was flipping burgers in McDonald’s aged 16, it was hard for Emma O’Brien to imagine a different kind of life.
But three decades on, this savyy mum of three, is now the boss of a tech start-up which turned over £9million in 2022.
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The 46-year-old has overcome a string of hurdles, including more than one redundancy and the loss of her father, to become a successful entrepreneur.
After working her way up the ranks in the corporate world in her 20s and 30s, Emma set up her own digital transformation agency in 2009.
Just 32 at the time, she’s not looked back since.
Coming from a working-class background, Emma couldn’t afford university. She also failed to successfully complete her A-levels.
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Growing up in south-east London, with her mum, dad, younger sister and brother, the family had very little money.
“I had small jobs from a young age, including a newspaper round and car-washing gigs,” she said.
“But I was very happy to start at McDonald’s aged 16.” At the time, she was earning around £3 an hour.
“Initially, I only worked there part-time while I tried to sit my A-levels,” said Emma.
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“But things got tricky, as I moved out of home before starting sixth form at my Grammar School. I started prioritising extra shifts instead of being fully committed to my education.”
As a result, Emma was called in at the end of the first term.
She said: “It was suggested to me that, based on my attendance, I wasn’t going to do well – and that I should leave.”
These words had a huge impact.
“Up until then, I’d wanted to be a primary school teacher,” said Emma. “But I was going to need A-levels and a degree to do that.
Emma attempted to pursue her studies at another school but ended up with U and N grades after getting “distracted by the fun things” she admits.
She turned down the opportunity to re-sit, as she was also unable to take on the cost of getting a degree, instead increasing her hours at the fast food chain.
Emma then moved on to 9-5 shifts in a carpet warehouse, while also pulling pints at a local bar in the evening, but got sacked at the end of her probation, instead of getting an expected pay rise from £10,000 to £15,000 a year.
“I spent my whole life working,” said Emma. “My confidence got really knocked”
From job blow to career springboard
More determined than ever, Emma started applying for jobs in central London, landing an office junior role at a small media company on Gray’s Inn Road.
“This was where I really started to learn and get experience,” she said.
“I was keen and willing, and ended up doing anything and everything. I took a particular interest in book-keeping.”
Another blow came when she was made redundant after just a few months.
But Emma credits this as the springboard she needed to land a “real” job.
This was a position at a construction consultancy and project management firm, then called EC Harris.
“I was 19 at the time,” said Emma. “And I managed to get them to employ me as a ‘purchase ledger clerk.’”
This was to be the start of a 12-year stint in a high-flying career at the professional services company, which grew from around 500 people to a workforce of closer to 3,500.
Just weeks into the job though, tragedy struck when her father died from cancer.
“As hard as it was, this was also something which ended up really motivating me,” she said.
“I wanted to be able to help my family. I also wanted to do a good job to make dad proud.”
Emma put herself forward for every role in the finance department.
“There was a time when I thought my specialism was going to be accountancy,” she said. “I also went on an intensive payroll course.”
Emma enjoyed both, but found her real love was in the tech side of things, and specifically, in digital transformation.
“I threw myself into learning everything I could about complex tech systems,” said the self-confessed workaholic.
“My career progressed quite rapidly as I was given more roles and responsibilities.”
Over time, this led to her rising to a senior position as ‘Global Management Information manager,’ reporting into the chief financial officer (CFO).
From high-flyer to entrepreneur
While the birth of her first child in 2006, Bonnie now 17 did not seem to hold her back, things changed with the arrival of her second, in 2009, Daniel now 14.
“I was made redundant just as I was about to return from maternity leave,” said Emma.
“This was really tough, but was also quite a pivotal moment as it gave me the opportunity to re-think things. I came to realise I’d kind of got as far as I could go working for a big firm in that world.”
At the same time, with two young children, Emma needed a salary – plus she really enjoyed working.
It was at this crossroads back in 2009, that Embridge Consulting was born.
“Realising that working mothers can’t apply for part-time senior tech positions in the corporate world prompted me to see if I could set something up myself,” said the entrepreneur.
“I wanted to create a company that would allow me – and other women – to balance work and motherhood.”
Emma is now the boss of her own business, a digital transformation agency, which has been trading for around 14 years.
In that time, not only has she worked with the likes of BT Global Services and the Terrence Higgins Trust, she has also had a third child, Leo, now 10.
Emma added: “In 2014, I became CEO and my focus turned to growing the business.
“Right now, the firm is on track to achieve a £24million turnover in the next three years, having achieved several high-profile contracts, including working with Surrey County Council and Islamic Relief Worldwide.”
The busy working mum also has a host of accolades to her name including the ‘LDC Rising Star Award’ which she received in 2022 for her grit and determination.
“I’m not afraid to admit we don’t always have great years,” she said. “But we learn as we grow.”
One of the focuses for Emma is on proving there is “a better way to do business.”
“We want to support people to get a work-life balance,” she said. “We are not afraid to do things differently.”
Emma is a long way from flipping burgers all those years ago now.
“Growing up with little money was a real incentive to work hard and build something different,” she said.
“My children’s lives are so far removed from the childhood I had. We have a lovely big home and can buy things we want.
“That said, I still view myself as grounded. Having money doesn’t change who I am, and I’m not extravagant with my spending.”
Emma’s top secrets to success
For anyone keen to start their own business, Emma’s biggest tip is being prepared to work hard.
“You need to be willing to put yourself out of your comfort zone,” she said.
“That’s something I still do now with things like public speaking – things I know I need to do in order to progress.”
She also recommends being positive.
“Remain open-minded and of the belief that anything is possible,” she said. “Life is what you make of it.”
Her third tip is to seize any opportunity which presents itself.
“You never know what skills you might learn from something like unpaid work experience,” she said.
“You also don’t know who you might meet.”
Her final piece of advice is not to give up. “Life will throw you curveballs,” she said.
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“For me, these were the death of my dad, and then my mum – and then having to support a disabled child with complex needs.
“You just have to ask yourself: ‘what can I do to carry on?’ – and then strive to work through the things life throws at you.”
