An Absolute busIness mum MamaMag were thrilled to be the Diamond sponsor of this year’s AusMumpreneur Awards in Victoria. There were so many fantastic entries from amazing mums across the state who are doing fabulous things in business. This year’s top gong, The VIC AusMumpreneur of the Year Award, went to Oakleigh mum Elle Likopoulos from Absolute Business Brokers and The Mumpreneurs Club!
You’re obviously a mum! Tell us about yourself and your family. I am a mother of four kids under 10 (two of which are 20 month old twins). My husband and I were high school sweethearts so despite being only 21 when we married, we had been together a long time. Despite always knowing we would end up married, we didn’t quite plan to tie the knot so early! In early 2009 I went to the GP complaining of stomach cramping, I had suffered from stomach aches and bloating for a few years but every doctor concluded that it was IBS or constipation and never thought too much of it. This particular day the GP was concerned the pain may be my appendix and before I knew if I was taken to the local hospital to have it removed in fear of a burst. When I woke up from that surgery, my life would change forever. A very long story short- I had ovarian borderline tumours engulfing both ovaries. I spent over a month in hospital and had very painful abdominal surgery that left me unable to walk for weeks. It was in my hospital room that my Oncologist advised he was able to safely remove the tumours from one of my ovaries to give me a chance at IVF. He couldn’t save both, but he was able to keep a sliver of one and retain all the other components in my body to allow me the chance to carry children. At the time I was in shock and survival mode and I remember I kept telling my devastated family that I didn’t mind if I couldn’t have kids of my own. I wanted to say and do anything to keep them from being upset, it was the only thing I felt in control of during that time. Despite trying to convince everyone around me that I was strong and resilient, I distinctly 36
remember my walk around the ward and passing the maternity wing which was on the same floor. I remember slowly walking past the babies as I held my drip rod in one hand and telling myself not to allow the emotions and fear to flood my mind. I made a promise to myself from that day that I would never feel sorry for myself and I would be back one day in that very ward holding my baby. My husband proposed to me a few weeks after I was released from hospital and we were married July of that year. By October I was pregnant with my son and the very next year I proudly walked around that same ward and to my old room in the Oncology unit holding him. That was a moment in my life where I realised the power within myself to create my own destiny. I’m very lucky to have the family I have today and never once take it for granted. It was this chapter in my life where I realised how short life could be and it made me determined to take every opportunity to live it with no regrets. As a young mum, I was adamant that I wouldn’t pick between my professional goals and my kids and I would try my best to do it all.
Tell us about your business. I run Absolute Business Brokers which is a family business. I also host a podcast called The Mumpreneurs Club which is designed for career women with children and I’ve also recently launched a not for profit support group for mumpreneurs navigating the Covid market and lockdown. My role in Absolute Business Brokers is to motivate a male oriented group of agents to sell, manage the administration staff, handle legal matters and steer the direction of the brand. I’m also the highest earning sales agent in my firm and the first business broker to be invited by the Chinese government to speak in China to visa buyers.
