Ten years ago, Emilie Sobels founded Workmode, the premier platform for women with entrepreneurial ambitions. This included a recurring event, " The Self-Made Summit," a business school, and books that inspire and support women. With Workmode, she built a platform where women learn, grow, and connect.
In this interview, Emilie talks about the lessons she's learned, her experiences as an entrepreneur, and how she's shaped Workmode over the past ten years. After 10 years, she's now saying goodbye and ready for a new chapter.
What does "being bold" mean to you personally?
For me, being bold means daring to listen to what I already know deep down and acting on it. Even when it's uncomfortable. Even when it's nerve-racking. For me, it's less about being grand or loud and more about being honest with yourself and drawing conclusions.
When do you feel most powerful?
When my head and heart align. When I can build, create, and connect, but at my own pace and on my own terms. I feel powerful when I experience space, have a clear overview, and can make choices from a place of calm, instead of from a place of obligation.
How do you stay true to yourself in a world full of expectations?
It might feel selfish at times, but I believe you have to be selfish sometimes to stay true to yourself. I make choices based on what's right for me and my family, and I'm not so concerned with what others expect of me. By focusing on myself and my own journey, I stay true to who I am and, ultimately, more honest in my connections with others.
When did you first realize there was room for something like Workmode, and what made you decide: I'm just going to do this?
That was ten years ago, when I personally realized how great the need was for a place where women could work, grow, and empower each other. I missed that environment myself. At one point, I thought: if it doesn't exist, maybe I should create it myself. That idea stuck with me.
What was the absolute highlight for you in the years building Workmode?
Not just one moment, but seeing a community grow that truly supported each other. Women who came in with an idea and left with a business, confidence, or a new network. That feeling of building something together remains special.
What are the biggest lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur over the past 10 years?
That success isn't just about growth, but also about sustainability. That you can't keep neglecting yourself. And that relationships, trust, and clear communication are just as important as strategy and numbers.
The Self-Made Summit and The Business School bring ambitious women together to learn and grow. What motivates you to create these kinds of platforms, and what do you especially want women to take away?
I strongly believe in the power of recognition and sharing real stories. Not just the successes, but also the doubts. What I hope to teach women is that they are not alone and that their ambition can take up space, without diminishing themselves.
You've also written books. What lesson or advice from the book has personally resonated with you the most, or still helps you daily?
That you don't have to wait until you're "ready." Growth often happens along the way. This lesson is especially helpful in my current phase: I'm once again at a crossroads, letting go of something that has been with me for a long time, and I don't yet know exactly what the next chapter will hold. But I've learned that you don't need to have the answer beforehand. By keeping moving and trusting the process, direction often emerges naturally.
We saw that you recently sold Workmode. How did you come to that decision, and what made it the right time for you to let go?
It wasn't an impulsive decision, but a process. I'd been feeling for a while that my role was changing and that I needed space for a new phase, both professionally and personally. Letting go felt exciting, but also felt right.
Can you tell me something about the selling process? What was that period like for you? Did you find it nerve-wracking?
Yes, incredibly so. It was intense and emotional, because you're saying goodbye to something you've invested so much of yourself into. At the same time, it was also educational and enlightening. It forced me to honestly consider what I wanted to take with me into the future, and what I didn't.
Are you consciously pausing for a moment now, or are there already secret ideas bubbling up for something new?
Both. I'm consciously taking the time to settle, but ideas are always there. I'm mainly giving myself the space to feel what's truly right, instead of immediately going full throttle again.
I'm working fewer hours, but with so much more energy. I'm off the brakes, and the ideas keep flowing.
I'm still discovering my exact new role, but for now I notice that I'm at my best when I join companies as if I were their co-founder.
Not just advising, but genuinely collaborating, helping to build, and brainstorming about growth. Becoming part of their team and accelerating together. And it's no coincidence that all my clients are female entrepreneurs ;)
Who is a woman you admire for her courage – and why?
I admire women who dare to do things differently. Who go against the grain, persevere when things get tough, and then stand firm. Women who don't necessarily choose the easy or expected path, but chart their own course and, against all odds, achieve great things.
What advice would you give to women who dream of more but are unsure? Dream big, but know that great ideas always consist of a series of small, courageous choices. You don't have to see the whole picture right away. It's about starting, keeping moving, and trusting that the bigger picture will unfold along the way.
Sometimes being bold is in the little things. What's a small but courageous choice you've made recently?
Slowing down. Consciously taking time for things I didn't have time for before. It sounds small, but for me, it's been a major shift.
Finally: What's your favorite piece of Eline Rosina jewelry?
My favorite piece of Eline Rosina jewelry is the Diamond Huggies. They're subtle, timeless, yet luxurious—perfect for everyday wear without being overpowering. For me, they symbolize strength without embellishment: something that's always there, something that effortlessly flows with who you are and what you do.