Emily Bissen: Helping Women Build Businesses That Work for Them, Not the Other Way Around
The Imperial Council is a curated group of women leaders, creators, and change-makers who are shaping the future of business—together.
When you talk to Emily Bissen, you don’t just get business advice, you get a moment of clarity. The kind that makes you look at your calendar, your inbox, your priorities, and think: This could feel so much lighter.
Emily is the founder of Blue Heron Business Partners, a consultancy built for women who are done chasing someone else’s version of success. She teaches entrepreneurs and sales professionals how to grow through relationships, not relentless pitching. And she knows exactly why that matters.
“Business should never feel like you’re clawing your way uphill,” Emily says. “It should feel like you’re working in your zone of genius.”
The Expertise She Brings
Emily’s background blends sales leadership, coaching, and business development, the trifecta that allows her to meet clients where they are and help them create strategies they can actually sustain.
At Blue Heron, she offers:
- One-on-one coaching for entrepreneurs who want clarity on how to grow without burnout
- Joy Driven Business: 90-Day, Done-With-You Accelerator designed for the visionary entrepreneur who’s ready to transform their passion into sustainable income, with personalized support, every step of the way.
- Monthly Grow Your Network Event – designed to expand your circle and share resources with others around the world.
Her clients aren’t just learning sales techniques… they are learning how to claim their time, set boundaries, and sell in a way that feels human.
A Lesson You Can Apply Today
When we asked Emily what she wishes more women knew about sales, she didn’t hesitate:
“Lead with your story, not your offer.”
That means if you’re reaching out to a potential client or collaborator, you don’t start with, Here’s what I sell.
Instead, you start with, Here’s why I care about the work I do and why I think we could connect.
Emily’s tip for trying this today:
- Identify three people you’d genuinely like to connect with, not just “land as a client.”
- Send them a short message about why you admire their work or what you have in common.
Let the conversation build before you talk business.
It sounds simple, but for many of her clients, this approach has been the difference between months of cold emails and landing their dream contracts.
A Client Story
One of Emily’s clients, a leadership coach and mother of two, came to her feeling like she had to be everywhere at once… every social platform, every networking event, every pitch opportunity.
Emily guided her to cut her focus down to a single core audience and one clear daily action: reaching out to one person with intention. Within 60 days, her inquiries doubled, her workload felt lighter, and she stopped feeling like she was drowning in her own business.
That’s the kind of change Emily wants for every woman she works with, growth that feels as good as it looks on paper.
Busting the Hustle Myth
Emily sees one mistake over and over: thinking that more effort automatically means more success.
“It’s not about doing everything,” she explains. “It’s about doing the right things, consistently, in a way that works for you.”
She helps her clients break the cycle of busywork by identifying their high-value actions and letting go of the rest.
The Practice That Keeps Her Grounded
Every week, Emily does what she calls “Zone of Genius Mapping.” She lists everything on her plate, marks what energizes her, and figures out what can be delegated or dropped.
It’s a deceptively simple habit, but one that keeps her aligned with her values and helps her clients see the power of saying no.
Emily with Empressa
Emily joined Empressa because she wanted a platform where she could own her content and audience outright.
“So many women build their businesses on borrowed platforms,” she says. “I wanted to be in a space where my content, my voice, and my connections are truly mine.”
Her legacy goal? To help women stop building businesses they resent and start creating ones that give them both freedom and fulfillment.
Takeaways You Can Use Now
- Stop leading with your offer, start with your story.
- Narrow your focus to one audience and one core action you can sustain daily.
Map your zone of genius weekly, and be ruthless about removing the rest. - Build your business on platforms and systems you control.
As Emily will tell you, success isn’t about having more hours in the day. It’s about making the hours you do have count.
Emily’s story is just one example of the brilliance, resilience, and leadership that lives within the Empressa Council. These are women who are not only mastering their fields, but also opening doors for others to rise with them.
If her journey inspires you, imagine what could happen when you connect with more women like her. Join us at Empressa.ai to meet Emily and other Council members who are redefining what leadership looks like and discover how you can be part of this movement.
If you’re a woman expert, founder, or mentor and want to share your wisdom while building your legacy, apply to join the Imperial Council today.