Emily Osmond's (2006)
Since leaving Ballarat Grammar, Emily Osmond (Class of 2006) has built a career driven by curiosity, a willingness to say yes to new opportunities, back herself and take the occasional leap of faith.
Emily has gone from volunteering in media roles as a university student to building a successful business and online community that has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs around the world.
After discovering a passion for media and communications while studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, Emily continued her education with a Master of Communications at RMIT. Returning to Ballarat during her studies, she gained valuable experience through work placements with organisations including The Ballarat Courier, ABC Radio, WIN News and 3BA. It was during this time that she met a local communications consultant whose flexible, self-employed lifestyle sparked a vision for what her own future career could also look like.
Following a rewarding period as a Digital Marketer at Ballarat Regional Tourism, Emily decided to take the leap into self-employment. Relocating to Melbourne, she began building a consulting business from the ground up, drawing on relationships she had formed through her blog and professional network. What followed was an entrepreneurial journey that saw her manage marketing for events, train and mentor small business owners, run workshops throughout Victoria and work with organisations ranging from universities to ASX-listed companies.
Early on Emily experienced her share of challenges along the way. One early lesson came when a marketing workshop that had been successful in Ballarat failed to gain traction in Melbourne, resulting in its cancellation. The experience reinforced one of the most important lessons of her career: the value of community and genuine, in-person relationships.
Through these early years, Emily discovered that her greatest passion wasn't necessarily marketing itself but teaching others how to market their businesses with confidence. Helping business owners develop skills, attract customers and grow sustainable businesses became the focus of her work.
Recognising the emerging potential of online learning, Emily launched The Modern Marketing Collective, an online membership community supporting small business owners. What began with just 30 members, many from Ballarat, eventually grew to almost 1,000 members from around the world. The community particularly resonated with women establishing and growing their own businesses, who sought both practical guidance and a supportive network.
Alongside the membership, Emily hosted The Emily Osmond Show podcast, spoke at events across Australia and built connections with inspiring business owners nationwide. Through these early years, Emily discovered that while she loved marketing, what she enjoyed most was teaching others. With both of her parents working as teachers, a love of helping others learn had always been close to home. She found great satisfaction in helping business owners build their confidence, develop new skills and successfully market their own businesses.
Today, as a mother of two young boys, with a third child on the way, Emily has intentionally adopted what she describes as a "seasonal" approach to her career. While maintaining consulting clients, she has temporarily paused her podcast and online programs to focus on family life, with plans to embrace new opportunities as they arise in the future.
Reflecting on her time at Ballarat Grammar, Emily remembers arriving from England and navigating the challenges of starting at a new school in a new country. She credits the school's pastoral care, supportive teachers and lifelong friendships for helping her settle and thrive. School camps and outdoor adventures remain among her fondest memories, providing opportunities for personal growth and lasting connections beyond the classroom.
From Ballarat to building a global community of business owners, Emily's story demonstrates that careers rarely follow a straight line. Instead, they are often shaped by the willingness to step outside our comfort zones, embrace change and trust where the next opportunity might lead.
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
