9. Bridget Loudon and Emily Yue

Company: Expert360
Age: 28 and 31

Three years in, friends and business partners Bridget Loudon and Emily Yue continue to break new ground with Expert360, a platform connecting businesses, big and small, with freelancers and consultants for projects.

“We’re hoping to surpass 2000 clients [and] 8000 active consultants,” says Loudon.

This year, Expert360 will move to a new office on Bridge Street, Sydney, as the company continues to strengthen its position in the Australian market, grow its US presence and roll out a new enterprise product.

The duo started the company with Tom Jowitt, now their head of engineering, and their credit cards.

Since inception they have quadrupled their growth, says Loudon.

Looking back, Loudon says resilience is what has kept them moving forward.

“You’re going to have really, really bad days, that’s part of building a billion dollar business,” she says.

“Be resilient, go to the gym, gave a cry, eat some chocolate, go easy on yourself.”

“But get up early and get back in your chair and go again, and again, and again.”