When Elle Likopoulos, head of Absolute Business Brokers in Melbourne, walked into London’s Park Hyatt River Thames on April 3 for the Women Changing the World Summit, she was one of nearly 800 nominees representing 55 countries. By the end of the evening, she had won Gold, for Women in Professional Services, an acknowledgment of her work transforming a traditionally male-dominated industry into a example of inclusion, flexibility, and female empowerment.
The Women Changing the World Awards celebrate exceptional women making a meaningful impact across industries. Alongside running her successful business for the past 18 years, Likopoulos travels the world delivering keynote addresses—from the UK Parliament to the French Embassy—inspiring women to think outside the box as they strive for equality and diversity in the workplace. She’s also the author of a children’s book, I Want to Be Me When I Grow Up, endorsed by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who is also one of the founders of the Women Changing the World Awards.
“Winning this award was incredibly humbling,” Elle Likopoulos told Neos Kosmos. “It validates the passion and effort I’ve poured into empowering women in business—especially those who are so often overlooked or undervalued. This isn’t just a win for me, it’s a win for every woman who feels unseen, who spends their time supporting their family and everyone’s needs aside from their own.”
A business model that breaks the mold
A mother of four, Elle Likopoulos has never followed the rules—rules she believes are impossible for working mothers to live by.
“I work the way that suits me. I don’t follow society’s expectations—whether what I’m doing as a mother is ‘enough’ or not—or the expectations placed on women in the workforce.”
Her office is staffed with what she calls “the un-hireable”. Women who are full-time carers, mothers of children with special needs, or mature-aged workers routinely passed over elsewhere.
Instead of forcing her team into a rigid nine-to-five structure, she prioritises flexibility—trusting her employees to work when and how they function best.
“And it’s proven to be very successful. I’m passionate about showing companies and business owners that if you take the time to work with your staff—instead of forcing them into rigid schedules—your business can actually do better.”
What society expects from women, she says, is simply not sustainable.
“These expectations are designed to make us fail and burn out. It doesn’t need to be that way. It is not possible to do everything. And I think we need to stop—as women—creating this false sense of ability, that we can do it all. We shouldn’t have to. Because all that leads to is women being exhausted and constantly disappointed in themselves that they’re not doing enough, when actually they’re doing too much.”
Despite working in a space historically dominated by men, Likopoulos has built a thriving company. Now, she’s setting her sights even higher—as she establishes Absolute Business Brokers globally to create more opportunities for women to achieve financial independence and lead without compromise.
“In order for change to occur, change must be seen. And I’m hoping that my success—which goes far beyond gender—will make both men and women take note. That by creating a truly equal workplace, you can become more financially successful. This isn’t just about women’s empowerment—it’s about smart business. I hope leaders in all industries see how much value there is in giving opportunities to working mothers, and maybe begin to rethink the traditional business model—because it can actually benefit them too.”
