Meet Emily Abe

We were lucky to catch up with Emily Abe recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I don’t believe you can learn resilience from a textbook—I you must live it. At 23, my life changed overnight when my now-husband and his 11-month-old son moved into my tiny 720-square-foot apartment. One day, I wasn’t a mom; the next, I was a MOMMA. While working full-time and attending Wayne State University full-time, I embraced motherhood with open arms and a determined heart.

There were late-night study sessions, early work shifts, and a toddler always nearby—sometimes in my lap while I typed out assignments. It was chaotic, beautiful, and the most defining chapter of my life. That season gave me purpose and taught me that strength isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, every single day.

But my lessons started even earlier. Two weeks after turning 18, I moved out of my parents’ home thinking I had it all figured out. Spoiler: I didn’t (kids, right?). I learned the hard way—through trial, error, and a lot of growth. That hands-on, real-life education is exactly what I bring to my clients today.

As the Owner of Thistle HR Consulting in Wixom, Michigan, I help others navigate their own challenges with empathy, clarity, and practical solutions—so they can stress less and thrive more.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the founder of Thistle HR Consulting, where I help small business owners navigate the complex world of HR, leadership, and workplace strategy. What makes my work exciting is the combination of strategy and heart. I don’t just provide solutions; I guide business owners through challenges before they become crises, helping them build workplaces that actually function—and freeing them to focus on growth, creativity, and their own families. My experience as a parent and a professional juggling multiple responsibilities gives me a unique perspective, making me relatable to clients who are trying to balance business demands with life at home.

What’s new and exciting? I’ve expanded my services to include more personalized HR support packages tailored to small businesses that are growing or scaling. Each solution is customized—no cookie-cutter templates—and designed to save business owners time, reduce stress, and give them the confidence to focus on what matters most.

I’m also currently working on an HR Library Membership club where for a small monthly fee small business owners may have their own library hub of templates and “go to”, up to date-information to pull from and know that it is ready to go whenever they need. This is perfect for the small business that isn’t QUITE ready for the need of a consultant BUT needs to know their ducks are in a legal row such as onboarding templates, legal policies, and “what if,” situations.

Outside of work, I’m a proud wife and mom of three beautiful children, and my family continues to inspire how I approach every client, challenge, and project. My brand, such as the thistle, is about resilience, strength, boldness, and empathy—helping people build businesses that thrive while keeping the balance that makes life meaningful.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, there are three things that truly shaped my journey—and none of them came from a classroom. First, adaptability. Life doesn’t always give you a heads-up. One day I was a full-time student and employee, and the next, I was also a full-time mom. I had to pivot fast, and I learned that adaptability isn’t about having a perfect plan—it’s about being willing to rewrite the plan when life hands you something unexpected.

Then there’s grit. There were days I was running on caffeine and sheer willpower—juggling work, school, and a toddler in a 720-square-foot apartment. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me how to keep going, even when things felt impossible. And finally, learning the hard way. I moved out two weeks after turning 18 because I thought I had it all figured out. Spoiler: I didn’t. But those early missteps taught me more than any textbook ever could. I’m a hands-on learner, and now I bring that same approach to my clients—real, practical support that helps them stress less and move forward with confidence.

For anyone early in their journey: don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Mistakes are part of the process. What matters most is what you do with what you learn.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents every did for me…not give me everything I ever wanted! I wasn’t given a cell phone with the rest of my friends; and when I finally got one, it was a Virgin Mobile that ran off of those prepaid cards that I HAD TO PAY FOR. So, if I had no money to buy those cards, I had no phone. My mom tought me how to print babysitting flyers and put them in the neighborhood mailboxes when I was around 1o years old to start my babysitting business in order to start saving money. I bought my first car off of my dad off of that money! When I struggled, they tought me they step of the right way to get myself where I need to be, but they didn’t just bail me out. I can NEVER thank them enough for that. As a parent myself now, I know how much I want to just fix everything for my kids to make their hearts stop hearting sometimes. But, we as parents only do them a disservice by doing that. It’s our job to teach and lead. And that is what they did so wonderfully, so THANK YOU to my mom and dad!

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Emily, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?