DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH Raquel Manning is proof that dark times can lead to the most stunning of successes
JOSIE ADAMS
C
hatting to Raquel Manning is easy and fun. Over the past 12 months we’ve had numerous phone calls dotted with fits of laughter and lasting much longer than anticipated. She’s smart, intuitive, compassionate and can find the positive side of any situation (including the many months of lockdown this year). The proud Walwain-Wiridijui woman, mother, entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Blue Diamond Property Group does not shy away from her past, her femininity or her vulnerability. Because she believes those very traits have made her who she is today. “I actually think it’s one of my greatest assets — being a woman and having emotional intelligence, having that very human element. “There have been times in boardrooms in the city where I’ve been surrounded by men and I think I’ve deserved more respect. But when I look at actually getting the bigger deals done and talking and merging developers together with the families to get the right deal. That is where the real value is. And I know I am more than capable of doing that.” Growing up in Western Sydney in a large family, Raquel started her career in the family’s construction and plumbing business. After working as their business manager, she said there came a time when she was keen to step up. “We had a meeting, and I can remember explaining to Dad that my work within the business deserved the same pay as my brothers. Dad was fairly oldfashioned in a way, and I can remember him saying
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‘ok well if you think you can do the job, I’ll give you a couple of my old trucks and you can run your own business from the office.’ “So, I did,” she says laughing. Her business providing 24 hour maintenance to builders alongside her family’s construction work became very successful, very quickly. Life was good Raquel said. The family had set themselves up nicely. “Then the GFC hit the construction industry and the businesses suffered significantly.” While business-wise the family had taken a hit, it was the passing of Raquel’s mother that left the family devasted. Her father in particular was overcome with grief. “Mum had always been the one who raised the children and supported dad with his work. She was the rock and Dad didn’t know what to do without her. He didn’t want to work anymore, so he retired.” Then Raquel’s marriage ended. “My choice ended up being give up my assets that I had worked so hard for or put my children on the stand in court. So, I chose to give up my assets. The boys were young, and they had been through enough.” At this stage Raquel says she remembers thinking ‘this was rock bottom’.
