‘There was no playbook’: The ‘Black Swan’ resilience of Emerald Developments
Matt and Lia Wall launched Emerald Developments, based in Queensland’s Moreton Bay, directly into the headwinds of a global pandemic. It has only made them stronger.
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Starting Emerald Developments in April 2020 was a trial by fire for founders Matt and Lia Wall.
While the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a 42% surge in private housing approvals during that time compared to August 2019, material shortages, soaring prices and supplier delays brought the residential construction sector to a standstill.
“For three years, we lost sleep, lost money, questioned ourselves and at times wanted to quit,” says Lia Wall. “We often say those years compressed decades of learning into just 36 months.”
“There was no playbook for navigating a global pandemic in the construction industry, and many of the decisions we were forced to make had never been faced by builders before,” says Matt Wall.
However, the “Black Swan” event strengthened the resolve of the twin founders, forcing them to consider business decisions and solve problems they wouldn’t have to in any other time, gaining “an incredible depth of knowledge and resilience”.
“The greatest lesson we’ve learned is that businesses can quickly outgrow their leaders unless those leaders continue to grow,” says Lia.
The multi-award-winning family business specialises in entry-level and custom homes across the Moreton Bay region and surrounds, just north of Brisbane in South East Queensland.
Now expanding into land acquisition, buying, selling and property management. “More than anything, we want our children to grow up proud of what we’ve built,” says Matt. “We hope they’ll see that our legacy was never just about houses. We are in the people business”
Who were the mentors, role models or figures that shaped your outlook in the early stages of your career?
Matt Wall: Both of us were fortunate to have incredible mentors during the early stages of our careers. We were eager learners who actively sought out opportunities for growth, fought for professional development and always aspired to achieve more. We were surrounded by genuine leaders who challenged us, believed in us and gave us opportunities to grow.
At the same time, we were also shaped by leaders who demonstrated what we did not want to become. We saw firsthand how poor leadership affects culture, morale and performance, and those lessons continue to influence the type of leaders we strive to be every day.
Outside of business, we’ve always been drawn to high-performing athletes with unshakable mindsets. Individuals like Tom Brady and Michael Jordan inspire us with their relentless discipline, resilience, accountability and commitment to continuous improvement. Their approach to excellence has had a lasting influence on how we think.
Every journey has setbacks. What is the toughest challenge you have overcome, and what did it teach you?
Lia: Undoubtedly, ourselves. While we’ve faced our fair share of external challenges, the greatest challenge has always been developing ourselves into the leaders our business has needed at each stage of growth. We’ve often reached the limits of our own thinking, confidence or experience, and those moments have taught us to seek guidance from mentors, learn from industry peers and continually invest in our own development.
Books such as Mindset by Carol Dweck, Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, Atomic Habits by James Clear, and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie have profoundly shaped the way we think about leadership, growth and personal responsibility. Every new stage demands a new level of leadership, and that commitment to continual learning has become one of the foundations of our business.
What is the most misunderstood aspect of your industry and how are you working to change that?
Lia: We believe one of the most misunderstood aspects of the residential building industry is that every builder is the same. While some businesses have damaged consumer confidence, there are many who genuinely care about their clients, craftsmanship and the future of the industry.
For us, changing that perception isn’t about clever marketing. It’s about consistently doing the right thing, continually improving and being transparent. We actively seek client feedback, reinvest in our people and systems and take accountability when we fall short. Our goal isn’t just to build exceptional homes, but to help restore confidence in an industry that has taken a significant hit since COVID.
What drives you at this stage of your career, and what is your “why”?
Matt: Without a doubt, our legacy. We’re a young family building in the community we call home, and our greatest ambition is to become a name that people trust for generations to come. We want Emerald Developments to be known not only for building exceptional homes, but for building genuine relationships, standing behind our work and making a positive contribution to our local community.
It is about creating a business founded on integrity, hard work and a genuine desire to leave our community better than we found it. We’re doing it for our family.
What is the boldest goal you have set yourself for the next five years?
Lia: To continue saying yes. Professionally, we’re working towards creating a comprehensive property business that supports clients through every stage of their property journey, from land acquisition and residential construction to buying, selling and property management. We want to create communities, not just homes.
Personally, we want to keep saying yes to opportunities that challenge us, push us beyond our comfort zones and allow us to share our journey openly. If our story gives even one person the confidence to back themselves, take the leap or believe that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things through hard work, resilience and perseverance, we’ll consider that a success.
What advice would you give your younger self starting out?
Lia: Own who you are. The right people will value your grit, integrity, courage and willingness to challenge the way things have always been. You’ll break glass ceilings sooner than you think, so don’t waste your energy trying to prove yourself.
Matt: Enjoy the process. You’ll always set bigger goals and chase the next milestone, so don’t spend your life waiting for the next achievement to feel fulfilled. The challenges, the lessons and the journey are the best part. If you stay consistent, humble and keep showing up, you’ll get where you want to go time and time again. Stay small enough long enough, and you’ll be big soon enough.
To find out more, visit www.emeralddevelopments.com.au
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