Home in Rotorua for the first time in four years and sharing her success story with Our People, Emma admits she's astonished by the speed with which the organisation's mushroomed. From its original "good neighbour" concept it's become an online hit, not only connecting people with people but with businesses and organisations within their communities.
As it has grown she's moved from operating at her kitchen table to premises in Enfield Town, has formed LYD into a limited company, become its managing director/CEO, employs 10 and works closely with local councils and chambers of commerce.
"When we started we found out people not only wanted to get to know one another, they wanted to be connected to everything from a hairdressers to where they can get their car's MOT [the UK equivalent of a Warrant of Fitness]."
LYD's popularity grew across greater London's post codes.
The LYD name has now been trademarked in the UK and New Zealand and other countries have it on their radar.
Emma's not the only product of Rotorua to have LYD input. Childhood friend and cutting edge graphic artist Sarah Delaney designed its eye-catching logo.
Who dares say Rotorua's not a breeding ground for across-the-board talent?
As the daughter of one of the city's major tourism operators, Neville Nicholson of Skyline Skyrides, and his wife, Alison, Emma reflects it's what's made her so community conscious.
"That environment taught me how to form strong relationships, connect with those of all ages and nationalities."
She admits at school she wasn't as hot on scaling the same academic heights as her brother, Simon, who became a Fulbright scholar studying in Washington DC, where he remains lecturing at the university his scholarship took him to.
"At Heights [Western Heights High School], I wasn't as committed to studying as I could have been, I was more interested in being creative, often hiding out in the ceramic room."
Creativity apart, she had personality on her side, the attribute that won her the Miss Thermaland title and the role of the city's ambassador for civic functions hosted by then mayor Grahame Hall.
It's this people-meeting-people experience that's given her the innovative edge over traditionally reticent Londoners.
From Heights, she moved to Tauranga's Performing Arts School. Eighteen months on, she and school friend Andrea Derecourt took a Contiki tour of Europe, "18 countries in 45 days".
Once home, she joined Telecom's relatively new mobile department in Wellington - "exciting times technology-wise".
By the time she left the company for her second round of OE in 2003, she was in charge of the Auckland office's key mobile accounts.
From account manager at BT (British Telecom), she moved to City and Guilds, one of the UK's oldest organisations running vocational courses. "They gave me this really amazing job as business development manager in their publishing arm."
Emma hadn't been in London long when she met husband-to-be Carl Rigby - in a pub. He's a recruiter for the international bank HSBC.
"He asked me for a date, we got married soon after."
Theirs wasn't your usual "run of the mill" wedding. They eloped - to Barbados.
"It just about killed my mother and father but we were having a lot of hassles with UK immigration ... we appeased my parents by coming home for a blessing."
It comes as no surprise the venue was Skyline and, wearing his celebrant's hat, Grahame Hall officiated.
Son Jackson was born in 2007, Meghan followed in 2010.
Their mum fits her working life around them and couldn't wait to bring them to Rotorua at the height of the summer while Britain wallowed in winter.
They adored it.
"I hadn't realised until I got back how home homesick I was, how proud I am to be a New Zealander. It's such a laid-back way of living here. Jackson's been trout fishing, they've both done things I took for granted as a child. There's a real edginess here and that's really cool."
Does this mean she's ready to quit London and what she admits is the rat race her burgeoning business has enmeshed her in?
"It's possible we'll return one day and bring Love your Doorstep here, but I've still got a lot more to achieve right across the UK."
EMMA RIGBY (NEE NICHOLSON)
Born: Rotorua, 1977,
Education: Selwyn Primary, Kaitao Intermediate, Western Heights High,
Family: Parents Neville and Alison Nicholson, brother Simon (Washington DC), sister Sarah Moorecroft (Tauranga), husband Carl, son Jackson, daughter Meghan.
Interests: Family, business, theatre, reading "business, inspirational and motivational books", exercise, yoga, travel.
On Rotorua upbringing: "There's no better place to grow up, here you are encouraged to develop as an individual."
Personal Philosophy: "Work hard - follow your dreams."ACHIEVER: Emma Rigby with her children Jackson and Meghan, back home in Rotorua.
