Franziska Iseli's AMEX Platinum Business Card helps her business soar

You don’t always know when opportunity will knock. Being in the right place at the right time was key for Franziska Iseli, the Director of Sydney-based marketing firm Basic Bananas.

Reaping the benefits of the American Express® Platinum Business Card that she and all of her employees carry, helped Franziska to make an important connection for her business.

This article is sponsored by American Express

The winner of the 2013 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, author of several best-selling books and an Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) board member, is also a voracious traveller who relishes the opportunity to access airport lounges in most airports, with her Platinum Business Card opening the door to more than 1,200 lounges in 130 countries with the American Express Global Lounge Collection^{SM 1}.

“When you are a business owner, you never stop working,” she says. “I sit down in the lounge and block out the world and get a lot done. I get on a coffee high, and then just work. But you can also meet cool and interesting people in those lounges, too.”

Over the past five years as an American Express Platinum Business Card holder, Franziska has worked in dozens of lounges around the world and also made many interesting and useful connections.

“Over the last two months I have been in the American Express Lounge in Hong Kong, New York, also in San Francisco. Most destinations I have been to recently had an American Express Lounge,” she says.

But it was a chance conversation during a Business Class flight – paid for using reward points² accumulated on her Card – that brought the opportunity to meet one of Australia’s premier business leaders.

“I was on a flight to Malaysia last year, it was for a work engagement I had in Kuala Lumpur, and I met this older gentleman who was sitting behind me in Business Class who is the founder of a very large company in Sydney,” Franziska says.

“We started talking and we realised we were a part of the same Entrepreneurs Organization – he used to be a member. I asked him if he would come to be a guest speaker at Basic Bananas, and later he introduced me to Marcus Blackmore!”

The major shareholder in the vitamin and supplements company of the same name has since become more than a passing acquaintance. “I went to his office and met Marcus, and then we had coffee a few times. All because of this one encounter on a plane, because I was flying business class because of Amex.”

Other key benefits for her business, Basic Bananas, are that the Employee American Express Platinum Business Cards on her account³ used by her employees for business and travel-related expenses, accrue valuable points towards further purchases and discounts, and also allow up to 55 days to pay⁴.

“We’re still a small business so we try to maximise our finances as much as possible,” she says.

A key purchase – and perk – of Franziska’s American Express Platinum Business Card includes the opportunity to access discounts of up to 20% on Business Class and First Class flights⁵ on international routes.

“I do get a lot of work done in Business Class. I have the space and time available to take my laptop out and do some work, and think about strategy and the bigger picture of the company,” she says.

“When I get to the destination, I’m good to go because I have had the space to set up office on the flight, and also to get some sleep. The benefit is to get some work done, and then arrive fresh and ready to go.”

To learn more about the American Express Platinum Business Card, click here.

This article is sponsored by American Express

Disclaimers

1. American Express Global Lounge Collection^SM. Terms and conditions apply. Visit global.americanexpress.com/lounge-access/the-platinum-card for further information.

2. Membership Rewards. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available at americanexpress.com/australia/membershiprewardsplatinum. To transfer Membership Rewards points into an Airline or Frequent Guest Partner Program you must be a member of the Partner Program. Membership of the Partner Program is the Card Members responsibility and is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Program. A joining fee may apply. Award seats are not available on all routes. Please check availability with the Partner prior to transferring your points. Charges/levies/taxes may apply.

3. Employee Cards. American Express approval criteria apply. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Fees and charges apply. This offer is only available to those who reside in Australia. Employee Card Members must be over 18 years of age. The Business, the Basic Card Member and each Employee Card Member are jointly and severally liable for all Employee Card spending. Terms and Conditions apply.

4. 55 Cash Flow days. Extend your cash flow by up to 55 days: Depending on when you make a purchase, when your statement is issued and whether or not you are carrying forward a balance on your account from your previous statement period.

5. International Airline Program. Current Partners: British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, United Airlines and Virgin Australia. Terms: The featured savings included are calculated based on full-priced retail year-round airfares from Australia to select destinations with Virgin Australia in Business (J) Class. Savings are calculated on the base fare and excludes airline taxes. Prices are subject to availability and subject to change. All airfares must be purchased through the Platinum Travel Service and paid for on the Platinum Card. Airfares at sale prices may be released in the market at any time and reduce the featured savings. Fare rules are dependent on the airline’s Terms and Conditions and can vary. Airline Partners and offers vary and are subject to change. Contact Platinum Travel Service for full details on the Airline Privileges Program.

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