Emma, because of her class pre-eminence, already has "influence" in and around Highbury. However, I also think we are seeing glimpses of Emma as a young woman with trememdous leadership potential and power - partly innate and partly the way she had it more-or-less thrust upon her at an early age.

I also agree that the normal and limited activities that are expected of young women of that day do not necessarily appeal so much to Emma. Although it was frowned on in that time for women to exhibit power and leadership, IMHO, I see that as one of Emma's greatest gifts.

Can you see her in these early chapters wielding this power, albeit fumbling and mis-guided, over others, and finding her greatest fulfillment in it? I think this may be one of the table-settings for the rest of the book: Emma's journey to realize that calling and how to exercise it without selfish motives.