Costa del Sol Women in Business Supplement 9 - 15 June 2022 Issue 1927

s s e n i s u WOMEN in B Powerful women Much has changed for women in business since the 15th century, when widowed Katherine Fenkyll took over her husband’s drapery business in Tudor London. In our Women in Business special, we have been exclusively interviewing local female businesswomen as well as looking at changes throughout history, famous females leading the way and more…

OLLOWING Katherine Fenkyll taking over her husband’s business, other notable early milestones include the launch of the first women’s magazine ‘The Female Spectator’, published by Eliza Haywood, and The Sex Discrimination Removal Act, allowing women to practise law.

In 1968, 850 female sewing machinists went on strike at Fords at Dagenham for equal pay, this paved the way for the Equal Pay Act two years later.

In 1969, six days before her 22nd birthday, Bernadette Devlin became the youngest ever member of the British parliament.

1970 saw the Equal Pay Act come into force - an Act to prevent discrimination, regarding terms and conditions of employment, between men and women. In the same year, Lloyds of London Insurance admitted the first female underwriters.

1972 saw Rosie Boycott and Marsha Rowe launch Spare Rib, Britain’s first feminist magazine and in 1973, Stella Brummell was voted the first Businesswomen of the Year.

Also in 1973, women became allowed onto the floor of the London Stock Exchange for the first time and in 1976, The Equal Opportunities Commission came into effect to oversee the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts.

The 80s saw The Sex Discrimination Act (Amendment) come into force, enabling women to retire at the same age as men, as well as Julie Hayward - a canteen cook at a shipyard in Liverpool - becoming the first woman to win a case under the amended Equal Pay Act. In 1991, Opportunity 2000

F

MICHELLE OBAMA: Voted top role model in the world of work according to females. was launched to push for more women in business and public life.

Other modern milestones in-

clude women on FTSE boards increasing by 50 per cent in five years in 2021, and the same year saw the gender

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pay gap dropping to 15.4 per cent.

The 20th century forged the way for huge changes includ-

ing the first female bank manager, transport minister and train driver. Today, almost a third of small businesses in the UK are female owned as women carve the way to the top.

Other notable names from history which influenced women in work include Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, wax modeller Madame Tussaud, and Agnes Marshall, the ‘Ice Cream Queen’.

A poll via OnePoll found Michelle Obama to be the top role model in the world of work according to females, followed by Emmeline Pankhurst and Deborah Meaden.

According to a study of 2,000 women, increased maternity benefits (32 per cent), flexible working hours (43 per cent), and more women holding senior positions (45 per cent) are some of the ways many women believe the working world has improved for them over the past 10 years.

However, there are still advances women would like to see in the workplace - with increased pay, equal job opportunities and less sexism the main changes they’d like to see in the future. It is interesting to note that, when searching or applying for a job, women look for flexible working (62 per cent), development opportunities (47 per cent), and strong policies for diversity and inclusion (32 per cent).

Women have come incredibly far in the world of work, thanks to acts such as The Sex Discrimination Removal Act and the Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Act, and there are so many milestones and successful females to celebrate.

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Women in Business

Advertising Feature

RDMC’S Carlie & Mollie Jones R

DMC’S is a family-run business with over 35 years of experience in the glazing, construction and steel industry as a specialised manufacturer of glass curtains, stainless steel and windows and doors.

Established on the Costa del Sol nearly 20 years ago, we spoke with owner Carlie Jones and her daughter Mollie about what it’s like being a woman in business.

Carlie started the business with her husband and father in a small locale in Las Lagunas. It was just the three of them and Carlie’s brother-in-law working for the company and Carlie would often be seen unloading large sheets of glass with the men in her family and helping to manufacture the units.

Over the years the com-

FAMILY BUSINESS: Carlie Jones with daughter Mollie who has joined the company. pany has expanded greatly and now occupies two large units, employing around 20 staff manufacturing windows and doors, stainless steel, glass curtains, steel struc-

tures and much more. In fact, they can help you with all your glass needs!

In the past four years, Carlie’s daughter Mollie has joined the company and is an amazing asset

to the family business.

Living in Spain for most of her life, Mollie is able to deal perfectly with Spanish clients, reps and admin to ensure that the company runs even more

smoothly. Carlie said it’s a pleasure to see her daughter thriving within the business, hoping to see Mollie running the company when she retires.

When asked about working in a predominantly male field, Carlie said that a mixture of both men and women is what she feels makes RDMC’S such a success. Jokingly, she said it does niggle that people naturally ask a female if they can speak to the boss. She winked and laughed saying: “It used to bother me but I’ve gotten good at putting people straight on who the boss is!”

Mollie agreed with her

Open: 7.30am - 4.30pm Address: Units 16 and 18 Camino Hera, Las Lagunas de Mijas Telephone: 952 477 963 / 677 712 742 • Email: rdmcsglass@hotmail.com Facebook: @rdmcs

mother that, for them, it works with the mixture of both but she isn’t sure if that was the mix of men and women or it being a family business that makes them work so well together.

When asked if she would recommend running your own business, Carlie said that as a youngster she was always trying different business ideas and always felt entrepreneurial, loving the buzz of making a business work.

She warns that you need to be able to live with less sleep and more stress as there are no set hours when running your own business.

As a well established company on the coast, covering from Nerja to Gibraltar, it looks like they will be here in another 20 years with the addition of Mollie!

Davina McCall tackles menopause

THIRTY years ago, Davina McCall burst onto the scene and paved the way for a new wave of authentic and bold female presenters. Now, Davina continues to speak out about change.

At the age of 54, Davina has been fearlessly tackling taboos surrounding the menopause on behalf of females across the world. Last month, her second documentary aired on Channel 4 Davina McCall: Sex, Mind & the Menopause, exploring how the menopause can affect the mind as well as the body, with memory loss and brain fog decimating women at work.

In these trail-blazing documentaries, Davina describes her own menopause journey, dispelling the myths surrounding the transition, and addressing the shame and fear around hormone replacement therapy.

During filming for the latest Channel 4 documentary, Davina said: “I don’t think I’ve ever worked on a project that

DAVINA McCALL: Bringing the topic of the menopause to the fore. has affected me so deeply.

“I get home after filming and sometimes I just sit down and cry ... from deep frustration and anger at how we are

failing women. This film isn’t just for menopausal women, it’s for their partners, their fathers, their brothers, and their sons. We’re all in this togeth-

er.

“I used to think that menopause was an age thing and now I realise it’s a woman thing. For far too long, there’s

been a shroud of embarrassment, shame and fear around this topic, and this is where it stops!

The former Big Brother presenter has been bringing this topic to the fore after going through the menopause made her feel “invisible” and “frightened.” She revealed she did not tell anyone she was struggling - now she is making sure other women do not go through the same experiences.

In the latest documentary, Davina hit out at the societal expectation for women to simply “soldier on” through the menopause, saying “That is what we have been taught to do, what we have been brought up to do as a woman.”

After filming the first documentary, the presenter explained she initially feared it may have been “the biggest mistake of my life”, but was then overwhelmed by the positive responses she received.

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Women in Business

Advertising Feature

Unrivalled events with Sam Woodrow International S

A M W O O D R O W, a professionally trained performing artist who grew up in a small village in Buckinghamshire, delivers exclusive experiences and unique moments with precision and technicality as an extension to a continuous love of the Performing Arts. By expressing passion through strong execution, combined with a fresh and fierce attitude, she will ensure your events are a head above the rest and produces exceptional results.

From ballet to break dance, Sam has trained and performed since the age of three, attending multiple dance classes every day after school and even at weekends! She didn’t realise she could turn her passion into a career that could take her around the world!

After deciding she didn’t want to study at University, Sam auditioned for some of the top dance academies in the UK and was accepted into them all, ultimately choosing the prestigious Urdang Academy in Angel, London, to continue her dream.

After graduating, Sam set her sights on becoming a professional performer in a highly competitive field, despite this, succeeded and obtained multiple contracts in the UK and overseas! After several seasons performing around Europe on behalf of other agencies, Sam began reaching out independently to obtain her own national and international clients.

With a passion for performing, limitless contacts, experience in working for highly renowned companies and the drive to succeed, Sam then

began to reach out to other artistic professionals with the goal of creating incredible groundbreaking events, to offer her clients some of the best visually stimulating talent and entertainment out there.

Sam, now along with her creative team of costume and prop designers, photo and videographers, hair and makeup designers, all produce bespoke live productions together by bringing imagination to life and approaching client visions with the utmost attention to detail. Sam and the team have now held multiple residencies across the Costa del Sol, Greece, Cyprus, France and where it all began, the UK and ensure each client experience is unique.

No company on the coast of Spain offers the skills and level of talent featured in Sam’s productions No company on the coast of Spain offers the skills and level of talent featured in Sam’s productions, not to mention

the incredible costumes, choreography, and a genuine love for awe-inspiring entertainment!

If you would like to find out more or speak to Sam about a bespoke event, email Sam on hello@samwoodrowintl.com or call 662 457 889.

Women’s Global Empowerment Fund:

Enabling Ugandan women to build a future through microfinance WOMEN’S GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT FUND is a charitable non-profit organisation founded in 2007 that provides women in northern Uganda access to microcredit loans, business and leadership development training, and literacy and health initiatives.

The organisation was founded on the belief that microfinance can be a revolutionary concept, and when bundled with educational programming, can build social capital and increase the potential for women’s empowerment and success. It is this belief that inspired its founder, Karen Sugar, to create the organisation, and it is the driving force behind its Credit Plus programme.

Investing in women and families by creating a social network provides not only economic opportunities but also educational opportunities. This can help women to build livelihoods and a brighter future for the entire family.

Women’s Global Empowerment Fund is dedicated to the women who are working to create a better future for themselves and their children every day. They are at the market selling goods, raising chickens, rebuilding their

Women’s Global Empowerment Fund is dedicated to helping create a better future. communities, attending their repayment meetings, taking care of their children, hauling water, cooking, cleaning, and fighting: fighting for respect, dignity, security and the right to dream.

The executive director and founder of Women’s Global Empowerment Fund,

Karen Sugar, has worked for social justice and improving the lives of women for most of her adult life. While in graduate school, Sugar was introduced to the concept of microfinance. She became passionate about the potential for poverty alleviation and women’s

empowerment. Her motivation is the belief that poverty is imposed and it is entirely possible to eradicate it.

Before founding WGEF, Sugar worked with homeless women and children in Atlanta, Georgia, and was a community organiser for reproductive rights in Denver, Colorado. She teaches nationally and internationally about microfinance, philanthropy, sustainable human development and women’s empowerment.

In a 2012 Denver Post article by John Moore, Sugar was quoted as saying: “When you give a small loan, and support, to a woman, you see the entire family potentially lifted out of extreme poverty.” Sugar’s driving force was helping women, she said, “because, as women, we all have a common experience. No matter what we look like, or the colour of our skin or our religious beliefs, we’ve all experienced violence or abuse, marginalisation, oppression, sexism, a lack of adequate health care and the challenge of raising healthy children.”

Women in Business Interview

9 - 15 June 2022

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Exclusive interview with Sam Woodrow International

OW based in Benahavis, Malaga, Sam has performed and held residencies in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, the UK and the Costa del Sol. In our Women in Business special, we spoke with Sam about how she created her successful production company, what motivates her and what her plans are for the business.

What does your business offer?

We offer small - full-scale productions inclusive of consultation, performing artists, choreography, photo and cinematography. We also offer complete event styling and decor, make-up artistry including SFX and set and prop design. We pride ourselves on creating a captivating experience for all our clients and their guests. I can tell you now, our fire shows are the most advanced on the Costa del Sol and

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we use innovative products and chemicals to set us apart from the rest!

Have you always wanted to own a business?

Not really! I always wanted to perform professionally which I was lucky enough to achieve in such a cutthroat industry! However, the running of my own business really came as an accident as part of me pushing my own career and having opportunities land on my lap.

As stressful as it can be, Now I wouldn’t have it any other way!

When did you start the business and what is your background in the field?

After a season working abroad in Greece on behalf of another company, I had to come home and

Sam’s fierce and go-getter attitude has led her to start a business that sets her apart from the rest find my next job! I decided to reach out to potential venues on behalf of myself and without intending on it, they asked if I could provide oth-

er artists as well as myself! I thought, why not? And everything grew from there. Now I have my own agency, clients, performers, costume makers, media, events managers and exclusive shows to show for it!

Have you noticed any difference between how men and women are treated in business?

Yes! I once took my photo and videographer along to a meeting I had arranged for myself as I thought he could benefit from joining me, and the client, also male, spoke only to him for the duration of the meeting! I was the one making the decisions and I don’t think the client looked me in the eye once… With my name being Sam, it often

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shocks male clients that I’m actually female, it throws them completely, which is quite funny, and I now use it to my advantage.

Do you have any advice?

Keep pushing. If it is truly what you want, and this goes for anything. Don’t take no for an answer and keep learning and growing we only get one shot, and you can either watch other people take the lead or do it yourself. I have, and we ALL have knockbacks, but you have to get up and go again, and again, and again!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Global! My team will grow and so will my clientele. There isn’t any other option. We have a strong core team now who are as invested as me and I know we can do anything if we keep pushing forwards!

If you would like to find out more or speak to Sam about a bespoke event, call Sam on hello@samwoodrowintl.com or call 662 457 889.

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Women in Business

Advertising Feature

Innovation and sustainability at WoodFactory A

S the concept of recycling and using reclaimed materials becomes increasingly more popular, WoodFactory in San Pedro Alcantara is finding that its business just keeps on growing.

This unusual shop and factory is owned and run by mother of four Kristel Schoeman-Daneel, and is the first producer of high-quality wood furniture in the south of Spain. Kristel said of the innovative furniture: “In the Netherlands, furniture made of recycled wood is very popular, but on the Costa del Sol it was impossible to find these trendy sofas, tables, chairs and lounge sets.

WOODFACTORY: High-quality wood furniture for the outdoor life in Spain.

“We thought it strange since they are perfect for the outdoor life in the south of Spain” - and so the idea for WoodFacto-

ry was born!

Kristel’s contemporary furniture creates a feeling of Bohemian Chic made using quality

strong reclaimed wood that is made to measure - beneficial for the environment as well as making sure you receive your

desired product exactly.

With an eye for design, the company also offers a range of made to measure cushions and inlaid tiles to ensure that homogenous look.

Initially, the business was confined to individual customers in and around the Marbella area, but this has grown considerably so that now WoodFactory receives orders from all along the coast of Spain and she has become involved in working with interior designers to design whole bars and restaurants.

Kristel has even received orders from as far afield as South Africa!

WoodFactory can either supply from stock or can make products to customers’ requirements,

offering a very versatile range for every room in the house as well as outdoors. This includes indoor and outdoor kitchens, bathroom furniture, beds, nightstands, headboards, tables, chairs, stools, benches, sunbeds, sofas and stools, as well as accessories such as stunning mirrors, planters, desks, bread boards and chalk boards.

WoodFactory can also produce complete projects that are tailored and made to measure to your wishes.

Naturally this busy entrepreneur can welcome customers in fluent Dutch, English and Spanish and can also manage a conversation in French or German.

The most common furniture sizes can be found in the shop, while made to measure pieces will be made solely for clients. To see the furniture for yourself visit WoodFactory, Poligono San Pedro de Alcantara, Calle Budapest 16, ES-29670 San Pedro de Alcantara, Marbella which is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Lots of examples of the innovative and beautiful furniture can be found at www.woodfactory.es, on Instagram as well as Facebook or you can call 620 230 376 to discuss your needs with Kristel.

Catalyst: Changing workplaces for women around the world CATALYST is a global nonprofit organisation supported by many of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women.

Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with preeminent thought leadership, actionable solutions, and a galvanised community of multinational corporations to accelerate and advance women into leadership - because progress for women is progress for everyone.

Catalyst’s mission, vision, and values are grounded in 60 years of experience in making change. Now, corporate leaders have an unprecedented opportunity and challenge: to reimagine the workplace so that it is truly inclusive. Those who do not participate in ‘The Great Reimagining’ will lose out on talent and may find them-

selves left behind. Only through more equitable and inclusive workplaces can we truly make work work for women - and for everyone.

Catalyst’s work focuses on four key areas. The first area is advancing women by increasing the representation of women, particularly those from racially and ethnically marginalised groups, in corporate leadership and promoting equal access to career opportunities.

The second area of focus is women and the future of work, which involves developing solu-

CATALYST: Progress for women is progress for everyone.

tions for women and underrepresented groups that give them full participation and equal opportunity in the 21st-century workplace.

The third area is leading for equity and inclusion, which aims to deepen the understanding of workplace inclusion and equip global companies to remedy inequities across intersections of identity (such as gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or gender identity).

Finally, the fourth area of focus is MARC (Men Advocating Real Change), which has the

objective of engaging men to leverage their influence to advocate for gender equity in the workplace.

Working with an impactful global community of more than 500 Supporter companies around the world, Catalyst builds positive change by partnering with leading regional diversity, equity, and inclusion organisations. With them, they host relevant, timely, regionspecific events; facilitate local training sessions and workshops; conduct cutting-edge research that captures the experiences of the people in these regions; and produce innovative, region-specific tools - providing Supporters everywhere with local and global perspectives so that they can make a real impact in their culture, country, and community.

Progress for women is progress for everyone.

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Interview

Kristel Schoeman-Daneel of WoodFactory W

OODFACTORY was launched by longterm resident of Marbella, Kristel SchoemanDaneel, who wanted to bring the best of Dutch design and quality to the Costa del Sol. We spoke with Kristel about being a woman in business, what inspires and motivates her and advice for other people who would like to start their own business!

How has the company grown?

When the shop first opened, it seemed to attract mainly northern European clients who understood the look, but I am delighted to have noticed that more and more of my customers are Spanish.

Following the set-up of WoodFactory, my idea proved to be such a success that I expanded my line to also include decorative accessories that accompany my lounge creations. You’ll find my designs all over the Costa del Sol now, as some of the most popular bars and restaurants have chosen to furnish their businesses with the unique style that I brought to the Costa del Sol.

Have you always wanted to own your own business?

I have always been an entrepreneur and had my own business previously. When I was pregnant with my fourth child, I decided to completely change my work because I had this WoodFactory idea.

What is your background in the field?

I made my business plan during pregnancy and started the business when my fourth child was three months old that is now exactly 10 years ago.

Kristel wanted to create a sense of Bohemian Chic.

What is your philosophy?

I wanted to create a sense

WoodFactory is open from 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday.

To speak with one of the team call 620 230 376 or email via info@woodfactory.es.

Website: www.woodfactory.es • Facebook: @WoodFactory.Steigerhout.in.Zuid.Spanje Instagram: @woodfactoryspain

of Bohemian Chic with good quality strong furniture that lives - and that is certainly the case with WoodFactory. With an eye for matching the wood which can be coloured, we also offer a range of made to measure cushions and inlaid tiles to ensure that homogenous look.

What inspires and motivates you?

My clients inspire me, I work with so many fantastic clients, creating beautiful spaces together by using wood.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

If you want to start your own business make sure you have some ‘back-up’ money for at least a year and don’t do big investments in the beginning. If the idea/concept is good and you control the financial investment correctly it will work - so then just go for it!!

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Women in Business

Advertising Feature ECORBAÑO in Estepona, Malaga, is a family business specialising in the distribution and exhibition of ceramics and construction materials, using the most innovative and functional bathroom products and accessories.

Founded in 1978, Decorbaño is known in the Estepona region for delivering beautiful designs using the most current materials and the best brands on the market. Whether you are looking to create and design your home, premises, business, terrace or swimming pool, Decorbaño has the tools, knowledge, team and over 40 years of experience to deliver exactly what you envision.

Decorbaño will pro-

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Innovative decoration and design from Decorbaño

Decorbaño are specialists in creating innovative and functional home settings.

vide you with quality workmanship and innovative ideas using your desired materials - from porcelain floor tiles to hand-painted tiles, terracotta, natural stones, furniture for your bathroom, custom glass screens, taps, mirrors, toilets, bathtubs, shower trays adjustable to your space, even hydromassage… Your dream project can soon become a reality!

Whether you are looking for an oasis of calm, modern and minimalist, rustic or vintage, Nordic style colours and tones or a more

classic look, Decorbaño has the materials and a keen eye for style and detail to help design and create a space that you will love spending time in.

Their customer-orientated approach and large 1,500 m2 showroom with over 100 bathroom styles guarantees you will find exactly what you are looking for and the best quality materials.

To adapt to new needs, Decorbaño has now opened a 500m2 factory store, where you can browse everything they have to offer with the added benefit of factory prices!

This is Decorbaño’s guarantee, in addition to their attentive and personalised service that only a local company like this can offer.

Got a new project in mind? See what Decorbaño can create for you by taking a look at their website: www.decorbagno.com or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/decorbagno/ Address: Juan de la Cierva Street, 20, 29680, Estepona, Malaga Telephone: 952 802 346 • Email: info@decorbagno.com

Rihanna: Shine bright like a diamond AS well as being one of the world’s most successful pop artists, Rihanna has made her way onto the world’s rich lists thanks to her business sense and keen eye for new opportunities. This approach has paid off.

According to Forbes, Rihanna has “a total net worth of $1.7 billion, making her the richest female musician in the world and the richest female entertainer after Oprah.”

Rihanna’s make-up line, Fenty Beauty, has won praise globally for being one of the first inclusive brands. She was inspired to create Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin after years of experimenting with the best-of-the-best in beauty and still seeing a void in the industry for products that performed across all skin types and tones.

Starting with Fenty Beauty foundation, face primer and Gloss Bomb, she launched a

make-up line “so that people everywhere would be included,” focusing on a wide range of traditionally hard-to-match skin tones, creating formulas that work for all skin types. From the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation, Hydrating Foundation & Powder Foundation that changed the game with 50 inclusive shades, to the fan-fave concealer and setting powder, to the wide shade range of cream blush, Fenty Beauty products are designed to feel lightweight and love to be layered.

Most importantly, Rihanna creates make-up to inspire: “Makeup is there for you to have fun with,” she says. “It should never feel like pressure. It should never feel like a uniform. Feel free to take chances, and take risks, and dare to do something new or different.”

After changing the beauty game, she decided to take over the skincare world. Starting with

a cleanser, toner and moisturiser she launched Fenty Skin to “create amazing products that really work, that are easy to use, and everyone can get in on.”

Rihanna’s philanthropic work is also notable. In 2012, she founded the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in honour of her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite.

Today, CLF supports groundbreaking and effective education, health and emergency response programmes around the world.

With the voices of Rihanna and her fans, CLF also engages in global advocacy with the goal of improving the quality of life for young people everywhere. Current programmes include the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Programme, the Clara Braithwaite Centre for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados and the Barbados Micro Grants Programme.

RIHANNA: Has a keen eye for new opportunities.

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Interview

Davinia Perez of Decorbaño

HAT is the business and your role in it?

We are two partners, my sister and myself.

Decorbaño is a family business providing bathroom decoration and related to the construction of housing and reforms.

The business was founded by my parents 45 years ago and, for the last 20 years, we have been working with a team of 10 other people. Our parents passed away five years ago and my sister and I are still motivated to make our company a reference in bathroom aesthetics.

nesswomen, in fact, I graduated in business administration with the clear objective of becoming a manager together with my sister at Decorbaño. Our daily work ranges from negotiating with suppliers of the materials we display and stock, to customer service, checking accounts and balance sheets, and what excites us most is decorating our showroom and helping our team.

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Have you always wanted to run your own business and what made you start your own business?

In our case, we knew from an early age that we were going to be busi-

When did you start the business and what is your background in the field?

Decorbaño started in 1978 when my father left his family business on the line to take up the idea of a bathroom and construction shop.

DAVINIA PEREZ: Loves dealing directly with her clients.

What motivates and inspires you?

What motivates and inspires us most about our work is the design, we love dealing with our direct clients to help them in their building projects.

Our inspiration comes from the education we have had since we were children in the approach to the taste for decoration.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

Be constant, never give up and believe in order to create your project!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

We would like to see ourselves with another site and continue to be more of a reference than ever, perhaps also expanding and diversifying our offer.

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Women in Business

Advertising Feature

EnviroCare Spain Amanda Robinson:

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ELEN is the CEO of tions, and renovations, EnviroCare / Maskeepinging us on our terbuild Spain. toes with up to date inShe has specialised stallation and renovaknowledge instrumental tion fashions. Giving in the installations of air full attention to even conditioning, pool heatthe smallest of deing, solar, and property tails is one of our renovations, heading the strengths. company jointly with her Envirocare is over a Helen has specialised husband Phil. Helen was dequarter of a century old lighted to contribute to our that’s a huge statement. knowledge.

Women in Business SuppleSocially - how is the Cosment. She said there are ta del Sol? many technically specific female owned We married on a local beach and our companies on the Coast - to be highlight- children were born and schooled here. ed in the Euro Weekly focuses on how in- They are all grown up now, and followdustrious the expat female community ing their own dreams. The location is is. gorgeous, we are always just a stone’s What is it like working on the Costa through from the beach, and the moundel Sol? tains are breathtaking. Spending time I adore living on the Costa del Sol. with friends is easy, with such a relaxed Living within an international, multi cul- outdoor way of living. tural neighbourhood, is totally inspiraFavourite Quote: tional. Working with clients worldwide, “There is an Ocean of Opportunities”. who bring their own ideas on installa- I love these words.

The best way to contact EnviroCare Spain - MasterBuild Spain is via email info@envirocarespain.com You can also call on 952663141 or send a WhatsApp message 670409759 Find out more: www.envirocarespain.com • www.masterbuildspain.com

The Digital Gal

AMANDA ROBINSON is The Digital Gal. She is widely recognised in the digital marketing industry for her knowledge, training, skills and coaching as a Facebook Ads expert with her Swift Kick In the Ads Membership, her 4 Week Facebook Ads Training Bootcamp, and her creative chatbot skills.

Amanda is also an author, international speaker, consultant, and educator who has taught thousands of business owners and entrepreneurs the foundational skills of Facebook Ads. After working in marketing for a large American corporate company, Amanda realised that wasn’t the career for her and started up her own water skiing company - before being sucked right back in through graphic design and photography, which are hobbies of hers. Naturally, she was led back into marketing where Facebook Ads became a thing.

When it comes to tackling the complex and highly-technical areas of social media advertising and automated chat behaviour, you couldn’t ask for a better resource than Amanda Robinson! Particularly on Facebook, where ideas and features are changed daily.

Amanda brings personality and passion to teaching others how to make Facebook Ads work for them, something that is imperative to businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs in this digital age.

Amanda teaches her clients how to go beyond the boost button and start creating ads using Ads Manager, Facebook’s powerful tool that gives you more ad options, better reporting, plus more control over your ads and budget.

She also teaches how to create your own custom audiences so that you can get your ads in front of the

Amanda Robinson is a Facebook Ads expert. most important people to grow your business, how to create a strategy that will help you get the most out

of your spend as well as understanding your reports and improving your campaigns with optimisation.

Sales sensei: Anita Nielsen LOOKING for the best way for accountability to work without micromanaging? Anita Neilsen sets up systems where your sales representatives can express what they want to be held accountable for and how to create personalised, differentiated value for clients.

Anita is passionate about helping b2b sales and she believes that as technology gets increasingly sophisticated humans have to get increasingly, well, human.

Anita is a Sales Enablement Consultant and Performance Coach with over 20 years of experience in B2B Business sales and support. Her clients learn to create differentiating value to accelerate growth, and create loyal, lifetime customers. Anita is passionate about helping sales professionals understand basics of psychology and human behaviour and apply them in consultative sales interactions to win better, bigger and more.

Anita is also a founding member of the Sales Enablement Society. Her expertise and efforts in sales enablement have earned her the honour of being named as one of the Top Sales Enablement Consultants of 2018 by Selling Power Magazine. Her first book, ‘Beat the Bots: How Your Humanity Can Future-Proof Your Tech Sales Career,’ quickly became a number 1 best-seller on Amazon.

With her Psychology in Selling training becoming a growing sensation amongst sales leaders wanting to create teams of high performing sales professionals, Anita shows sales representatives how to be a master at human to human (h2h) sales, differentiating them from robots and the rest.

Anita is about behavioural change and teaching that to others through coaching and training using a holistic, practical approach to sales transformation that is based on years of trench experience. She also has a keen eye for recognising and understanding the culture of an organisation so that she can tailor her services to suit clients.

Women in Business

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EWN 11

Interview

Keep Cool with Ace of Shades

C E O F S H A D E S is a family-run business with years of experience offering both commercial and residential fitting solutions for awnings, glass curtains, interior/exterior blinds, security shutters, mosquito screen systems, UPVC doors and windows - as well as so much more. The team at Ace of Shades believes in using the best products at the best prices from Malaga to Sotogrande and the inland areas, resulting in many happy customers and an immaculate reputation on the coast!

I had run businesses in the UK, I came to Spain to enjoy life when Ace of Shades came along. It was an opportunity too good to let slip by, so we took a chance on it and began building. My passion is so strong that when I decide to do something it has to be perfect.

A

For our Women in Business special, we interviewed Michelle Johnstone of Ace of Shades about her

ACE OF SHADES: A family-run business with years of experience. experiences and how she started this successful company.

Have you always wanted to run your own business and what made you start your own business?

When did you start the business and what is your background in the field?

We started the business in 2009, it was an ongoing business we suddenly decided to buy. I had no prior knowledge, but thankfully the owner stayed on with us for a while to show us the ropes, so to speak, and the rest as they say is history. I then renamed and

branded the business. So began our journey with the EWN. What motivates and inspires you?

Customer service, which I think is a very important aspect of our business. I love to see happy clients.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

The rewards are there but you have to be willing to put the hours in and be prepared to work hard.

W h e r e d o y o u s e e y o u rself in 10 years?

Haha! Hopefully enjoying my retirement whilst watching reruns of ‘Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun’...lol!

No job is too big or too small at Ace of Shades and the team are always happy to help or answer any questions you may have. If you are looking to improve your home or business, whether it is a complete extension or a single mosquito screen, speak to one of the team on 951 273 254 / 671 73 22 04 or email via info@aceofshades.design. Facebook: @AceOfShadesCostaDelSol Ace of Shades is open from 9am until 6pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am until 3pm on Saturdays.

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Women in Business

Advertising Feature

Shorter, simpler and quicker treatment with Estelle Mitchell

E

STELLE MITCHELL is widely recognised on the Costa del Sol as one of Spain’s leading physiotherapists. Qualifying as a Chartered Physiotherapist in January 1978, having studied and trained with the RAF, Estelle has spent the last 18 years putting her wide and extensive experience to full use at the Bodyworks Health Clinic.

So what makes Bodyworks Clinic so special?

Estelle explained: “I hope it’s my expertise! I have heavily invested both in money and training to have treatment options that work. Tha’'s probably the biggest factor - my patients get better.

So what’s the first step to getting better?

“A proper diagnosis. Understanding the real problem that’s causing pain and not just treating the symptoms. I was trained before we could rely so heavily on MRIs and other pictures, so we had to accuTORY BURCH is a highly successful fashion designer, businesswoman, and philanthropist from Pennsylvania, United States.

She has her own midluxury fashion brand, Tory Burch LLC, which has more than 300 stores around the world and is also sold in more than 3,000 department stores.

Founded in New York City in 2004, the Tory Burch brand has redefined American luxury from a global point of view. The company’s purpose is to empower women and women entrepreneurs. Giving back and supporting other women was part of the plan when Tory started the company. In 2009, she established the Tory Burch Foundation to advance women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship by providing access to capital, education and digital resources and tackling stereotypes that hold women back.

ESTELLE MITCHELL: You have to understand what is going on in the body.

rately diagnose the issue through detailed assessments of the person standing in front of us. For me, getting the diagnosis right means you are 80 per cent there.

“You have to really understand what is going on within the body to treat it effectively. In my opinion too many doctors rely on MRIs to diagnose and don’t properly assess the patient, so they only get half the story.

“For me, this is the downside to not working in the UK, where physiotherapy is a highly qualified profession. Here physiotherapists aren’t usually trained to the same high standard, they are not permitted to make their own diagnosis, the doctor tells them how to treat and how often! The methods I use have proven, clinical results, they are new, but accepted in the UK.”

Phone 952 883 151 Web: www.TheBodyworksClinic.com Email: info@TheBodyworksClinic.com

Estelle Mitchell. English Chartered Physiotherapist.

MCSP, SRP, HPC, OCPPP. Grad Dip Phys. Col No 2070.

Tory Burch:

Women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and luxury fashion Tory has said: “My dream - my ambition has always been to empower women. Women’s equality is the evolution of humanity.” She has introduced many programmes aimed at empowering women, one of which is the #EmbraceAmbition global initiative, launched in 2017 to address the double standard that exists around ambition, which challenges stereotypes and unconscious bias surrounding race, gender and sexuality.

She has spoken out about women’s rights on numerous occasions. In September 2017, for in-

TORY BURCH: Has redefined American luxury from a global point of view.

stance, she wrote a piece for the hugely popular American news magazine Time on pay equity and how equal pay brings benefits to society and businesses in general.

In addition to her work through the Tory Burch Foundation, she is a member of the boards of several other nonprofit organisations, including the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Startup America Partnership, the Barnes Foundation and

the Council on Foreign Relations.

Burch has won numerous prizes for her work, including the Rising Star Award for Best New Retail Concept from the Fashion Group International (2005), the Accessory Brand Launch of the year award at the Accessories Council Excellence Awards (2007), the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for Accessories Designer of the Year (2008), the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Sandra Taub Humanitarian Award (2015) and the Retail Excellence Award from the Wharton School’s Jay H Baker Retailing Centre and Retail Leaders Circle (2022).

Burch has been listed on the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women for several years. In 2020, she was named as 88th most powerful woman in the world. She has an estimated net worth of approximately $1 billion.

Women in Business

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EWN 13

Interview

Madi Askew of Costa Angels OSTA ANGELS CDS Care Services operate along the Costa del Sol, their services reach out to the elderly, disabled and recuperating individuals who require assistance with day-to-day living. The compassionate and professional team introduce carers who deliver excellent client centred care packages for hourly, 24-hour live-in, respite and palliative care.

We spoke exclusively with the operational manager and shareholder at Costa Angels, Madi Askew, about being a woman in business, what motivates and inspires her and her advice for those wanting to start their own business.

What is your philosophy at Costa Angels?

Our philosophy is empowering independent living and working inclusively, recognising and supporting diversity and personal choice. We believe that every person has the right to independent living whilst remaining in the comfort and security of their own home.

C

Have you always wanted to run your own business and what made you start your own business?

My childhood friend, Mia Thomas, asked me to move to Spain and run the business. As a frequent visitor to the Costa del Sol, I fell in love with the Andalucian culture and could see the continuing need for high-quality care due to an ageing community.

When did you start the business and

What motivates and inspires you?

The carers inspire and motivate me every day. Their dedication, commitment and compassion for what they do through some recent difficult times.

Costa Angels are ‘Assisted Living’ professionals based on the Costa del Sol. what is your background in the field?

Costa Angels has been established for eight years. I joined four years ago

to grow the business due to my 30 years’ experience and skill sets within the care sector.

Address: Partida Lomas P20, Alhaurin el Grande, Malaga Open: 10am - 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am - 2pm Saturdays, closed Sundays Costa Angels telephone: 952 709 933, 611 289 381 or 686 402 030 Website: www.costaangels.com • Email: info@costaangels.com

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

Ensure that you engage a good Gestor as the bureaucracy here can be daunting. Patience, as people need to see that you are not a transient company. A sense of humour always helps during the difficult times!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Still working in the field that I feel passionate about.

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THERE are already plenty of very successful women in business, but it is never too late to set up your own.

There are certain top tips that anyone can apply for business success in 2022. Read on to find out what they are.

Business tips for starting your own company in 2022 ing so that you can offer it.

1. Choose your niche

3. Solve a problem It is important to create your new business in response to a need or a problem. The problem can be as simple as you want, but you need to know exactly what your business is trying to accomplish because this will directly impact your marketing and determine who your product or service is aimed at.

Which niche you select for your business is critical. If the niche is too broad, you may have difficulty identifying your target audience, but if you sell a very specific product or service, the niche may be too narrow.

Try to find a business idea that is popular all year round and meets customers’ needs longterm.

2. Watch your competitors You need to know about your competitors’ products and services, marketing strategies,

Women in Business

STARTING UP: Try to find a business that is popular all year round. pricing and the relationship they have with their customers.

If you have this information early on, you will know how to com-

pete and what you can do to be different. Find out what they are lack-

4. Build employee morale The secret to a productive team is keeping any employees happy and focused. Although the impact of employee morale, whether good

or bad, is significant and long-lasting, many entrepreneurs overlook it.

Team-building exercises, extra training and regular meetings to ensure everyone is one the same page can all help to keep your workforce dedicated to your business.

5. Focus on the customer Making your business all about customer experience will ensure plenty of word-ofmouth recommendations.

Try to see things from the customer’s point of view and really listen to what they have to say.

This will allow you to find solutions to any problems you might ever have and leave them feeling that they have been heard. You could just give them a refund, but actually listening to them will pave the way for a long-term relationship.

Martha Stewart: More than four decades as a household name

THE entrepreneur, best-selling author and television personality Martha Stewart has enjoyed a long career that dates back to the early 80s with the release of the book that made her a household name, Entertaining, although she had her own catering business even earlier. Thanks to her creativity, determination and willingness to break boundaries, she became hugely successful and is now estimated to be worth approximately $400 million.

Following the success of Entertaining, she released many other books, including Martha Stewart’s Quick Cook (1983), Martha Stewart’s Hors d’Oeuvres (1984), Martha Stewart’s Pies & Tarts (1985), Weddings (1987), The Wedding Planner (1988), Martha Stewart’s Secrets for Entertaining (1988), Martha Stewart’s Quick Cook Menus (1988), and Martha

Stewart’s Christmas (1989).

She has written an astounding total of 97 lifestyle books over the course of her career.

She has also been the author of a number of newsp a p e r columns and magazine articles and launched her own quarterly magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, in 1994.

Her most popular magazine, however, is the monthly Martha Stewart Living, which was also made into a television show of the same name. Martha Stewart and her production team

MARTHA STEWART: Has enjoyed a long career.

earned 18 Daytime Emmy Awards for Martha Stewart Living, which received a total of 60 Emmy nominations over 10 seasons, and The Martha Stewart Show, which earned 20 Emmy nominations between 2005 - 2012.

She has also been invited to appear as a guest numerous times on incredibly popular television shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.

In 1999, she founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (MSLO), a multi-channel media and merchandising company

that produces home and lifestyle content and how-to guides on topics such as cooking, gardening, holidays, entertaining, crafts, weddings and household maintenance.

Now in her 80s, Martha Stewart continues to work with a team of skilled and trusted staff at her website MarthaStewart.com to share reliable and practical information with her readers in order to help make everyday living more pleasant, enjoyable and effortfree.

The website provides “tested-until-perfected recipes, DIY projects, gardening ideas, easy entertaining tips, beauty advice, and wedding inspiration” and aims to “help you celebrate the holidays, keep you informed on health news, and encourage you to refresh your home with design advice and cleaning tips.”

Women in Business

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EWN 15

Interview

Emma de Voss of The Bed Warehouse HAT is the business and your role?

I own The Bed Warehouse, supplying UK brand name mattresses and beds from brands such as John Lewis, Relyon, Silentnight and Harrison Spinks. We also have beds manufactured for us in the UK whereby you can choose from a wide range of styles, fabrics, colours and sizes.

When did you start the business and what is your background in the field?

We set up the business in both Spain and Portugal 12 years ago, my dad having previously owned successful bed shops in the UK. Because of him, I learnt about all of the technology that goes into a great quality mattress. Growing up in Spain it seemed that all mattresses were just a solid piece of foam and I had no idea of the luxury to be had and the importance of having the correct mattress. We are not all built the same after all so, of course, there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to beds.

W

Have you always wanted to run your own business and what made you start your own business?

This is a family business which started with my dad who manufactured his own beds even before I was born! We set up The Bed Warehouse both here in Spain and in Portugal as there was such a gap in the market for it. It was almost impossible for expats to find the quality of beds that they were used to and brands that they recognised and loved. With his

EMMA DE VOSS: Follow your dreams - anything is possible. contacts in the bankrupt stock industry, we can provide all of these at a fraction of the retail cost.

Also, when it comes to a bed,

size is important! We specialise in UK Superking size (180x200cm) this larger size is not a common sizing in Spain.

What motivates and inspires you?

I love having a job that I am passionate about. I always wanted to do something that would help people and in my small way, I really feel that I am. With the knowledge that I have, I can help people choose the

correct bed to suit them. It is so motivating to hear positive feedback from so many people who have suffered from back pain and sleepless nights and now have a better quality of life. It seems such a simple change but can have such a dramatic impact - since we spend a third of our lives in bed, it’s no wonder really!

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

Having your own business can be a lot of hard work but also incredibly rewarding. If you are passionate about something and want to share that with other people, then there is no better feeling!

With all of the struggles that we have all faced in recent years, a lot of people are finding it is time for a change. If you have the right motivation and dedication, why not follow your dreams - anything is possible! :)

Don’t lose sleep over your mattress! To find the perfect bed for you at an unbeatable price, visit The Bed Warehouse located on Centro Comercial El Zoco, Local 66-69, C. de Los Adarves, 29649 Calahonda, Malaga or call 634 187 700.

Website: www.bedwarehousespain.com

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Women in Business

Sheryl Sandberg: Facebook’s top female executive helps women become leaders

SHERYL SANDBERG, from Washington, DC, is a business executive and philanthropist estimated to be worth around €1.8 billion. She is the chief operating officer (COO) of Meta Platforms (Facebook) and was previously the vice-president of global online sales and operations at Google and the chief of staff for United States Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers.

Not only did she go on to become one of the most important figures behind Facebook’s rise to global success, but she is also helping other women along the way.

In 2013, Sandberg published her first book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, which discusses problems such as the lack of women in business and government leadership positions, discrimination, sexism and workplace harassment. It became a bestseller and has sold more than one million copies.

Following the success of Lean

SHERYL SANDBERG: Is dedicated to empowering women.

In, Sheryl Sandberg now has a successful organisation, LeanIn.Org, which is dedicated to empowering women. LeanIn.Org helps women come together to learn from each other and achieve their goals because women can be a powerful force

for change in the world.

More than 50,000 women have started ‘Lean In Circles’ in 184 countries, and new Circles are starting every day. Circles bring together women from all walks of life. In these small groups, women get and give peer

mentorship, sharpen their skills, and have a place to be unapologetically ambitious. Circles are a safe space to share your struggles, give and get advice, and celebrate each other’s wins.

LeanIn.Org advocates for better public policies and a more eq-

uitable workplace, because to make lasting change, we need institutional change.

Their Equal Pay Day campaigns take aim at the gender pay gap. Their annual Women in the Workplace study - the largest of its kind - highlights the barriers women face and includes data-driven recommendations for how companies can do better.

Their Mentor Her initiative calls on men to mentor and sponsor women, which is critical for workplace equality. On vital issues like sexual harassment and paid family leave, they take a stand.

They run programmes to combat bias because changing the trajectory of women and girls means changing how we think about gender.

From research-backed tips for managers to an initiative with the NBA that calls on men to do their part, LeanIn.Org gives people the tools to push back against bias at work and at home.

Cath Kidston: Quintessentially British CATHERINE ISABEL AUDREY KIDSTON MBE, famously known as Cath Kidston, is an English entrepreneur, author and fashion designer known for selling home furnishings and other products using her famous floral patterns.

Kidston established her business with friend and partner Hugh Padham after she was asked to decorate his house, moving into the property and redesigning it to her taste.

In 1964, Kidston launched her first store in Holland Park in London after recovering from cancer. She started selling renovated furniture and hand embroidered tea towels - later describing the shop as a “glorified junk shop”. By 2011, she had shops selling her designs in the UK, Japan, Korea and Ireland.

Kidston describes her business as “producing products that people like a lot or they don’t like at all”, however, her floral prints dominated the high street market. She hints that her colour palettes were inspired by childhood memories of ponies, boarding school and her home.

Kidston has said that the motivation to start her own business came from her mother, who was completely dependent on her husband and once he

THE BRAND: Offers various products with the iconic floral vintage prints. died she was left alone in a vulnerable state. This urged Kidston to be independent in every way, making her the ambitious and powerful woman who

created such a huge brand.

Kidston has worked with huge brands including designing tents for Milletts, Nokia/Carphone Warehouse

mobile phones, Specsavers and Roberts Radios. In 2008, she collaborated with Tesco to produce shopping bags made from plastic bottles, which were sold to raise almost £500,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care and saved about six million plastic bottles from landfill.

Despite a cancer diagnosis at the age of 37, Kidston has created a quintessentially British brand with prints that are recognised all over the world. Kidston was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours’ List in 2009 for services to business.

Today, the brand offers various products with its iconic floral, vintage prints and designs, including beauty products, wash bags, skincare sets and hand creams - to name just a few.

In 2010, she sold a majority stake of the company to private equity investors TA Associates, retaining a minority stake and remaining the Creative Director for the company.

Cath Kidston also launched the ‘Be a Good Sport’ collection to celebrate the London Olympic Games.

In 2020, Catch Kidston announced it was becoming “a digital-first business and re-imagining our flagship store after global lockdown.”

Women in Business Interview

W

HAT is the business?

I run a successful preowned car business on the Costa del Sol, specialising in quality guaranteed Spanish registered cars, helping fellow expats find the right vehicle. I help clients ITV their cars by arranging bookings, collecting the car and taking it for the test - some of my golfing friends even ask me to ITV their cars while they are out on the course playing!

When did you start the business and what is your background?

I used to work at a newspaper in my younger days and started working with my late husband Gordon in Glasgow when we were in our 20s and we owned car showrooms. We moved to Marbella in 1986 and sold second hand cars until Gordon died six years ago.

Thirty-six years ago when cars were advertised in newspapers, sellers used mobile numbers and you had no idea who they were! We were first to add our name ‘Robertson the name to

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Play it Again… Sam trust’ and others started to copy our style of advertising. Now, with the advance in technology, people are buying cars on the internet.

Have you always wanted to own a business?

JUST REMEMBER: Some leaders are born women.

I decided to go it alone to prove to myself that I could do it and that I could survive in a predominantly man’s field - building up this excellent reputation over the last 36 years made me want to continue.

It feels good when clients tell me that I was recommended to them as someone to trust that sells good quality cars.

It is satisfying to help other women that have been widowed and they feel relaxed dealing with me. I also have my ex-fiance, Alistair, from 52 years ago helping me - he came for a golfing holiday and stayed!

EWN 17

What motivates you?

Buying and selling quality cars with low kilometres that have been well maintained. I don’t have many cars, but they are all checked and in excellent condition. I do the paperwork and transfers of ownership through a Gestoria and explain all documentation to my customers. My family say to me “why are you still working at 72 years old?'” The answer is because I enjoy it!

Do you have any advice?

Do something you enjoy. Be it selling, cars, plants, clothes. Just remember, some leaders are born women.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully not pushing up daisies!

Any final words?

A quote from the famous film Casablanca: “Of all the car joints in all of the towns in all of the world, you come to mine.”

I work mainly part-time and by recommendation, I am often out driving so the best way to contact me is via email: therobertsonclan@gmail.com Leave a message: 952 832 173 • WhatsApp: 608 658 785 • Website: www.robertsoncars-spain.com

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Women in Business

Taking the leap: Nadiya Hussain MBE NADIYA HUSSAIN MBE, winner of The Great British Bake Off in 2015, has gone from strength the strength since finding fame on the popular Channel 4 show. She has gone on to publish 16 books and appears regularly on television.

Nadiya’s success has given her a unique platform to address racism, the role of women, family and coping with anxiety.

Speaking exclusively to Food Housekeeping Magazine, Nadiya said: “I’m so much more than just a baker,” she said.

“I think it is really important, especially as women, to show that we are multifaceted, and to not be afraid of taking that leap into an environment that you don’t think you fit into. I jumped into a world that I thought had no space for me - and now I own it.”

Nadiya is shaping her children’s future, as well as other young people’s, and constantly thinking about their experiences and how the world needs to change: “When I was growing up, men were revered.

“They were the ones who were going to carry the family name and who were going to be financially better off than the women, but now the lines have blurred - and that has an impact on parenting.

“I’m not raising my boys to be stronger ACTRESS Emma Watson became a high-profile advocate for gender equality in her role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and now campaigns for ethical practices, equality in the workplace and sustainable initiatives in the fashion industry.

Born in Paris and growing up in Oxford, London, Watson rose to fame in her role as Hermione Granger in the huge Harry Potter film franchise - this was to be her first professional acting gig.

She is no stranger to the fashion industry, in 2005 she became the youngest ever cover star of Teen Vogue at the age of just 15. To date, she has had numerous top tier titles, including W Magazine, Vanity Fair and US and British Vogue. She has fronted two Burberry campaigns and became a Lancôme ambassador, starring in ad campaigns for the beauty brand between 2011 and 2013.

Nadiya’s success has given her a unique platform to address racism, the role of women, family and coping with anxiety.

than my girl; they are equals. The one difference is that I drum into my daughter the importance of financial independence.”

When she was announced the winner of The Great British Bake Off, Nadiya said: “I’m never going to put boundaries on myself ever again.

“I’m never going to say, ‘I don’t think I can.’ I can and I will” - and she did, but she has also paved the way for future generations.

Nadiya has also spoken out about the racism she has faced since appearing on the show, and wants to change this - particularly in TV and publishing: “We have to question why there aren’t more people of colour working in television, publishing, the hospitality industry.

“When I did this show I looked around and I thought, ‘Wow, there’s literally just me and the home economist, who’s Korean’.

“If I ever feel like I’m complaining about anything, I have this god-awful fear that nobody will want to work with me ever again. So I’m really scared.”

She called for more diversity in TV and publishing but said the situation had improved, adding that “now people say to me, ‘My daughter wants to do exactly what you’re doing’, and that is a lovely thing to hear.”

Emma Watson Her sensibilities date back to her teenage years. Back in 2009, she began working with People Tree, a fair trade fashion brand, collaborating on a line aimed at people under 24-years of age, and continued with the brand for three seasons.

In 2011, Watson teamed up with Alberta Ferretti to create a capsule collection made from organic cotton, muslin and hemp, with part of the proceeds donated to People Tree.

She was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill

EMMA WATSON: Campaigns for ethical practices, equality in the workplace and sustainable initiatives in the fashion industry.

Ambassador in 2014 and in September of the same year she launched her UN Women campaign - HeForShe - with an address at the UN headquarters in New York.

Her work for the camp a i g n earned her a place on the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people.

In 2016, the actress created Our Shared Shelf, a feminist book club.

Watson is part of the TIME’S UP Entertainment Steering Committee and introduced the movement to the United

Kingdom, coordinating its launch at the UK Film BAFTAs in 2018 and building a network of hundreds of women from across the industry.

Her consultation with the women’s movement led to the establishment of a new UK Justice and Equality Fund. The aim is to end cultures of harassment, abuse and impunity by funding expert organisations in this field.

Watson has also assisted in the launch of new UK industry-wide guidelines on harassment and bullying with the British Film Institute (BFI), the British Academy of Film and TV Arts (BAFTA), and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and other leading bodies.

In 2019, Emmanuel Macron invited her to sit on the G7’s advisory Gender Equality Council and, since 2020, she has been a Director of Kering.

Women in Business

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EWN 19

Interview

Sady Alexandra Licintuña of Centro Hiperbarico ORN in Ecuador, Sady Alexandra Licintuña has been based on the Costa del Sol for 24 years, becoming a leader in her sector by using the most advanced technology…

What is the business and your role?

My business is called Centro Hiperbarico (Hyperbaric Medical Centre) in Estepona and I offer hyperbaric medicine. It is a medical speciality that consists of introducing the patient into a chamber programmed at a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure to breathe pure oxygen. I run the clinic and also treat patients.

Have you always wanted to run your own business and what made you start your own business?

When my husband suffered an acute myocardial infarction that left him in a deep coma for three months, the medical prognosis was not good, so I began researching how I could reverse the diagnosis. I started researching how I could improve his quality of life and discovered that Hyperbaric Medicine could do it.

B

SADY ALEXANDRA LICINTUÑA: Have passion for what you do.

I never imagined it would be so effective - my husband is now living a normal life. I discovered that there was nothing on the Costa del Sol about hyperbaric medicine, so, being an entrepreneur, this was the incentive to open the doors of the clinic.

What is your background in

the field?

My experience in the sector as an entrepreneur started with this new project. Prior to this project I have had real estate businesses in Madrid since 2002.

When we saw the general improvement my husband had with this treatment, we moved to Es-

tepona on medical advice. Here I decided to start and open the clinic to help improve the quality of life of people who were going through the same situation.

When did you decide to open the clinic?

In July 2014 we opened the Hyperbaric Medical Clinic. At that time, few knew or had heard of this medicine, but after seven years we have more than 1,600 patients treated who have improved their health.

How does it work and who can benefit from the treatment?

When 100 per cent pure oxygen is breathed at high ambient pressures, the oxygen dissolved in the body fluids, especially in the blood plasma, is significantly increased, increasing its transport by more than 23 times and reaching all the body’s tissues, turning oxygen into a real medicine with its own therapeutic effects.

Chronic pain, sports injuries, fibromyalgia, and stress are some

To find out how Centro Hiperbarico can help you, call 952 806 796 / 663 418 023.

You can also call into the clinic located on Avda. España, 242, 29680 Estepona, Malaga.

Email: comunicacion@centrohiperbarico.com • Website: www.centrohiperbarico.com

of the most popular treatments.

Children with cerebral palsy and infant neurological damage have also benefited from this treatment. We are a reference clinic at European level and every year we receive children from all over Europe.

What motivates and inspires you?

I am motivated by the desire to continue helping other people by spreading the word about the benefits of hyperbaric medicine, which is little known in Spain but is becoming more and more widely known. In my personal life, I like hiking, walking and watching the sunrise with my dogs because it fills me with energy and vitality!

Do you have any advice?

The most important advice is that you have to have a lot of passion for what you want to do and be constant and, above all, believe in what you do.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years time I would like to feel at peace and calm. Enjoying everything I have done during this time. I also hope that I would like to see the business continue.

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Women in Business

Deborah Meaden: Dragon investor DEBORAH MEADEN, a highly successful female entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor, knew from a young age that she wanted to run her own business. Leaving school after her O-Levels and going on to study business at college, Deborah launched her own glass and ceramics company with very little capital - all at the age of just 19.

Deborah’s glass and ceramics business supplied to upmarket stores such as Harvey Nichols, however, despite having sole agency rights, the products began appearing in other high street shops and without the finances for a legal fight, Deborah walked away.

Following this, Deborah embarked on a number of other business ventures including a prize bingo concession at Butlins and a franchise for Italian clothing company Stefanel. With several successful businesses

Deborah Meaden knows what it takes to be a success in business. in the retail and leisure field under her belt, Deborah took up a position in the family arcade business and worked her way up to Operations Director before moving across into the holiday park side of the business - Weststar Holidays.

In just two years, Deborah

was promoted to Managing Director and grew the company to provide high-quality UK family holidays for over 150,000 people a year.

Set on securing her future, in 1999 Deborah undertook a management buyout borrowing the necessary funds from Lloyds to take over the busi-

ness. Her long-term plan had been to grow the business and a period of substantial investment marked the early years of TGGL, her newly formed group.

With three prime sites achieving high occupancy rates in a fragmented marketplace, Weststar soon

found itself the target of several takeover approaches.

Deborah eventually sold the company to Phoenix Equity Partners in 2005 in a deal worth £33m, whilst retaining a 23 per cent stake and an active role within the company.

She sold her remaining stake in the business when Weststar was sold to Parkdean Holidays for £83m.

Deborah joined the Dragon’s Den panel of investors for series three of the popular BBC programme and has since invested in a number of businesses.

Deborah also actively supports a number of environmental charities and initiatives including the annual Observer Ethical Awards, which she has judged since 2008. Deborah is a fellow of the WWF, the world’s leading environmental organisation and she also acts as a Patron and Trustee for Tusk Trust.

Women changing the world Many businesswomen, entrepreneurs, women in politics and female researchers are changing the the way we think about women in the world of work…

Publishing Although the majority of people have heard of the publication The Huffington Post, very few people know that the driving force behind it was very successful female entrepreneur Ariana Huffington. Huffington not only built the company herself but also proved that she was able to successfully sell the company to AOL for around $315 million.

Even after selling the company, Huffington still has a big role in the daily operations.

Technology and social media The saying goes “behind every successful man, there is a woman”

and Sheryl Sandberg the true founder of Facebook - is a great example of this. Often thought of as a man’s realm, Sandberg’s main focus was to generate revenue and help Facebook to become profitable. Her work helped the $100 billion company valuation.

Science and research According to UIS data, less than 30 per cent of the world’s researchers are women, however, throughout the centuries, women have been incredibly influential in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Take Maggie AderinPocock MBE, for exam-

into STEM - changing the stereotype of scientists and TV personalities from being white and male.

Arianna Huffington is celebrated for her publishing prowess. ple, a once space-obsessed dyslexic schoolgirl who became one of

the top scientists and BBC presenter who now encourages young girls

Politics In politics, Labour MP Stella Creasy was recently denied maternity leave and also told to leave the Commons when she brought her sleeping baby into the chambers, causing uproar from fellow females. Together with the charity Pregnant then Screwed, Creasy is spearheading the This Mum Votes project to champion policies to help parents in all workplaces and to fund mothers to stand for office to argue for them -

making the world of work a better place for women.

Fashion and design It wasn’t until Vera Wang designed her own wedding dress at the age of 40 that she decided to start her own fashion label, proving that age is just a number when it comes to business! Luckily, Wang had all of the right contacts, after working at Vogue magazine, in order to make her brand a huge success. Since starting the company, she has expanded to designing everything from jewellery to homeware and kitchenware, as well as clothes, shoes and accessories.

Women in Business

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EWN 21

Interview

W

HAT is your business and when did you create it?

My business is Urbe Real Estate Marbella, we are dedicated to real estate management and solutions. Our company not only helps our clients to achieve their dream of owning a property on the Costa del Sol, but we also take care of everything related to works, reforms, maintenance, decoration, rentals...etc. So that our clients have peace of mind, guarantees and profitability when they return to their countries.

In short, “We walk hand in hand with our investors so that they have peace of mind knowing that their investment or property is safe with us even if they are outside Marbella.”

What is your experience in the field?

I started in real estate at the age of 17 in the family business. In Madrid I was working with big real estate brands for many years and for the last eight years we have been focusing on the Costa del Sol, although we also have investors and properties in Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, Malaga. All

Ely Duque of Urbe Real Estate and Investment this with the collaboration of our partners/collaborators.

Have you always wanted to have a business?

Yes, I have always had my own businesses! I set up my first business when I was nine years old at school selling notebooks, colours and pens that I recycled, painted and sold them at a lower price. So my thing is vocation and a bit of masochism considering the times we live in...Haha!

Have you noticed any difference between men and women in business, ie how things are done?

Yes, it is noticeable. But the truth is that every day I also notice that many colleagues are changing their mentality as well as investors. In this sector there are too many of us, I could say too many, so that gives us the opportunity to choose who to work with or col-

laborate with. That will never be an impediment to keep growing in all aspects.

What motivates and inspires you?

It motivates me when I see clients smile with their new house or flat, when they see their dreams come true, when they say thank you and go back to their cities or countries knowing that they are in good hands. And what inspires me, this city inspires me, it inspires me to know that when we make a sale or do a job for a client, we are all helping each other and when I say all of us, I mean all of us!

Within our company we also have a social section, in which we help and donate money to associations and people who look after lost or abandoned animals.

Do you have any advice for people who want to start their own business?

Ely Duque helps clients to find their dream property on the Costa del Sol.

My advice is to fight for your dreams, even if the world tells you otherwise. Entrepreneurship is a hard road but it is worth it. You have to surround yourself with likeminded people and, above all, never stop believing in yourself.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself still in Marbella, with a consolidated company and a large network on the Costa del Sol,

there is still a lot to do here. There are very positive social changes on the horizon. The multiculturalism and tolerance in this part of Spain means that our company serves as a bridge to help build dreams, not only for our clients and investors, but also for many of the people we work with.

I believe in the collaborative economy, environmental and social aid, all of this is a strong pillar in our company and is having an incredible acceptance. So I see a great future in the real estate market and in this area.

Mobile and WhatsApp: 612 234 626 • Telephone: 951 506 112 • Email: info@urberealestate.es

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Women in Business

The business of Royals

LAST week, June 2 to June 5, we saw the world celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, honouring her incredible 70 years of service. In the Royal Family, many of the women have either been involved in business before joining the family or currently hold business roles.

The Duchess of Cambridge Before Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, she worked for her parents party paraphernalia firm. She also previously worked as a part-time buyer for the fashion chain Jigsaw, owned by friends of her family Belle and John Robinson.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie Daughters of Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are not fulltime working royals and both actually have their own jobs.

Beatrice is vice president of partnerships and strategy at Afiniti, an artificial intelligence software firm, and Eugenie is a director at the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in London.

Princess Beatrice is the vice president of partnerships and strategy at Afiniti, an artificial intelligence software firm, and Eugenie is a director at the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in London. The pair have some charity patronages and occasionally appear at royal events such as palace garden parties and Trooping the Colour. Last year, Eugenie also accompanied the Queen to a Royal Maundy service.

As HRHs, it is likely that they may have to consult the Lord Chamberlain before undertaking new business activities - a rule which forms part of the guidelines for working royals.

Zara Tindall MBE Zara Tindall MBE, granddaughter of the Queen, has forged her own career as a champion equestrian, winning an Olympic medal and securing many brand ambassador deals including Land Rover, Rolex, iCandy prams and clothing brand Musto.

Zara has also been awarded an MBE and was voted 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the

Year by the public.

She has her own range of jewellery with Calleija, which is inspired by her career, including coronet rings and saddle-shaped cufflinks.

However, Zara has no royal title and is much further down the line of succession than her cousin Harry.

Princess Michael of Kent The controversial Princess Michael of Kent is married to the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent and does not carry out royal duties.

She is the author of numerous books including The Serpent And The Moon and The Cheetah’s Tale.

Her website describes her as a “writer, historian, lecturer, interior designer and art consultant.”

Zara Tindall MBE has forged her own career as a champion equestrian.

From rags to riches LOOKING at some of the most powerful women in business with incredible careers, it is difficult to comprehend that they have been anything but successful. However, these three women made their own paths from rags to riches…

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey is undoubtedly one of America’s most wellknown and powerful women, however, she had to overcome a myriad of obstacles before she got to where she is now. Growing up in a broken home, Oprah lived in poverty and was subject to sexual abuse from male members of her family for many years. She managed to overcome this trauma and went on to become an honours student, gaining a full scholarship to college.

Oprah’s career took off when she became a news anchor on CBS in Nashville while still in her sophomore year - this would only be the beginning of her success. She then climbed her way up the television industry ladder and became a favourite TV personality in America. Today, Oprah is the founder of Harpo Productions, a multimedia production company, as well as a best-selling author and philanthropist, all while maintaining her career on daytime television.

time, she was a single mother living on benefits. Five years later, her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was rejected by 12 publishers before finally getting picked up by Bloomsbury Publishing.

The Harry Potter series went on to sell more than 500 million copies across the world, shaping a whole generation of children.

Rowling became the first billionaire author in the world, however, she has donated large amounts of her fortune to charitable organisations.

Anita Roddick inspired ethical consumerism with The Body Shop.

JK Rowling According to stories, Rowling first came up with the idea of a young wizard while waiting at King’s Cross Station for her delayed train. Scribbling her ideas onto a piece of paper, she gradually developed the story while raising her daughter. At the

Anita Roddick Anita Roddick, the late founder of The Body Shop, could not have dreamed up what her business would bring. When she created her business, the plan was simple - sell cruelty-free cosmetics made from all natural ingredients. After opening her first store in 1976, its huge popularity led to numerous franchises and resulted in more than 700 worldwide stores by 1991.

Her unique vision resulted in The Body Shop being at the forefront of ethical consumerism - promoting fair trade products and shunning testing products on animals.

Roddick went on to use her booming business to advocate numerous environmental and social causes, working with organisations including Greenpeace.

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EWN 23

Interview

Exclusive interview with AriLiz W

HAT made you start your own business?

Ariane began her own holistic psychology business almost 20 years ago with a desire to help others after studying ways to her deal with her own demons. Liz ran a successful insurance business for 20 years after gaining a business degree, before redirecting her passion into the spiritual and holistic world.

When did you start the business and what is your background in the field?

We began working together soon after meeting a few years ago, realising that our skills, individual experiences and talents combined perfectly to bring unique therapeutic techniques to a wider audience.

With two books published and instructional and informative videos available, our passion to find new solutions to physical or emotional issues continues.

Have you come across any differences between men and women in business?

We believe that both men and women can be highly effective in business as long as they use their natural gifts efficiently and with empathy for the benefit of employees and clients. We believe that understanding on a deep level helps our clients to open up and trust us to help.

What motivates and inspires you?

Our passion is to combine scientific research with alternative and holistic therapies, accept guidance from the Universe, and bring relief to those suffering the after-effects of trauma, or struggling with health or weight issues. On many occasions we have been asked by the medical profession if we can help someone when everything else has failed. Usually, we find the root cause of the problem is emotional or psychological.

This will either fix the issue completely or just clear the way for the medicine to work as it should. We believe that

ARILIZ: Combine scientific research with alternative therapies. the medical profession and holistic therapists should be working together to bring the

most benefit to patients.

We always feel so inspired by the happiness we see in the

eyes of our clients as the blockages are released and their lives fill with peace and joy.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

Follow your dream, trust your intuition and listen to the advice of professionals, especially when it comes to marketing.

Stand proud in your product and promote your business effectively.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years we have no doubt that we will still be discovering new ways to alleviate the suffering of our clients, both human and animals. We expect to have at least six books published with a great following for the video discussions, explanations and demonstrations of our successful therapeutic techniques. We also believe that our ALways cards with the individual hologram will be seen as essential to well-being and happiness.

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Women in Business

Interview

Jane Staunton Machin of Optica Machin English Opticians

OPTICA MACHIN English Opticians based in Estepona, Malaga, is a friendly, family-run opticians that has been providing eye care on the Costa del Sol for over 20 years. We spoke exclusively with optometrist Jane Staunton Machin about being a woman in business, what motivates and inspires her and her plans for the future…

Describe the business…

We carry out eye examinations and can prescribe and dispense spectacles, we can also fit and dispense contact lenses. We can offer advice and a referral service should our pa-

JANE: Being an optometrist was a good career choice. tients need to see an ophthalmologist.

Have you always wanted

to open your own business?

I opened the practice in

collaboration with my father in June 2000. While there were many opticians on the Costa del Sol, no one was offering a UK style eye test so I took the plunge and opened Optica Machin. My father, grandfather and great grandfather were all opticians in the UK so I was very familiar with the optometry world as a child.

The first records we have of his practice were back in 1881. Being an optometrist was a good career choice for a woman, as it allowed some flexibility for family commitments.

What inspires and motivates you?

My inspirations have

been my father, who ran his own practice for many years and also members of Vision Aid Overseas, a charity which I have been lucky enough to be involved with.

Brian Ellis founded the charity in 1985 and I have participated in five projects in various African countries which, for me, has been a high point in my career.

What is your background?

I qualified from City University in 1981 and worked for some years in high street practices and domiciliary eye care so I had plenty of clinical practice but no experience in running my own business. Af-

ter emigrating to Spain, I worked in a practice in Gibraltar before opening my own practice, Optica Machin, in Estepona.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start a business?

I would advise anyone wanting to start their own business to try to gain experience in their chosen field before opening their own business. Some knowledge of business management and accounting would also be very useful.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I would like to be healthy, fit and well enough to keep horse riding!

For more information or an appointment in English or Spanish, phone Jane or Joanne on 952 806 813 or info@opticamachin.com or follow them on Facebook @opticamachin. Address: Optica Machin, Avenida Litoral , Edificio Vistamar, Bloque II, Local 1, 29680, Estepona Website: www.opticamachin.com