New entrepreneurs always look a kind of inspiration, and in case you are a woman looking to launch your venture, here you will find 3 successful women entrepreneurs in Barcelona who are actually immigrants to this land, and have managed to overcome challenges and have a fulfilling life.
Whether you consider yourself a female entrepreneur, a business owner, or have not yet dared to call yourself anything, but know you would like to run a business on your own, have a more flexible lifestyle, and live up to your full potential, the stories of Jing, Duda and Marina will make up your mind!
JING – co-founder of BlackLab Brewpub
Jing is a woman who found her passion on brews after graduating as an architect, and at the age of 29, together with her partner founded a brewpub in Barcelona, revolutionizing the beer local scene that was dominated by big commercial brands. She tells us: the beer world is a very male industry, only 25% of beer drinkers are woman, but this is slowly changing. Hospitality isn't different in Spain; many managers or owners are male dominated.
I always liked challenges, I see a problem or opportunity and I like to take it. I get inspired by my family efforts to succeed, we are immigrants, and they faced hard difficulties back in the 80s, being cultural and economic, and this shaped my personality - difficulties only makes you stronger.
Women out there, don't be shy and ask for help. Be humble and listen. Recently I joined the non-profit association called Pink Boots Society and become their leader in Spain. The objective is to promote our roll as professional women in the beer industry and create a network to support each other, so in case you like brews give me a shout!
On your day to day life, you're focus on the small things because you want to control everything and probably you feel miserable, suddenly you step back and see what you have accomplished, then a very great feeling over wells you and makes you very happy. Life as an entrepreneur is not for everybody, you must master a life between incredible misery and incredible happiness.
DUDA – co-founder of Art Bike Tours
Duda comes from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Being a designer and art lover, she found herself in Barcelona after fishing her master studies, and instead of joining a trendy design company in the City of Counts, she and a couple of partners developed an amazing venture that represents her truly passions: Art and Biking! They developed a venture that connect independent art galleries, public art by using bike lanes, and bikes!
On her own words: I do think the woman role and point a view is really really important in a venture. In our case, we are 3 partners, 2 guys and myself, and the balance found through different perspectives is key for success.
Every day I get inspired by my in-laws, who are amazing hard workers who founded a small business many years ago, and despite life challenges, they always faced it with a huge and wonderful smile!
There are plenty of women out there looking for advice or inspiration, what would you tell them? I wouldn't say anything different from any other person that is starting a business. Work hard, pay attention in your mistakes and be happy with your hits. Have fun!
In my entrepreneurial life, I love the fact that I am constantly learning about art, having an open-air office, in other words I do choose which café suits me better to work each day, and get to know different people every week.
MARINA – co-founder of Barcelona Eat Local
Marina is technically Russian, but her whole family is Armenian. A Finance Economist who grew up between women who cook that food you find at those iconic mom and pops eateries that are hard to find these days. Having developed an intrinsic good taste for raw products and pastry´ skills, at the age of 36 she decided to give a chance for her passions: talking to strangers while showcasing the best of local foods. She co-founded Barcelona Eat Local.
Marina says: In a male dominated society, I found that there are plenty of women entrepreneurs out there, and that it only takes courage to jump into the adventure. I would love to see men leaving their jobs to take care of children at home, I think pre-defined roles in society should be left aside. Do what makes you feel good!
When I started looking for partners for my food tour venture, I got to know this woman who runs a market stall dedicated to sell fish. She is the 6th generation in business, and before talking business she started telling me about her life. I found that amazing and inspiring, because we are all persons and that matters a lot. Success is something that comes afterwards.
Being a woman entrepreneur outside your hometown is challenging and exciting, people doesn’t know you, and moreover you are an ¨outsider¨, and that´s pretty motivating, because I wake up thinking how can I be better than an ¨insider¨. I cannot tell the experience is perfect, because there are unhappy moments, and the key in my opinion is to overcome those, converting them into achievements, and for that one needs only passion and determination.
I love the fact that as an entrepreneur I had to leave behind prejudices and do everything necessary to build my venture. I won’t hesitate a second to clean the floor if needed, and I wont think that because I have an economics degree from a top university in Moscow, I shouldn’t be doing that.
