Beatrice Migneco or Bea as she’s also known, is a lady of many talents and enjoys a wide range of interests. She is the founder of Bdesign – an Interior Design studio and a brand advocate for a number of key lifestyle brands including One Two One Interiors, Dino Fino Home and Gio.Batta Delia amongst other prestigious names. What makes us curious is…how has this woman who runs her own successful business, features regularly in the local press and on television, arrived where she is today? What drives her ambition and who are the people she owes the most gratitude to?

All these questions and more we put to her in this interview!

1. Beatrice, although you are well-known locally and have years of experience in the design trade, we feel there are certain mysteries that we have yet to discover about you! What we’d really like to know first and foremost is, how do you manage to run a design business on your own?

The key is time management, especially since my office is based at home. I set myself daily targets and goals and by the end of the day, I try my best to have most of them ticked off. My passion drives me…. This is what I love doing. I am constantly researching and keeping up to date with the latest trends, attending conferences and design shows. This kind of inspiration is vital to staying ahead.

2. You mention that you were led into the creative trade after being asked to help run a friend’s interior design store when your children were still very young. Do you feel today this was your calling?

Most definitely YES! I always had an eye for beautiful home items, being given the opportunity to be at the shop triggered me to study and achieve certification. Ultimately I turned my passion into a profession.

3. Have you always had a passion for design? Who or what was your greatest influence?

When I was much younger, my mother and I used to spend hours making crafts to sell. I used to decoupage boxes and flower pots mainly, as I am talking about it I feel nostalgic remembering all those hours spent in mummy’s kitchen, cutting out motifs, glueing etc. So I guess my answer is yes, I have always had an innate passion for design which continued to develop over the years. My greatest influence was Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect and interior designer.

4. When did you decide to open your own business? What were the challenges of starting your own business initially?

I started working as a part-time freelance interior designer around fifteen years ago and took the plunge to do so on a full-time basis four years ago. My biggest challenge was to learn how to interact on social media. It was all very new to me, but I have been blessed with a younger friend who is always willing to help me whenever I come across an obstacle. It is also important to surround yourself with specialists in different areas so that you as the business leader can focus on what your strengths are.

5. How much of a people-person would you say you are? How has this helped you in reaching your ambition?

I would say that is my biggest asset. People love that I am willing to listen to them and develop their ideas at times rather than obstinately carrying out mine.

6. What would you say gets you out of bed in the morning besides a work curfew?

Twice a week I look forward to starting my day with an early Pilates class and the rest of the week I start my day with cooking, which is my second passion. My husband teases me that I treat our kitchen as a Lab, because I’m always trying out different recipes.

7. Is there any particular person or persons to whom you feel that you owe most gratitude? Why?

I would say, my husband, for giving me all the encouragement and support whilst I was studying and throughout my journey.

8. What are some of the lessons you’ve learned from being your own boss?

· Be flexible. No matter what you do there will be hiccups, client demands and other issues that come up unexpectedly.
· Set boundaries. When I first set up, I was checking my emails constantly, because I wanted to ‘stay on top of things’, this was stressing me. I have therefore learned to switch off my phone by 8:00 pm and no longer read emails on my phone. The truth is that you cannot possibly fix matters when you’re out and about with clients, so it’s best to wait and respond when you are calmly in your office.
· Taking the good with the bad. Being your own boss means bouncing with the ups and downs of business, most of which you cannot predict.
· Responsibility is key for everything, maintaining relationships, networking, and keeping to deadlines.

9. Where is next for Bdesign and what are you most excited about?

We’re branching out into different areas which compliment design – these include lifestyle and entertaining. Expect tons of healthy recipes, entertaining tips, tricks and ideas, fun competitions and so much more. We’re also working on a very special collection of featurettes which will be launched on social media – a definite first for our islands.

10. What would you advise young hopefuls today? Those women (and men) who dream of one day achieving similar to what you have?

It is important to craft a career based on your passions. If you’re going to be working for 80% of your life then might as well make sure that you love what you do. I would also like to add that education as well as experience are of utmost importance, therefore make sure you are fully confident in what you will be offering your clients before branching out on your own.

Check out B-Design here and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

*If you’d like to be featured on our website, write to us at [email protected]. We aim to deliver quality interviews where we delve into your world and highlight your work in a way that has meaning for our audience.

Since starting the community in the spring of 2017, there’ve been quite a few transformations and developments. So many that it took us some time to whittle this list down to just 10! If you’ve only just discovered us, you might be interested to learn a little bit about the history of our journey so far!

Let’s start right at the beginning…

1. SHE was founded in May 2017 …

by Sarah Woods then a fitness and life style blogger and digital content creator Julia Perry. The pair had become committed to the project and in just a few weeks of talks they were preparing to launch their first ever SHE event!

2. Their first collaborator was …

young serial entrepreneur – Yasmin De Giorgio who, following an initial meeting with Sarah and Julia, offered a space to hold the SHE opening event gathering. Approximately 30 invitees were led into a cosy, zen-like space at Sanya Eco-Spa to learn more about what the Co-founders had in store for the future of the community as well as to connect with one another.

3. SHE held its first public event at …

the Lily Agius Gallery in Sliema on the morning of the 22nd June 2017 with guests – Art Gallery curator and magazine editor Lily Agius and CEO of talent advisory firm Baton & Baton Eliza Krantz. For the first time audience was given a real sense for what was to come within the SHE community. One particular collaborator Karolis Vitonis of Vitonis Media created the first SHE event video and later went on to producing a further two, the latest, at the community’s end-of-year event last November.

4. The first SHE workshop was …

introduced in collaboration with Swedish sales coach and shop owner Maria Moller who shared her expertise and offered some all-important tips which were very well-received that evening. The workshop was entitled “How to WIN at Retail” and Maria’s store, formerly Fly the Fly Vintage in Sliema was transformed on the lower floor to welcome a small group of attendees.

5. First ever guest panel consisting of …

four female entrepreneurs during a networking event in February 2018 at Active Spirit gym. Gracing colour-coded bean bags and addressing a crowd of 60 were magazine editor Sarah Kennard, founder of People and Skin clinic Dr Joanna Delia, psychotherapist and founder of A Life I Choose Emma Hogg and our host for the day and fitness entrepreneur Angele Satariano.

6. In June 2018 SHE welcomed for the first time over 150 female attendees at …

renowned luxury home and lifestyle store Camilleri Paris Mode. Seated comfortably were writer/editor/actress/presenter Jo Caruana, Fashion designer Carla Grima, Former director of marketing communications at the Corinthia hotels Vanessa Coleiro and fifth generation manager at Camilleri Paris Mode Mara Camilleri. As ever, the panel was wonderfully inspirational adding to the magic of this grand occasion.

7. Co-founder Julia Perry took on the role of mediator ….

the same year SHE celebrated a full-blown End-of-year event at the Phoenicia hotel in Valletta where to her right sat Interior designer Pippa Toledo, HR professional Mikela Fenech Pace, media personality and actress Claire Agius and Pat Vella, PA to the general manger at the Phoenicia hotel. It was an arrangement that would keep for the SHE events following and discussions would follow a more conversational path.

8. SHE’s first taster workshop at a larger event gathering ….

entitled “How not to suck at networking”. Enter Emma Hogg founder of A life I Choose who raised the bar high and delivered a most powerful presentation to a crowd of over 200 women seated inside the grand ballroom of the Phoenicia hotel in Valletta.

9. SHE’s first indie market …

was a feat in itself! 10 Women-led brands landed on to the scene with stalls decorated in sheer festive-style! Among the showcasers that day were Saz Mifsud, Sue’s Jewels, Munch a Bunch, Ellie & Carl Skincare, “We are The New Superheroes” – children’s books and The Blind Hedgehog.

10. Power circles session was introduced at …

the Xara Lodge in March 2019 which saw the audience divide into smaller groups for the purpose of forming closer connections and speaking more freely about a variety of topics. The feedback we received from the mentors who were assigned to each group, was that participants enjoyed the opportunity and indeed, are hoping for more sessions like this to be re-introduced at a future SHE event!

 

….And finally, after months in the planning the SHE website was launched where currently you can book event tickets, browse through our merchandise, read our blogs and sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest goings-on from SHE: Social Hub Entrepreneurs. Our next event is a business breakfast at one of our favourite hang-outs Emma’s Kitchen which is scheduled for Thursday the 20th February. If you are able to join us, we’d be delighted to have the opportunity to meet you and celebrate yet another first in our community’s history!

So there you have it! 10 SHE firsts which have laid the foundation beneath where we’re standing today. Several events later and a loyal online following, our community continues to grow and prosper. As always we can never sign off without giving gratitude to all those wonderful individuals, our husbands and family members included, whose patience and support has been instrumental in allowing us to raise a toast to our three year venture!

See which women-owned brands and communities are taking over this year’s events calendar.

Over at the SHE HQ we’re already at our desks and finalising plans to create more events and workshops of our own. Why? Well between one SHE gathering and the next, a gap is often felt among members of our community who tell us they need more! Now that the main festivities are over, we’re finalising our own schedule for 2020. In the meantime, we thought to fill you in on some hot-on-the scene businesses and communities that share our values and who are also preparing a colourful schedule of activities to welcome you in the forth-coming months.

So, without further a-do we’re proud to bring you this short-list of women-owned brands with BIG plans and only the best intentions for this year!

A Life I Choose

First up it’s The New Year Evolution Workshop by A Life I Choose happening on Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of January. Here Psychotherapist and founder of A Life I Choose – Emma Hogg is preparing to welcome her largest audience yet while inviting us to take a closer look at ourselves and adjust to a more positive mindset. During the workshop, attendees will be encouraged to interact with one another, make new connections and set targets that are in alignment with their purpose.

“You’ll leave the workshop with a clear vision of the year you’re going to create, the strategy you need to make this a reality and the techniques to acknowledge your fear when it arises so that it never ever stops you from achieving.” – Emma Hogg

Join us as we too will be partaking in this experience! Click this link for more info!

Sanya Eco-Spa

A place of zen and blissful tranquility, here was the location for our very first SHE gathering back in May 2017! Founded by Yasmin DeGiorgio, a Yoga and meditation teacher and mentor, Sanya Eco-Spa offers clients the opportunity to unwind and find their inner peace whether enjoying a beauty treatment or massage, a yoga class or even a longer-stay retreat held at various locations around the island.

Coming up next at Sanya Eco-Spa – a 4 Week Stress RESET course starting on January 25th! This course will take you from the edge of burn-out to a state of inner balance, peace of mind and creative inspiration. Included in the package is a weekly workshop, yoga and meditation classes, massage treatment, Spa membership and online portal.

“Stress is one of the most destructive forces to our health, well being, productivity and relationships. Yet it also offers us an opportunity and sometimes a push, to go within, understand ourselves better and master our inner lives.” – Yasmin De Giorgio

Get more info about their upcoming event by clicking on this link.

Honey and Zest

Who doesn’t love a food blog? Especially one where is shared easy-to-follow recipes to create delicious eats which will buy you time in the kitchen and allow you to impress your family and friends when the time comes to entertain! Not only this, but Honey and Zest creator Stefy Cassar Reynaud is continuing her research into food nutrition and sharing healthy tips and more with her followers and subscribers.

“We owe it to ourselves to eat well and improve quality of life when it comes to food choices.” – Stefy Cassar Reynaud

If you’d like to start receiving tried and tested recipes courtesy of Honey and Zest subscribe to their online magazine. Simply head to www.honeyandzest.com
*Just remember, you can’t bite into the screen!

Carla Grima Atelier

Even before we had the pleasure of welcoming fashion designer and entrepreneur Carla Grima to our panel back in June 2018, we had been following her journey and marvelling at her unique and colourful creations! Hearing her story, we became fascinated by her plight to success and today, we remain in awe of Carla’s passion for the trade and her willingness to collaborate with other creatives locally. This year alone we are told to expect more collaborative shows and projects with local designers and creatives leading up to the year’s highlight which is always aimed at Spring/Summer!

“We are really excited to work on some new concepts that will bring our clients together for more informative events and workshops which will be focused around our boutique locations – Salt&C Ta’Xbiex and Phoenicia.” – Carla Grima

Check out www.carlagrima.com and stay updated with upcoming events on Facebook and Instagram

Malta Artisan Markets

Attracting makers and traders from around the island as the name itself suggests, these award-winning markets launched in May 2011 have become hot spots for discovering local artisans and shopping for an array of lovingly crafted creations. Organised by The Definitive(ly) Good Guide Co – publishers of The Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants in Malta & Gozo and The Malta Baby and Kids directory, the aim of this market is to “further promote high quality local arts and crafts and quality food products and good eating”.

This year Malta Artisan Markets will be organising four events at various locations, the first one being in the Spring. If you’d like to find out more about the MAM and be notified of upcoming events you can sign up to their newsletter via their website

* You’ll find the link at the bottom of their page!

Eco Market Malta

Born out of a passion for environmental sustainability and operating a 100% ban on all single-use plastics, these markets are steadily growing in popularity thanks to a truly dedicated team of change-makers! Founder and main organiser of Eco Market Malta Zen D’Amato Gautam was eager to fill us in on the project at its inception and ever since, we’ve continued to looked forward to the growth of a community which promotes a greener, more eco-conscious lifestyle.

The Eco Market is set to take place every month from March to December 2020. The first one will be held in Gozo, during the event ‘Lejl Imkebbes’ or “Festival of lights” on 28th March from 6pm onwards at the Cittadella, which will be lit with over 30,000 candles creating a truly magical atmosphere. The event also offers numerous activities for everyone with historic re-enactments, extended and discounted tickets to museums, live entertainment and kid’s activities.

Further announcements will be made as the event approaches, so keep a watch of Eco Market Malta on Facebook and Instagram and visit their site to  find out about their up coming events! Interested to attend? Subscribe to their newsletter receive a free e-book on 150 Tips on how to start living a sustainable life.

Oh and one more piece of info we’re told you should know- the Eco market offers free drinking water in large dispensers so visitors are encouraged to bring their own re-fillable water bottle!

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*If you are a female business owner or founder of a community we would love to hear from you! We are currently offering a special promotional package for small businesses and start-ups to feature on our channels as well as our website > shemalta.com

Write to us at [email protected] to find out more!

Meet the women behind 5 of our best-loved brands…

The big day is very almost upon us and since it’s showing no sign of stopping we hurried to approach 5 of our favourite women-owned brands to fill us in on what they do to prepare for the busiest time of the year! Right now, let’s fly over to wherever our ladies are and peep through their festive shop windows…are you listening?

Rebecca Camilleri – Healthy treats and nut butter maker 

CHRISTMAS… an extremely busy time in the kitchen of MUNCH A BUNCH. From corporate hampers, to preparing direct orders and making sure all the stockists have their shelves full of nut butters… December seems to have flown by.

Preparations started months in advance. This year I wanted to launch a limited edition Christmas nut butter, which like any nut butter, takes very long to perfect. The first ever trial jar was blended way back in summer. Six months later, after many attempts and tastings, a very DOUGH-licious nut butter was created – COOKIE DOUGH! It was a great hit and sold out in just 2 weeks!

Another vegan treat that I wanted to have on the menu, were the classic mince pies… but with a twist! I was determined to create a signature recipe that was raw, vegan, with no added refined sugars, oils and salt. Two hands and 3 weeks later, hundreds of mince pies left my kitchen to be enjoyed by all- vegans and non-vegans!

Definitely wouldn’t have been able to make all this without the help of my team- my incredible family and my amazing partner, Sam. From deliveries, to picking up stuff that I needed in the kitchen, to encouraging me and pushing my abilities.. they did it ALL! There’s NUTTIN’ like my support system. I’m beyond grateful and blessed… and cookie dough obsessed!!

If you’re nuts about nut butters visit Munch a Bunch on Facebook or Instagram

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Sue Bencini – Jewellery Maker

The run up towards Christmas most certainly is the busiest period of the year!

So much so that my actual preparations start from August. This would involve first and foremost forecasting the latest trends and colour schemes of the upcoming season, and when I say trends I don’t mean just in the fashion world, but also In home & decor. For instance I would look out for features such as unpolished wood, types of metals, geometric shapes, types of fabric etc. Since this would also inspire me as what to implement into my actual jewellery designs. For me fashion is not just what we wear, but it is constantly evolving around us.

Once I have that in place, I then would be able to source all the gemstones and fittings I wish to introduce into my Christmas collection. This is when the truly exciting part begins, which is the actual creation of my new lines. However whilst sitting down for long hours at my beading table I would also need to be sure to book my slots within the leading Christmas markets, stock up the outlets that sell my collection, promote my new lines on social media, make sure all packaging material is in check, input all my new designs into my system, code them, price and finally sell them…..then with a blink of an eye….guess what? It’s Christmas Day! It’s a lot of hard work, but I love what I do, and wouldn’t trade it for anything else!

To find out more about Sue’s bespoke treasures visit Sue’s Jewels on Facebook or Instagram

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Cat Moyle – Mind, body mentor 

I swear I saw Santa hats on sale in October this year!  Here is my reindeer rundown of how to avoid that kinda crazy.

3. Expect the Unexpected.

The closer the 24^th December “deadline” looms, the more unpredictable things become.  Do you find that?  People are either frantic to squeeze in some chill time before the party-a-thon, or cancelling last minute due to hangovers. So, my cancellation policy/waiting list is essential at this time of year.

2. Give Gratitude (Ethically)

I give all my clients an ethical ‘thanks’ at Christmas. In the past I bought local handmade gifts, soaps n lotions or tea n cake. More recently I donate to oceana.org to help keep this blue planet alive.

1. Stay Selfish

It is tempting to get sucked into a frantic frame of mind. The increased stress to squeeze in a few more clients has a BIG impact so my mantra is “Me First”

I balance the busy with 60 minutes dedicated daily ‘sanity time’. If you can’t manage 60, aim for at least 15. Do something that feels good. Be still, breathe deeply, eat well, hydrate properly, go for a walk, anything to counter the adrenal overload.

It’s competition time! Final call out for anyone who wants the free micro-workbook for Rocking the Feminine Workshop with all the notes from the talk AND an exclusive 50% off code for a 2020 happening. The sign up page for SHE – November 2019 attendees is catmoyle.com/secret-space

To keep up with Cat Moyle follow her on Facebook or Instagram

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Saz Mifsud – Fashion designer 

We start Christmas prep in July! Yes. July.

I’ve found that the earlier you start preparing for this big retail season, the better. I start working on ideas for new designs and exploring new fabric options. It’s a time of focused analysis into our best-sellers over the last year and how we can adapt and develop them into new exciting products for the upcoming season. This year we added a silk-wool scarf, a silk reversible jacket which is patterned on one side and plain-coloured on the other, two leather bag styles and a silk pouch bag with a beaded strap! It’s been a busy time…

Every year we organise a Christmas event for our clients in which we launch our winter collection. This normally involves Christmas music, some delicious sweets and festive decorations. This year we were so thrilled to actually host this event at our brand new Sliema shop. Out came the red candles, poinsettia and of course a lot of Christmas cheer.

A good Christmas competition never goes amiss (find details below) and of course a boost in our social media marketing to get people shopping local is a must. We try to make it as easy as possible for people to shop online at www.sazmifsud.com and offer gift packing and delivery on all orders worldwide. However for those who prefer the boutique experience, we’re so thrilled to now have a home in the heart of Sliema.

Our competition is running now! Click here for all the info!

Keep in touch with Saz Mifsud on Facebook or Instagram.

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Elleria Janais – Organic and natural skincare formulator 

So whats going on at Ellie & Carl Skin Botanicals during Christmas?

It’s like working at Santa’s Workshop! Preparations start in early autumn by ordering fresh ingredients, creating and packing our skincare to have stock throughout Christmas time. We bring in new, exciting beauty cupping tools. We want to inform our customers about ancient rituals, something different that they can gift themselves and their loved ones with.

This year we’ve had many more last minute messages from people going abroad and wanting to take our Skincare products as gifts. This makes us super happy to know that Ellie & Carl boxes will be under Christmas trees in different countries.

While Santa’s workshop is on-going, preparations are also underway for next year! This time I decided to slow down, to be able to have the time to reflect, learn and create exciting workshops for 2020.  My goal next year is to focus on healthy, sustainable, holistic beauty that supports our skin on a cellular level and much more.  For all those who are interested you can sign up to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram or Facebook to make sure you won’t miss the dates! The workshops will be held at different locations collaborating with other entrepreneurs in Malta!

Check out www.elliecarl.com for further information and stay updated about future workshops! You can also check out Ellie & Carl on Facebook or Instagram.

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So, there you have it, 5 exceptionally talented female entrepreneurs who are rocking the local indie business scene this Christmas! Here’s wishing you all the very best this holiday season and in the words of our friend Cat Moyle: “Be festive but be rested!”