Going on the hunt for a supportive, non-intimidating professional network can feel daunting. You can’t exactly ‘find your tribe’ by simply ordering it from a delivery menu.

Just witnessing social media behaviour, recalling your school years, or (if you’re a parent) navigating the school gate cliques is reminder enough that it’s rare to find a community where you don’t feel sized up, judged or – worse – invisible.

That’s why SHE Malta’s tenth anniversary this March is particularly significant…as a milestone that goes beyond longevity.

If you think back to 2016 (pre SHE Malta), women’s networks were rare. Remote work was less common, surreal as it now feels typing those words! Frank conversations about burnout and boundaries, confidence and visibility, pricing and USP weren’t mainstream, again strange as this may now seem. Over this past decade, the way we work has changed profoundly, forever shaped by the Covid era. 

One thing that hasn’t changed: entrepreneurship can be isolating and lonely.

Which is why a decade after its launch, what stands out about Malta’s first network for women in business is not just the number of events held or panels hosted. 

It’s the community that’s been tirelessly and steadily built, curated and sustained by founder Sarah Woods (and former partner Julia Perry in the initial years).

While recently writing about SHE Malta’s membership benefits, from the Real Talk series, Bridging Communities events and numerous seminars and workshops to coworking sessions, social events and of course networking opportunities, something became clear to me… Although each year’s programme of events is obviously intrinsic to SHE’s offering and identity, community is an equally essential part of the SHE story.

As you’re about to see, community stems from something deeper than programming itself. Because beyond the business learnings and advice, there’s something intangible and special that happens at a SHE Malta event.

It’s the warmth and the connection when you enter the room.
It’s the unspoken “step this way, we’ve got you” energy.
It’s the eureka moment when someone offers a helpful perspective on a challenge you’ve been carrying quietly for months.

Busy lives and work schedules mean not everyone attends every gathering. Some faces become familiar quickly; others surface less frequently. But the constants are connection without competitiveness, ambition without intimidation. And no matter who you run into at a SHE event, everyone is a valued part of the SHE Malta family.

The sense of belonging is felt immediately by newcomers and longstanding members alike. In an age of increasing competition, disconnectedness, AI and social media artificiality, that sense of belonging is hard to come by – and even harder to create.

For Rebekah Kamsky, Founder of Little Isle Digital Strategy & Ecommerce Studio, community has translated into not only connection but commercial momentum:

“Joining the SHE community has been a wonderful experience. As an entrepreneur, it can often be isolating at times, so it’s imperative to surround yourself with like-minded people and to invest in yourself. Not only have I had the opportunity to share my own skills and insights in my field with others in the network, which led to further business development and leads, but I’ve also learnt so much from other members of the community. If you’re looking for a place to network, grow, share and thrive, then joining the SHE community is most definitely the best decision you could make, for yourself or your business trajectory.”

It’s a reminder that community is not simply emotional support. It’s exchange. It’s collaboration. It’s professional acceleration.

Mireille Petit-Pellegrini, Founder and Coach at Thrive Positive (whose eagerly awaited post-event summaries perfectly capture the SHE ethos), reflects:

“Through each of the stories shared at a recent SHE brunch, it was evident that no matter how tough the year may have been… there is such amazing growth in everyone. Belonging to this group is one of the things I have treasured most about the year. Hopefully newer members got a feel of what a special “tribe” ⁨Sass Woods⁩ has grown and nurtured and the love and respect in the room for one another. Here’s to continuing to support one another, grow, learn from each other and collaborate together. It’s a community like no other and one of women at their best!” 

Diana Iskander, Founder of LANOUR International, also sees community through a thoughtful lens (no pun intended):

“As a business owner, photographer, and proud member of the SHE Malta community, capturing these moments feels deeply personal to me, as I witness women supporting one another and shaping their own entrepreneurial paths. Being behind the camera allows me to preserve genuine connections and meaningful exchanges that live on far beyond the event itself, while contributing to a visual story that truly reflects the heart and values of SHE. I am sincerely grateful for this community and for the warmth, openness, and shared belief that growth is stronger when it is experienced together.”

Finally, as owner of boutique editorial and copywriting service, WriteContent and a SHE member myself, I can personally attest this network has provided me with a safe, non-judgemental environment, and has also made me feel less ‘remote’ as a remote-working solopreneur. It has strengthened my belief in my work, sharpened my confidence in my business journey and offered education I might otherwise have sought alone (not necessarily with a fruitful outcome).

No community sustains itself for ten years by accident. Behind it all is the highly intentional – and gently powerful – leadership of its director.

The tone, the values, the balance between professional growth and human connection have not been incidental. They have been intentionally shaped and quietly driven.

“Each day, I’m fueled by the incredible stories of our members; women who embark on new ventures, forge meaningful collaborations and pursue their dreams with renewed self-assurance. I’m super proud that through this community, women have banded together to support one another’s endeavours, pass on knowledge and mentor other women who wish to carve out their own unique path. It truly embodies the SHE motto of ‘collaboration over competition’.  – Sarah Woods, Director, SHE Malta.

Community can’t be manufactured or downloaded overnight. It is built, conversation by conversation, event by event, collaboration after collaboration. As SHE Malta reaches ten years of building community – in an increasingly digital, fast-paced business world – its role as a space prioritising connection, generosity and shared progress feels more essential than ever.

So I’m toasting ten years of SHE Malta (and quietly hoping we’ll be celebrating ten more).

When it comes to self development books, there’s never been more choice than now. In fact, there’s so much literature out there, it’s almost overwhelming. 

At SHE, we’re no strangers to personal development recommendations that deliver new perspectives, sharpen your understanding and help you work on what matters for your business, your relationships, the inner you, and even just this thing called life. So this month’s blog is yet another self development gift from us to you. 

BUT before we get to the treat below, first dear reader, a little pep talk.

We’re calling time on the whole “New year, New you” thing… 

Because Truth: Each one of us is an amazing living, breathing library of our own stories, our experiences, triumphs and defeats – those elements that make us uniquely us and the many lessons we’ve learned along the way (often without knowing it). 

This is what it is to be human. 

Not models that malfunction and need throwing out each December to be replaced with a brand new one in January. You don’t need to become a new you. 

However…consciously striving to slightly improve the already pretty awesome version of yourself…? Now THAT’S something to get behind! 

Because here’s another truth: being human also means being an ever-evolving work in progress. This is especially accurate if you’ve chosen an entrepreneurial life.

(A wise woman once said “you can’t develop your business without developing yourself”.) 

So, if you’re looking for greater balance, meaning, business growth, kick-ass inspiration or to simply understand your world or the people around you better – but don’t quite know where to start – we’ve done the work for you. Again, we’ve carefully curated a selection of great reads on:  business, communication, money, mindset, relationships, midlife and inner work. 

So, put your phone away, stick a do not disturb sign on your door and feast your eyes on SHE Malta’s latest list of self development book recommendations.

BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

Top Picks

1 The E-Myth Revisited  by Michael E. Gerber  

 Why most small businesses fail and how to turn them around. 

Gerber provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful business, focusing on systems and processes rather than just entrepreneurial passion.

A staple for business owners: Gerber dismantles the myth that great technical skill equals business success. Instead he shows how systems, roles and strategic thinking transform small businesses into sustainable ventures.

2 The Lean Startup, How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses – Eric Ries  

A modern approach to entrepreneurial experimentation with businesses and products.

Ries teaches founders to test assumptions, iterate quickly and validate ideas with real customers — valuable for anyone launching or scaling a business. The book provides practical advice on how to create and manage successful startups in an age of uncertainty.

3 Start Something That Matters – Blake Mycoskie

Mycoskie shares the story behind TOMS and the rise of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. 

The book argues that business can be both profitable and socially impactful, without traditional barriers to entry. It offers practical insights on launching ventures aligned with values. Less about systems, more about mission-led action.

4 The $100 Startup – Chris Guillebeau

“This book is more than a ‘how to’ guide, it’s a ‘how they did it’ guide that should persuade anyone thinking about starting a business that they don’t need a fortune to make one.” – John Jantsch

This description by Jantsch (author of Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine) nails it! Guillebeau went looking for what actually works in the real world for low-budget entrepreneurs, listening to and witnessing the case studies of diverse founders. His book shows you how to turn skills and passions into income streams without huge upfront costs, 

 If you love hearing inspiring yet practical examples of people, tiny ideas, small beginnings, this one’s for you.

5 Hug Your Customers – Jack Mitchell

A human-centred approach to customer service, emphasising the power of personal connection and delight.

Particularly useful for service-based founders looking to differentiate through culture and care. Mitchell argues that genuine warmth and attention aren’t “soft skills” but commercial advantages, showing how loyalty is built through everyday interactions rather than grand gestures.

FINANCIAL LITERACY, MONEY PSYCHOLOGY & RISK

Top Picks

6 Same as Ever, Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life, Morgan Housel

The important events that will shape the future are inherently unpredictable. Instead, we should be asking a different question: What will be the same ten years from now? What will be the same one hundred years from now? 

Housel focuses on the patterns in human behaviour that don’t change, even as technology and markets do. Through short, reflective essays, he explores risk, uncertainty, incentives, and long-term thinking. The book blends financial psychology with life philosophy, arguing that understanding human nature matters more than predicting trends.

7 Money: A Love Story : Untangle Your Financial Woes and Create the Life You Really Want – Kate Northrup

Northrup reframes money as a relationship, shaped by values, emotions and self-worth rather than rules or discipline alone. 

Drawing on personal experience, psychology and feminine leadership principles, she challenges hustle culture, scarcity thinking and productivity-driven ideas of success. Unlike traditional personal finance books, this is not about budgets, investments or financial rules — it’s about changing how women emotionally relate to money in the first place. Blending reflective exercises with a softer, cyclical approach to earning and spending, Northrup encourages women to work with their energy rather than against it – particularly relevant for those unlearning guilt, overwork and fear around money.

8 The Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason

Timeless personal finance fundamentals and wisdom told through parables. 

Providing core principles on saving, investing and financial discipline, this book is intended to resonate with readers new to money management or seeking foundational habits to establish and ensure long-term wealth.

Also recommended

9 Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill  

With over 100 million copies sold worldwide since its 1937 publication, this foundational mindset book has cemented its status as one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. 

Based on Hill’s study of successful individuals, the famous business bible examines the power of desire, faith, persistence, and goal-setting. Though decades old, many of the principles of Think and Grow Rich for long-term personal and financial growth still resonate.

10 Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny – Suze Orman

A woman-focused guide to financial confidence, literacy and security, delivered in Orman’s characteristically direct style.

Addressing money through the lens of women’s independence, protection and long-term stability, this book combines clear financial guidance with an emphasis on informed decision-making and self-reliance. Where Northrup addresses the relationship with money and mindset shift, Orman’s book is more action-focused. Though acknowledging certain emotional barriers, her emphasis is on taking control by understanding your finances, protecting yourself, and making smart money decisions. A practical, instructive and empowering read.

COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS

Top Picks

11 Crucial Conversations – Pattersen, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler

A practical framework for navigating high-stakes conversations with clarity and respect.

Essential for leaders, founders and anyone whose success depends on relationships. This book teaches structured dialogue for emotionally charged moments, helping readers build influence without conflict.

12 Who Deserves Your Love – KC Davis

With radical honesty and a compassionate touch, this book helps readers distinguish between love that nourishes and attachments that drain.

Davis tackles our most common – and toughest – questions about love and relationships with warmth and insight. This practical guide explores how vulnerability and trauma shape our connections. Packed with lists and diagrams, it helps you discern who truly deserves your time – a guide to finding love and being loved – exactly as you are.

INNER WORK, HEALING & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

Top Picks

13 How to Meet Yourself – Nicole LePera

This superb workbook is the companion to LePera’s best-selling book How to Do the Work. 

One of the most thoughtfully compiled books I’ve ever seen, LePera’s comprehensive book follows on from the hugely successful How to Do the Work, helping users actively apply its teachings. Readers are encouraged to drill down and understand self-limiting patterns, exercise compassionate self-observation, and literally do the work and benefit their lives. 

14 The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery – Brianna Wiest

Exploration of  self-sabotage as an unconscious attempt at self-protection rather than failure. 

Wiest connects emotional patterns, trauma responses, and identity to the ways people block their own growth. The focus is on inner work, accountability, and transformation rather than tactics. It’s introspective and emotionally driven rather than research-based.

15 Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? – Julie Smith

A practical wellbeing manual that tackles the everyday issues that affect us all and offers practical, potentially life-changing solutions. 

Written in short, bite-sized entries, this book is great for people looking for structured, actionable emotional tools. It’s organised into sections covering specific challenges and provides tools to help with managing anxiety, dealing with criticism, battling low mood, building self-confidence, finding motivation, learning to forgive yourself.

MINDSET, HABITS & BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

Top Picks

16 Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less – Greg McKeown

A concise, compelling guide to essentialism. Focus relentlessly on what matters and eliminate the rest. 

A strong follow-on to McKeown’s core ideas about simplifying priorities. The book is especially relevant for women juggling competing demands, offering a disciplined framework for saying no without guilt and reclaiming time, energy and clarity. While written for a general audience, the book has particular resonance for women juggling competing demands, offering a clear framework for prioritisation, boundaries and intentional decision-making.

17 Fear Less Pippa Grange

“Pippa Grange has something to teach all of us when it comes to letting go of perfectionism and anxiety, and living with open hearts rather than clenched fists. Fear Less is a total game-changer.’ Brené Brown.”

 If we were truly free from fear, what could we achieve? We strive for success, but we are rarely happy. The more we try to win – putting on a brave face for work or family – the more we risk losing ourselves. And even reaching our goals can feel strangely hollow. The culprit? Fear. It makes us anxious, or shameful, or turns us into perfectionists. We pretend to be someone else while aiming for a status that’s never truly satisfying.

18 The Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins

How this could NOT be included? The book that everyone is reading (including yours truly) and talking about. 

Robbins argues that many people waste energy trying to control others’ reactions and behaviour. The “let them” mindset encourages detachment from external validation and unnecessary conflict. The book is about boundaries, emotional regulation, and personal agency across several key aspects of life. Pragmatic, refreshing and confidence-building.

Also recommended

19 Everything Is F*cked – Mark Manson

A refreshingly blunt take on meaning, acceptance and prioritisation. 

Manson blends humour with psychology to challenge conventional positivity and help readers focus on what truly matters. An deliciously irreverent exploration of hope, values and emotional decision-making in an uncertain world. Manson argues that modern anxiety isn’t caused by lack, but by misplaced beliefs about happiness, control and optimism. Drawing on psychology and philosophy, he challenges feel-good self-help and makes the case for grounded values, responsibility and acceptance rather than constant positivity.

20 Ikigai – Héctor García & Francesc Miralles

Ikigai explores the Japanese concept of purpose as the intersection of meaning, joy, and contribution. 

Through cultural observation, interviews, and lifestyle insights, the book links longevity with intention and community. It’s gentle, reflective, and philosophical rather than prescriptive. More about orientation to life than achievement.

21 Manifest(o): Unlock the life you deserve and find contentment in your everyday – Candice Braithwaite

Believing that you deserve abundance is the route to inviting it into your life. But what if your experiences so far have demonstrated the exact opposite? 

What does Manifesting look like if you’re not white, thin, traditionally pretty, or able-bodied? Candice has learnt to manifest the hard way and can teach you to do the same. Focusing on the four pillars of Wellness, Wealth, Love and Happiness, Candice’s customary no bullsh*t candour will guide you towards the life you desire and show you that manifesting can be for everyone, not just those to whom the universe has already been kind.

22 Tiny Habits: Why Starting Small Makes Lasting Change Easy – BJ Fogg

If Charles Duhigg and James Clear’s ‘habits classics’ weren’t enough for you, you might want to add this one to the list. Written by a pioneer in behaviour design, Tiny Habits shows how small behaviour shifts lead to big results — ideal for readers who want practical tools to transform routines.

23 You Become What You Think – Shubham Kumar Singh

A contemporary guide to the power of mindset, this book explores how our thoughts shape daily experience, habits, emotional wellbeing and relationships. 

Singh distils ideas from psychology, neuroscience and personal insight into accessible, bite-sized practices designed to increase self-awareness and intentional living. It’s particularly useful for readers newer to self-development who want practical tools for mental clarity and growth

OUR WORLD & SOCIAL INSIGHT

Top Picks

24 Men Explain Things to Me – Rebecca Solnit

Exquisitely written with grace and energy, this collection of essays is a sharp cultural analysis on gender and voice.

It has become a touchstone of the feminist movement, inspired the term ‘mansplaining’, and established Solnit as one of the leading feminist thinkers of our time, inspiring everyone from radical activists to Beyonce Knowles. From rape culture to mansplaining, from French sex scandals to marriage and the nuclear family, from Virginia Woolf to colonialism, Solnit delivers a fierce and incisive exploration of the issues that a patriarchal culture will not necessarily acknowledge as ‘issues’ at all. 

25 Noise – Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony & Cass Sunstein

How noise (random variability in human judgement) distorts decisions, even among experts acting in good faith.

Drawing on behavioural science, it shows how inconsistency affects hiring, medicine, justice, and business. Unlike bias, noise is harder to see, but just as costly. Co-author of Freakonomics calls it “an absolutely brilliant investigation of a massive societal problem that has been hiding in plain sight.”

Also recommended

26 Freakonomics – Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner 

Assume nothing. Question everything! This is the message at the heart of this rule-breaking, iconoclastic book that turned everyone’s view of the world upside-down and became an international multi-million-copy-selling phenomenon.

Now updated 20 years after its release, this atypical self-help book is worth reading for its provocative insights that sharpen curiosity and critical thinking.

WOMEN, IDENTITY, POWER & LIVED EXPERIENCE

Top Picks

27 The Heroine’s Journey, Woman’s Quest for Wholeness – Maureen Murdock

Murdock reframes the traditional hero’s journey through a female lens.

The Heroine’s Journey offers a map for women seeking psychological wholeness beyond cultural expectations, in a society where she has been defined according to masculine values. Drawing on cultural myths and fairy tales, ancient symbols and goddesses, and the dreams of contemporary women, Murdock illustrates the need for — and the reality of — feminine values in Western culture.

28 Revolting Women: Why midlife women are walking out, and what to do about it – Lucy Ryan 

Professional women over 50 are faced with a triple-whammy of discrimination: they are not male, young, or linear in their career paths. 

As a result, they are leaving corporate life and taking their career into their own hands. And with it, they take their abundant wisdom, energy and ambition. Drawing on new research by Dr Lucy Ryan that fills a longstanding data gap, this book shows that assumptions about declining midlife motivation and energy just aren’t true for women and reveals how you can retain and develop this invaluable talent pool with a better understanding of their challenges and a few simple changes.

29 Wise Power: Discover the Liberating Power of Menopause to Awaken Authority, Purpose and Belonging – Alexandra Pope & Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

Written with humour, fierce tenderness and practicality, Wise Power is a trailblazing guide to menopause, filled with nourishing wisdom and practical advice that restores the dignity of menopause. 

It’s time to redefine this pivotal time of life that is often mistakenly viewed as a health crisis that is ‘suffered from’ or ‘coped with’, and misinformation and myths around menopause can leave you feeling ignored and misunderstood. Wise Power is the radical new story of menopause – illuminating its power and potential. 

Also recommended

30 The Light We Carry – Michelle Obama

A reflective exploration of resilience, doubt and self-worth from a global figure. 

Obama’s mix of personal story and insight makes this a meaningful read for women seeking grounded leadership and self-confidence. Her emphasis is on everyday courage and self-trust, offering reassurance rather than instruction

If you missed them before, remember to check out the superb (whopping 42!)  recommendations we brought you in: https://shemalta.com/community/17-books-to-help-you-end-2024-and-start-2025-strong/ 

and 

https://shemalta.com/business/25-great-books-on-business-motivation-and-personal-development-for-summer-2024/

“I treasure all my audiences. Understanding where they travelled to in their imagination while listening to me play…I feel like the audience’s imagination actually completes my music.” – Yun Cai

In 2020, as our next chosen Wonder Woman of Malta says, “the whole world learned it’s okay for life to slow down a little”. Some people used this new scenario to learn a new language, some picked up paintbrushes and embraced creativity, others immersed themselves in exercise – and some baked like maniacs and drank a whole wine cellar (I’ve no idea who did this).  

Yun Cai sat down at her piano in her apartment, put self expression (and two decades of classical training) into practice and “started creating non-stop”. Her journey into piano improvisation – creating new music live rather than reciting rehearsed sheet music – had begun. 

The outcome? In just four years, Yun has made a name for herself with her gift for spontaneous composition. She has mesmerised audiences in and beyond Malta with her sound, and wowed them with visual experiences that are increasingly ambitious in design and scope – including almost getting blown off a building. No joke. 

SHE Malta cofounder Sass and I have been lucky enough to witness Yun’s talent on a few occasions. More recently, I interviewed her as our third Wonder Woman of Malta. You’re in for a treat and some surprises…

1.  You started classical piano training at just four years old and achieved Level 10 proficiency by 15. Was this led by your own request or more by family members/school?
I have loved music for as long as I can remember as both my father and grandfather had great musical talent so I think it’s in my family’s blood. In fact my name in Chinese means melody and rhythm so that says it all! I first started playing keyboard aged 3 and by age 5, I had already passed grade 8 and was learning quickly. The suggestion for me to start playing the piano came from my teacher, and my family has fully encouraged and supported this through the years.

2. What were these piano playing years were like:
i) How frequently did you play?
I played every day and was the lead pianist in my class.

ii) Were there teaching styles you did (and did not) respond to/prefer more than others?
I received very strict and classical training. I guess the rigid part is something no child enjoys that much. Also the daily set practice isn’t so easy for a kid who just loves to play.

iii) Did you have a particular mentor or teacher that was instrumental (excuse the pun) in your continued piano playing, discipline, love for this musical form?
Yes, I’ve had a few piano mentors and teachers at different stages in my 15 years of training as a student’s mentoring requirements change according to their skills development. They are all outstanding performers and professors. I remember one was too strict and never laughed(!) but she was extremely professional and paid great attention to details. I also had a younger teacher who was very laid back, talented and a John Lennon fan. They both influenced me in different ways.

iv) Did you – or were you allowed to – pursue other hobbies/interests outside of piano playing? If so, tell us a bit about this.
I had many other interests and hobbies: basketball, tennis, ballet, folk dance, theatre and poetry classes. I also used to draw a lot and attended competitions. It was a very broad reach of studies and education which I think all played crucial parts once I started creating and playing my own shows later in life.

v) Do you play any other instruments?
Organ and drums…loved them!

3. After moving to Malta, you had the reality of working and earning an income.
i) What exactly led you back to the ivory keys?
It was thanks to Covid actually … The whole world learned that it is okay for life to slow down a little. I finally had the time and space to look introspectively and I started creating non-stop. The whole thing just kept growing. It was the best thing that could have happened.

ii) Did you have your piano sent from China or did you buy it in Malta?
Malta as there are many good piano options here.

4. How has your Chinese heritage influenced your music, and how does it blend with the European and Maltese cultural elements you’ve encountered?
I didn’t think too much about my Chinese heritage when going into neo-classical piano composition but focused more on my personal feelings and connection to this world. But I guess the fact that I’m from China will always exert a certain influence on me in different ways, for example, choosing improvisation as the key component of my art expression. We have thousands of years of history of Chinese musicians who improvised via ancient instruments; it was quite common among musicians going back in time.

5. Performing a recital is already skilful but you are an improvisation performer – a whole other level of talent. 

i) What inspired and continues to inspire your improv compositions and performances?
For me, it’s the most natural, comfortable and authentic way of expressing what I’m feeling right there in that very moment. But also…maybe two decades of memorising sheet music became tiring and I wanted something different. For me, it’s hard to get 100% invested and be fully present with my musical touch if I’m having to use half my brain energy to recall memorised music instead of focusing on my technique and composing music myself.
 
ii) Given that you are performing a brand new piece each time, could you describe your process when preparing for a new collaboration or event?
Great question! I only play in venues that inspire me in one way or another, whether that’s in terms of their physical space, history, architecture, the people I’m collaborating with. But also, each space has its own energy and a venue’s attraction can lie simply in this energy…so sometimes, I’m just drawn to the aura I pick up from a particular space. I’ll spend hours and days inside the venue, spending time with everyone involved before my actual show to soak up all the ideas and energy. Every show I do is different so I’m highly involved in the entire creation process – it’s not the ‘plug and play’ style of doing things.

6. Have you had to make any sacrifices for the sake of pursuing your passion?
I prefer to look at it as making adjustments or commitments rather than sacrifices as this is something that truly resonates with me and enriches my life in numerous ways. Yes it does involve constant travelling, late nights, weekends without any breaks, exhaustion from jetlag, pre-show nerves, uncertainty and worry. Each concert relies on numerous logistical elements working together correctly and on time, and so many things can go wrong during a show. The audience doesn’t see the behind-the-scenes energy and work that goes into practising, recording, creating and crafting ideas, social media promotion, marketing and communications, photography, filming and editing. Not to mention the personal fear you have to overcome on a daily basis…the list goes on! I relate art a lot with sports actually; it’s extremely tough, highly demanding and totally unpredictable.

7. What challenges have you faced in balancing your artistry with other commitments, and how have you overcome them?
I don’t ‘balance’ with other commitments…the artistry always comes first. Everything else has to fit around it or adapt to it.

8. You’ve created some incredible moments including 2024’s Tempietto Serenade at Villa Frère Valletta, 2022’s Carla Grima Silk in Motion fashion show at Palazzo Parisio and of course, your 2021 inaugural performance at Phoenicia Hotel.

i) Can you name some other places/performances/collaborations?
 I’ve performed over 30 shows in China and Asia in the last two years which I did not expect at all so I’m truly grateful for each and every experience and how things turned out.

ii) Do you have a favourite venue, collaboration or highlight of your career so far?
One of the many special ones was a 2024 series that combined exhibition, live concert and audience participation. Over 11 different multidisciplinary artists – including calligraphers, painters, illustrators, sound designers – were invited to participate in one of my live concerts at a 100 year-old gallery (built by Australian architect Arthur Purnell). These artists were set up in the gallery’s corners away from the audience’s view, to create their art synchronised with listening to my live music. After the concert, artists had 10 days to finalise their work and then all the concert-related art pieces were exhibited inside the gallery for over a month on one dedicated floor while my music concept was played on another floor. At the same time, many of my Malta-based shows were presented on different screens in video format. Meanwhile, the third floor aired the documentaries we had filmed with the various artists and architects over the month of preparation. Finally, the last room was a space for the audience members to draw their own pieces after the exhibition to be subsequently hung in the gallery. Over 45 days, we collected more than 300 art pieces, all inspired by the show and exhibition concept. So the end result was: My improvised music → Art creation → Music + Art exhibition → Audience creation + exhibition. I still can’t believe it happened and that I witnessed my music creating such a ripple effect.

iii) What was the most difficult, challenging, intense performance (if you’re willing to share)?
I did an open air, sunrise (4:15 am) performance by the sea on a rooftop once. I was exhausted from doing two shows the previous night and getting barely three hours sleep; I hadn’t even removed my makeup or hairstyle as there was literally no time to do fresh hair and makeup for this next show. What’s more, the weather totally changed just hours before my performance and the temperature dropped to eight degrees. The whole time I was playing, there were non-stop cold winds, so strong that they sounded the same volume as my piano, made my head hurt and left me barely able to open my eyes and see the keys. The audience all had thick blankets while I had half frozen fingers – yet I somehow had to find a way to co-exist with the weather and still create a beautiful melody on the spot for 40 minutes. To top things off, I nearly got blown off the stairs, trying to come down from the roof and all the staff were freaking out. So THAT was definitely an experience! I actually don’t regret it but I don’t think I’ll do it again haha.

9. You have dramatic stories about the transport of your piano to different venues for your performances and the sheer logistical effort involved. Can you tell us some of these stories?
Many times it involves high-ups, trucks, six to eight men carrying it through different cracks and angles… One time, I was doing a performance in a garden and we built a stage specially for it. The movers threw a tantrum two hours before the show and refused to carry the piano from the garden path onto the stage, trying to leave it in the middle of the road. Obviously I managed to convince them as there is no other choice. It’s a non-negotiable situation I have to go through every time to make sure the show goes on and the magic of the concert is preserved. And that’s just one logistic out of many!

10. Do you see your work as contributing to Malta’s cultural or artistic scene? If so, how?
All of the local shows I’ve done are inspired by architecture, ideas, stories, spaces specifically connected to Malta. Since I started this journey, I have received many generous compliments and support that I’m immensely grateful for. I feel like the scene here is very open and encouraging and I keep seeing many familiar and new faces at my Malta shows. I would like to use this opportunity to say how much I treasure all my audiences. They make everything worthwhile, especially when they share their feelings and thoughts with me after a concert. This is actually my favourite part – understanding where they travelled to in their imagination while listening to me play…I feel like the audience’s imagination actually completes my music.

11. Do you have any advice – based on your own experience – for youngsters who are interested in learning to play the piano?
Only play if you truly love music and love to play. Find the way that suits you the best, rather than the best way to play.

12. Are there any unfulfilled dreams or projects you’re hoping to pursue in the next few years?
There are quite a few on the list and I’m really excited for the right moments to present themselves. I have been wanting to collaborate with a harpist and marimba player to create musical pieces together. If you know of any, please reach out to me?.

13. Any thoughts about being chosen as a Wonder Woman of Malta?
I’m the third person to have been chosen as a Wonder Woman of Malta which is definitely an honour and  I’m very excited to be a part of this. Together with many other wonder women alongside me, I can’t wait to continue my musical journey with this special community you guys created throughout all these years. Thank you with all my heart! 

**********

An ability to create melody on the spot, a growing repertoire of performances, a boldness for rocking beautifully audacious fashion and a collaborative spirit make Yun Cai a worthy choice as Wonder Woman of Malta.

(Also, bravery in the name of art. Seriously, did you READ Number 8?)

Getting past the first three years of running a business and then reaching the five-year mark is good going, requiring financial viability, operational stability and strong understanding of one’s customer base/audience.  As time goes on, however, a business (or rather its management suite) needs to display even more resilience and aptitude for market adaptation, continuity and creativity. 

Recently, SHE Malta marked eight years of building, empowering, supporting, educating and sustaining a community for female entrepreneurs, freelancers and aspiring founders.  That is eight years of business continuity by a small company that started out hosting a few annual public events which grew in momentum, before  making a strategic pandemic-led pivot to launch a membership programme and online events.  

SHE Malta’s eighth anniversary presents the perfect opportunity to hear from the community on what SHE means to them and what it has done for them.  But first, let’s delve into the company’s back story and hear from SHE co-founder and director Sass Woods.

“The SHE Malta journey began in 2016 when I teamed up with Julia Perry as we had both already been pursuing our own projects highlighting women’s achievements and supporting small businesses.  We never thought that a casual chat between the two of us would evolve into such a beautiful community that has inspired so many other female communities to do the same! 

I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of community in business that has not only helped countless women step into their power and build confidence but has also shaped me into the leader I am today. Starting as a co-founder and now serving as the sole owner and director since Julia’s 2020 relocation to the UK, I have found my voice through the unwavering purpose of our mission.  Each day, I am fueled by the incredible stories of our members; women who embark on new ventures, forge meaningful collaborations and pursue their dreams with renewed self-assurance.  I’m super proud that through this community, women have banded together to support one another’s endeavours, pass on knowledge and mentor other women who wish to carve out their own unique path.  It truly embodies the SHE motto of ‘collaboration over competition’.  

My biggest highlights from the last eight years would be:

> hosting Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament for an exclusive SHE online member event in 2021.

> featuring the likes of Helga Ellul (one of Malta’s top business leaders and founder of management consultancy firm Advise Ltd) in 2021 for an “Ask-the-Expert session” on negotiation

> building an on-going relationship with the Malta Chamber of SMEs, working closely with CEO Abigail Agius Mamo

> winning the JCI Entrepreneurial Accomplishment Award in 2018 for my work with SHE

> hearing the accomplishments of SHE members during a ‘sharing circle‘ at a Christmas event at Marilu’s in 2023.  The positive feedback about the community was nothing short of priceless.

> and an event that will always remain very close to my heart is the 2019 Luzzu event where Amy Camilleri Zahra, Claire Zammit Xuereb, Trudy Kerr and Gulja Holland allowed themselves to be so vulnerable on the panel.  Hearing how they overcame major life obstacles and hurdles put so much into perspective.

Some of my favourite pearls of wisdom from SHE event past speakers and collaborators are:

“If you don’t innovate, you get left behind.” – Bettina Falzon, Co-owner, Director & COO of Lovin Malta: IWD collaborative event with Malta Chamber of SMEs, Palazzo Parisio, March 2023.

“Just show love. If you show love, it will come back to you.  Find loyal people because without them you have nothing.” – Claire Abela, Director Franks: ‘Leading with Love’ event, Lucy World, April 2024.

“Not making a decision is making a decision…except you’re making it as a victim instead of making it as a winner.” – Catherine Hurley, Head of Global Accounts at AIS Interiors, Energy Specialist, NED on Confident Decision Making: Ask-the-Expert online session, February 2022.

“Finding balance and what feels right is a very personal choice for each woman and one that takes time to resolve.” – Elisa Krantz Co-founder  & CEO at Mindbeat.app on entrepreneurship, personal struggles and triumphs as a wife, mother and leader of a growing firm: Lily Agius Gallery event 2017.

“Channel competition to something positive; always surround yourself with people better than yourself and you will do better.” – Sarah Kennard, Public Relations Consultant, MPS Marketing Communications on staying focused and open to constant learning: Active Spirit event, 2018.

And so we come to some thoughts from the SHE community.

As a member of SHE, I have had the incredible opportunity to connect with numerous business owners who are brimming with innovative ideas. This experience has been transformative for me in several ways as it provided me with a platform where I can engage with like-minded women who are passionate about their different ventures. The diversity of perspectives and the wealth of knowledge shared within this community have expanded my horizons and inspired me to think creatively about my own business endeavours. Every event I attend leaves me feeling more empowered to face challenges. Through SHE, I have learned that no idea is too small and no dream is too big. I am grateful for the friendships and professional connections I have made, and I look forward to continuing this journey of growth and inspiration with SHE. – Giannella Barbieri, GB Legal 

I always look forward to SHE Malta sessions and make sure to be available because it’s a place where I can truly be myself, meet genuine people and find inspiration for my work’s next stages. There’s no pretence from anyone; it feels like a community of newfound friends.  SHE has helped me believe in my projects, work on them and share them with people who genuinely support them.  I always take away something valuable from each event and have grown to love the creative sessions because they helped me tap into my creativity which was probably buried before. The IWD event in particular, affirmed that creating innovative projects will keep our culture alive and encouraged me to keep working on them.  – Stephanie Bonello, Co-founder, Crispy Studio

I think my biggest take away from SHE was one session where succession planning was touched upon. The insights shared were incredibly valuable and have significantly impacted my understanding of this critical topic. The expertise and practical advice provided will undoubtedly help many SHE community members to plan for the future of our businesses more effectively. Thank you SHE  for organising such an enlightening and empowering event.  Rebecca Bonnici, CEO, BELS Malta 

After one year of being a SHE Malta member, I can strongly state that the decision to join SHE was one of the best!  I found a community of amazing women who never stop learning or evolving and who genuinely support each other.  In SHE, I found the beauty of sincere human interaction, inspiration and motivation.  Thank you Sass for creating and curating SHE and thank you to all the extraordinary women who are part of it!  Happy anniversary and many, many years to come! – Deea Buzdugan, Photographer 

Since the beginning of my journey as an entrepreneur in Malta with Sip and Paint, this group of empowered women has been a cornerstone of my experience.  Every month, I look forward to our meetings where I’ve found support and a sense of family.  As an expat, finding a community can be challenging but here I’ve discovered a welcoming hive.  Thank you.  I eagerly anticipate many more wonderful moments together. – Victoria Chan, Founder, Sip and Paint

When I think of community building, I think of SHE.  It is more than a professional network.  It is a space in which you can be fully seen and heard; a space where you can grow, collaborate and contribute.  The SHE community becomes a family and even though I am often far away physically, there is a constant connection with other members.  Everyone is always ready to support you professionally and personally from recommendations and brainstorming solutions to emotional and mental support.  I love the culture within the group, the value of togetherness and collaboration and the variety of meeting types. I highly recommend SHE for both new and seasoned female entrepreneurs. Best wishes and Happy Anniversary! – Hannah Cremona, Business and Marketing Strategist

I joined SHE Malta six months ago and was immediately struck by the friendliness and sense of belonging.  There is a genuine intention to collaborate and support which is not easy to come across in the business world.  As a solo entrepreneur, this network of formidable women helps me feel a bit less ‘solo’ in the journey. – Elaine Dutton, Business and HR Consultant, Founder, The Change Agent 

SHE Malta is such a pivotal part of my entrepreneurial journey!  Before I discovered SHE, I felt utterly lost as an entrepreneur.  I was just finding my way, hesitant even to write down the name of my business or explain what I did.  SHE transformed that uncertainty into confidence, allowing me to proudly declare “I’m the owner of Little Isle Studio”.  It gave me a place to call home when I felt adrift and alone on this new path and provided a network of incredible people and invaluable friendships that have blossomed over the years.  It took the loneliness out of entrepreneurship and gave me the colleagues I had dearly missed. I am incredibly proud to be part of this remarkable network of special women. SHE has spurred my personal and professional growth and I’ve learned so much through all that SHE offers.  The collective strength, resilience and support of this community continually inspire me to push forward in my entrepreneurial journey.  Well done sass on creating such an amazing community! – Rebekah Kamsky, Digital Strategy and Ecommerce, Little Isle Studio

I have been a member of the SHE community for over two years and I can say confidently that the sessions and topics are always well-planned, well delivered, interesting and in line with the continuous community feedback. There hasn’t been a single session from which I didn’t take away something and there is always some special insight.  What amazes me every time within this community is that you realise that people at all stages of their life/business journey have common fears, doubts and struggles – even those who have succeeded!  That truly is a proof that we are all human and highlights the need for genuine connection and support – priceless.  Sarah always manages to make each space feel safe and supportive whether it’s online or in person. Well done to her as the brains along the way – and also to us members for always interacting and pushing each other in the right way! – Kenzie Sammut, Owner, Health Coach & Fitness Trainer at Body Dynamics 

As for yours truly, like I said last summer on my first anniversary of writing the SHE blog, SHE Malta has a special place in my heart.  It has brought me camaraderie and unexpected friendship with humble,  approachable women in business.  It has exposed me to inspiring commercial stories that I wouldn’t have known about without SHE.  It provides eye-opening exposure to the drive, determination and guts of the female entrepreneurs whom I meet through the events.  The SHE motto of ‘collaboration over competition’ is not a fashionable mantra that is trotted out mechanically; Sass has accomplished the real deal…  I ‘feel the motto’ simply walking through the door to a member event or conducting interviews for the blog articles with fiercely intelligent yet genuine and warm businesswomen.  It’s an honour to be part of the story through my blog contributions.  – Prabs (Prabjit) Chohan-Patel, Writer & Editor, WriteContent

The conclusion belongs to the brains behind SHE Malta: 

“SHE has always been about putting purpose first…and it has been an interesting journey of self-discovery to say the least. Our community is a testament to the strength that comes from unity and mutual support and it continues to inspire me as we grow together.  I look forward to what the future holds for SHE and thank all the wonderful ladies that have shared the SHE space until now.” – Sass Woods, Co-Founder & Director, SHE Malta.

Month after month we’ve been offering up some quality blog posts thanks to our very own content writer; Prabs.

Today, we turn the spotlight inwards to get to know the lady who lovingly and passionately crafts the perfect article for us time and time again, a valuable member of the SHE team.

Ladies and gents, meet Prabs – the lady behind our SHE blog since August 2022 …

 

Let’s start by painting a picture for our audience, who is Prabs? 

I’m a second generation British Asian, born in West London to parents from the Punjab (North India) who moved from India to the UK in the 1960’s. I grew up and went to school in Wembley and Harrow and attended university in Surrey, also studying for a year in the beautiful French Alps region, a stage of life where I well and truly caught the travel bug. After graduating and starting working life in London, I moved to Paris to join Euro Disney (now Disneyland), going on to work for two further companies over five years; an unforgettable era that included some of the best and worst moments of my life.

After eight years back in London where I got married and had my first child, I left the UK again, this time for Malta due to my husband’s work. Sidebar: From an early age, I was captivated by the French language and for reasons that nobody (including myself!) can identify, I am still fluent in it but can hardly speak a word of my native Indian language.

 

What is your business background? 

Although I did a brief Business French diploma during my university years, my actual degree was a joint honours in French and English, so languages and literature were my initial passion rather than business studies. After graduating, I pursued the relative safety and known quantity of permanent employment – rather than the riskier/scarier route of entrepreneurship – working for several multinationals including American Express, Deutsche Bank and Sky Television.

If somebody had told me then that I’d start my own writing business several years later, navigating the many highs, lows, risks and rewards involved in working for oneself, I wouldn’t have believed them. The funny thing is though, my commercial exposure had actually started at the tender age of seven, helping out over the years in my parents’ convenience store and flower shop. Witnessing them working incredibly hard throughout my childhood and adolescence to build successful businesses was an invaluable training ground and – what I didn’t realise until decades later – my introduction to developing a business mindset.

 

Can you name a favourite or most meaningful accomplishment?

I hesitated over how (or even whether, ahem) to answer this as I’d hate to be perceived as bragging or having an overinflated misguided view of my own achievements. But I won’t deny that winning an award and being shortlisted a few more times for my blog Absolutely Prabulous were incredible moments of validation for all sorts of reasons.

 

Describe yourself in 3 words.

A passionate, curious perfectionist.

 

Proudest moment since going solo?

I’m going to be a renegade and choose more than one if you don’t mind. The amazing response  from my husband, a seasoned CMO whose opinion I really value, has meant the world to me partly as he’s a tough crowd who’s not easy to impress! Another boost was seeing a piece I wrote for SHE unexpectedly instigating a sponsorship alliance. Producing a SIGMA Magazine piece on a super tight deadline and limited brief was also a real highlight as it reminded me I can deliver quality work under pressure. (It may not be my comfort zone but I can definitely do it.)

But ultimately, my biggest source of pride is the work itself… From the content I’ve done so far, if I had to pick one that occupies a special place in my heart, it would have to be 10 Useful Lessons in Life and Business from the Queen that I wrote for SHE. Writing that was surprisingly moving but also quite challenging as I was very aware of the need to do the subject matter justice. I’ve been going through client feedback recently to build the testimonial section of my new website and smiled all over again rereading your feedback on that article actually Sass.

What is a typical day in the life of a freelance writer?

WelI I can describe what my ideal day is! Truthfully, I’m not yet consistently achieving this and it tends to go in peaks and troughs. When I do ‘get it right’ though, the day starts with a set of morning habits consisting of: 

>wake up yoga

>herbal tea

>self-development reading (currently The Rules of People by Richard Templar)

>exercise (walking, running, swimming, pilates depending on the season/schedule)

>back to the house to fetch the dog for her walk

>breakfast and getting ready.

If I’m up by 6.30 latest, this gets me to my desk at home by 10.30. It’s a work in progress.

Then, I put in a few hours of work before household duties late afternoon. Work varies according to the type of project I’m working on. Sometimes an entire week is taken up interviewing people, other times I’m carrying out research and of course, there are days when it’s write, write, write.

 

Struggles as a freelance writer?

I guess the struggles of being a freelance writer are the same as the struggles of freelancers in any line of work: the all important regular stream of income: achieving it and maintaining it. 

Isolation is another one. I do love my work environment setup, alternating between my dedicated home office space, outdoor sofa and even being able to pop to local cafes for a change of scene. What’s not to like when you can ‘go to’ work without commuting or parking issues? However, the lack of interaction is a less appealing aspect. I sometimes miss the days of having a quick chat by the coffee machine with a colleague and general office banter (on that note, am eagerly awaiting the return of SHE’s coworking Wednesdays…).

The biggest freelance challenge for me though is ‘productivity mindset’. I’m reassessing my thought processes and approach, namely the hours required for truly effective output. I’ve been so locked into believing that the daily standard of eight hours – from my previous career years – is the only ‘proper’ way to work, so much so that if I’m not doing that, I feel like I’m not working ‘enough’. In fact, I’ve had conversations with fellow SHE members and have several books on my reading list about this issue of what constitutes the optimum successful day. Finding the right way and balance can be very tricky when you have to factor in personal obligations of household management, parenting teens at critical stages of education, having a partner who’s away a lot for work etc. So I’m trying to shed my ingrained attitudes, be kinder to myself and embrace the ideology that putting in four focussed hours of work a day can be more constructive than sitting at a desk for eight hours – just because that’s the way it’s always been done – only to achieve the same (or even fewer) results. In other words it’s more about deep work rather than long work; quality of output rather than quantity of hours.

What does SHE mean to you?

Immediate response? Everything! More than I’m fully able to put into words (even though I should be able to as a writer). It’s camaraderie and unexpected friendship with genuine, intelligent and approachable women in business. It’s inspiring commercial stories (that I wouldn’t necessarily have known about without SHE). It’s eye-opening exposure to the drive, determination and sheer guts of the female entrepreneurs I’ve met or written about. 

For me, the SHE motto of ‘collaboration over competition’ is not a fashionable mantra that is simply trotted out insincerely. It’s the real deal. I feel it simply walking through the door to a SHE member event or conducting interviews for articles. 

 

How has your experience been, writing for SHE so far?

Even though writing has always been a huge part of my career and I’d done a bit of freelancing a while back plus built a successful blog, I guess a part of me was nervous officially launching a freelance writing business. (It feels strange saying that now I’m further down the line.) It’s definitely been confidence-boosting and educational writing for SHE. It doesn’t matter if a client is your first, fifth or fiftieth.  You want to deliver the best for them. From the very first piece I did for SHE, it proved to me that I CAN do this. 

 

How has SHE helped you on your business journey?

It’s raised my profile and certainly helped me build my portfolio. Although I don’t want to jinx things by naming clients and companies here, I’m fairly sure my work with SHE has helped open the door to another project starting in the Autumn.

 

Any inspirational moments within the community that have really stuck with you?

I was super impressed by Becky Kamsky’s detailed presentation entitled “Clarity & Direction for an Effective Digital Strategy” that included so many digital marketing tips and tools. And Vanessa Camenzuli’s personal branding workshop was not only thought-provoking and educational but what particularly struck me was how poised and just plain brilliant at presenting she was. 

What can we expect to see in your future articles for SHE?

I’m thinking of looking at emerging trends and stories in the business sector for inspiration. I’d also like to get the community more involved in topic suggestion and selection, particularly as SHE’s past  Instagram polling initiatives have been rather successful. They’re a good way to get the conversation started.

 

Future plans for your business?

Funnily enough, when I had to think of my five year goals and plan last year, I surprised myself a bit on this front. Potentially, I am interested in running my own agency of carefully selected, quality writers allowing me to assume more of an editorial lead and – hopefully – leave me time to fulfil my dream of writing my own regular column in a major publication.

 

Any top tips for anyone thinking of venturing out alone?

I keep coming back to the famous philosophy: find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life. (Ok, we all know it’s not quite that simple. Every job involves the stuff we don’t particularly enjoy and clearly we are working but the basic message makes sense.) 

However, being the realist that I am, I have to say, once you’ve identified your passion, do your research! 

And after that, off you go…believe, believe, believe. 

** Prabs can be contacted for freelance writing work at [email protected]
You can find her on Linkedin and also view some of her portfolio here.

Following our first SHE OG’s article featuring four amazing women, our second piece brings you the profiles on four more kickass female entrepreneurs. Interviewing them has been a genuinely awe-inspiring and educational experience. What has also been striking is their absence of ego and total presence of humility. No further words. Their stories are enough.

Yasmin de Giorgio – CEO Shireburn & Founder Sanya. 

Whether helping people through software  solutions or helping employees grow professionally or helping Sanya clients improve their mental health, I think I’ll always have the same calling.

A high octane UK university experience, disconnection, self discovery, spirituality, veganism, travels,  launching two businesses and becoming a tech CEO (and EY 2023 Rising Star)… Yasmin de Giorgio has already packed about four lives into one. And she’s not done yet…

Can you describe your background?

After moving to the UK to study Economics and Management, I stayed for a Masters in International Development which both fascinated and demoralised me. Learning the destructive impact of world banks and big business on entire countries, I entered a disillusioned ‘radical’ stage of life.  I got dreadlocks(!), embarked on world travels, discovered impactful books like Minding your business by the founder of Aveda and started exploring spirituality. Later on, I bought a trailer and shipped it to Malta to open my first business in 2013, the green cafe Grassyhopper (mainly so I could eat somewhere after becoming vegan)! Readjusting to Malta was hard as I felt disconnected from the non like minded people around me. 

I opened Sanya in 2016 as a safe mentally and physically nourishing sanctuary that was in line with my own ethics and sold Grassyhopper in 2018. They were super challenging years. I’d become an entrepreneur without the commercial skillset for the catering industry and suffered immense financial stress my first few years in the wellness business.

Then my father retired from Shireburn, a 40 year old software company specialising in payroll, attendance, time tracking solutions. The search for a new CEO started… 

So, what’s the story behind joining Shireburn while still running Sanya?

Shireburn was born before me so it’s always been in my life. Finding a new CEO was challenging and even included my dad returning for a while. But seeing the toll it took on him, I offered to find a suitable replacement…which coincided with a family friend suggesting me for the role! Although the family business was close to my heart, I wasn’t going to give up Sanya to take over the Shireburn reins. My dad also hesitated as he wanted to do things the ‘right way’ and not be associated with nepotism. After some back and forth, in the end we found a way as it was important to me to protect my father’s legacy. I also realised it presented me with a huge learning opportunity as it’s so different to Sanya (and maybe a useful resource for helping roll out other business visions). 

My first step was to enlist the help of HR and run a company-wide study and focus groups. I analysed the survey results, listened to what employees said and fixed whatever issues clearly emerged. It was an eight month process of significant restructuring and reassignment of responsibilities, including encouraging people to step up from their usual roles.

What do you particularly enjoy about running two very different companies? 

With Sanya, it’s very human and organic: simply the impact we have on people’s wellbeing. It’s beautiful and meaningful. Meanwhile at Shireburn, I get really excited by the dynamism of our software solutions and what it can do for our clients. Also, constantly having to adapt and modify. Learning what works and understanding  product design and logic. As we build Cloud-based solutions, our software is a living organism, not a static entity.  

And what do you find challenging?

Actually I find the so-called challenges enjoyable. But it’s definitely interesting dealing with 30 different software developers all of whom have to agree on how to build, design, test, implement our  Indigo product for example. And of course just the sheer responsibility of running a company like Shireburn and all that goes with it, including the privacy, security, biometric data and financial aspect of handling 110,000 payrolls per month. Ultimately, the buck stops with me. It’s immense and I’m only human. But…you have to find healthy, self-kind ways to cope. 

As for Sanya, the initial years of commercial hardship and the search for a solid team in whom I had faith were tricky. But the business has now reached maturity and I have a great team in place.

How are you balancing the two worlds of Sanya and Shireburn?

I split the week equally between each company. Thanks to Shireburn’s longstanding great COO, I don’t have that many fires to put out and am mainly needed more for the big picture stuff rather than day to day micromanaging. And then I have an assistant who was my non-negotiable part of my agreement to join Shireburn! 

What strategies or lessons have you learned from your past endeavours and implemented today?

Plenty. To maintain an open door policy while also recognising the need to balance a sharp businesslike approach (not shying away from tough decisions) with my compassionate side.
To stick to my own management style and not to try to replicate my father’s – including using interpersonal skills acquired via my own self development, to guide and advise people.
To respect the existing gentle culture while also empowering people to step out of their comfort zone and take on more responsibility or develop other skills.
Stress management techniques that enable me to look after myself and my employees. Recognising human limits, not always working at an intense pace or letting success affect ego.
To make peace with the worst case scenario (i.e. what would I do if I went bankrupt?)
To stay in my ‘lane’(!). I don’t get involved in product design as we have amazing people who know what they’re doing. But I bring other things to the table.

Conversely, what would not repeat from your past professional experiences? 

Never ever will I put myself under the financial pressure that I did with Sanya. The hardest learning was the financial burnout where I lost so much the first three years that I had no idea how I would keep Sanya going. So any project I undertake must be properly structured from the start.

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

Is Shireburn that? I think my calling is beyond business. It’s to help people. If Sanya closed tomorrow, I’d still have the same calling. Whether that’s helping people through offering the right software  solutions or helping employees grow professionally or helping Sanya clients improve their mental health. 

Emma Hogg – Founder of the self-development agency, A Life I Choose.

‘I grew my business and then edited it!’

Some people know early on what they want from life. Emma always knew she wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives and be a therapist; so she became one. With a strong interest in coaching and the flexibility of self employment, she then became a coach and opened her own practice. Knowing motherhood was also in her plans, she became a parent later on. While both our SHE OG’s features mainly cover people who changed career direction to launch new ventures, our profile on Emma is a bit different. We look at the evolution of her business, how she redefined and course corrected and then addressed the challenge of combining entrepreneurship with motherhood.

In a nutshell, can you describe your background?

All my life, I’ve been fascinated by the human condition, seeking to understand those who thrive versus those who crumble in the face of pressure – what motivates and ignites us versus what hurts us and tears us down. As a child, I wanted to make people feel better but knew ultimately people can only do this for themselves. Growing older, I set about equipping myself with the best tools possible to thrive – studying psychology, psychotherapy and coaching – certain I could use my learnings to benefit others too.  

Tell us about the beginnings of A Life I Choose

In my 20’s I started building A Life I Choose with this very mission to help others thrive. Starting off with a blog and YouTube channel, I then moulded it into a dedicated self-development agency in 2016. Through my ‘Lifestyle Strategy’ Sessions and ‘Kick-Ass Career’ course, I help clients (including CEO’s, small business owners and university graduates starting out) to overcome their challenges to build meaningful, joyful and expansive lives. 

What elements have been involved in your business evolution?

I embraced hustle culture and worked around the clock to build my practice and it really took off.  By Summer 2020, numerous people were coming to me as they were unhappy at work and seeking solutions to achieve more fulfilment, flexibility, freedom, pride and financial independence. I had a three month waitlist and was working non stop. I had to come up with a way to relieve some of the physical and mental load but of course continue to serve my clients effectively. So I developed a video course and workbook ‘version’ of my one on one  private sessions. 

Then after trying for a while to start a family, my son arrived in 2021 and my previous work rate was no longer practical or sustainable. Once again I had to adapt and adjust.  I needed to do right by him and be a present and connected mother but also couldn’t let the demands and obligations of parenthood negatively impact what I’d spent years building.  So to help me maintain a consistent quality service, I recruited and trained a team to whom I could delegate.  However, in time it was clear it just didn’t work from a commercial perspective. Yet again, I had to restrategise…resulting in the removal of certain parts of the service and letting the team go and returning to solo practice.

Can you name three things you find particularly rewarding about what you do?  

The deep two-way trust my clients and I share together. 

Being able to guide and witness people tangibly improving their lives (and the heartwarming way  they then become my spokespeople!).

The satisfaction of observing a particularly resistant client actually implement my advice and experience a breakthrough.

How do you make motherhood and entrepreneurship work?

The priority is to spend time with my son every day, no matter whether that’s the morning or afternoon and no matter the length of time. Thanks to a support system that also includes the help of a nanny, I’ve worked out a flexible schedule that makes it possible for me to be both a dedicated business owner and mum. My husband also makes it a point to have two afternoons with our son which helps me plan out my work.

And what do you find the most challenging?

I realised I always feel like I need to handle every task and come up with every solution. It’s been a lifelong recurring theme. When it comes to balancing business and motherhood, I’ve had to work on releasing resentment as it’s harmful and of no benefit to my marriage. I now know I don’t have to think of everything as I have supportive people around me.  It’s about reframing expectations and/or approach (eg. by simply being clear and asking my husband to help with something).

Have you channelled any of your experience as an entrepreneur into parenthood?

For sure. To have faith in myself and trust my intuition.

To be aware of hypothetical fear versus real concern (not easy when your child is ill for instance).

To stay with reality and not let worry and panic get the better of me.

To not work relentlessly to the point of being unable to shut the laptop at night. (I didn’t know myself without work and felt there was ‘nothing else to go to’.) 

Conversely, do you think parenthood has been a big revealer?

Definitely. I was terrified having a child would force me to give up parts of myself but in fact, it’s the opposite! I get out more, do things I’d never have done and realise my son has not limited but enriched my life. To calm down on goals and not be in such a hurry to create and build. 

To open up and choose to receive  the abundance that’s all around me instead of feeling I’m solely responsible for creating my abundance. 

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

Absolutely. Both with A Life I Choose and with my son.

Tamara Fenech, Founder and Sustainable Business Strategist, Cosie Studio

Many business owners think they must sacrifice their environmental responsibility to meet their financial goals…but operating sustainably can actually create economic opportunities.

Coming from a long lineage of lawyers, Tamara found people just switched off at her mention of fashion design studies.  However, supportive parents and her own determination led her to graduate from Leeds College of Art – discovering a passion for sustainability and embarking on a career/life path that would include Bali, India and Germany. From an initial interest in fashion design, to becoming an accidental poster girl for sustainable fashion in Malta, to launching her own consultancy – unconnected to fashion…Tammy’s story is intriguing.

Tell us about your background and previous ventures.

After my initial UK sustainable fashion exposure, it was my post-university 2013 travels to Asia that instigated my real ‘immersion’ in the subject, opening my eyes to the business, design and supply chain aspects of the garment industry. So I moved to Berlin in 2016 to pursue a Masters in sustainable fashion – also attending conferences that taught me sustainability can be applied to  industries beyond fashion. That’s when I got interested in building business models to help  brands operate sustainably. 

While still living in Germany, I spearheaded the launch of NGO Fashion Revolution Malta. I was becoming aware of the ‘sustainability gap’ here and one of my visits happened to coincide with Fashion Revolution week – an annual global initiative resulting from the fashion industry’s shakeup after the catastrophic 2013 collapse of an Indian garment factory. As Malta had no Fashion Revolution coordinator, I assumed this role in 2018 organising a screening of True Cost (a documentary revealing harsh truths about the fashion industry) on the anniversary of the tragedy – and that’s how the NGO was born. Our small team of volunteers ran physical and online campaigns from 2018 but these are  currently on a hiatus as many of us are busy with other projects including myself with Cosie Studio.

Talking of which: tell us about your sustainability agency Cosie Studio.

Through Cosie (Co-creative Sustainable Ideas and Endeavours) Studio, I support entrepreneurs to build sustainable brands or help them with implementing sustainability into their existing brands, and mentoring them throughout the process.

What led you to launch Cosie?

Well, self employment was a product of circumstance rather than an active choice! Finding a permanent role in Berlin was impossible as employers prioritised German language, experience and seniority in the industry. However, the universe led me into freelancing as many Malta-based firms started approaching me due to my NGO work. I found myself advising and guiding businesses on integrating sustainability and was able to work remotely, splitting my time between Germany and Malta. Launching an ‘official’ business last summer required me finally moving back to Malta soon after.  

What do you particularly enjoy/find rewarding about your current role/venture?

Knowing that I’ve carved out a safe space for a brand where they feel supported in their sustainable efforts makes me feel I’ve done my job. It’s super satisfying seeing the end result where our solutions and plans are actioned.

And what do you find challenging?

Working alone is tough, especially on projects with complex needs where it would help to have a soundboard/colleague to brainstorm with and stop me from analysis paralysis! 

The potential for my passion to burn me out before I see significant results…I’m still learning how to use my passion as a superpower that mobilises instead of one that paralyses me. 

Getting clients to remain committed to the strategies we set out together. In fact, I’m implementing some new processes to handle this such as accountability calls after a certain period of time, to support them in making the strategies work with their ever changing realities.

What are the positive experiences or lessons you have acquired so far?

I’ve learned we can often weave our past experiences (even if they seem irrelevant) into what we do today.  When I embraced yoga and spirituality in India, I wanted no involvement in business. And yet…I now integrate my practice into the advice and support I give my clients, eg. using meditation for one to one entrepreneur workshops, creating personalised dashboards with mindfulness  resources and even using my yoga learnings to ‘coach’ clients on self sustainability. 

I’ve also realised a client can’t build and lead a sustainable business without working on sustainability in their own life first. 

Equally, I believe sustainability – in business or life – involves a happy middle ground. You may think you don’t operate sustainably as you only achieve it in some areas – but it’s actually a constant process of learning and trying to be adaptive and agile, not about striving for perfection. 

Conversely, do you have any won’ts and don’ts from your experience?

I won’t change the vision I have for Cosie to fit the needs of the current market, which is sometimes what we tend to do in order to achieve quicker results. It’s important that my clients are aligned with my principles and understand that sustainability is a commitment, one that usually comes from the heart.

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

A few years ago, I would have said yes, my life’s purpose is to create sustainable brands. Ironically, after all the years of study and work, I’m not so sure now! I’m still evolving, tuning in to what energises and ‘feeds’ me. I know my career will still be entwined with sustainability ten years from now but I think it will involve more of the mindfulness aspect and personal connection than the current commercial angle.

Elleria Janås – Ellie & Carl Body Confidence Coaching

I’ve done many things in my life, even experiencing burnout, but nothing was a waste of time because everything brought me something.

Listening to Ellie talk about her passion is like being treated to a fascinating walking talking encyclopaedia of well articulated knowledge and gems of wisdom. From hospitals to amusement parks to skincare brand owner to body confidence coach – with a ‘motherhood sabbatical’ along the way – Ellie probably has enough material for a memoir. But let’s start with this interview.

What do you do as a body confidence coach?

I gently guide clients on tackling emotional eating, getting out of their yo-yo diet trap and finding food freedom. Binge eating/drinking/people pleasing are all mechanisms we develop over the years to cope with past trauma. But we can’t let the subconscious mind keep turning up and running our life. I figure out why people overeat or constantly diet and help them remove the behavioural layers that they’ve subconsciously adopted to protect themselves from their own negative thinking. 

Traditional dieting triggers a stress response which isn’t sustainable long term for a healthy body. So I use various strategies including EFT (emotional freedom technique) tapping to help people release whatever is not serving their bodies and brain. This is not a calories in – calories out weight loss programme. This is about dealing with the root cause of people’s issues with food. (But weight loss is an automatic benefit of this.)

What’s your background?

I was a psychiatric ward nurse in Sweden, completed a Masters in business and administration and worked as an accounting assistant in hospital administration. I later switched sectors becoming an amusement park manager for ten years before moving to Cyprus and then Malta. I launched Ellie & Carl Skin Botanicals from Malta. Learning about social media, marketing and being my own boss was a huge but wonderful readjustment after years of motherhood and feeling disconnected from my previous career-driven self. 

Why move from skincare to body confidence coaching?

When Covid hit, most of my stockists closed and I had problems sending products abroad which lost me customers and made it difficult to continue my skincare business. However, I was already feeling stuck with Ellie & Carl before the pandemic and knew something else was calling me – something beyond skincare and more about inner voice and self love – after noticing how many of my customers could only see flaws instead of their beauty. I went back to studying and came across a small mention of EFT and ended up taking an entire course on it.

What do you particularly enjoy about body confidence coaching?

Seeing a visible shift through the use of EFT: tapping calms a person down: their shoulders lower, their breath becomes deeper rather than short and shallow, they start talking from their stomach (the power centre) rather than the top of their voice. Ultimately, they regain control again. 

Journeying back in time with a client to identify that emotion, memory or event that controls them and freeing them from the negative hold a particular food has over them. And hearing comments like “I didn’t even know I had this issue” or “I haven’t touched one slice of bread!” touches my heart. 

And what do you find challenging about it?

Wearing the many hats required to run a business: having to be a marketer, CEO etc responsible for advertising, communication and also servicing clients.

The remoteness of it; I mainly do online sessions with clients abroad so I belong to a few accountability groups that keep me on track and connected to others.

Are there any positive lessons that you have ?

Yes I feel we often forget our experiences and skills but they’re all inside us waiting to be used. Whatever we do, it’s never for nothing. My amusement park role required creativity, following a budget and processes and devising numerous strategies.

I’ve also learned how to pick the right tool as every job (client) requires something different. Similarly, I can’t help people if I don’t practise my own ‘emotional hygiene’. Working on ourselves from the inside out is key.

Has your previous professional experience taught you what to avoid/not repeat?

Not taking the pain home with me. My nursing years exposed me to some of humanity’s darkest spaces and I didn’t have any tools to handle the traumatic experience. I relied on sleeping pills, alcohol and cigarettes to get me through the acute stress of simply existing in ‘survival mode’. 

Ironically, I treated myself the worst when I worked in healthcare! As a body confidence coach, despite my scars and imperfections, I now love my body, looking after it and saying yes to me. I’m no longer the crazy over worker who had no boundaries and was totally disconnected to herself.

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

100% this is my path. I’ve always wanted to help people. Even as a successful manager winning awards, I didn’t feel like I or it was enough. I’ve gone from the western hospital environment to more of an ongoing healing approach. I feel like I’m finally home. 

Get the FREE download of Ellie’s Ebook “Discover The Hidden Hungers”

We continue to connect with so many wonderful women doing so many amazing things through the SHE Community. We applaud every single lady we have crossed paths with – each of your journey’s has taught us something or inspired us in some way. We look forward to more inspiring stories, connections and collaborations. Join us here!

Once upon a time, Sarah Woods and Julia Perry noticed something very obvious was missing from the Malta business community: a representative body for the growing number of female-led businesses. So they formed SHE Malta, their mission to build a platform for women in business and foster a space of empowerment and reciprocity – via informative and inspiring events – for operational/aspiring female entrepreneurs.

Their dream of community took off, growing from the acorn of intimate gatherings in boutiques and galleries into a flourishing tree of hot ticket events in larger renowned venues and attended by women from different backgrounds (proving SHE Malta was an idea whose time had come). Featuring lessons and wisdom from female speakers, interesting sponsors and an eclectic mix of stalls by artisan brands, SHE events were on their way to becoming a mighty oak. 

Then the world stopped in 2020. And we know how that went. No more physical events of any kind. 

Julia left SHE, taking time out before feeling ready to focus on new projects. Meanwhile Sarah – like so many business owners – regrouped and considered how to continue her enterprise during the pandemic. Voilà…the SHE Malta membership programme was launched, offering access to engaging online talks and webinars. Post pandemic, SHE’s in person member meetups, presentations and workshops were also added to the mix and the member programme continued to grow and flourish.  

This got us thinking. If Sass changed course (and I myself moved into freelancing writing), what about the ‘original girls’ – the SHE OG’s as Sass cleverly calls them – who were involved at the earlier SHE events?  What are they doing now? Did they also diversify due to the pandemic? What are their stories? 

After a call-out to the community, I was fortunate enough to catch up with several of the SHE OG’s and find out.

PAT VELLA – She Takes Off 

“We service our cars every 6 months so why don’t we do this for ourselves?”

We’re starting off with a recognisable SHE Malta face and Queen of the pearl of wisdom in a soundbyte (the words “just press the buzzer” became immortal after her 2018 SHE event appearance), Pat Vella. 

Pat left permanent employment in 2022, leveraging her hospitality experience to move on to freelance pastures. From assisting creative agency Von Peach (who have also featured in the SHE membership program) with the launch of their latest Impeached Magazine edition and Gozo concept creative space, the Bored Peach Club. To organising walking expeditions along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela route. To starting She Takes Off (which deserves an award just for its name), Pat is definitely not sitting still. 

But the road to fulfilment and joy has also included struggle and loss. Talking about what sparked the new direction, she says “Covid changed all of us. I survived this time in the hotel industry but it was like starting a new job.” Then a close friend’s death was a wake up call forcing a reappraisal of what Pat wanted from life and work. Along with her wish to spend time supporting her friend’s partner, this led her to leaving the Phoenicia. “It took a long time to know how to stay home, to relax and just surrender to my situation” she admits, adding “I wasn’t going to spend my week cleaning”. 

So shedding 5-star chic, she picked up a rucksack to embark on a 236 km, 10 day, blister-causing, life changing solo walk from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Not long after returning to Malta,  another death rocked Pat’s world with the loss of her cousin to suicide. After receiving numerous requests, Pat is repeating the epic Camino del Santiago journey 5th-12th April, this time with a group of women including her cousin’s widow, tailoring their trip with the addition of some creature comforts.  (For anyone interested in doing a future Camino del Santiago expedition, contact Pat here.)

Can you tell us about She Takes Off?

I plan and host exclusive trips for women over 40 who are ready to take back their autonomy and start living fully again. These Mediterranean vacations centre around relaxation, restoration and entertainment and bring  together 12 women max (mainly from the USA, Australia and Malta) who usually know each other. The itinerary is designed to be free from constraints but also structured enough to ensure everyone properly benefits. 

We start by ‘defrosting’ in the rawness and simplicity of Gozo. Via meditation, yoga, fresh air and healthy food everyone starts thawing out from life’s challenges and stress. Next, we balance this restoration with the fun and vibrance of Valletta for its music, food and whatever people fancy. (25 years in hospitality have blessed me with superb contacts within hotels, tour guiding, restaurants etc.) We finish off in Sicily – the wild woman who belongs everywhere and nowhere – for some personal shopper-assisted retail therapy.

How did the idea come about?

After leaving my job, I knew whatever was next had to involve freedom of location, high end clients and be built around my own interests (travel, women being together, having fun). I thought I was asking for too much…but it’s exactly what I am now doing. I thought of how we women give so much but after all this providing during our prime years – as an employee/mother/partner – we’re then pushed aside. And I kept coming back to the idea we shouldn’t stop living life because our partner doesn’t share the same interests, or we’re single, or we’ve just got used to putting everyone’s needs before ours. 

In a nutshell, what is your ethos and/or motivation?

To get women to start living their life again! After all, the more happy and fulfilled you are in yourself, the more you can give to your loved ones and those around you. 

Are there any lessons you’ve taken from your previous endeavours and applied to what you are doing now? 

My discipline and extensive experience from working hotels and spas etc is invaluable (e.g. knowing the smallest thing you do for a client can make the difference between a memorable holiday and a bad one).  I’m not going to panic about tomorrow. I’m going to concentrate on today.

And would you say you have realised what you would not repeat?

Not exactly because I did everything from the heart so I’d do it all the same. If I made mistakes, I learned the most from them as they were the lessons that formed me. Wherever I go, I try to help, create and put my colleagues before me.  

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

Yes but it took time! It was when I accepted my situation. Mostly, I want to make up for all the time I didn’t have before. 

W: Shetakesoff.com  E: [email protected]

MIKELA FENECH PACE – Upstream

“My father always said he chose employment so he could lay his head down at night and sleep well, so taking this risk wasn’t easy for me”

After years in the upper echelons of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office and HR field, Mikela Fenech Pace returned to studying in the pandemic before launching her executive coaching company, Upstream. Shall I mention her five children and published book too? One could throw the term superwoman at her and it would stick (I recall an audible wow from the audience when Mikela spoke at a 2018 SHE event). Yes her rich background and full interview answers deserve another book but here’s the brief version.

What did you particularly enjoy about your Public Sector work?

I loved the sense of purpose and challenge of looking beyond the obvious regarding the national context. I also encountered some of the best minds in Malta, helping me develop a strong strategic mindset that continues to serve me well.

What motivated you to leave that and launch Upstream?

After 16 years, it was time as the environment no longer matched my work ethic. The move was instinctive as I have a strong value-set that acts as a ‘rudder’ to my decisions. (My mantra is always to leave behind a strong legacy and team; this allows me to move on confidently.) There were other factors too. My children needed me around much more as they entered their teens, leading me to re-evaluate what success meant to me. I found myself no longer driven by career progression but more by enabling change and coaching others to safely explore it.

What do you find rewarding about what you’re doing now? 

The satisfaction of seeing the impact of my work with people (the look I get from a client who’s had a breakthrough) always makes me smile. The joy of helping clients step out of their comfort zone, knowing I’ve provided them with a safe space to do this, to process how they feel and feel supported  along the way. 

Can you describe some past and present challenges about setting up your own venture?

The most daunting one was the risk. I don’t come from an entrepreneurial family (my father chose employment so he could lay his head down and sleep at night!) so it wasn’t easy for me. But with my husband’s support and a leap of faith, I hit the books and completed my Executive Coaching and Team Coaching degrees (mid Covid), realising you never know what’s on the other side unless you try. As for now, although I love a challenge, I still find it hard dealing with dishonesty and underhand attacks and have to work hard to not let this hurt personally. But the strong friendships I have help me handle these situations better.

Are there any positive lessons you’ve taken from work or life and applied to what you do now?

Every move or change I’ve made has contributed to my growth as a person and expanded my understanding of happiness, not just success. But the experience I took the most from was my father’s funeral. Standing there  heartbroken, I was awed by how many people came to show their respects and their words about this humble man who lived life fully yet simply. It taught me the greatest lesson: it’s not about the money, position or power you have. It’s the friendships you forge, the respect you draw and the way you live life that will make the biggest impact. This is how I choose to live, in full respect of the legacy I will leave and how I will be remembered.

Conversely, have you realised what you would not repeat from past experience?

Where do I start?! Looking back, I can see clear patterns in my interactions and the way I present myself (this awareness took some soul searching but was also liberating). We often fall into a script of blaming people for things that go wrong or feeling easily wronged. Holding myself responsible forced me to handle myself better and actually learn from my failures and disappointments instead of simply defending myself. The philosophy that “you can’t change what happens to you or how people treat you but you can change the way you react” has possibly been the strongest and most powerful revelation.

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

Who knows? For now, I wake up and go to bed smiling and enjoy what I do every day. I wear many hats, each one driven by a different passion. I’m thankful I can look back at a career where I brought passion to whatever I did. 

W: Upstream.mt  E: [email protected]

MARIA MOELLER – Think Therapy

“As an entrepreneur, I learned that you don’t have to know everything. It’s perfectly ok to take help from others, relinquish control and defer to those who know better if the opportunity exists.”

If you attended the first ever SHE Malta workshop a few moons ago, you may recall its location: the former boutique Fly the Fly Vintage owned by Maria Moeller. For four years, Maria nurtured her ‘Malta baby’ using the skills from her 12 year Swedish retail background. Describing the quirky ornaments she sold alongside her own line of items, she reminisces about the store’s vibrant convivial atmosphere. It’s fair to say her career change from store owner to therapist is quite a significant one. So I was deeply curious to learn her backstory.

What did you enjoy about your previous role?

I loved (and really miss) the hustle and bustle of having a store and the creative outlet that came with it:  dreaming up and executing events and collaborating with countless people and companies.  It was an amazing experience.

So what led you to close the store and start your new venture?

I’ve always been interested in therapy but didn’t want to start a practice before working on my own healing first. After studying privately for a while, I had test clients for 18 months and then found an online school. I still had the shop and I knew I couldn’t sustain studying at the same time but also found it hard to let go of my baby. Then Malta went into shut down due to Covid so the decision to close was made for me! 

Why did you choose therapy exactly?

My interest in psychology began early on. I studied it in my youth and was curious about the incredible diversity of human nature and the enormous capability we possess to heal. The development of mental health over recent years has widened our understanding of how the brain and our nervous system operate, as well as how to use the right methods to improve our quality of life. Life took me in a different direction but I’m so grateful I decided to return to my studies. 

What do you particularly enjoy about what you do? 

While I miss the daily engagement of working in a store, I feel I now have the opportunity to make a more meaningful difference in people’s lives. It’s a privilege to be part of a person’s journey to improving their mental health. 

What positive experiences or lessons have you applied from your past venture to what you are doing now?

I loved my Fly the Fly customer conversations but noticed I had trouble leaving this behind at the shop and I was worried the same thing would happen to me as a therapist. So I knew I needed to be aware of any tendencies to bring home my clients’ problems. It’s taught me to be vigilant, release my ego and be present for them without letting my own emotions get in the way. I don’t mean I’m not empathic. Just that it’s important that I use empathy in a way that’s beneficial for my clients.

What would you not repeat from your past professional experiences?

As an entrepreneur, I learned that you don’t have to know everything. It’s perfectly ok to take help from others, relinquish control and defer to those who know better if the opportunity exists.

What is the biggest challenge you feel you currently face?

Declining to take on certain clients, such as old customers, as they’re too close. Obviously as Malta is so small, this can be a challenge! And I can’t say no to everyone. I just use my best judgement to figure out where the line is and how close someone is to my inner core. 

Would you say you’ve found your passion/calling in life?

I’m very passionate about this. Life is always evolving and I’m open to exploring different ways to practise therapy while also incorporating my other interests.

W: www.thinktherapy.health  E: [email protected]  I: @thinktherapy.health

JULIA PERRY

“Finding your own path is key to self-development and moving forward.”

One half of the SHE Malta founding duo, Julia can probably be called the definitive OG. Describing life in the UK after leaving SHE (a decision she’s described as one of the hardest ever), Julia confessed to times of turbulence, calm and joy. And her ventures of the last few years reveal a full circle so to speak, in which she has gone from the SHE business community to the arts community in Bath to combining business with art.

What did you do directly after SHE?

After a stint supporting local Bath businesses via my Instagram page, I took a total social media break to focus on self-care, personal space and explore new interests. The latter included volunteering at an art gallery, art history courses and stewarding at prominent exhibitions. Finding purpose and acceptance from another community (this time the arts) helped me slowly move forward and enter another phase of life. 

Soon after, my past Instagram posts led the owner of a local candle-making business to approach me to build her online presence. After initial reluctance to end my social media detox, I eventually agreed and it actually resulted in me regaining my confidence to re-enter freelancing and entrepreneurship – even more so after an invitation to the 2022 Bath Life awards when my client’s business was nominated!

What are you up to now?

My new freelance digital marketer hat has given me the chance to work closely with local communities and entrepreneurs, building a clientele including an artisan food & gifts market, a garden centre and an Antiques & Silverware shop. I’ve also taken on a University job and resurrected a previous passion from my Malta life: collecting antiques and sourcing vintage items with a view to opening a shop.

Have you applied any lessons from your previous endeavours to what you’re doing now? 

Something of value I’ve taken from the past few years (including working with Sass) is this:

Finding your own path is key to self-development and moving forward.  Entrepreneurship does not guarantee financial security. So you may have to balance this with a paying job while you keep pushing a dream until you make it! For me, the goal is financial freedom, independence and creativity. There is no better reward than knowing you made good things happen for yourself and others, be that as an employer, freelancer or team member who feels valued for their part in the success of a business. 

What amazing lessons to end on.

I: @julesperry81 (personal inspiration) @stuffandtalesvintage (vintage & antiques collections.) 

We have crossed paths with so many amazing women on the island through SHE and we love nothing more than to give them a platform to shine!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article where we feature 4 more of the SHE OG’s.