Women in Business - Issue 1618

7 - 13 July 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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© EWN MEDIA GROUP

WOMEN

IN BUSINESS

The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me?” Ayn Rand

Standing on the shoulders of giants

By Matthew Elliott A QUICK glance at the headlines and you will see powerful women occupying the highest political offices making groundbreaking deals that shape the entire world and affect the lives of billions of people.

Whether they are revolutionary rebels fighting for justice or a safe pair of hands in charge of the ship, women have proven their mettle time and time again, casting chauvinists overboard into the stormy waters of history.

In Europe today we see Angela Merkel weathering storms, Nicola Sturgeon batting for Scotland, Theresa May stepping up in England and a tenacious cast of female mayors taking control from Barcelona to Rome.

With Hillary Clinton poised to become president, many are predicting that the metaphorical glass ceiling will finally be shattered but back on planet earth women know that there’s more to the story than one house, however White it may be.

It is women in the business world who are making the real difference and transforming the history of their communities by taking on leadership roles, setting new standards and using their practical influence to make the world a better place.

Though there is much to be done, today we live in a world where women are no longer simply the patronised objects of female-only shortlists designed to make quotas and present the appearance of inclusiveness.

Today more and more women are founding and running their own businesses, jilting the need to wait for men to make the changes and choosing instead to forge their own destinies.

This is a far more revolutionary development than seeing women sit in high office, wearing staid suits and wielding long titles, because the freedom of private enterprise allows women to rewrite the rulebook itself. By starting their own businesses women are able to dictate their own agenda, choose their own gameplan, and take control of their own lives. So far, so good, Turn to page 54 but since not everyone can run

Featureflash Photo Agency

POWERFUL WOMEN: Stella McCartney and Oprah Winfrey.

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The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend feeling sorry for themselves.

Barbara Corcoran

EX-PATS

Bringing you everything from home IT’S not easy to create a new business from scratch and quickly establish it as the go-to place for a group of people, but that’s exactly what Gary and Debbie did when they opened their new business back in August 2005. Bump into any British resident and ask them where to go to buy a given British product, and the chances are they’ll point you to EX-PATS. Many British holiday-makers who regularly visit the area will point you in the same direction too.

Back in the UK Debbie was a beauty therapist and Gary a computer consultant. They came to Spain, and after taking some time out and finding their feet, set about doing something completely different. They started out with a small supermarket in Altea, but wanted something bigger.

Debbie in particular didn’t want to do without certain British products, but was horrified at the cost of them (if they could be found at all). It became their dream to be able to bring down the prices of British goods in Spain.

They spent a year looking for the right location, and in 2005 opened their first warehouse. Their concept was simple, a

EX-PATS: British products always at your fingertips.

EX-PATS is easy to find - ask anyone! See their advert in this newspaper for opening times and contact details, or visit www.expatsspain.net

cash-and-carry selling to both trade and the public. They gave trader’s cards to traders and loyalty cards to members of the public, which gives a discount. They bought in bulk so savings could be passed onto customers. Debbie says it’s not just prices that bring people in, or even having the right stock. They, and their staff, are sociable and approachable, and customers like that.

As they’ve grown so has their range and they now have over 10,000 lines and occupy four warehouses. They have a cafe too so people can enjoy a bite to eat and drink after shopping.

More than part of a growing trend From page 53

SUCCESSFUL WOMEN: Baroness Michelle Mone, founder of Ultimo.

their very own business, how are these women truly transforming their communities?

The answer lies in the example they set. Young girls today have had a huge psychological barrier removed from their consciousness, and, by seeing successful women in every aspect of life, are now able to plan a future free of stifling social stereotypes.

Business beats politics hands down when it comes to strengthening the female hand because the examples set are evident across all levels of the community and not simply at the top in a remote ivory tower.

Women in business are not

distant celebrities, strange two-dimensional faces plastered across television screens and newspapers, they are the characters you see walking down the street, the women providing the things that we want and need and inspiring us while doing so.

They own restaurants, estate agents, insurance firms, and communication companies. They are doctors, vets, lawyers, gardeners, fitters, carers and providers. They provide jobs, they plough money and services into their local community and they, more than a Clinton ever could, make a genuine difference to everyday life.

Crucially, women in business have opened the gateway to an entirely new conception of how business itself is done, paving the way

Being a woman in business makes you a role-model and an inspiration.” for future generations to explore new avenues and ideas without being tied down by petty expectations and antiquated rules.

History is an ongoing story, not simply a page in a forgotten book, and so it is important to remember that, without the bravery and strength of the trailblazing women of the past, it would be inconceivable to publish a full supplement devoted to women in business.

But it is equally as important to remember that the women featured here today are not merely standing on the shoulders of giants, but are

giants themselves, the heroes to whom a generation of children are aspiring.

Being a woman in business makes you more than simply part of a growing trend, it makes you a role-model and an inspiration, someone actively changing history rather than simply watching it go by, and a cornerstone of your community.

Naturally these women don’t waste much time pausing to reflect on their unwitting heroics, after all they have businesses to run and lives to lead, so it is fitting that every so often we all stop to recognise their tremendous contribution, while doing everything we can to help future generations have their chance to change the world.

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If you can’t go straight ahead, you go around the corner.

Cher

DEBBIE CLAYTON - EX-PATS

A good sense of humour is a must ENJOYING a challenge keeps Debbie happy “IN this business you have to be a customer-focused person” says Debbie who, with her husband Gary, owns and runs EX-PATS in Villajoyosa. She believes this is fundamental to their success, along with the fact that they identified a need in the community for their vision of cheaper British products being available to everyone.

Debbie spends much of her time in the UK sourcing their stock, and clearly enjoys the challenge of keeping her customers happy.

She says “personality is much more important than gender, and describes herself as a ‘people’s person’.” She said a good sense of

It’s important to stay relevant to your customers and evolve with the times.” humour is a must and the ability to be friendly but firm where needed, but articulate enough to make your point without being patronising and to always be open to other people’s opinions and suggestions.

In terms of staying relevant to their customers, she and Gary believe it is important to evolve with the times. When the financial crisis started in 2007/8 they introduced a lot of discount lines as well as a lot of overproduction lines. These proved very popular.

The same mindset is important

now that Brexit has become a reality. She and Gary recognise that now that Britain has disassociated itself from the rest of Europe, there will be major complications for expats and any business in Spain that deals with Britain.

Many of those won’t surface for several years, so again you have to evolve with the times and change accordingly.

DEBBIE CLAYTON: A real people’s person.

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How wrong is it for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than create it herself.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Anaïs Nin

THE BED CENTRE

More than just beds THE BED CENTRE has been in Calpe since 1992 with owner and manageress Lucy working there since 2002 before taking over the business herself in 2006. As you would expect after 14 years Lucy knows pretty much all there is to know about buying a bed.

Firstly, you need to go in and try a bed for yourself. Sit on one, have a lie down on one, try and imagine this being where you will spend that sometimes overlooked 33 per cent of your life. The odd customer has even been known to doze off on one.

The beds themselves range from budget through to luxury and everything in between.

Singles, doubles, bunk beds, whatever you require although they specialise in superking size beds and bed linen. As well as the huge choice of mattresses and bedsteads there is also the headboard to consider, all available here.

The shop sells far more than beds of course. There is a wide choice of bedding with linen from the UK and Portugal. Portuguese linen is excellent quality and well suited to the Iberian climate. They also do a wide range of thermal-regu-

THE BED CENTRE: Ranging from budget through to luxury and everything in between as well as a wide choice of bedding with linen.

See their website www.thebedcentre.com, call on 965 836 814 or e-mail info@thebedcentre.com

lating bed linen for the hot summer nights.

Pillows, cushions and children’s furniture are all available. Just ask and if it’s not in stock they well may be able to find it for you.

When you have made your purchase it will be delivered and assembled as part of the price and your old bed removed. As part of the after care service they will even visit you

to turn your mattress if you find that a struggle yourself. Customer Service is very important at the Bed Centre as you will find out for yourself if you pay a visit.

The Bed Centre is on Centro Commercial Biblos on the Calpe to Moraira road. There is parking available. Open in July and August from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Saturday.

Medical rebel

By Matthew Elliott

E X PEC T to he a r the na me Eliz a be th Holmes more in the future. Born in 1984 the CEO and founder of blood-testing company Theranos recently became the world’s youngest self-made female billiona ire , w a s na me d a le a ding globa l thinker by Foreign Policy, one of the top 1 0 0 mos t influe ntia l pe ople by Time , Woman of the Year by Glamour, and Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship by President Obama.

ELIZABETH HOLMES: World’s youngest self-made female billionaire.

11 years were spent developing revolutionary blood-testing technology that looks set to transform health care.

Deliberately avoiding the limelight, unusual in the social media age, Holmes has long been something of a prodigy, learning Mandarin in high school, combating the SARS virus while in university, before dropping out to spend 11 years developing revolutionary blood-testing technology that looks set to transform health care across the world.

Venturing into one of the world’s most competitive and technological industries, Holmes claimed to have developed a way to run complete diagnostic testing from a single finger-prick and her company was soon valued at more than €8 billion, with her owning a 50 per cent share.

An incredibly driven woman she wrote a letter aged just nine detailing her de-

sire to “discover something new, something that mankind didn’t know was possible to do.” A vegan who elects not to eat animal products so as to function on less sleep, she can quote Jane Austen from heart, and shuns dating and television.

The health and technology industries have been put on notice by her quest to radically transform the affordability and transparency of quality health care. “The premise that you’re going to run a business, and that if someone is in need, I’m going to charge them a ton of money, is completely wrong,” she argues, as her company charges patients a fraction of the cost presented by rival multinationals.

Her rare forays into public life see Holmes encouraging girls to focus on their education and speaking widely on female entrepreneurship. “It was a long time after I started this company that I realised that there had not been a sole female founder-CEO of a multibillion-dollar health care or technology company,” arguing that entrepreneurship is one area where a glass ceiling simply shouldn’t exist.

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As a woman I have no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.

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Virginia Woolf

LUCY GRANDE - THE BED CENTRE

‘Don’t take shortcuts’ HAD the chance to take over the business and jumped at the opportunity

LUCY GRANDE: Has never looked back after moving to Spain.

LUCY first moved to Spain from the UK back in 1981 and has never really looked back.

As you can imagine things were very different in Spain in the early 80s. Lucy started her working life making leather handbags and belts in a shop on the Gabriel Miro and then went on to teaching languages for a while. In the late 1990s she started a business importing goods into Spain for a UK catalogue company for the burge oning e xpa tria te community. This was doing very well, but the devaluation of the peseta hit it hard.

This led to Lucy working in the Calpe Bed Centre in 2002, although the business itself actually started in 1992. In 2006 she had the chance to take over the business and jumped at the opportunity.

LUCY Work hard, learn the language, but most important of all is customer service, this must ALWAYS be the focus.”

Outside of the business Lucy’s spare time is dominated with the ‘Make a Smile’ charity of which she is the president.

Make a Smile is a well-established local charity that helps underprivileged children along the Costa Blanca with essentials such as feeding and

shelter.

For example at the moment there is the Olive Tree Project. One thousand olive trees are being offered for sponsorship at €50 each per year. These can be purchased as a gift or maybe as a memorial for a loved one while at the same time helping the environment and the children.

For more details about the charity visit www.facebook.com/makeasmile.es.

Donations including clothing, bric a brac, toys etc can also be dropped in at The Bed Centre itself.

Lucy r ecent l y m ar r i ed Tony, her long-time partner and has just become a grandmother for the first time.

Asked what advice she would have for anyone starting a business in Spain she said the following: “Work hard, don’t take shortcuts, learn the language.

“Most important of all is customer service, this must ALWAYS be the focus.”

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I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.

Estee Lauder

CBT CONSTRUCTION

Your property needs under one roof NO job too big or too small

By Simon Russell CBT Construction has been in Moraira since 2001 and they are both an estate agent and construction company. On the estate agency side of the business they cover roughly the area from Calpe to Javea and inland. They offer all types of properties to suit all budgets from small apartments to detached villas with pools.

If you are interested in a particular property they will take you out to see it. If you don’t have a specific property in mind they will talk you through the options available to help you find that dream home. As you go through the buying process, Adela will arrange all the help you need on the legal side of things, helping you avoid the many pitfalls of Spanish property purchase.

Regarding the construction side of CBT this

CBT CONSTRUCTION: The one stop shop.

is overseen by Adela’s husband Pasquale. He is an experienced builder with an established team of CBT employees working alongside him.

There should be minimal need for subcontracting out work to third parties as is so often the case. If you require, Pasquale and his team can build a new property from scratch. They will even help you find the plot of land in your desired location if needs be. If you need major work doing on an existing property, a new pool, an extension, etc. no problem. They are also happy to take on smaller work, just contact the office with your requirements.

One advantage as a buyer with this arrangement is, that if you want to purchase a house but feel it needs some modifications to meet your per-

sonal specification, this can all be done through CBT. A ‘one stop shop’ as it were. All new build work has a reassuring 10 year guarantee for the structural work and two years for any machinery and electrical components.

You can drop into the CBT Construction office on 24B Avenida Del Portet in Moraira (just up from the port area).

Their website is www.cbt-inmocons.com or e-mail info@cbt-inmocons.com Telephone 966 491 392.

Their opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm (10am to 2pm in the summer months).

A synopsis of women and business in Spain

By Eleanor Hawkins

ALTHOUGH it’s undeniable that Spanish women have been far less active in the business world than men in the past, recently they have gained momentum, particularly amongst the self-employed and the world of small and medium-sized businesses.

In fact, according to the GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) report for 2014, women made up 41.5 per cent of entrepreneurs starting new business ventures and 42.6 per cent of all entrepreneurs running businesses, and of those who expressed the intention to start up a business within three years 49.8 per cent were female.

So what are Spanish women entrepreneurs like?

Studies have shown that they don’t have horns or six eyes, in fact women entrepreneurs are very similar to their male counterparts: Age: the average age for women entrepreneurs is 38. For both sexes, 35-44 is the age when Spaniards are the most likely to start up in business.

Marital status: approximately 53 per

FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS: Women are becoming much more active in starting new businesses. cent of women entrepreneurs in Spain are single, compared to 53 per cent of men. Yet 35 per cent have family responsibilities.

Education: 65 per cent of Spanish women entrepreneurs have university qualifications, compared to 53 per

89 per cent of women who start new projects in Spain do so without any public funding.

cent of men.

What sort of businesses do they go for?

Men and women in Spain generally go for different types of business: On average, companies started by women take on fewer employees (1.7)

than those started by men (1.85).

Women tend to lean more towards retail and consumption sectors: 62.3 per cent of businesses founded by women compared to 47.7 per cent founded by men are in these sectors.

Within the industry sector 22.5 per cent of companies are started by men, compared to just 10.5 per cent by women.

Women show more originality: 17.8 per cent of companies started by women are unique in the market, yet just 14.5 per cent of women entrepreneurs are found to innovate in their products or services.

What problems do they face?

A study by Sage software company revealed that 89 per cent of women who start new projects in Spain do so with no public funding, 36.5 per cent use their savings, 23 per cent borrowed money from friends or family and 7 per cent went to private investors.

Most women say it should be easier to get government grants and tax and fiscal benefits should be provided to encourage more to launch themselves into the world of business.

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Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

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Audrey Hepburn

ADELA LLOBELL - CBT CONSTRUCTION

Finding and building your perfect home LISTENING to the customer is the key to being successful

By Simon Russell

ADELA LLOBELL: Believes in doing things right first time for the customer.

CBT Construction has an office in the heart of Moraira on Avenida Del Portet. Adela has been running their office here since 2001 and they have seen out the recent re c e s s ion a nd othe r dips in the Spanish economy.

One of the reassuring things about CBT is that they are a true family business. As well as herself and her husband Pasquale, Adela has a brother and cousin who all work for the firm.

Asked about what makes CBT a successful business Adela said it is really very simple “All our clients

Repeat business is the lifeblood of a business like ours, do things right first time and clients will come back to you in the future and recommend you to other people.”

come back! Repeat business is the lifeblood of a business like ours. If you do things right first time, and really listen to the customer, they will come back to you in the future

and recommend you to other people.”

Adel a f ocuses on t he off i ce based side of the business and if you go there it is probably her you will meet. She speaks English and Spanish as well as Valenciano.

On t he hom e f r ont Adel a and Pasquale have three children, an older child and two who are still at primary school.

She was born and still lives in Benitachell in the Marina Alta, so is very much a local. In fact she says that their knowledge of the area is another reason why CBT Construction will always be well placed to help you find - or build the house of your dreams.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in it, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.

Hillary Clinton

JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM INSURANCES

Regain control over your life A GOOD night’s sleep and lack of needless complications are among the most understated secrets to a contented and stress-free life.

Unfortunately not taking control of certain details can cause a real headache further down the line.

However long you have lived in Spain you will likely be all too familiar with the aggravating problem of finding a dependable insurance provider. Someone you can trust to provide the best possible service, and who offers a more personal, collaborative approach to properly address your needs.

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances has cultivated a well-deserved reputation across the expatriate community courtesy of a deeper, client friendly focus on insurance policies and an exemplary service backed up by glowing testimonials.

Sensitive to the very particular and often complex needs of expats living in Spain, and with professionally qualified, multi-lingual personnel, Jennifer Cunningham Insurances is the place to turn to when you want your insurance claim dealt with swiftly and effectively.

Partnered with ASSSA and Liberty Se-

provider should empower you, rather than trap you in even more paperwork and complex contracts.

This means that you are able to sit down and have a personal chat with any one of the expert staff at hand, to freely discuss your hopes and concerns with someone who is passionate and determined to help.

You are also placed in charge of the renewal process, with nothing happening without your say-so, as is frequently the case in Spain, which means that you can finally regain control over your financial affairs, strengthened by the invaluable guidance of this dedicated and professional team.

JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM: More than just a voice on the phone. guros, two of Spain’s most respected insurers, and with more than 20 years hands-on experience in the industry, Jennifer Cunningham Insurances offers a comprehensive range of services to help you manage your life.

Whether it is home, health or car insurance you will be offered the full scope of expertise and advice to help you ensure that you make

A success in her own right

By Matthew Elliott

ALTHOUGH her husband received most of the accolades, Rosalia Mera actually co-founded the Zara retail chain and went on to pioneer the evolution of Inditex, the world’s largest fashion group.

When she passed away in 2013 Mera was acclaimed by Forbes magazine as the world’s richest self-made woman, proving that she was not just along for the ride, but was a formidable businesswoman in her own right. Indeed before her passing she had a personal wealth of more than €5 billion.

Dropping out of school at an early age, Mera began work as a sales assistant in a clothes shop aged just 11 and soon began designing her own clothes at home.

With husband Amancio Ortega she opened their first Zara store

€5 BN was the amount of her personal wealth before she died.

in 1975.

Inditex was created as a holding company in 1985 and, despite her divorce from Ortega the following year, Mera retained a 7 per cent stake in the rising company.

She also owned interests in a scientific research company and one making fingerprint identification for babies.

She played a role in politics too, fighting restrictive abortion laws in Spain and opposing austerity cuts in healthcare and education. She also established a foundation to help vulnerable people at risk of social exclusion.

the right decision for you and your family.

Legal and financial services are also available, as are life, travel and pet insurance, as well as sensitive funeral planning.

The key philosophies underpinning the success of Jennifer Cunningham Insurances are the attitude that they are more than just a voice on the phone, and that a good insurance

So if you want to enlist the help of an insurance provider you can trust and talk to on a down-to-earth and personal level, then simply call 966 461 690 today and request a call back. You can also visit them online at www.jennifercunningham.net to find out more, read informative articles, and see what other expats have to say.

Pioneering president RISING to the very top of a traditionally male-dominated industry, and commanding great respect while doing so, is no mean feat. That is what makes the achievements of Ruth Salzmann so special.

Passing away a few years ago at the ripe old age of 95, Salzmann was a pioneer of the insurance industry, becoming the first female actuarial fellow in the Casualty Actuarial Society in 1946, going on to become the first woman officer at the Insurance Company of North America in 1962.

In 1978 when, despite advances in feminism, most women were still struggling for basic rights, including equal pay, Salzmann became the first female president of the Society.

Her ‘Salzmann curves’ became required reading for young students and she was renowned by peers for her high ethical standards and witty company. A keen tennis player, she played trumpet with an accomplished symphony orchestra. Later she competed in the national Senior Olympics, wrote several books and was named one of the 100 Leading Women by Business Insurance in 2000.

INSURANCE INDUSTRY: Very much male-dominated.

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People respond well to those that are sure of what they want.

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Anna Wintour

JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM - JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM INSURANCES JENNIFER: Her story is a stirring and touching one that relates to courage.

Going the extra mile JENNIFER is an inspiring figure who makes the Costa Blanca a far better place to be A DETERMINED, passionate lady who keeps herself fit and young through healthy living and an inspiring enthusiasm for helping others, Jennifer’s story is a stirring one that relates courage, dedication and the incalculable benefits of a positive mental attitude.

Having moved to Spain in the late 1980’s, Jennifer soon found herself alone with only a half finished home and a widows’ pension after her husband sadly passed away.

Many will recall the transformative moments in

their life when they stood, changed but unbroken, and found the strength to continue by channelling their love, rather than being overcome by fear, and Jennifer began the long road towards developing her own life, and helping many others along the way.

From humble beginnings working from the simplicity of her own bedroom, Jennifer managed to apply her experience working in health insurance, and her philosophy of putting people before profit, to eventually become a household name on the Costa Blanca, admired for her forthright attitude and prudent advice.

It certainly wasn’t an easy feat. At the be-

ginning Jennifer wasn’t computer literate, which means she didn’t have a clue how to use the darned machines. Learning from scratch blessed her with a more empathetic understanding of the difficulties faced by her fellow expatriates in Spain.

Her company, Jennifer Cunningham Insurances, was built on the principle that a personal, one on one service was fundamental to ensuring that people’s needs are properly met and that real interaction can never be replaced with the detachment of the telephone or internet.

Jennifer also has her own sound advice programme on Bay Radio where she offers valuable and impartial insights.

More than a caring businesswoman, Jennifer is one of the many inspiring figures who quite simply make the Costa Blanca a far better place to live. Find out more about Jennifer and her company at www.jennifercunningham.net.

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If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Dolly Parton

TELITEC

Leading the way in telecommunications TELITEC are the leading independent provider of telecommunications in Spain, a trusted and well-established company who specialise in dealing with expats and their telecom needs.

This is an incredibly fast moving industry and Telitec always ensure they are at the forefront of any new technologies that come onto the market so the benefits can be passed on to the customer. A good example of this is the upcoming launch of Fibre 300.

This means Telitec will be able to offer high speed fibre connections to many communities. You can find out more about this product on www.telitec.com/fibre300-register.

Telitec offer landlines, mobiles, 4G, wireless and ADSL. Unlike most other telecom companies in Spain they have their own wireless masts which gives them an advantage over other firms who are reliant on third parties. They also provide UKTV packages via either satellite dishes or the internet (IPTV).

If you contact Telitec and outline your requirements you will be talked through all options available in plain English with a minimum of ‘tech-talk’ depending, of

Telitec’s office is at Ctra. Moraira a Calpe 82, Teulada, or alternatively you can call them on 965 743 473 or 902 889 070.

All details of what they provide, technical support numbers and more can be seen if you visit their excellent website www.telitec.com.

course, on your own level of knowledge.

Once you have purchased one of their products they have a dedicated technical helpline so customer service does not stop at the point of sale as happens with so many firms.

The helpline is available out of hours and can even be called from the UK on the 0800 local rate.

Telitec are both a locally based and socially minded company covering the whole of Spain and the Baleares. Telitec employs local staff and are constantly involved in charity and other events such as the recent ‘Kids got Talent’ shows right through to their sponsorship of Free Spirits HD, a local Harley Davidson bikers group.

We have a dedicated technical helpline so customer service does not stop at the point of sale.”

Busting the myths about women in business

By Eleanor Hawkins

THERE are plenty of myths out there about women, and when it comes to successful businesswomen they become almost outrageous.

To combat some of these myths, the 30% Club (a group set up in London in 2010 to try and achieve a minimum of 30 per cent women on FTSE-100 boards) got together with KPMG assessment firm and business psychology firm YSC to investigate data from more than 100 companies across the world, evaluate replies from almost 10,000 questionnaires and interview almost 100 women (and a few men) from various levels on the corporate ladder.

These were the seven main beliefs the study revealed to be not entirely true: Myth 1: Having children hinders women on their way to the top.

Reality: The impact of maternity on women’s professional opportunities is weaker than imagined. Statistically there are no significant differences in the number of women with

TOP WOMEN: Are more anchored to reality than their male colleagues. and without children who are promoted.

Myth 2: Women don’t reach the top because they lack confidence.

Reality: Women are very aware of the risks, so they are more anchored to reality than their male col-

30 per cent is the target to achieve in getting a minimum number of women on the FTSE-100 boards.

leagues. This is often taken to mean women are less confident than their male counterparts, however the investigation found no difference in the number of professional decisions made by one sex or the other.

Myth 3: Women don’t want top

leadership positions.

Reality: The surveys revealed that there are just as many women as men eager to be in charge.

Myth 4: Women give up before getting to the top.

Reality: Investigators found no evidence of more women giving up than men.

Myth 5: Women don’t have the necessary leadership traits to direct.

Reality: 360 people were asked about their boss’s behaviour and in general terms there was little difference between the sexes.

Myth 6: Women at the top don’t help those underneath them.

Reality: Most women leaders use their contacts to create a diverse group in their teams and the majority say they are interested in training and mentoring women in their employ.

Myth 7: Women have it easier on the way up.

Reality: Most women said that flexible working conditions such as working from home and shorter hours had not actually been significant in their careers.

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A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.

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Melinda Gates

GEMMA BROAD - TELITEC

The face of Telitec BEING a ‘people person’ is vital to success

GEMMA BROAD: More than just a pretty face.

GEMMA’S role in the telecommunications firm is Business and Promotions manager. Essentially that means she is the face of the company and also that she spends more time working outside of the office than in it.

If there is an event organised by Telitec, or one where the firm have a presence, odds are that Gemma will be involved with it every step of the way. A recent example of the sort of thing Gemma gets involved in is the ‘Kids got Talent’ event.

This was held earlier in the year showcasing the talents of local Costa Blanca children. It proved such a success that another event is already in the pipeline with entries starting in August for a planned November finale. Other events have included wine tasting, paintballing and Fun Days.

If you need someone to hold your hand when dealing with technology then that is what we will do.”

Gemma also organises the more business oriented events such as the very popular business brunches and business networking events.

On top of all this there is the charity side of things with good causes such as Akira and Jalon Valley Help all benefiting from Telitec’s fundraising efforts.

Gemma moved over to Spain in 2002 from Rainham in Kent. She had a couple of jobs before arriv-

2002 Moved to Spain

2012 Started working at Telitec

ing at Telitec in 2012. Gemma has two girls aged 10 and two, who both attend local Spanish schools in Javea where they all live. Her partner Ross also works for Telitec.

Gemma obviously has to be a ‘people person’ for her job and she believes Telitec’s success is down to their customer service skills.

This extends far beyond just sales but after-sales as well. As Gemma put it “if you need someone to hold your hand when dealing with technology, then that is what we will do.”

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I don’t believe in failure. It’s not failure if you enjoyed the process.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Oprah Winfrey

AMASVISTA WINDOWS SL

You may be pleasantly surprised

By Simon Russell MELANIE and Siegfried decided to open Amasvista in 2011 after judging there was a gap in the market in quality custom-made windows and doors. People were often making do with an unsuitable product as they felt custom-made products were too expensive or took too long to manufacture. However, the truth is cheap products will not last long in the harsh Spanish climate and badly fitted doors and windows increase heating and air conditioning costs to the point where any saving is effectively wiped out.

When people do ask for a quote they are usually pleasantly surprised. Regarding time, most orders will be delivered and fitted within an average of 10 days. Less time than most ‘off the shelf’ products in fact. The other partner in the business is Pedro Vazquez who is half German and half Spanish. He is their commercial technician and will help you in selecting what you need taking into account budget, etc.

Two other members of staff work full time on the construction side of things.

All frames are made of metal, which Amasvista regards as the best product for the sometimes torrential winter rains and blistering

CONSERVATORIES: Can also be constructed.

You can contact Melanie on 966 457 878 or info@amasvista.com.

Their website is www.amasvista.com.

The business is located at Poligon Les Galgues, Calle La Pansa 9, Pedreguer.

summer sun we have in these parts. The metals used are steel (stainless or galvanised) and aluminium. While most people will be familiar with aluminium for doors and window frames they may not be so familiar with the benefits of using steel which is very strong and extremely weatherproof. As well as windows and doors Amasvista can also construct car ports, conser-

vatories, wind breaks, glass roofs (fixed and mobile), even metal staircases. They are also suppliers of the well known Markilux Awnings range, the German market leader. Concerning the glass itself a wide range is offered, again depending on your own specifications. Just contact or visit Melanie, explain what you think you want and you may well be pleasantly surprised.

Learning how to delegate for the best outcome THE higher up a person moves in an organisation, the more effectively they need to delegate. Successful delegation involves turning the right tasks over to the right people for the right reasons, with the resources and authority to act.

It requires giving employees enough information, authority, and resources to get the job done the way it needs to be done.

Delegation goes beyond just handing off the job.

It includes setting performance expectations, following-up, and providing feedback

How to be a leader at work Leadership is the set of attitudes that can make a person be considered a leader. From the definition of leader, we can obtain several conclusions. Being a leader is not something that cannot be achieved alone.

Being a leader is to be successful as a team by encouraging a team to work in harmony to achieve a common goal. For someone to be considered a leader they need to know how to recognise their own talent and the talent of the rest of the team.

How to value yourself more It is normal to want to wait for consistent recognition by others. One of the most frus-

trating feelings is to give the best, waiting for an outsider to come along and congratulate the work that one did, and that does not happen, ever.

Learning lies in enjoying the good work because there springs the true inner satisfaction; a person can feel valuable, capable, competent and creative.

everyday decisions and actions.

Walking with direction means that we can create scenarios where we want to be and move.

These scenarios that are created in our minds first, have sounds, powerful images and feelings.

How to give direction to your life Whoever walks with direction in life always does it with sense; they have in mind the word ‘hope.’

Who cannot see beyond can hardly give a direction to their life. The directio n o f th e dre a ms c le a rly ma rks

PART OF TEAM: Essential to being a leader.

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Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.

EWN

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Charlotte Whitton

MELANIE KUNZ - AMASVISTA WINDOWS SL MELANIE KUNZ: Loves doing a job well.

A gap in the market MELANIE is fluent in English and Spanish as well as German

By Simon Russell

BEFORE moving to Spain, Melanie had lived near Stuttgart in Germany, where she had worked for international parcel company UPS. Her role at UPS had involved working in their customs clearance department. It was this role that allowed her to brush up on the English she had first learnt at school and she is now a fluent English speaker.

She also speaks Spanish and of course her native German.

After holidaying here over the years Melanie and her husband Siegfried (Siggy) decided to make the move permanent in 2009.

They initially lived inland of Alicante

2009 Moved permanently to Spain

Melanie You have to be honest with customers at all stages and it is key to run the business in a professional manner at all times.”

but decided to move to the Pedreguer area and in 2011 they started Amasvista Windows.

2011 Started Amasvista Windows

Melanie explained that she and Siggy “felt there was a gap in the market in quality custom windows and doors here while in fact very few off the shelf products are suitable for people’s actual requirements.”

They discovered the current unit on the Les Galgues Poligon which was ideal in all respects for what they needed and a well-known location for the public close to the Pedreguer Sunday Rastro site.

Asked what she felt was the key to running a successful business - and being a successful businesswoman - in Spain, Melanie was adamant it was customer service. “You have to be honest with customers at all stages,” she said. “The other key thing is to run the business in a professional manner at all times.

“Don’t try to cut corners, especially with legal and financial matters.” Asked what was the best thing about her work she replied: “Doing a job well and then seeing the satisfaction of people after we have installed their products - and knowing it will be there for years to come.”

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To love what you do and feel like it matters, how could anything be more fun? .

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Katherine Graham

SPECIALISING IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

Pellicer & Heredia are there to help expat community

By Simon Russell

The brand new office of Pellicer & Heredia.

PELLICER & HEREDIA have 15 years experience behind them and are members of the Alicante Lawyers Society. Their field of expertise is in international law and they speak English, Spanish, Russian, German and Swedish.

As well as lawyers, the firm has barristers, solicitors and tax advisers. There is also a UK qualified solicitor which is invaluable for those moving to or from the UK who need advice.

When you first purchase your property in Spain they will ensure everything is done legally with their independent conveyancing service.

Taxes in Spain are a complex issue, especially for expatriates, and they will talk you through your tax

obligations based on your personal status and circumstances.

Remember not just those in work are affected by Spain’s tax laws and everyone should be aware of where they stand if, for example, they have property or savings in another country.

Pellicer & Heredia can also help with setting up your own business and ensuring this is done in a totally legal fashion. Other services include debt recovery, complaints and claims against companies and individuals, consumer rights and enforcement of foreign legal judgements.

When moving to Spain it is always advised that you update your will to ensure your wishes are carried out and Pellicer & Heredia can guide you through the whole process.

The firm has eight lawyers and their service is so comprehensive it is fair to say that if you have a legal requirement their legal team will almost certainly be able to help you.

Just contact them for an initial discussion.

Remember a good lawyer or adviser should save you money in the long term whether it is from avoiding fines or from reducing your tax bills. Everything will be dealt with in English if you wish, so there is no danger of any misunderstanding in what can be a complex subject.

Pellicer & Heredia have 10 offices from Marbella to TeuladaMoraira and the full list can be found on their website www.pel licerheredia.com.

If you want to speak to someone (in English) call 965 480 737 or email info@pellicerheredia.com.

Breaking through boundaries

By Eleanor Hawkins KATHARINE MEYER GRAHAM, an American publisher who led her family’s newspaper The Washington Post for more than two decades, became the first female Fortune 500 CEO in 1972.

Born in 1917 into a privileged New York City family, Katharine was the daughter of a financier, Eugene Meyer, who bought The Washington Post in 1993 at a bankruptcy auction.

Her mother Agnes Elizabeth (née Ernst) was a bohemian intellectual and political activist who worked as a journalist when the profession was still uncommon amongst women.

After studying at Vassar College and the University of Chicago, Katherine worked for a San Francisco newspaper before joining the Post in 1938 and marrying Philip Graham in 1940.

In 1946 Eugene Meyer handed the Post over to his son-in-law. In her autobiography, Katherine explained that at the time she was not bothered that her father hadn’t handed her the reins of the family business: “Far from troubling

KATHARINE MEYER GRAHAM: Became the first female Fortune 500 CEO in 1972. me that my father thought of my husband and not me, it pleased me. In fact, it never crossed my mind that he might have viewed me as someone to take on

an important job at the paper.”

After a short period as head of the World Bank, Meyer remained as chairman of the Washington Post Company

until he died in 1959, when Philip Graham took over and expanded the company by buying TV stations and Newsweek magazine.

Eventually, following years of alcoholism and mental illness which eventually led to the couple’s separation, Philip Graham committed suicide in 1963 and his widow stepped in as head of the company and the Post. Katherine took over and in 1972 became the first ever female Fortune 500 CEO. Being the first woman to reach such a high position within a publishing company she had no role models to follow and had a lot of trouble making male colleagues and employees take her seriously, yet she slowly adapted and made her presence felt.

Over the years she notched up a number of awards for her work, including the S Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen at the Jefferson Awards in 1975 and a Freedom medal in 1997.

In 2000, she was named as one of the International Press Institute’s 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the past 50 years and she was presented posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President George W Bush in 2002.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t.

EWN

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Rhonda Hansome

FEMALE SOLICITORS, TAX ADVISORS & ACCOUNTANTS - PELLICER & HEREDIA

Think pink – in the legal world!

LADIES flying high at Pellicer & Heredia “IF you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. This is exactly what drives the te a m a t Pe llic e r & Heredia

Lawyers Sandra Lacort Longato and Maria Jose Diaz Veracierta at the office opening party.

solicitors and tax advisors.

Pellicer & Heredia was created by two ambitious experts of law - Mr Ignacio Pellicer Mollá and Mr Pedro Heredia Ortiz.

The idea of creating this law firm was focused on the most important thing for the founding partners - to help peopl e by sol vi ng t hei r problems in the most convenient and comprehensible way. This is why Pellicer & Her edi a gat her ed a t eam with knowledge of both national and international law, and extremely wide competence and skills of several languages… not to mention a team of competent f em al e sol i ci t or s, t ax advi sor s, account ant s and administrators.

Not only are the members of t he t eam at Pel l i cer & Heredia predominantly female… they are incredibly ski l l ed i n t hei r speci f i c fields, speak between them eight languages, act as the legal representatives for some of the largest companies in Spain, have international links with embassies and multinational companies throughout the world and still focus on the most i m por t ant aspect of any business - YOU the customer.

To find out more information on the team please visit www.pellicerheredia.com.

For more information on changes in the law and subjects of interest to you, look at their blog or videos.

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There are some people who still feel threatened by strong women. That’s their problem, not mine.

Gloria Allred

3C CARE AGENCY

Care group plugs healthcare system gap for expats on Costa Blanca THE motto adopted by local organisation 3C is ‘Caring-Companionship-Cleaning,’ hence the name of this well-established company which has been in business since 2005.

However, Sue freely admits the cleaning side of things is only a small part of their activities these days and the nursing and caring side of things, and the companionship that all good carers provide, is really at the heart of their business now.

“The need for qualified experienced carers and nurses in the area was just so great that this side of things took off immediately,” Sue explained. To enable 3C to cater for the still growing demand they are always looking for more nurses and carers. “Our staff need to be RGNs, have NVQ level 2,3,4 or be accredited Health Care Assistants (HCAs).”

There are ‘carers’ working out there who are unqualified and this should

CARE GROUP: Cater for a growing demand.

be a worry for people in their hands.

To illustrate this, Sue outlined what is expected of her nurses: “They change dressings, remove stitches and also control medication. Even the carers need to be able to hoist and roll patients, as well as their other daily requirements.

There is a whole range of things that only experienced and qualified staff can do safely. These are the sort of procedures that would be covered by NHS home visits in

the UK. We also have a number of people who receive palliative care in their own homes.”

3C cares for people from Denia to Mazarron down in Murcia. Not all of them need daily or even weekly visits and not all of them are seriously ill. However they all have certain things that they are unable to do without help and this is really where 3C comes into the picture.

3C tailors a nursing and care package to suit your needs and free assessments are carried out by the nursing co-ordinators, including establishing any hospital equipment required. 3C also offer a repatriation service to the UK.

If you want to find out more either about whether they can help you, someone you know or about working for them Sue can be contacted on 664 266 991 or e-mailed at sue@costablancacareagency.com.

Her nursing co-ordinator for Alicante to Mar Menor is Anne who can be contacted on 634 318 769 while Jackie, who covers Alicante to Denia, can be reached on 606 890 279.

For further information go to 3C’s website www.costablancacareagency.com.

Arianna Huffington - a passion for words

By Eleanor Hawkins ARIANNA HUFFINGTON is a prolific author and international media mogul whose name will, if nothing else, ring a bell as the founder of award-winning online news platform The Huffington Post.

Born on July 15, 1950, in Athens, Greece, Arianna moved to the UK at the age of 16 and studied economics at Girton College, Cambridge, where she became the first foreign and third female president of its famed debate organisation the Cambridge Union.

After obtaining her master’s degree she moved to London and began to write, publishing controversial The Female Woman, a book criticising certain trends in women’s lib movements, with Random House in 1974.

This was followed in 1980 with a political-oriented book, After Reason.

Early in the 1970s she met Bernard Levin while appearing in an edition of Face the Music and a relationship began which would mark her early career years. After his death she wrote: “He wasn’t just the big love of my life, he was my mentor as a

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: A prolific author.

writer and a role model as a thinker.”

However, as much as she loved Levin, who she spent years working and travelling with, at the age of 30 she realised she yearned for marriage and children while he wanted neither, sparking her move in 1980 to New York to start a new life.

The next year she released an acclaimed biography of Maria Callas which got her name better known, and this was followed in the 80’s by a work on the importance of ancient Greek myths and a biography of Pablo Picasso.

In 1986 she married Michael Huffington, a secretary within the US Department of Defense, and they had two children. Arianna would assist and support him in his political career until their divorce in 1997.

A few years of political dabbling followed, with Huffington running against Arnold Schwarzenegger for the California governorship in 2003 before withdrawing, then in 2005 she hit on gold by launching The Huffington Post online news site with Kenneth Lerer and becoming

its editor-in-chief. By 2008, The Observer had ranked the Post as the most powerful blog in the world.

In 2011, Huffington sold the site to AOL for more than 300 million US dollars and subsequently became president and editor-in-chief of the company’s Huffington Post Media Group.

From nothing, this woman has grown into an institution, appearing on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world, Forbes’ lists of the most influential women in media and the 100 most powerful women in the world and The Guardian’s top 100 in media list among others.

However since passing out and injuring herself in her office in 2007 from overwork, she has discovered that life should not be all work and no play. She has become a spokesperson for the importance of maintaining a balance between work, good health and enjoyment and has positioned the work/life balance as an important reform for companies to place at the forefront of their culture.

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We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes- understand that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s a part of it.

EWN

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A. Huffington

SUE REULA - 3C CARE AGENCY

Always there to lend a helping hand 3C - caring for people in the comfort of their own home

SUE REULA: Always looking to recruit more nurses and carers.

SUE moved to a quiet villa just outside Finestrat in 2002 but things haven’t quite worked out that way.

Sue had been holidaying in Spain for as long as she can remember and in fact met her husband Manuel while on holiday in 1972.

Manuel came to England to live and they started the construction business in Milton Keynes that they would own, manage and run until they sold it prior to their long planned Spanish ‘retirement.’

While Manuel was enjoying his hobby of golf and settling into retirement nicely, Sue was beginning to feel a bit restless and started helping out with the local HELP

25 nurses and carers are employed by 3C to provide help and care.

charity in nearby Benidorm. Working there she realised that nearly all the people using the HELP service required care of some sort.

A nurse Sue knew through HELP had also noticed this and they agreed that if Sue ran the business side of things she could look after the nursing element.

Due to the gap in the market that

existed the business took off immediately. Although Sue was still able to control the business side of things it soon became clear that one nurse was insufficient. The search for qualified nurses or nursing assistants began and has been ongoing ever since and they now have 25 nurses and carers and are always looking for more.

In case the business wasn’t keeping her busy enough, Sue is also director of the MABS cancer charity for the area which has charity shops along the Costa Blanca. Sue also has two grandchildren aged four and five who live out here and keep her busy a lot of the time.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.

J.K. Rowling

BENIDORM PALACE

Love, timing and a palace CHRIS came to Benidorm on holiday back in 1971, met and fell in love with Vicente, returned home to work out her notice as a nursery nurse then came back to Vicente. They set up a souvenir shop in Hotel Los Pelicanos, which set them up financially, and they started a family.

Things went well for them, so in his early 40s musician Vicente decided to retire. After about a year he was climbing the walls, but an opportunity came along. They found themselves seated with the then owners of Benidorm Palace at a little girl’s communion, and got chatting. They learned that the owners had tried to turn the site into, amongst other things, a hotel and a supermarket, but had always had permission refused. They had decided that the best thing to do was raze it to the ground. Chis was horrified, and said that they couldn’t pull down that beautiful club.

The owners’ response was that if she felt so strongly about it she should take it on. A meeting the next day confirmed a deal, and they came away with a 10-year contract to rent, with an option to buy (which they did, four years later).

Chris and Vicente took over on August 1, 1990, and on the first night there were only 30

BENIDORM PALACE: A landmark, not just physically, but also in terms of quality. bookings (there were more people on the stage!). A member of staff asked if the show should therefore be cancelled, as was the norm.

This prompted a staff meeting at which Chris made it clear that, even if there was only one book-

ing, the show would go on.

Within 12 months the Palace had overcome its previously bad reputation and things were looking up. The BBC then made a programme called ‘Escape to the Sun,’ which featured the Palace

heavily, and that put it on the map.

Up to this point there were no kitchens, but Chris and Vicente wanted to provide food and entertainment under one roof, so they initially used outside caterers.

This was so

successful that they had kitchens built. That opened the doors to congresses, conferences, weddings and so on.

Today Benidorm Palace is a landmark, not just physically, but also in terms of quality.

Victoria Beckham: Spice Girl to icon A TOP businesswoman, fashion designer and model

By Gemma Quinn WHO would have thought that after bursting on to the scene as part of the quirky, fun pop group Spice Girls in the late 1990’s that Victoria Beckham would now be such a global icon.

Born Victoria Caroline Adams in April 1974, the singer is now a top businesswoman, fashion designer and model and is of course best known for being the other half of ‘Brand Beckham,’ marrying England footballer David Beckham in 1999.

The couple now have four children and in 2014 it was reported their joint wealth was an estimated £380 million (€537 million) but Victoria is in no way just a ‘WAG’ having traded on her husband’s name and status.

She has gone on to create a name

Fury, in citingCan her also rise tobefashion defor herself in the fashion world inCONSERVATORIES: the constructed. signer, concluded that her fashion sales past decade. In 2007 it was reported were down to the appeal of the designs she was the 52nd richest woman in and not the celebrity association.

Britain.

Whilst she could be a walking adA recognised style icon and fashion vert for women having it all, she does designer she made numerous highsay she struggles like all other workprofile collaborations with other ing mothers: “It’s a constant strugbrands before launching her own label gle,” she said earlier this year. Victoin 2008 and a lower-priced ‘Victoria ria was one of a number of famous

By Victoria Beckham’ label in 2011. women who published letters about The Victoria Beckham label was their role as a mother on news named designer brand of the year in website Time: “Like so many the UK in 2011 and in 2012 the brand working mothers all over the was assessed as the star performer in world I feel the constant strugthe Beckham’s business interests. gle to be the best mother I can In September 2012, it was reported whilst setting a good example she was the most talked about designer to my children to work hard. I on Twitter during New York Fashion travel for work when it’s Week and acquired 57,000 new folnecessary and I miss them lowers during the shows. Last year all the time.” fashion journalist and critic Alexander

VICTORIA BECKHAM: A global icon.

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Option A is not available. So let’s kick the sh** out of option B.

EWN

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Sheryl Sandberg

CHRIS CLIMENT - BENIDORM PALACE

Brick walls in a man’s world WHAT Chris says today, she will still say tomorrow and next week

By Keith Baker

CHRIS CLIMENT: Owner of Benidorm Palace (seated).

WORK work work, 24 hours a day.

That’s how Chris, owner of the Benidorm Palace, describes what it was like in the early days when she and husband Vicente took on the challenge of the Palace.

In those early days there was a brick wall to break down. Not only were they new owners, but one of them was a woman, and a foreigner to boot. The staff had seemingly been there forever, and were very wary.

After a short while, Chris overheard a member of staff referring to

Hard work and determination has paid off.

Money can’t buy that feeling of achievement.” her as Thatcher, and responded by saying “Great! Then I can’t be doing too bad a job.” That broke the ice, and from then on people realised that what Chris said today she would still say tomorrow and next week.

Asked what advice she would offer to other women, Chris said “be

yourself and don’t be scared of anybody. Don’t stand in awe of men or anybody else. Do what you firmly believe is the right thing to do.”

Chris says she’s always been fair with people to the best of her ability, and helped them when she can.

The ethos of the Palace is that everyone looks after each other, and this comes from the top.

All that hard work and determination has paid off. Chris says that even now she gets a buzz when she looks out to a packed house, sees the happy faces and hears the applause, and always remembers those early days. Money can’t buy that feeling of achievement, she says.

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Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.

Sara Blakely

RISTORANTE NOVA BUSSOLA

Ristorante Nova Bussola - it’s the best place to go for Italian food

By Simon Russell

SERVING Italian food, and only Italian food, to the discerning diner on the Costa Blanca, Ristorante Nova Bussola is a must visit restaurant for lovers of proper, authentic, pizzas, pastas and much more. The customer feedback is terrific with quotes such as “Great place, fantastic crew, service and atmosphere. And most importantly wonderful food. Five star place!”

“Excellent. Eat here regularly and we are never disappointed. The food and service are both superb. Prices very reasonable given the quality.”

So what type of food can you expect? Well you might be surprised to learn that their most popular dish is spaghetti with parmesan - too simple surely? But of course the essence of

The restaurant can be found at Altea, Parada Cap Negret 1.

For enquiries or reservations call 965 845 839.

Their opening hours are 1pm until 3.30pm and 7pm until 11pm (closed Wednesdays).

You can visit their Facebook page at Nova Bussola Altea. The restaurant is happy to cater for large groups and special occasions, just call and ask Vita what your requirements are.

NOVA BUSSOLA: ‘The best Italian food out of Italy.’

Courage of conviction ‘DRESS like a man, act like a man’ is a tactic followed by many women to gain respect in the workplace and project leadership and strength, but there is an underlying assumption that there’s something wrong with the way women dress or act.

The reality is that in order to lead it is important to embrace your strengths, and if this means empathising and building relationships then this shouldn’t be neglected in favour of a more aggressive approach out of sync with your instincts.

Being a role-model is also important and female leaders should recognise that the younger generation is looking up to them for inspiration and cues on how to behave and project power.

By accepting that male attire, style and presentation is the only way accepted by the business world, it does an enormous disservice to younger women struggling to navigate the corporate world.

The important thing is to be yourself and not to fake a personality type simply to gain a perceived psychological advantage.

Remember convention and leadership don’t always go together and the strongest person in the room is often the one with the courage of their convictions.

good Italian cooking is simple

ingredients cooked exceptionally well and by experienced chefs and the result here is a wonderfully aromatic and flavoursome dish. Osso Bucco is another favourite, a Milanese speciality of veal, vegetables and a white wine sauce. If you have children or fancy it yourself their pizzas are excellent.

As you would expect there is a large range of pasta from lasagne to more unusual dishes like caramel ravioli. There are also salads, starters and a wide range of mouth-watering Italian desserts such as tiramisu or ice cream. If you don’t fancy pizza or pasta a variety of meat, fish and chicken dishes are all also available on the A La Carte menu, the steak always proving popular.

A final customer comment sums it up. “Quite simply the best Italian food I have had outside of Italy.”

Inventions from sharp women WHEN the word inventor springs to mind, many automatically think of Alexander Graham Bell or Thomas Edison, tinkering away in isolation as they perfected their contributions to the world.

But a multitude of products that many of us use on a daily basis were originally invented by sharp women who had a keen eye for seeing things a little bit differently.

The foot-pedal rubbish bin was invented by Lillian Gilbreth, who was noted for improving existing inventions with ingenious add-ons. In addition to allowing us to throw

out our rubbish without getting our hands dirty, Gilbreth also designed the shelves that go inside of refrigerator doors and made the can opener easier to use.

Meanwhile, the circular saw was the brainchild of a weaver named Tabitha Babbitt. She came up with the idea by observing lumber workers at work and tested out her theory by attaching a prototype to her spinning wheel.

Although it may not be something we think about very much while we enjoy the balmy tempatures of the Costa Blanca, the car heater is an absolute essential in countries

with chillier climates. The very first car heater shot air directly out of the engine to warm the toes of the passengers, and was invented by Margaret A Wilcox in 1893.

Wilcox also invented a dishwasher designed to clean clothes and dishes at the same time.

And dog lovers of the world should be forever grateful to a woman named Mary A Delaney, who came up with the retractable dog lead, a stroke of genius that ensures that our canine companions can roam a little more freely while still always remaining safely within our reach.

RETRACTABLE DOG LEAD: Was a stroke of genius from a woman named Mary A Delaney.

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Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.

EWN

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Golda Meir

VITA DE LA FUENTE - RISTORANTE NOVA BUSSOLA

Bringing an authentic taste of Italy to the Costa Blanca in particular their home town of Altea where the restaurant is based. Vita works at the front of house while Mariano focuses on the food. It is clear that Vita runs a smooth operation from customer feedback. She said “80 IF you’re looking for paella or maybe fish and chips then per cent of our customers are non-Spaniards I would estiRistorante Nova Bussola is probably not the place for you. mate - Belgians, Dutch, Russians, French and plenty of However, if you want to eat some of the best British of course. They generally have a higher level of Italian food on the Costa Blanca then it customer service expectations, really should certainly be your destination.

The restaurant has a warm and relaxRepeat business above and beyond what some Spanish ing feel to it which customers come is the key, tourism restaurants tend to offer.”

The waiting staff are all well versed back to time and again. is just the icing with the menu and happy to answer any Vita married into a family with huge expeon the cake.” of your questions in that regard. Asked rience of running Italian restaurants and the secret of Nova Bussola’s success she cooking Italian dishes. Her husband Mariano said it was down to a couple of things. has 37 years experience of cooking and They cook what they cook very well preparing Italian food and this certainly and people are happy with the way the menu is and reshows. Ristorante Nova Bussola has been run by Maripeat business is the key, tourism is just the icing on the ano’s family for 20 years and the husband and wife team cake. There is a lot of experience going into these tried are now running the restaurant and doing it with dedicaand tested dishes. Service and atmosphere, which go tion, passion and much more. hand in hand, are the other key as can be seen from their Vita was born in Russia but when she met and married personal slogan of service and cordiality.

Mariano she also fell in love with the Costa Blanca and

By Simon Russell

VITA DE LA FUENTE: Runs the front of house.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

People don’t take opportunities because the timing is bad, the financial side unsecure. Too many people are overanalyzing. Sometimes you just have to go for it .

Michelle Zatlyn

DESINFECCIONES BUGBUSTERS

Who you gonna call?

Bugbusters Benidorm!

As their slogan says, taking care of unwanted pests is what they do.

By Simon Russell

LOIS TO THE RESCUE: Ready to take control of those pesky pests and also provide prevention advice to stop further problems.

ONE of the key misconceptions about pest control is that it’s all about getting rid of the unwanted guests. That is part of it of course, but as proprietor Lois Clark explained prevention is better than cure.

If you run a business in the food industry in Spain you are required by law to have a pest control system in place and if you are opening a new business you are required to have it de-infested and annually checked.

Desinfecciones Bugbusters is the only British run pest control firm in the area and with 22 years trading behind her it is better established

than most Spanish firms. Lois said “People think they can deal with pest problems themselves from what they’ve read on the internet or talking to so called experts. The fact is they can’t and if an inspection uncovers pests the business could be closed down.”

Did you know for example there are several different types of cockroaches in Spain, all of which require different treatments? Bugbusters use specialist products tailored to the problem such as a special odourless and food friendly gel that means your establishment can stay open when any treatment is ongoing. Imagine the financial effects on your bar or restaurant of having to close down during high season even for a few days?

Lois also disinfects or evaluates private homes and even, on occasion, boats. Cockroaches are probably the commonest problem out here in

Spain but rodents, mosquitoes, wasps and other pests can all be dealt with in a fuss free, professional and environmentally friendly manner. Vitally, if Lois has managed an infestation for you she will give you a clear plan on how to prevent future problems.

If you want to call Lois for an initial survey of your home or business or just to explain your requirements she will always be happy to see you or chat things through.

Call Lois on 966 865 204 or 619 054 939 E-Mail bugbusterslois@hotmail.com The website is www.bugbustersbenidorm.com

Characteristics of successful women

By Eleanor Hawkins TODAY there are more women in leadership positions than ever before. Women are changing the world one step at a time.

Mos t i m p r e ssi v e i s th e mo v eme n t o f women into entrepreneurial leadership.

Women have been starting and growing businesses faster than men for more than 20 years. The question is: what set the women who own and lead the fastest growing and most substantial businesses apart? What can women who aspire to grow their businesses learn from them?

Data from the American Center for Women’s Business Research reveals there are 10 characteristics which clearly describe and differentiate the most successful women business owners: 1- They define success in their own terms and refuse to let anyone else dictate their destiny.

2- They are values based. They know what their values are and have the courage

to act upon them.

3- They create cultures of success, they ask employees for their opinions and insights and the actually listen to the replies.

4- They trust their instincts.

5- They set high goals and when they achieve them, they move them up another notch.

6- T he y a re fina nc ia lly s a vvy. The y lea rn about bus ine s s fina nc e a nd s e e k knowledgeable advisors.

7- T he y build multiple s upport ne tworks, recognising that different organisations and groups provide different things their business needs.

8- They treat their time and energy as scarce resources. They learn to say yes at the right times and no at the right times to ensure they don’t run out.

9- They invest in themselves, spending both money and time on their intellectual, physical and spiritual well-being.

10- They always leave time for the unexpected, whether it is a business opportunity or a special unplanned family moment.

GENDERLESS JOBS: More women are now working in traditionally male dominated sectors.

Making it in a man’s world WHILE a lot of attention focuses on women making inroads into major industries like banking, finance, management and medicine, many trailblazers are out there working in jobs considered almost uniquely male.

Today there are female truck drivers storming across British highways, train drivers across the tracks, butchers cutting meat and mechanics fixing cars.

It is clear perceptions are shifting and people are becoming more open and inclusive. There are more female army cadets, construction workers, engineers, surgeons and psychologists than ever as women break free of gender stereotypes and their voices heard.

The real difference comes with the visibility and normalisation that these trailblazing women provide to younger

generations whose dreams are less and less stifled by social taboos.

Even in the world of sport women are making real inroads, with Ronda Rousey a star MMA fighter, women’s boxing in the Olympics and Andy Murray flirting with a female coach for a while.

Now, with the England team in dire straits, there’s one more taboo that could perhaps do with breaking.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist.

Queen Victoria

LOIS CLARK - DESINFECCIONES BUGBUSTERS

Globetrotting past of Bugbusters proprietor BEEN there, seen it, done it!

By Simon Russell ALTHOUGH Lois Clark has been running Desinfecciones Bugbusters in the Benidorm area for over 20 years she travelled and worked in several corners of the earth before settling in the beautiful town of Albir.

Lois was born just outside Manchester in Salford where her family were in the motor trade. When she left school in the 1970s Lois decided to move to Paris and straight away got a job in a restaurant. After a couple of years she moved back home and helped her parents with their car business but Lois’s wanderlust soon struck again and in 1980 she moved to Belgium where she worked as an au-pair. She soon got a job in a car rental firm and also tried her hand at working on a market stall. Fancying a complete change she stayed in Belgium but began working on a radio station as a presenter.

Lois first lived in Spain in 1987 when she moved to Las Palmas working as the pool manager in a male gay bar. “I was the only woman there, but the job was

great!” From there it was on to Australia where she had friends in Sidney and work there included another market stall (“I love sales”) and a spell at a book factory, again a very male dominated world, not that this put her off. When her visa ran out in Oz she took a 36-hour flight to Albir where her parents were staying.

If there is a common thread in her early varied career it is that clearly Lois likes to work in a job where she is constantly interacting with other people, be that radio presenter or waitress. Anyone who knows her would describe Lois as first and foremost a ‘people person’ and a pleasure to do business with.

“I really love my customers” stresses Lois “Really, I would do anything for them.”

Bugbusters started in 1994 and though things were incredibly hard at first, Lois’s exceptional work ethic and customer service skills led to her building a successful business in what is traditionally a man’s world. To say she has had an interesting and eventful life would be an understatement.

LOIS CLARK: A ‘jack of all trades.’

EWN

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Nobody talks about entrepreneurship as a survival but that’s exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking.

Anita Roddick

MONROES CARVERY

Monroes Carvery bringing the great British carvery to the Costa Blanca

By Simon Russell MONROES CARVERY in Pedreguer has been serving food to customers old and new since 2003 and was opened due to the success of the original Monroes in Moraira.

As the name implies, the carvery always has and always will be at the centre of what Monroes does, but there are many other delights on offer as well.

Sam has been working tirelessly in the kitchen for the last 18 months to help cater for everybody’s taste buds and has created the fabulous A La Carte menu to highlight they are more than ‘just a carvery.’ Here you can be tempted with mouth-watering American style baby back ribs, succulent steaks, North Sea cod in either Monroes beer batter or home-made parsley sauce, roast chicken or even home-made pizzas.

There are a variety of salads to choose from including Caesar, goat’s cheese and bacon or sundried tomato and mozzarella that are all made fresh to order. Not that hungry? Well there

MONROES CARVERY: Enjoy a great roast and more and not just on Sunday. are lighter meals on the menu plus children’s meals and vegetarian options. And why not round off your meal with a delicious dessert.

As well as all that, Monroes are known for their popular theme and specials nights. On offer are Pie Nights, Fishy Friday, Steak and Ribs night and the new addition of Liver and Bacon.

Monroes have regular music nights, quiz nights and other events. A major addition was the opening of the ‘Norma Jean’ bar seven years ago which has all the big sporting events plus a pool table and darts board. As well as the bar and restaurant there is a large terrace to sit back and relax on those warm summer evenings.

Monroes can be found at Avenida Garroffer, Monte Pedreguer.

Call 965 761 731 for an enquiry or to book a table (preferable but not essential) or visit their website www.monroescarvery.com

From the field to the boardroom: the evolution of women in the workplace

By Eleanor Hawkins ALTHOUGH permitted, and indeed expected, to carry out farming tasks virtually since the dawn of civilisation, women were generally banned from business and the workplace until recently.

It was only in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the arrival of the industrial revolution that working for a wage or salary became a common part of life for women. They could be found doing the toughest of physical labour.

This came to an end after the government intervened with an attempt at regulating the workplace with the Mines and Collieries Act of 1842.

As the 19th century progressed, more and more women in Western countries began to take jobs in factories and assembly lines.

In the UK the most common work for women was piecework, needlework for which they were paid for each piece they completed. This was poorly paid work which required up to 14 hours of work per day to bring in wages to live on.

During this time almost all working-class women did some sort of paid work. In Victorian times, when there was no sort of compensation

WORLD WAR: During this time, women stepped in to fill the gaps.

for workers who were ill or injured, entire families could end up in the workhouse to pay debts.

Yet although they were a common presence in the workplace, there were few women at the top.

Moving on to the start of the 20th century, attitudes were slowly changing and educating young women started to become more acceptable.

When the First and Second World Wars caused a shortage of workers as men left to fight it was women who stepped in to fill the gaps.

Although during the first quarter of the century most women who worked did so as domestic servants or in factories, as the war came to an end they began to branch out into sales and secretarial.

By the 1950s and 60s women were heading towards a revolution of their own work and education-wise. They were becoming more and more insistent on their right to an education equal to that of men and many began to go to university.

Then in the 1970s women began steering away from the ‘acceptable’ professions of teaching, nursing etc, veering more towards business and management. This revolution continues today, with women quietly, but firmly, proving their worth in the business world.

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My parents ingrained in me early on that the perfect score is always something to strive for. I want to win and I want to succeed no matter what.

EWN

Andrea Jung

HEIDI JUNGREUTHMAYER - MONROES CARVERY

Branching out on her own TAKING Monroes Carvery to Pedreguer

By Simon Russell MONROES CARVERY opened in Pedreguer in 2003 and has been serving British and Spanish style food to its large and loyal customer base ever since. Prior to Monroes in Pedreguer, Heidi had worked at her family’s other Monroes Carvery in Moraira since 1992.

After more than 10 years she felt ready to branch out on her own and when the current restaurant became available she saw this as the perfect opportunity. It usually takes a while to build a new business up, however the Monroes brand was already so well-known in the Pedreguer area, that things pretty much got going from day one.

In fact constant pleading from some of the Moraira customers travelling up from the Pedreguer area to open a restaurant closer to them was one of the reasons Hei-

1992 Started working in Moraira

2003 Opened in Pedreguer

The Monroes brand was already so well-known that things pretty much got going from day one.”

di settled on this location.

Heidi was asked to describe their typical Monroes’ customer.

“All sorts really. A lot of expats miss a good roast dinner from home, especially on a Sunday, and they find that what we do is at least as good anything they had back in the UK.

“A lot of tourists come here as well, not all of them feel comfortable in Spanish restaurants so come here instead.

“We get quite a few groups as well as we’re a big place and of course we cater for more than just those who want the carvery with a good selection of Spanish food, lighter meals and so on.

“We get plenty of other nationalities as well, Dutch and Germans in particular who all like the carvery. As well as that, with the separate bar we get plenty of people just coming down just for a drink or to watch the sport or other events.”

In case she wasn’t kept busy enough with the restaurant, Heidi has four children, one of whom is currently working in the restaurant, while another was until recently. The youngest two both go to local Spanish schools in Pedreguer where Heidi also lives.

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HEIDI JUNGREUTHMAYER: Making a lot of expats very happy.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but it doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.

Mary Kay Ash

VACATION VILLAS

Customer service is the key

By Simon Russell VACATION VILLAS was started way back in 1999 by Christine and Lynn and has been on the same street in La Xara since it opened. Just the durability of the business is evidence that they are doing something right and they were good enough to share some of their experience with us.

Diversity appears to be Things have one of the keys, while changed over still sticking to the the years and core business of renting the biggest out villas for holidays. As well change has as rentals they also have sales been the public’s and have recently been developing their finca sales arms use of the internet under the web fincasfor booking costablanca.com. and researching Their business covers both holidays Javea, Denia, La Sella and and house sales.” surrounding areas.

Things have obviously changed significantly in this period, though probably the biggest change has been the public’s use of the internet for booking and researching both holidays and house sales.

However they have embraced this change in a

way not all small businesses have managed and have an excellent web presence. In fact they agree that in most ways the internet has made things easier and more efficient.

Another notable change has been an increase in customers’ expectations when renting a villa, something that has actually benefited them as they have a very high standard of properties for rent.

However, good old fashioned customer service is still at the heart of their business.

Vacation Villas is registered with the Valencian Tourist board and the European Estate Agency (AEGAI) ensuring both owners and holidaymakers are protected through the process.

They can’t stress enough that if you have a villa to rent or sell or are thinking of renting or buying one, just pop into their office and they will discuss things with you there and then.

You can contact Lynn or Christine on 966 424 505 or simply go and see them at Avenida del Oeste no 8, La Xara, right by the church.

VACATION VILLAS: Lynn and Christine.

Their websites are: www.vacationvillassales.com www.vvpropertyshop.com www.fincascostablanca.com

One woman who has broken the board room glass ceiling KARREN does all she can to promote the role of women in business Photo Credit Featureflash Shutterstock

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KARREN BRADY: Rose to the top.

By John Smith BARONESS Karren Brady of Knightsbridge CBE has been in the public eye since becoming Managing Director of Birmingham City football club at the age of 23 and has been an outspoken champion of women’s rights ever since.

Unlike some, she was born into a well-off family which had made its money through printing and property, but this does not take away from what she achieved since starting work at advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi where, thanks to family contacts, she was able to introduce the business of media and newspaper magnate David Sullivan who demanded that she manage his account.

By the age of 20, she had accepted a position as a director of Sullivan’s Sport newspapers and by all accounts was highly successful. At the age of 23, she persuaded him to buy Birmingham City football club where she immediately encountered the sort of prejudice that woman in business often find.

23 the age at which Karren became Managing Director of Birmingham City football club.

Some footballers are not very bright and one of them shouted at her that he could see a certain part of her anatomy to which, she replied: “Well, don’t worry - when I sell you to Crewe, you won’t be able to see them from there.” Needless to say, she was true to her word and the player moved on to another club soon after this exchange.

By all accounts, she is not one to be taken lightly and she even sold her then boyfriend, now husband and father of her two children Paul Peschisolido in 1994 and then again in 1996. She took the club public and became the youngest managing director of a UK plc.

She remained as Managing Director of the club which made its way in and out of the Premier League until 2009 when it was sold

by David Sullivan and his partner David Gold, the man behind the Ann Summers chain. Just a year later, she became vice-chairman of West Ham United which the pair purchased when it ran into financial difficulties.

During all of this period, Karren Brady has been a champion of women, doing all that she can to promote the role of women in the business place and on the boards of major companies, plus of course her own profile has continued to be raised through her appearances on the BBC show the Apprentice where she is one of Lord Sugar’s judges.

Karren has written four books, the latest of which - Strong Woman - tells the story of her own rise to the top, her recovery from a brain aneurysm in 2006, and her efforts to balance work and family life.

She is a regular columnist for The Sun newspaper and for Women & Home and Cosmopolitan magazines.

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You’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with everyone

Tina Fey

CHRISTINE IRVING AND LYNN BLOFELD - VACATION VILLAS

A chance meeting “DON’T be afraid of moving with the times”

By Simon Russell

CHRISTINE: First moved to Spain in 1978.

VACATION VILLAS sprung out of a chance meeting at a children’s birthday party in 1997. Lynn said “A mutual friend was giving a party for their daughter. Christine and I were sitting around speaking Spanish and then realised we were both English when our kids joined up with us!”

They soon became firm friends and got around to the idea of starting a business. This became a reality in 1999 when Vacation Villas first opened its doors.

“Both our children were getting older and we needed something else - we like to keep busy!” said Christine.

Christine originally moved to Spain back in 1978 but returned to

the UK after four years. Spain’s pull brought her back here for good in 1992.

Lynn moved over in 1991 after working in London as a PA for such luminaries as Richard Branson and Harvey Goldsmith. Christine has three children and Lynn has two, so they have both had to juggle family and careers over the years.

As not many British businesses have been around in Spain as long as theirs, I asked them what the secret was.

They were both clear on this matter and Christine put it like this: “Always listen to the customer, don’t be afraid of moving with the times, ensure the financial and legal side of things is covered professionally and corners aren’t cut in that respect. And learn the language!”

LYNN: Worked in London as a PA.

EWN

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

I learned a long time ago that there is something worse than missing the goal, and that’s not pulling the trigger.

Mia Hamm

RESTAURANT VIVA ESPAÑA

Revamped restaurant offers a great atmosphere with fantastic food and shows

By Simon Russell

By Simon Russell

‘DUENDE’ is a Spanish word that Jacqueline Miralles uses to describe the Viva España experience.

Duende is a uniquely Spanish word and the closest translation to this would be passion, inspiration or spirit.

These traits are best illustrated by the authentic Flamenco show that Viva España holds every Sunday lunchtime. However you can also see it in the care and attention to detail within the restaurant itself, the spotless décor, the great food and the attentive service.

Jacquie took over the front of

VIVA ESPAÑA: Flamenco and dinner are on the menu.

house side of Viva España in 2015 and by her own admission things had become a little bit tired. “We’d done the same thing for over 25 years and although we did it all very well maybe it was all becoming a bit stale.”

The restaurant was refurbished and the result is a vibrant, modern restaurant serving excellent food at surprisingly reasonable prices.

The Menu del Dia at Viva España for example, is a bargain at €9.50 and is available Monday to Friday lunchtime. Every Saturday they have a ‘dine and dance’ night with a Spanish band and threecourse menu for just €15. A la

carte they serve tapas, salads, rice dishes, meat and fish as well as light bites and even an English breakfast. Every Sunday lunchtime sees their renowned Flamenco dance troupe performing with food and drink included and in the evening there is a buffet at 6.00pm.

There are also other events such as this summer there will be regular appearances by the beautiful Andalucian horses who will perform their spectacular show. Just call us for more details.

So for a true taste of Spain, both at your table and with the entertainment on offer you need to visit Viva España.

They are located on the N332 just outside Oliva with easy access from the AP7 motorway.

Call 962 851 931. Booking required for shows.

More women, more profits ALTHOUGH the world of business is still rife with inequality, with less than 5 per cent of the mo st i m p o r t a n t businesses in the world directe d b y wo m e n , thos e wi t h more women at the top earn more m o n e y, a st u d y has found.

Following a worldwide study, the Peterson Institute for Internationa l E c o n o m i c s revealed that organisations that had at least 30 per cent of their top positions occupied by women report profits which are 15 per cent higher than those organisations that are led by men alone.

The Delia Effect

By Matthew Elliott LEAVING school without a single O-level, Delia Smith stormed up the business ladder the hard way, starting right at the very bottom.

She worked as a hairdresser and shop assistant before starting her cookery career washing dishes in a modest Paddington restaurant aged 21. Moving on to waitressing, she began reading cookery books and trying out new recipes at home.

Gaining a reputation for her writing and kitchen talent, she began writing national cookery columns in the 70s, becoming a household name hosting television shows Family Fare and Delia’s How to Cook.

Turning her magical hands to other business ventures she became joint majority shareholder at Norwich City FC, saving the club from bankruptcy.

She’s been awarded an OBE and a CBE for her contribution to British cooking and has sold more than 21 million books, making her the UK’s best selling cookery author.

BEST SELLING AUTHOR: Delia Smith has become a household name and very successful businesswoman.

Kidnap queen mentor PRESIDENT of a consultancy firm based in the US, Fabiana Lacerca-Allen honed her business instincts through a tumultuous upbringing in her native Argentina that saw her survive three kidnapping attempts.

She claims to know within two minutes of meeting someone whether she would want to be kidnapped with them, and advises budding business leaders to always trust their instincts, place competence before confidence, learn how to fail and always look after yourself.

Unsurprisingly Lacerca-Allen is a highly regarded mentor to young women who firmly believes in taking control of your own energy while training observation, resilience and toughness in order to succeed.

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I was smart enough to go through any door that opened.

EWN

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Joan Rivers

JACQUELINE MIRALLES - RESTAURANT VIVA ESPAÑA

From dancing to dinners A DEDICATED proprietor who does it all

By Simon Russell

JACQUELINE MIRALLES: 100 per cent committed to both family and business.

JACQUIE was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Spanish parents who had moved there in 1966 and opened the first Viva España 10 years later.

The family decided to move back to Oliva to help care for her grandparents and in 1988 ‘Viva España’ was opened on the same site it sits on now, just outside the town.

Jacquie’s father used to sing at the restaurant and often to finish off the entertainment Jacquie and her sister would come on stage to perform a Flamenco dance.

“We would still be in our clothes from the kitchen!” said Jacquie.

“We convinced our father to let us dance in proper flamenco outfits as this segment of the evening was becoming very popular.”

The renowned Viva España’s flamenco show was born from this and classically trained Jacquie was the obvious choice for lead dancer. Her famous troupe of dancers quickly became the heart and soul of the business.

In 2015 Jacquie took over the running of the restaurant after her father became ill. Around this time she ex-

If we are open then I will be working there. The person in overall charge should always be around to see things are being done the way that they should be.”

perienced the trauma of being badly burnt when a bottle of alcohol that was being heated exploded. Jacquie was in a specialist burns unit in Valencia for a month and, if anything, this difficult time gave her the impetus to restore the restaurant to its former glory.

One of the most important steps has been for Jacquie to ensure that she is always there as the proprietor. “If we are open, I will be working there. The person in overall charge should always be around to see things are being done the way they should be.”

Jacquie has two daughters of 19 years and 19 months.

“Evenings are for my family and daytime is for the restaurant, so I can commit 100 per cent to both.”

Whatever the secret is, it works.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Life-fulfilling work is never about the money-when you feel true passion for something you instinctively find ways to nurture it.

Eileen Fisher

ALDERTONS OF SPAIN

Finding your dream home

By Simon Russell JOANNE ALDERTON is the vivacious owner of Aldertons of Spain, a property finding and relocation service that is rapidly expanding as they fill an obvious need in the property market. Joanne is also a member of the Association of International Property Professionals.

Joanne emphasises that she is NOT running an estate agency. The Aldertons Property Finders job is to find your perfect property based entirely on the criteria you give them - not what they need to sell for commission. In fact she more than once has been called Jasmine Harman (from TV’s a Place in the Sun) without the cameras.

Joanne is a great believer that any property search should begin with the location and she will accompany prospective buyers on an orientation tour of suitable areas for your needs. Do you need schools and supermarkets within walking distance or do you prefer being away from the hustle and bustle? Was your two weeks in the sun on holiday sufficient to really get to know an area? Once an area has been decided on then the property search itself can begin based on the criteria you have given Joanne to work with.

At this stage crucially Joanne is working just for you and not the seller or sales agent. This means that all properties are available to you rather than just what is on an individual agent’s books. On top of this she will use methods such as leafleting or her network of contacts to find properties that are not currently listed. If you find the home you have been

All properties are available to view.

Many of Joanne’s clients remain friends.

looking for then Joanne will help you every step of the way with the maze of rules and regulations you need to buy a property and, if applicable, settle in Spain.

Further down the line she will help you find schools, banks - whatever you need to make your move as smooth as possible. Joanne says that EVERY client has written a thank you letter and they remain friends - how many businesses can make that boast?

Aldertons are appearing at the ‘Place in the Sun’ exhibition at Birmingham NEC on September 23 to 25 and at Glasgow in October. Call Joanne for a chat on 626 857 718 or visit their website www.aldertons.es or Facebook page Aldertons of Spain.

Spain’s powerful businesswomen WOMEN and business are two concepts which have not been linked all that much in Spain in the past, yet recently large multinational companies have been relying on them to manage their Spanish divisions. Women in power in the country now include:

By Eleanor Hawkins Ana Patricia Botin (Banco Santander) President of Banco Santander, she is the only Spanish woman on the Forbes list of the world’s most powerful ladies. Raised for the part, she took over the reins of the financial giant when her father, Emilio Botin, died. She studied in Switzerland, the UK, Austria and the US and started working for JP Morgan investment bank at the age of 20. By 29 she was an advisor at Santander.

Sol Daurella (Coca Cola) President of the administrative board of Coca Cola Iberian Partners, Daurella is the richest businesswoman in Cataluña and leads a giant company with 27,000 employees.

Daughter and granddaughter of businessmen, she is married to Carles Vilarrubi, a Barcelona Football Call director. She is also honorary consul for Iceland in Barcelona.

Alicia and Esther Koplowitz (FCC) The Koplowitz sisters have been in business almost since they could walk as they were the daughters of a German businessman who arrived in Spain fleeing from the Nazi regime. They shared space at the helm of FCC construction giant and Esther remains as first vice-president of the company, while Alicia now owns Omega Capital investment company.

Maria Dolores Dancausa (Bankinter / Linea Directa) Dancausa has been in the financial sector all her professional career, first with Banco Exterior and then with Bankinter. She was one of the executives who contributed to setting up Linea Directa insur-

ESTHER KOPLOWITZ: Vice-President of FCC.

ance brokerage, and became the first female director in the motor insurance sector to be made CEO and won the Female Director of the year award from the Spanish Association of Female Entrepreneurs of Madrid in 2007. In 2009 she was recognised by Dirigentes magazine as one of the 100 best directors of the year and in 2009 was included amongst the 100 directors with the best reputation in Spain by the Spanish Corporate Reputation Monitor (MERCO).

Maria Garaña (Microsoft) Microsoft has had three different women at the head of its Spanish division in the past, with Garaña the best-known of the three. She is now vice-president of the business solutions division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Rosa Garcia (Siemens) Garcia also spent time at Microsoft and held the post of president. Today she is the top woman at Siemens and on the Bankinter board of advisors.

Helena Herrero (HP) President of HP in Spain and Portugal, Herrero joined the company in 1982 and has worked her way up through different posts and departments. Along with her work within the company she takes an active part in the business and cultural worlds and is a patron of the Fundacion I+E Innovacion España foundation.

Marta Martinez (IBM) President of IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece and Israel since 2013, Martinez has been climbing the corporate ladder within the company since 2003 when she started out as a communications executive.

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If you want anything said, ask a man, if you want anything done, ask a woman.

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Margaret Thatcher

JOANNE ALDERTON - ALDERTONS OF SPAIN JOANNE ALDERTON: Has a strong reputation in the area amongst expats she has helped.

Back in Spain and loving it JOANNE returned to Spain when she started a family and a business was born

By Simon Russell THIS isn’t Joanne Alderton’s first spell in Spain but she is convinced it is where she wants to spend the rest of her life. Joanne now owns and runs Aldertons Relocation and Property Finding Business. She was born in Bury near Manchester back in England, and moved to Spain in 1995 after finding work as a holiday rep with Thomas Cook. Her work mainly took her to the Balearics and Canaries where she was able to learn the language, although she also had spells in Sri Lanka and Cuba.

She left Thomas Cook in 2002 and moved to the Costa Blanca running a

I feel like I’ve won the lottery or something.

I am so fortunate to be out here doing a job I adore and bringing my children up in this lovely part of the world.”

sales company in Benidorm. This was clearly a success as she was head-hunted by a Spanish firm to work for them. The catch was this involved a move back to the UK but she felt this was too good a chance to turn down at this time of her life and in 2006 back to the UK she went.

A few years later she met her husband Andrew. Once they had started a family she

had no doubt that all their futures lay back in Spain. “There is no better place to bring up children,” she said. They moved out here in 2013 when the children were one and two and after a short spell in Moraira the family moved to Benissa where they are based now.

Due to her knowledge of Spain itself and the Spanish language, Joanne found herself being the go-to person for expatriates requiring paperwork, help at the doctors, NIE’s and so on. Last year she decided the natural progression was to take this a step further and the Aldertons business was born. Things immediately took off, mainly due to Joanne’s strong reputation in the area amongst those expatriates she had helped.

So does she feel she’s made a wise move? “I feel like I’ve won the lottery or something. I am so fortunate to be out here doing a job I adore and bringing my children up in this lovely part of the world.”

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Forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, just harness your power to your passion.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Oprah Winfrey

NILSSON CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE L’ALFAS DEL PI

Helping various patients with chiropractic CHIROPRACTIC is one of those procedures that people have common misconceptions about. Yes, it can be used for helping with back pain but did you know it can help alleviate other ailments or even just improve your overall feeling of wellness?

The centre itself is modern, bright and airy with state of the art equipment. As you walk through the central reception area there is a presentation room where the ethos of chiropractic will be explained and your personal symptoms discussed. Then there is the adjusting area where the chiropractic care will be carried out (while you are fully clothed). The other key area is the diagnostic room where some gentle tests and a comprehensive health questionnaire will be discussed to establish the best way forward for your individual case. Any pre-consultation is free where you can ask the chiropractor if your case can be helped with chiropractic before booking your first visit for a spinal analysis.

Sharon is passionate about chiropractic and how it should complement conventional medical procedures. “It is really about people being more empowered with their own health. We load our bodies with drugs and medicines unquestioningly sometimes. We should always try the natural, non-invasive approach first.” In fact many of Sharon’s patients come as referrals from GPs who recognise the many benefits for what they are. Another misconception is that chiropractic is merely for helping out with existing ailments when in fact it is just as useful as a pre-

Super mums MUMSNET founder Justine Roberts has enjoyed a fascinating career in business, blogging and journalism culminating in her website for mothers’ huge success. Now courted by politicians she has been named the seventh most powerful woman in the UK as her website’s primarily middle-class viewers were seen as crucial swing voters.

With more than 5,000 registered bloggers writing about mothering related matters the site is a far cry from Roberts’ early career in banking and even football journalism.

Owned by the founders, staff and close associates, Mumsnet is quite a revolutionary outfit in its independence from outside investors and yet continues to grow at an incredible rate, now welcoming more than five million viewers a month to the website.

The huge success has even spawned the formation of sister site Gransnet, aimed at the over-50s, and Roberts particularly enjoys the massive impact Mumsnet has made on the public, allowing mums from across the world to share tips, advice and an endless array of funny and unusual stories.

She also writes frequently about real issues which affect mums on a daily basis including maternity leave, child care, nursery fees, health, and education, being acutely aware of the very unique pressures mothers are placed under while fighting for both a job and their family.

ventative tool in the same way regular exercise keeps your heart healthy.

The type of chiropractic Sharon specializes in is very gentle, not the painful looking manipulations some people associate with the field. The wide variety of patients seen

by Sharon include pregnant women and children, with special equipment available for the needs of both groups.

Sportsmen and sportswomen are also regulars at the centre, many as a means of improving their performance rather than for looking into any specific pain or ailment.

The chiropractic centre is at Plaza Balduino I de Bélgica, L’Alfas del Pí or you can call on 965 889 303 or e-mail alfas@centroquiro practiconilsson.com.

The website address is www.centroquiropracticonilsson.com There is also a centre in Benidorm on Avenida L’Aigüera 6.

Telephone 965 865 391 or email benidorm@centroquiropracticonilsson.com.

CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE: Try the natural, non-invasive way of chiropractic.

The mobile number for both practices is: 692 611 475.

A continuing tradition

By Matthew Elliott

DESPITE history being flush with female medical practitioners, with female doctors being used to treat patients of their own sex in ancient China, and women doctors frequently referenced in the classical Greek and Islamic worlds, modern medicine has proven a tougher glass ceiling until recent years.

Dr Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Britain and became the first woman to receive an American medical degree in 1849 and was also the first woman on the British medical registrar.

Yet more than a century later women were still largely shut out of the maledominated science in the western world, considered more valuable as nurses or even subjects than as doctors.

As late as the 1960s pelvic exams were being used as a means of determining

1849 was the year in which the first woman, Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, received an American medical degree.

whether young brides were ready for their wedding nights.

The humiliation felt by millions of women helped catalyse a change in the profession as growing numbers of female students began challenging the status quo, particularly as it related to their own bodies.

A powerful women’s health movement helped raise awareness of specifically fe-

WOMEN DOCTORS: Today can consider themselves part of an important tradition.

male medical issues, while the concept of a woman doctor became normalised by younger generations.

There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure equality, but female medical professionals today can consider themselves part of a hugely important tradition, which has untold benefits for the millions of female patients looking for a safe, reliable place to discuss their bodies.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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You can waste your life drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.

EWN

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Shonda Rhimes

SHARON NILSSON - NILSSON CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE L’ALFAZ DEL PI

From motorcycling to gardening AND whatever else she can fit in during her spare time

SHARON NILSSON: Going from strength to strength.

SHARON was born in Kent in the UK but has lived in Spain since 1976 when she moved over with her parents. In 1993 she met her husband, Johan, who is Swedish and a fellow chiropractor.

Sharon was studying naturopathy at that time and she went on to study Chinese medicine and worked in that field in her own establishment in Alfaz del Pi. However she had always been interested in chiropractic and started her formal studies in 2005. These were done at the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in Oxfordshire, UK, widely regarded as the most prestigious chiropractic college. Sharon gained her full certification in 2010 and began working at the centre in Alfaz del Pi. She has continued enhancing and updating her qualifications and is a member of

1976 Moved to Spain

1993 Met husband Johan

2005 Started studying chiropractic

2010 Achieved certification several organisations including the United Chiropractic Association (UK) and the International Chiropractors Association

(US), as well as the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (US).

Sharon has a wide range of interests outside of work but her real passions are the contrasting activities of gardening and motorcycling. She actually had a nasty accident a few years ago while biking and although her back was badly hurt, because she was already in regular preventive chiropractic care, with some intensive sessions she was able to get back to work and totally fit in much quicker time than could have been hoped for. This didn’t put her off motorcycling and in fact she has just purchased a 675 horsepower Triumph Street Triple, a serious motorcycle. Sharon is also a very keen horsewoman and rides whenever she gets the chance. Her parents still live in Spain as do Johan’s family.

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You are the one that possessed the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Diane von Furstenberg

PLUS ULTRA SEGUROS ALTEA

Personal service in a complex industry

By Simon Russell ELAINE KAUFMANN has been working in the ever-changing insurance industry in Spain for 30 years.

She is based in the Marina Alta town of Altea where she is the Managing Director of Plus Ultra Seguros Altea.

Elaine is an exclusive agent for Plus Ultra Seguros and her agency name is Insurance Altea SL. Plus Ultra Seguros Altea is a huge Spanish insurance company with 1,350 offices across Spain. However when you see Elaine you will get a very personal service which she explains. “I deal with every client personally and promptly. I will give immediate or same day service whether you call into the office, phone or email us.”

This makes a refreshing change from some companies where you can be kept waiting in call queuing systems before speaking to someone who may only have basic knowledge of the company and the products they sell. Compare that with immediate

Cyber soldiers CYBER-SECURITY is an industry expanding at an almost exponential rate as governments, companies, and individuals seek ever more ingenious ways to protect themselves from hacking, data-theft and damaging viruses.

Once an exclusively male field, conjuring up images of computer geeks and teenage hackers, more and more women are taking on leading security roles, using their technological expertise to make a real difference to the industry.

So much so that a recent advertising campaign showed leading female coders at work while wearing their underwear, naturally creating controversy, but also showing the world an entirely different side to the field which is rapidly embracing inclusivity.

service by an expert and you can see for yourself the contrast. When you combine this personal service with the security of Elaine being part of such a large and financially secure insurer it is a very strong combination.

Plus Ultra Seguros Altea cover all main types of insurance: house, motor, boat and life insurance. They also offer funeral plans which include repatriation. Their house insurance is particularly competitive and will even pay for water damage repairs prior to the damage actually occurring, so a preventative measure.

The office is located in Altea town centre at Calle Zubielda 9.

To telephone, call 965 840 753 or e-mail on elaine@insurancealtea.es

EXCLUSIVE AGENT: Dealing with every client personally and promptly.

Elaine has policyholders from all over Spain, so if Altea isn’t handy for your location just give Elaine a call and she will be happy to help.

The roof literally fell in on Maureen Hiron

By John Smith

THE saying ‘it’s an ill wind’ is so appropriate in the case of games inventor and renaissance woman Maureen Hiron who was the head of the physical department at a large London comprehensive school until part of the school ceiling fell on her head and at the age of 32 she was pensioned off from teaching.

Already an expert bridge player, who has represented England and Britain at bridge, she devoted her mental energies to the game whilst she was considering her future which looked somewhat bleak.

Then a medical phenomenon occurred. Former dormant areas of Maureen’s brain took over the role of the damaged parts, with the result that she was able to reason with the intuitive mind of a child, yet still retain her acquired knowledge and high IQ level.

In 1982, she invented the game Continuo that is a perfect blend of skill and luck which a five-year-old could play on equal terms with all other ages, providing equal enjoyment to all.

TRULY REMARKABLE: Maureen at home in Spain with her organ.

She formed a company to manufacture and market the game which has now been sold in more than 50 countries, with sales in excess of six million. Since then she has sold more than 70 games which are marketed around the world.

Maureen has written, with her late husband Alan, several best-selling books, including The Ultimate Trivia Quiz Game Book, which reached No 2 in the British bestsellers list and also worked on a number of TV shows, including Krypton Factor and Fifteen To One. In 1990, Maureen was voted Londoner Of The Year in London Electricity’s Brightening Up London awards and it was soon after that she purchased her second home in Spain, but sadly her husband Alan died in 1999 and she took over his position as Bridge correspondent for the Independent newspaper which she continued to write until its closing in 2016.

This is truly a remarkable story which could have ended in disaster but actually shows how even the worst of events can sometimes bring success.

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One cannot accomplish anything without fanaticism .

EWN

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Eva Peron

ELAINE KAUFMANN - PLUS ULTRA SEGUROS ALTEA

An English voice to help you in Spanish insurance minefield INSURANCE with the personal touch

By Simon Russell

ELAINE KAUFMANN: Moved with the times.

ELAINE was born back in the UK before moving to Spain in the mid 1970s. She has now been living on the Costa Blanca for 30 years and has worked most of that time in the insurance industry.

Elaine is an exclusive agent (Insurance Altea SL) for Plus Ultra Seguros and has also been the Managing Director since 2007, so a happy and long-standing partnership. Asked how much things had changed in that time she said “Simply beyond belief. Computerisation is the main thing, with insurance being affected more than almost any other industry.

“When I started we were all surrounded by box files and pieces of paper. Now 95 per cent of what we do is on the PC

2007 was the year in which Elaine became Managing Director, so a happy and long-standing partnership.

and online.”

Asked if this had improved things in the industry Elaine said “At first it was difficult but looking back now it would be hard to imagine how we used to manage before computerisation. However we have avoided complete, full scale automation. That would have made things easier for us but for the customer it is impersonal and can be frustrating.”

Elaine has moved with the times successfully and some people may not have adapted so well in an industry that has seen massive changes. One of the other main changes is increased emphasis on compliance and legislation. These things are put in place to help customers but if you don’t stay on top of it all you could end up having problems.

With Elaine living on the Costa Blanca for quite some time, needless to say she is fluent in Spanish and this is invaluable for steering you through the complexities of insurance in a foreign country. No matter how fluent someone may be you cannot match having a native English speaker who also knows the industry inside out with your best interests at heart.

Elaine’s Spanish colleague is Joanne who is also a fluent English speaker.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.

Marie Curie

MICHEL EUESDEN

Female leaders full of hope, confidence and courage

By Matthew Elliott WITH the publication of our Women in Business supplement, exclusively written for our Costa Blanca North clients and readership, the Euro Weekly News (EWN) continues to be at the forefront of fighting for female equality and progress.

As the leading English-language community newspaper in Spain, EWN has campaigned vigorously throughout its history to shine a light on real issues that affect real women every day, while promoting clients and charities who make a substantial difference on the ground.

As you will have seen throughout this supplement, women are playing a progressively significant role in the business world, transforming it into a more creative, d y n a m i c , f a ir, an d p ro fita b le environment than the exclusionary days of the past.

We have been keen to stress the connection between women in business and evolution in the way society treats women, pointing out that, while there is still much to be done, it is these pioneering female leaders who are today influencing their communities and transforming perceptions.

EWN believes that by highlighting these women, and the magnificent, invaluable role they play in local life, we can complement our outstanding coverage of other issues that impact women, not just as a collective, but on an individual level, each and every day.

Our hugely successful ‘No Means No’ campaign was aimed at raising awareness of sexual assault and educating possible perpetrators and victims as to their rights, responsibilities and the nature of consent and respect.

At Christmas, while other newspapers focused on soft coverage of Santa Claus and spending obscene amounts of money, EWN instead chose to carry a hard-hitting special edition on domestic violence, which torments many women even more traumatically during the festive period.

Because we know our readership, and because we ourselves have our hearts in our communities, the EWN staff do not shy away from tackling the hard facts of life, the stories swept under the rug which tell

y o u fa r more a bout s oc ie ty tha n a cheap, glitzy pretence that everything is okay.

At the core of EWN’s philosophy is the belief that it is how we treat the weakest members of our community th at reve a ls our true na ture a nd strength, that a community newspaper b ea rs a re s pons ibility to tha t one woman, battered, broken and alone with nowhere to turn.

By offering oppressed women a voice, by raising public awareness, by

We can help inspire working women and future generations to go out there, make a difference, be themselves, and change the world.”

highlighting female role-models, by p u b licis ing c ha ritie s foc us e d on women’s needs, by initiating camp aig n s , a nd by s pe a king the truth, EWN hopes to meet its responsibilities to those in need.

And we are proud to say that we h av e h elpe d. O ve r the ye a rs the amount of requests for help, and expressions of gratitude for providing it, has proven EWN to be the one local paper with the drive, determination, prestige and power to successfully bring change to our communities.

One feature which distinguishes EWN from the local media crowd, and places the paper in a unique position to effectively champion the cause of women in business, is that its charismatic and feminist leader is, of course, a woman.

M ic h el Eue s de n ha s fought for women’s rights throughout her personal life and career, and today leads by example as one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in Spain, leading EWN as it became the largest free local newspaper in all of Europe.

In 2011 Michel’s contribution to expatriate life was recognised with her inclusion in the Golden Book of the Top 100 Businesswomen in Marbella/Costa del Sol, and she has continued to use EWN’s considerable influence and prestige to further the cause of fairness and equality.

EWN is incredibly proud to carry our Women in Business supplement because i t i s one of m any ways i n which we can help inspire working women and future generations to go out there, make a difference, be themselves, and change the world.

Women, like men, are not all the same, but it is the right to an independent mind, to be free of crushing social norms, to forge your own path and to help others along the way, that is one of the defining battles of our era, and one which unites women of all personalities or political persuasions.

Our sincerest gratitude goes to all the female leaders who have contributed to, and participated, in this supplement. Your inspiration and boundless energy makes our world a better place, our communities stronger and filled with hope, confidence and courage.

MICHEL EUESDEN: The leading lady of the Euro Weekly News and one of Spain’s most successful female entrepreneurs.

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Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.

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Harper Lee

Top tips for being a business success LEARNING to assert yourself will give you extra credibility and confidence.

1. Stop apologising Women offer up the phrase “I’m sorry” for a myriad of things that may not even be sorry-worthy. It is rare to see men apologising in the workplace because being sorry all the time does nothing to help credibility. So unless you really have done something that merits an apology, stop yourself and stay focused on what you are doing right.

2. Don’t demean or make fun of yourself Just like constantly apologising, talking down on yourself or becoming the butt of the joke equals lost credibility. Take a nod from the boys and realise that you are a competent professional who works hard and deserves positive attention.

3. Avoid non-committal statements Women will often back away from acting as a confident subject matter expert when talking about their industry or work. In these moments, instead of leading with non-committal statements like “I think…,” own your input and explain it with confidence. And any

time you catch yourself saying “I think that…,” take a breath and start over by saying, “Actually, I don’t think, I know that xyz will be great for your business because…”

4. Believe in yourself But don’t be a know-it-all. Remember that regardless of your sex, knowing your stuff is one thing, and being a know-it-all is another.

Find your own way to exude confidence and participate in the discussion, while also staying open to input from others so you never stop learning.

5 Increase your space Social psychologist Amy Cuddy talks about her research on the benefit of ‘power poses’ for women in her October 2012 TED Talks episode.

Her research shows that body language is directly correlated to the testosterone and cortisol levels that give us confidence. Try to consciously focus on not crossing your legs, leaning on your elbows, tucking your arms, or making yourself smaller when sitting or standing. Keep strong posture and don’t be afraid to take up space

6. Stop fidgeting around you just like the boys do.

Cuddy goes on to show how both men and women use non-verbal communication to convey power. Try not to ruin credibility by incessantly fidgeting with your hands, playing with your hair, licking your lips, etc, during in-person meetings.

7. Try telling, not asking Often, women over explain things like wanting to take a day off or making a business decision. Instead of giving up power by always asking if you can have it, work on being confident when communicating your plans to colleagues. Rest assured that if they need more information or have an issue with it, they would let you know.

8. Control your emotions

Showing unnecessary fear, sadness, hurt, etc., in work situations equals lost power and credibility and you’ll rarely see men doing it.

Know when to show emotion and when to hold back especially in high-stress situations.

That doesn’t mean you have to deny them altogether; if you need to take a moment to go cry/talk/write it out, do that and then return to the discussion stronger and ready to handle your business.

9. Embrace the silence When making a powerful statement, negotiating, selling an idea, etc, stop and pause for effect instead of fearing the dead air. This gives your listener time to process what you have said, and also exudes confidence in your own words just like the boys do regardless of whether you are in person or on the phone.

10. Always have your speech ready Create and practise a short speech that gives people a glimpse into why they should work with you. Keep it straight and to the point.

Whether you are a woman in the workpl ace or an ent r epr eneur t he t i ps above show that you can learn from the competition while remaining true to yourself.

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If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Catherine Cook

SAFOR PROPERTY SERVICES

Your starting point for buying

By Simon Russell AS the name implies, Safor Property Services specialise in property in the La Safor district of Valencia, which includes Gandia, Xeraco and Oliva where they are based. When asked what made La Safor different from other districts people who may be more familiar with Ann said With buyers, we “I don’t think peooffer a complete ple realise how stunning the scenery service before, is around here. during and “The mountains, such crucially, for some, as up in the Valldigna are after the sale.” spectacular with wonderful little villages and towns. In contrast we have the tranquillity and wildlife in the marshes and some of the best beaches in the whole of Spain, all of which is relatively undiscovered.”

On top of that Valencia airport is about 45 minutes drive away from Oliva as is the cosmopolitan city of Valencia. The types of property available around here are different from further south as well “…there isn’t the density of expatriates here which means that urbanisations are few and far between. We market a lot of

old townhouses as well as apartments. Apartments are usually modern and well situated in the town centres.”

They are also currently marketing a development of new build off-plan houses in a purpose built village and resort called Xeresa del Monte. Wendy is arranging transport for people to come down from Valencia to view these on a weekly basis through the summer. So if you’ve decided on La Safor why use Wendy and Ann to buy a property? They explained “With buyers we offer a complete service before, during and, crucially for some, after the sale. We’re experienced, honest and trustworthy - we’re nice people!” They also have a mixed clientele nationality wise. “A lot of Spanish agents only have Spanish clients and the same with the English agents and the English. We have a healthy mix of both which is better for buyers and sellers.”

If you’re thinking of buying or selling with Ann and Wendy then the Safor Property office is located on Carrer Pere Anthoni Salelles 7, Oliva, by the Correos office.

SAFOR PROPERTY SERVICES: Honest and trustworthy with years of experience.

You can call them on 616 450 440 or visit their website www.lasafor.com

Executive chair of Santander Group is successful woman

By John Smith ALTHOUGH the fourth generation of her family to head Santander Bank, Ana Patricia Botin-Sanz de Sautuola O’Shea to give her her full name, has not just inherited the title but her history shows that she has earned it.

Born in October 1960 the daughter of Spanish banker Emilio Botin and Paloma O’Shea, she studied economics at Bryn Mawr College and attended Harvard Business School where she earned an MBA. She then worked for eight years at JP Morgan in the USA and in 1988 she came back to Spain and began working for the Santander Group. In 2002 she was appointed the executive chairman of the Spanish bank, Banesto, a subsidiary of Santander where she served until 2010 when she became CEO of Santander UK. When her father died in 2014, she was immediately appointed chair of the parent company saying at the time “In these difficult times for me and my family now, I appreciate the confidence of the

ANA BOTIN: Head of Santander Bank.

board and accept with total commitment my new responsibilities. For years I have worked in the Santander Group in different countries and responsibilities and I have seen the enormous quality and dedication of all our teams. We will continue working with full determination to continue building a better Banco Santander each day for our customers, employees and shareholders.”

So impressed was David Cameron with this businesswoman and speaker of five languages who had successfully navigated the banks that she was in charge of during the recession that he appointed her in 2014 as one of his advisors in the Business Advisory Group.

Following this appointment she was then made an honorary Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in December 2015, for services to the British financial services sector. The appointment reflects mother of three Ms Botin’s services to the UK during her time as CEO of Santander UK from December 2010 until September 2014.

As CEO she led the transformation of Santander UK following the merger of Abbey Na-

tional, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley building societies and oversaw the steady growth of the business to its current position.

The British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, said “I am delighted that Ana Botin has received this honour, reflecting her exceptional contributions to the UK economy and society. The United Kingdom welcomes foreign investors large and small - that wish to expand overseas, for the opportunities that it offers to those companies and the benefits it brings to our country.

“In particular, Ms. Botin positioned Santander as a major provider of lending for small and medium-sized UK businesses, complementing the UK government’s wider efforts to boost overseas trade under the newly launched ‘Exporting is GREAT’ campaign.”

The award also recognises commitment to the voluntary sector. In 2010 she joined the Board of Trustees of the Mayor’s Fund for London, a foundation that focuses on projects to improve employment opportunities for disadvantaged children.

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You have what it takes to be a victorious, independent, fearless woman.

EWN

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Tyra Banks

ANN EMERY AND WENDY NOBLE - SAFOR PROPERTY SERVICES

Selling properties in La Safor for 20 years ANN AND WENDY combine experience and a fresh outlook for a perfect blend

By Simon Russell

1996 Ann moved to Spain

ANN EMERY moved to Spain 30 years ago and started Safor Property Services back in 1996. Originally the business was run with her daughter, but affairs of the heart changed things after Ann’s daughter fell for a Spaniard and moved south to be with him two years after the business started. That worked out well as they married and now have children of their own, but it left Ann to run the business on her own.

She quickly rose to the challenge and for the next 18 years ran a successful estate agents single handed.

However when Ann’s daughter moved to the UK earlier this year, Ann decided she needed a partner in the business and approached an old client and friend, Wendy to invest in an equal share of Safor Property Services.

2007 Wendy purchased her property

2015 Wendy finally moved to Spain

ANN EMERY and Wendy Noble: Working together for your property needs.

Wendy Noble was born in the UK and worked in London before moving to Kenya where she carved out a successful career in advertising. She then moved to the Netherlands via Dubai and has also been a teacher and swimming instructor. In 2007 she purchased her property in Oliva from Ann at La Safor and eventually moved here in 2015. Ann obviously left a lasting impression and Wendy got back in touch when she moved to Spain.

They became business partners earlier this year and they are both very happy with the changes. Ann realised not only was she getting to a time of life where she was looking to have someone share her workload, but Wendy was also able to bring a completely fresh perspective to running the business.

There is a third key person in the business Josefa Santacreu, an English speaking Spanish lawyer who will ensure that the all-important legal side of things is done correctly. Josefa is independent but has been working with Ann for 17 years. Wendy also speaks Dutch and German which is starting to open up another lucrative market. So from starting out as an estate agent where the main marketing tool was the board in your shop window to today where the Internet is increasingly important, Safor Property Services has seen it all and still goes from strength to strength.

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You never lose in business, either you win or you learn.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Melinda Emerson

SELECT VILLAS

Helping you through the minefield of selling and buying property WELL established estate agents where the focus is always on the customer ONE thing you notice when you go to Moraira is there are many real estate agents. Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you make in life and certainly the most important financial transaction you undertake.

With this in mind, I asked Linda what is it that makes Select Villas stand out from the crowd? What makes them different is that they have a lot of unique selling points e.g. properties will have up to 50 high quality images on their website with easy links to further information.

If you are selling it’s good to know they send regular newsletters to 3,000 clients who want to be kept informed, so a lot of prospective buyers.

Unusually they limit the amount of properties on their books (to 300) to ensure that they can give each one the

Women more modest than men A STUDY by Cambridge University has found that even if they generate higher profits, women in business are far less likely to brag about it than their male counterparts.

The study, entitled Psychology of Entrepreneurs, revealed that just 42 per cent of successful businesswomen state their business is doing well, compared to 62 per cent of men.

After questioning almost 1,000 business owners, the study also revealed that women were the more ambitious sex with 47 per cent of women saying they would like to start another business within three years, compared to 18 per cent of men.

SELECT VILLAS: The office can be found in the heart of Moraira.

level of time and attention required.

Another great idea that Select Villas have is that they guarantee to give buyers feedback within 24 hours of any viewing. This is based on crib sheets their staff fill out when showing people round a property as well as their own gut feel. “Understandably, people get very frustrated if they are not kept in touch every step of the way.” explains Linda.

Something else they do that buyers like is an orientation tour of the town and its surroundings, invaluable if you have only been there on holiday.

Like any good business most trade comes from word of mouth. “We just attended the 81st birthday party of the person who was our first buyer” says Linda. Clearly still a friend as well as a satisfied customer then!

Swinging London and the mini skirt ALTHOUGH there is some argument about who first introduced the mini skirt to the world at large 50 years ago, it is generally accepted that one of the leaders in the forefront of fashion at the time, Mary Quant has a strong claim to the title.

It was in 1965 that she first sold a mini skirt (supposedly inspired by the recently introduced mini car) in her shop Bazaar in the very trendy part of Chelsea known as the King’s Road. Soon designers throughout the world were offering miniskirts and mini dresses as well as the ultrashort micro-mini to girls and women alike.

As the fashion caught on, so it brought to prominence a 17-yearold ‘waif’, the model, Lesley Hornby (later to change her professional name to Twiggy) who became the face and body of Swinging London.

Credit Padmayogini shutterstock

FASHION LEADER: Mary Quant is claimed to have been the first person to introduce the mini skirt.

The office is in the heart of Moraira on Avenida Madrid 5 (opposite the Banco Sabadell) and is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm (no midday break) and Saturdays 10am to 1pm.

Linda can be contacted direct on 966 490 861 or e-mail the company at info@select-villas.es Their website address is www.select-villas.com

Women are doing it for themselves AS unem pl oym ent i ncr eased i n Spain following the financial crisis, those who were particularly badly affected were women, and if they were young their chances of finding themselves out of work were over 50 per cent.

Incredibly and sometimes with a little financial help from the government, over 800,000 women in a period of six years decided to set up their own business, be it as simple as off er i ng cl eani ng ser vi ces t o opening shops or becoming craft workers.

The truism that women can multitask has been proven as many have changed t hei r car eer pat hs and moved into unknown territory to tackle completely new challenges.

Not all have succeeded but a high proportion have achieved their aims and without these women making t he deci si on t o cr eat e t hei r own wor k, t he unem pl oym ent f i gur e would look even worse.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.

EWN

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Roseanne Barr

LINDA GARWOOD - SELECT VILLAS

10 years and we’re still going strong WORKING closely together makes us a great team

AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT: Linda Garwood will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Select Villas in November.

SELECT VILLAS of Moraira will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, in November in fact. The business was started by Linda Garwood and her husband Chris in 2006 and clearly they know what they are doing to have been around such a competitive market for this long.

Back in the UK Linda and Chris’s main business interests were in the health care industry, owning and running nursing homes in East Sussex “so we’ve always worked together. We make a good team.” They have three daughters as well as two granddaughters and a grandson who live back in the UK and Australia.

Linda and Chris had been coming on holiday to Moraira since 1983 and it was love at first sight for them with the Marina Alta resort and an easy choice for somewhere to spend their retirement. In fact they hadn’t really intended to start a business when they moved over but once here they could see the need for a real estate agency that caters for people the way they do.

Regarding the town itself Linda said “Moraira hasn’t

been allowed to be built up the way other similar resorts have, especially when it comes to high rises. That means it still maintains the village feel that we loved so much when we first came here.”

Their long-standing knowledge of the town and surrounding area is a great asset when it comes to helping out both buyers and sellers. Linda believes very much in the people side of the business and this helps with buyers, sellers and staff. They’re proud of their team who all seem very happy to be working there and speak several languages between them including Spanish, English, Valenciano, Dutch, French, German and Belgian.

If your image of estate agents is still the ‘Del Boy’ style young wheelers and dealers from the 80’s and that is putting you off the experience, you really should go and visit Select Villas for yourself. You will find an experienced and totally trustworthy team of staff who realise that the days of the hard sell when it comes to buying and selling property has long since had its day.

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Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.

Hillary Clinton

EL SACRISTÁN & PRG COACHING INMOBILIARIO & NETWORKING

For wonderful food and at great value Recent change of ownership prompts revamp

By Simon Russell PIEDAD RODRIGUEZ took over El Sacristán restaurant in April this year and everyone has been working hard to have its makeover ready in time for the summer season.

The main aspect of the revamp was the terrace which is beautiful and elegant. Set back from the beach it is shady, cool and quiet but still with great sea views, it is ideal to sit back, relax and enjoy the fantastic cuisine on offer.

A variety of breakfasts are on offer as well as a special Dutch breakfast.

Weekday lunchtimes El Sacristán offer a Menu del Dia, fantastic value at €10.99 with one drink included. There is also an A La Carte menu which includes a great selection of meat and fish dishes showing influences from across Europe and for the lighter appetites there are salads, tapas and bocadillos or sandwiches. El Sacristán offer a special on Sundays and this is currently roast venison. The interior of the restaurant is built to resemble a cave which means it is both comfortable and cosy and remains cool in the summer.

El Sacristán are closed on Tuesdays but welcome you every other day of the week.

You can find El Sacristán on Calle Juan Sebastian Bach 2B, just before the campsite along Albir seafront.

Please call 645 622 619 to make a reservation or call Piedad to organise a special event on 625 991 557.

A real jewel JULIA CHILD, perhaps the most famous chef of all time, was born on August 15, 1912 in Pasadena, California, but moved to France shortly after that.

Over the years she became a recognisable figure in pop culture thanks to her bubbly and quirky personality and her desire to bring French cuisine to mainstream culture for all the world to appreciate.

Over the years her fame and fortune continue to grow as she developed into a fully-fledged celebrity icon, with legions of devoted fans tuning into her cooking programmes and thumbing hungrily through her groundbreaking cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Although she died in 2004, her effervescent personality and the passion that she brought to everything she did meant that she will continue to inspire many budding foodies for years to come.

EL SACRISTÁN: Offer a special roast venison on Sundays.

PRG COACHING: Based in Benidorm.

PRG Coaching Inmobiliario & Networking PRG Coaching Inmobiliario & Networking are based in Benidorm and deal with properties across the Marina Baixa. They aim to provide a personalised service for buyers and sellers, tailoring their efforts to whatever your requirement may be.

Proprietor Piedad says she views the recent housing crisis as an opportunity, not a barrier. They specialise in housing direct from banks and the great advantage of this is that you are not tangled up

in housing chains and the sellers’ personal moving timetable. Just find a property you like, agree on a price and you are ready to buy.

As you are buying off the banks they are also able to arrange financial packages to suit your needs, for example, special rates on mortgages. In addition PRG Coaching Inmobiliario & Networking are best placed to let you take advantage of special bank promotions such as the current ones of a 10 per cent

discount on beach front properties and 110 per cent financing.

The staff speak English, Spanish, German and French so will be able to guide you and to help in any way they can.

PRG Coaching Inmobiliario & Networking are located on Avenida Europa No8, Local 5, 1st floor. Telephone 965 863 093 to find out more about what they do or visit their website at www.prgcoachinginmobiliario.com.

Coca Cola 5by20 to help women worldwide

By John Smith

THE very size of Coca Cola allows it to be a force for good when it has the will to take on special challenges.

A perfect example is its 5by20 programme which in its own words says that it has a “global commitment to enable the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs across the company’s value chain by 2020.”

Their explanation of their intention is as follows: “Through 5by20, we address the most common barriers women face when trying to succeed in the marketplace.

This initiative offers women access to business skills training courses, financial services and connections with peers or mentors - along with the confidence that comes with building a successful business.”

Obviously, none of these women are going to become giants of industry overnight, but if that number can benefit from the companies’ assistance then that is a large number of women and their dependents who are likely to see a better lifestyle, which should in turn lead to their families benefiting in the long term.

5BY20 PROGRAMME: Addresses the most common barriers women face in trying to succeed.

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We need to start work with the idea that we’re going to learn every day. I learn, even at my position, every single day.

EWN

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Chanda Kochhar

PIEDAD RODRIGUEZ - EL SACRISTÁN

Multi-talented woman with multiple business interests PIEDAD redefines the word ‘busy’

By Simon Russell

PIEDAD RODRIGUEZ: Is difficult to pin a label on.

LOCAL businesswoman Piedad Rodriguez is difficult to pin a label on. Restaurateur? Estate Agent? Life coach? Well, yes to all of the above in fact. Piedad is the proprietor of the newly refurbished El Sacristán restaurant in Albir as well as estate agency PRG Coaching Inmobilaria & Networking in Benidorm and also works as a Life Coach and Network Facilitator.

On top of this she has three children to keep her occupied at home. As she likes to say “Life is about constant evolving and having a vision, not standing still. I believe strongly in diversification and I always like to have a Plan B!” When asked about life coaching and networking and what this entails Piedad said:

It is all about giving prioritisation to the most urgent need and having good support staff.”

“Life coaching is one to one coaching to help people with their work. Networking is about meeting other likeminded business people in the area. We hold a regular networking forum in Benidorm. Collaboration between local businesses is extremely important.”

Networking and life coaching are re-

lated in many ways, both about improving yourself to help your business.

A lot of business recommendations come from the networking groups who meet regularly in Benidorm. People that attend know they can trust each other and, crucially, they can trust the others in the group when recommending them to someone else.”

So how does Piedad juggle all these diverse businesses so successfully?

Piedad explained “It is all about giving prioritisation to the most urgent need and having good support staff.”

Free time is a rare thing for Piedad but when she has some she likes to look after body and soul with physical exercise and meditation as well as spending time with her family. Asked if she had a philosophy for life she answered simply “Enjoy all that you do and do it from the heart.”

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You can never leave footprints that last if you’re walking on tiptoe.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Leymah Gbowee

IDEAGARDEN & VILLA FIORE

All your Spanish garden needs catered for

By Simon Russell

IDEAGARDEN CALPE CENTER SL has been dedicated to the construction and maintenance of gardens and swimming pools for 26 years and is run by Ruth Regalado and her husband Jose. To help you with the design of your garden Ruth and her sister Romina attended a course in Barcelona in 2006 ‘Auto Arq Paisajismo 3D.’ IdeaGarden also undertake tree and shrub pruning, and specialise in palms, pines and other large trees. They can fit and design artificial lawns and can carry out larger scale excavation work with their mini-excavator such as drainage ditches etc.

They have a large range of garden containers of all types available. If you fancy something a bit different they can even design you a Japanese garden, or one done on a Feng Shui basis. As well as the two shop based staff the business has a team of four who are out and about doing everything from day to day maintenance to major projects. They can also advise you on treatments for pests such as palm weevils.

In 2010 Ruth and Jose decided to open a florists and garden centre also called IdeaGarden Calpe. The

Five tips to get to the top WITH fewer women in top positions, many believe those who want them have to fight tooth and nail to get them. However women at the top have offered some tips which seem to show that it’s more down to organisation and showing your worth than battling: 1. Plan a strategy to reach your goals.

Create an organised work and activity plan and always be first to put your hand up to lead new projects.

2. Be disciplined, keep a clear mind and know your priorities.

3. Balance your behaviour: don’t force or control staff but be firm in your convictions and exercise your authority.

4. Know your field, both through experience and through study.

5. Communicate: your doors should always be open and you should work to motivate and integrate your team and acknowledge their work.

centre sells a range of garden decorations and a large choice of plants and shrubs from flowers to fruit trees.

They speak Spanish, English and French and all staff are experienced, knowledgeable and ready to help you with your gardening needs however big or small.

As any of you who have tried your hand out here know, gardening in Spain is very different from back in the UK. IdeaGarden’s team of experts will be happy to advise you on what you should know and maybe give you ideas for your Spanish garden.

For a look at some of their selection of plants and houseplants have a look at their website www.villafiore.es where you can also purchase online. You can also find them on Facebook if you search for villafioreshop.

IDEAGARDEN: Their team of experts will be happy to advise you.

IdeaGarden is located on the Calpe-Moraira road, Avenida La Marina km3. Call Ruth on 965 747 946 or 626 327 823 or e-mail ideagardencenter@gmail.com

Wilde about plants Show in 2005, while she also presented two series of the BBC show ‘Garden Invaders’ and published two books on the subject.

“When I was 30 I was enjoying a successful music career, with platinum records and a European tour with Michael Jackson under my belt. I decided the time was right to lay down some roots and I moved into a 16th-century barn that I renovated and treasured.

By Matt Ford

EIGHTIES pop star Kim Wilde is adamant that gardening helped her through bouts of anxiety and to restore “balance” after a turbulent time in the music business, so much so that she managed to forge a second career out of it.

“Horticulture really brought me back to life. Gardens are always the first place I go to regenerate ... they are a complete sensory experience.

“I love nothing better than being in a garden and feeling connected to nature. “Gardening can be such great therapy, it certainly was for me. Spending time outdoors, learning about plants and nurturing them, really helped me find balance and gave me a greater sense of confidence and peace. I love the way that plants are always changing and growing, just like us.”

Wilde, who enjoyed smash hits with ‘Kids in America’ and ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On,’ began gardening in the 1990s when she moved to the countryside, and subsequently won a gold medal and an award for best courtyard garden at the Chelsea Flower

2005 in this year, Kim Wilde won an award for best courtyard garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Credit Featureflash Photo Agency/Sh utterstock

GARDEN STAR: Wilde performing in 2013.

“To the outside world all seemed wonderful, but I was always plagued with anxiety and it badly affected my mental health.

“One in four of us will experience issues with our mental health. Gardening really can help. It has been great therapy for me and can help people get back on top of things and restore balance when it feels like life is veering out of control.”

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Those who do not move do not notice their chains.

EWN

Rosa Luxemburg

RUTH REGALADO - IDEALGARDEN & VILLA FIORE

From white collar to green fingers MAKING the move from administration to garden specialist

By Simon Russell RUTH REGALADO has always been involved in gardening but started out on the paperwork side of things. Her husband Jose has been a gardener all his working life and has over 26 years experience and his own business.

When they married Ruth took over the accounting side of the business which allowed Jose to give his full attention to the manual side of the job. However as circumstances changed Ruth suggested to Jose they open their own garden shop and business so they could offer a more complete service. Ruth had always been interested in garden design and, as it happens, her sister is an artist by trade.

In 2010 IdeaGarden Calpe’s garden centre first opened its gates to the public. By this time Ruth’s sister had jumped at the chance to come on

2010 Calpe garden centre opened.

Ruth has recently attended a course that taught how to create incredible 3D images.” board and her artistic background has been invaluable when it comes to the more creative side of garden designs. Ruth has her own creative ideas as well of course but she has also been on courses to allow her to focus on the technical side of the design process.

For example she recently attended a course in Barcelona that taught how to create incredible 3D images

of proposed designs. These obviously bring the design process to life for the customer as well as Ruth and any alterations can be made at the click of a mouse rather than on site. To view some of Ruth’s garden designs have a look at her blog site www.vil lafiore.es/blog. This is a really helpful site which for example at the moment contains a range of articles and pictures to inspire you when it comes to decorating your balcony or terrace.

Of course the years Ruth spent working with Jose means her knowledge extends beyond just design. Her particular passion and field of expertise is house plants and she will guide you through their extensive range.

RUTH REGALADO: Her particular field of expertise is house plants.

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Do one thing every day that scares you.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Eleanor Roosevelt

VETS EL PORT

Caring for your pets as if they were their own and sizes of dogs. There are also accessories and nutritional supplements. As well as treatment El Port will sort out vaccines, chipping and behavioural problems with a specialist in animal trauma. De-worming, fleas and other pests that your animal may have acquired can all also be treated.

If your pet needs to travel abroad, or come from the

By Simon Russell LOOKING after your pet is more than just a job for the El Port staff as director Irene Perez Espla explains. “I love animals and this is all I’ve ever wanted to do. All my colleagues here are the same and it shows - how can you work in a vet’s clinic if you don’t?” As well as manager Irene and proprietor Antonio, there is a third vet, Vanessa, and they all speak good English. The staff roster is completed with vet assistant/receptionist Kirstyn and dog groomer Anna.

When you walk into El Port you will enter the small but well-stocked shop. This has well-known pet food brands such as Royal Canin which they have a large range of including kitten food and for different breeds

Planet superstar BEAUTY pageant contestants are rarely noted for their medical expertise or business acumen, but Debbye Turner bucked that trend in true pioneering style.

The Hawaiian won Miss America in 1990, becoming just the third black woman to do so, and the following year was awarded a doctorate in veterinary medicine, going on to have a successful career as a vet and becoming a spokeswoman for Purina.

Featuring on Animal Planet and being a respected news anchor and television veterinary expert, Turner is also a pianist, singer and percussionist.

Today she continues to work with animals and is a motivational speaker and Christian minister.

UK, they can walk you through every step of this complex process. The clinic itself has an X-Ray room, laboratory, two consultancy rooms for animals, a treatment and operation suite plus a recovery room. In other words, complete state of the art equipment for the treatment of your beloved pet.

As director of the centre, Irene is responsible for the day to day running of the clinic or as Antonio describes her “my right hand woman.”

El Port is on the N332 running through Altea (Calle la Mar 159, on the right of the road just before the train station as you drive in from the south).

Telephone 966 880 612 or e-mail clinicaelport@gmail.com For their emergency service call 617 544 396.

EL PORT: The small well-stocked shop.

25 years of animal rights and vegetarianism

By Matt Ford WHEN the late first lady of Rockocracy Linda McCartney launched her vegetarian and vegan food brand in 1991, few could have predicted its impact, as it kick-started a revolution of choice in the food industry, with many more vegetarian products widely available seemingly overnight.

Linda became vegetarian in the 1980s, after she and husband Paul spotted some young sheep frolicking in the sun as they were eating a plate of lamb, and following the success of her vegetarian cookbooks she signed a deal with a frozen food company, since she had always wanted to provide an easy alternative.

The introduction of the brand contributed greatly to bringing vegetarianism into vogue, and within a year of its debut, it was bringing in more money than her husband’s music. Such was Linda’s im-

Photo Credit Wikimedia

EARLY DAYS: Paul and Linda in 1976.

pact on meat-free eating, in 1995, Paul and Linda were invited to make a guest appearance on The Simpsons in an episode entitled ‘Lisa The Vegetarian.’

The McCartneys were happy to oblige with one condition; Lisa must always maintain a vegetarian diet.

The company was sold to Heinz in 2000, before being bought by the Hain Celestial Group, although the family are still involved in its development, with husband Paul pledging to keep it free of genetically modified ingredients.

As a strong advocate for animal rights, Linda also lent her support to many organisations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for whom she narrated a TV advert, in which she said: “Have you ever seen a fish gasping for breath when you take it out of the water? They’re saying, ‘Thanks a lot for killing me. It feels great, you know.’ No! It hurts!”

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Champions keep playing until they get it right.

EWN

Billie Jean King

IRENE PEREZ ESPLA - VETS EL PORT

From helping out in childhood to manager at Vets El Port LIFELONG dream to be a vet realised

By Simon Russell

IRENE PEREZ ESPLA, director and vet at Veterinarians El Port in Altea, has been one of those driven and fortunate people who has followed the career path she always wanted to. Irene says “I worked with Antonio (a friend of her fathers and El Port’s owner and fellow vet at the clinic) when I was a child. Not for money - just because I loved working with animals so much.”

With a lot of children that would have been the end of it, but throughout her schooling Irene strived towards whatever was needed to become a qualified vet. This culminated in a five-

year course at Valencia University and 10 years ago she became fully qualified and, of course, went straight to work for Antonio who opened El Port in 2002.

So does she have any animals at home? “Of course! Three dogs, two cats and a miniature pig that won’t stop growing.” Irene’s latest edition to her household is her first child, now two years old, so still pre-school age.

Irene explains a lot of Spanish women take a few years away from work when they have children but the thought has never crossed her mind.

“I love spending time with my daughter but I could never stop work-

ing here, it is more than just a job for me.” Her interests outside of work unsurprisingly tend towards the more relaxing side of things such as walking along Altea’s wonderful beaches with her dogs and cooking. She also has to do a lot of studying in her free time to keep up to date with developments in her field. “In my spare time I just like to try and do what the British call chilling out.”

Irene was born and still lives in Altea and couldn’t think of anywhere else she would rather live or work.

So, with ambition and hard work, childhood dreams can come true!

IRENE PEREZ ESPLA: Dreams can come true!

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A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Eleanor Roosevelt

“Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great."

Oprah Winfrey

OPRAH WINFREY: Seen here with Barack and Michelle Obama.

By John Smith WHEN you consider the terrible background that Oprah Gail Winfrey grew up in, her rise to international fame and prominence as an actress, businesswoman, presenter and role model is quite amazing.

Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954 to an unmarried couple who broke up before she was born, she lived in real poverty and it’s said that as a child she was often dressed in potato sacks which meant that she was given a difficult time by her peers at school and she was sexually abused by relatives and friends of her mother.

At the age of 14, after she had become pregnant and lost her baby son, she moved to Nashville to live with her father, Vernon who was a barber and she found it difficult to come to terms with a stricter upbringing than she was used to and was generally disobedient although not to the extent that she ever got into real trouble.

Oprah was bright enough to win a scholarship to Tennessee State University in 1971 and then became interested in journalism and the media and began working in radio and television broadcasting in Nashville. Her first job was reading news for a local station where she was the first black person in

the news team. During that time, she also won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant.

She moved to Baltimore in 1976 to co-anchor the six o’clock news and was then recruited to act as co-host of WJZ’s local talk show People Are Talking, which launched in 1978.

Oprah also hosted the local version of Dialing for Dollars.

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”

By 1983, she had moved to Chicago taking over morning talk show AM Chicago which was attracting very low audiences. Her genial and friendly presentation immediately won admirers and the show steadily increased its audience which then led to her being given her own programme, The Oprah Winfrey Show and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

In a short period, Oprah Winfrey established her show as the premier daytime talk show in America and it went on to be one of the most successful American TV programmes ever, running from 1986 to 2011.

The main reason for the success of

the show is that Oprah appeals to women of all colours and her emotional style, where she appears to be genuinely interested in the stories of both celebrity and viewer guests, appeals to a huge audience around the world.

Oprah has gone through a number of the trials and tribulations experienced by her audience. She has conquered her background, poverty and shared her battle against obesity with her family of viewers, proving that despite all of the hardships it’s possible for a child from a deprived background to live the American dream. One of her often repeated observations pays tribute to her achievement when she said “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”

Whilst she was carving out this incredible TV career, it must be remembered that as early as 1985 she starred in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. She followed this up with other acting roles, voiced a number of characters in animated movies and produced films and stage shows.

During the run of her show, many greats appeared with her, including Michael Jackson who gave one of his rare interviews which attracted one of the largest TV audiences of all time for

a chat show. She also introduced the Oprah Book Club as part of the show which gave enormous publicity to many previously unknown authors and helped book sales to grow in the USA. Her business interests continue to expand and as well as the Harpo (Oprah spelled backwards) production company, she is a partner in Oxygen

5,200 people, mainly women, attended the first White House United State of Women summit Oprah spoke at.

Media, a cable channel and interactive network presenting programming designed primarily for women.

With her success, she has also become one of the world’s most generous philanthropists. In 2000, Oprah’s Angel Network began presenting a $100,000 ‘Use Your Life Award’ to people using their own lives to improve the lives of others. She publishes two magazines, O, The Oprah Magazine, and O at Home and as long ago as 2003, Forbes magazine announced that she was the first African-American woman to become a billionaire.

Her wide-ranging philanthropic efforts were recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2011 with a special Oscar statuette, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and in 2013, President Obama awarded her America’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She still has considerable work ethic, interviewing people that she finds interesting for TV. Perhaps one of the most unlikely, yet fascinating, was with Lance Dunlop the American cyclist who finally admitted he had used performance enhancing drugs.

A great supporter of Barack Obama, it’s believed that her personal endorsement of his campaign added about one million votes to his election total. She now promotes the spiritual side of life and continues to do what she can for the poor and underprivileged.

Last month, she appeared with Michelle Obama before a largely female crowd of 5,200 at the first White House United State of Women summit where she discussed various matters including what the president and first lady plan to do after he leaves office.

Oprah Winfrey is a woman who not only rose from rags to riches but did so with dignity and modesty and deserves to be recognised as a genuine role model for women around the world.