5 Questions with ‘Women in their Power’
Personal power is something we celebrate at PALOMA, particularly when a woman is in her power. That looks different for each and every women. We celebrate it all. In celebration of International Women’s Day 2023, PALOMA speaks with 4 incredible women from the PALOMA community, including our very own Founder Paloma Garcia - because, she inspires even us, and today is also her birthday!
PALOMA ROSE GARCIA
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PALOMA SALON
Paloma is the founder of PALOMA, an environmental and social-justice leader and activist, as well as a single mother of two beautiful boys. Paloma does it all, with a smile on her face, and a zest and enthusiasm for life.
IWD 2023 represents #EmbraceEquity. Equity being defined as the quality of being fair and impartial. What does this mean to you, and where do you see room for societal or workplace improvement?
For me, it's great that this is the theme for the year as it is something I have felt to be of such high importance. In hairdressing generally speaking its a female led industry, which has always been important to me. Every effort as a business leader and as a woman is for the greater good. Every woman and every generation to come.
We’ve chosen to speak with you as we see you as a ‘Woman in her Power’ - where do you feel empowered in your life?
I feel empowered to be a financially independent woman, leading an incredible team, and a business making change that goes beyond hair with a strong philanthropic background. I am empowered as a woman, as a mother, being comfortable around the choices and decisions I make about how I show up in the world. My empowerment also comes from my social impact, my intimate relationships, my friends, being a mother and daughter.
Where do you feel you are ‘strong’, and what has propelled you to be in your ‘strength’?
I feel strong and can continue to work on my own self worth - trying never to dim myself down. Honouring and speaking my truth.
How do you celebrate the women in your life?
Through my close network of incredible female friends. We celebrate every time we spend together - whether it is a swim, a coffee or a great night out. We are always supporting and cheering each other on. That inspires me greatly.
What do you love and is close to your heart?
I LOVE it all. I love the simplicity that life brings - the smallest moments as a mother, as a woman, as a friend journeying through life. I love every morning I walk through the door and see my beautiful team. I love the arts, love the change and I love the journey - The constant journey - delving deep within and uncovering more.
natalia Mimó
founder of Baleińe Corporate
Natalia is the founder of Baleińe Corporate - a Human Capital, Organisational Wellbeing & Business Consultancy. Natalia’s work is all around self-empowerment, expanding beyond our existing potential and limitations. Natalia resembles a woman living in her truth, and for now her time is spent living a full life as an independent woman, and growing her purpose driven business.
IWD 2023 represents #EmbraceEquity. Equity being defined as the quality of being fair and impartial. What does this mean to you, and where do you see room for societal or workplace improvement?
I see this as being ‘equal’ in viewing the opportunity a person may have, without a gender bias. I am very much about honouring 'masculine and feminine' energies (which are actually within us all). The biological expression of an individual of course makes a difference with how these energies are expressed. Naturally one gender over another may have greater strengths in an area, and greater space for growth in another. Though I think this is about equal opportunity. I personally have never experienced workplace inequality, though I know in Corporate, particularly at a high level, it exists. This is where I would love to see more more equality, which means, more women in power. There is a big paradigm shift happening in general - gender roles are significantly changing - for men too. Men are so much more involved in home life for example than ever before. I believe this is about empowering humans - individuals, and creating equal opportunity.
We’ve chosen to speak with you as we see you as a ‘Woman in her Power’ - where do you feel empowered in your life?
Thank you - that is so kind. I am very passionate about this idea of ‘empowerment’ and being in your ‘personal power’. In fact my work and business is based on this, translated into business and corporate settings. I feel empowered in myself. What I mean by that is that I feel in my ‘personal power’. I invest fully and wholly in myself, in the relationship to self, and because I have created a space of solid ground within - I have a very steady foundation within myself to rise, that is not dependent on anything outside of myself, but only within myself. It’s insourcing your energy versus externally outsourcing your energy. This to me is being in your ‘personal power’. When you believe in you… woah, truly, watch out. In the present moment exists infinite possibility - in our personal power we are in the knowing of that. Thus the world becomes your oyster.
Where do you feel you are ‘strong’, and what has propelled you to be in your ‘strength’?
I feel emotionally very strong and resilient, with a very strong optimistic mindset. That is not to say I do not feel. Quite the opposite. I am one of the biggest feelers I know. Very emotionally and energetically sensitive. Though I know how to be with pain. I know how to sit with grief, and all the emotions we label as ’negative’. When you take away the polarity of what we label good and bad, it just becomes what is. It’s just an experience we are experiencing. In allowing that, allowing that to move through you - that is strength. Because you move from being a victim to being in co-creation with life - constantly an evolution in process. My life journey has brought me to this place, and continues to, and in it I found grace, which continues to give me strength.
How do you celebrate the women in your life?
I love the women in my life. I call them my soul sisters, because truly they are. I celebrate them everyday, in showing up in sisterhood, according to the moment. Presence is the greatest gift you can give anyone, as well as love. So I celebrate them and give them my presence and love. Words of affirmation is also my primary love language, so I constantly affirm, remind and empower them to the realisation of how amazing they are.
What do you love and is close to your heart?
Honestly, I would have to say love of self, and the spiritual self - essence, being, however you want to engage with your ‘higher self’. Through having love of self, I am able to hold an open heart for others. A big mission of mine, and in many aspects of my work, is to ignite the light in others - because I believe if we could all walk this earth with an open heart, and stay open, even when we want to close. Wow, wouldn’t the world be a better place.
Elise Pioch
founder of maison balzac
Elise is the founder of lifestyle and homeware brand Maison Balzac. With French roots, and ever chic style, creativity and inspiration - Elise has built a thriving and growing international business, and lives a beautifully balanced life with her daughter and husband.
IWD 2023 represents #EmbraceEquity. Equity being defined as the quality of being fair and impartial. What does this mean to you, and where do you see room for societal or workplace improvement?
Being fair is something very dear to my heart because it was a core value in my family as I grew up. To me, it means that everyone is equal and deserves to be treated impartially. I see a huge space for improvement in today's society where we are constantly judged by what we wear, the position we hold in a company or the financial wealth we have. If we could make space for empathy and depth of judgement, the world would be a better place.
We’ve chosen to speak with you as we see you as a ‘Woman in her Power’ - where do you feel empowered in your life?
My power is my intuition, imagination and warmth. It led to where I am today, I am so proud to have founded a company who is able to provoke happiness through every single product we create. It is magical to think that we can change someone's day for the better! It is a silent and quiet power, but it is a very important one.
Where do you feel you are ‘strong’, and what has propelled you to be in your ‘strength’?
I am strong at charming people into my world, I love telling dream-like stories! I am also determined and once I have a vision, I just keep going until it comes to life. I love the image of an iron feast in a velvet glove..... I like being strong and gentle at the same time.
How do you celebrate the women in your life?
I constantly tell my mum that she is the best woman I could have hoped to be loved by; I make sure she doesn't forget it and I don't take it for granted. I also communicate with my grandmother (who passed away a while ago) on a daily basis, she guides me with every decision and she protects me. I admire every single of my female friends; their friendship reminds me that I am supported and this helps me stay strong. Paloma, I must say that you are one of my biggest inspirations in life!
What do you love and is close to your heart?
Nature is the most vital element in my life. Being surrounded by it and sharing my passion for it with my daughter Loulou (9 years old) is very precious to me. It brings happiness, calm, humility and beauty daily into my life.
Robyn Catinella
founder of CATINELLA
Robyn is the founder of CATINELLA a globally-integrated communications and wholesale agency specialising in PR, Communications, Wholesale and Creative Advisory. Robyn is born to an entrepreneurial heart, has a magnificent eye for style, aesthetic and photography. She also illustrates to us all with such grace that love gives a new lens in death, as she lives in an invincible summer in heart with her great and loving husband G.
IWD 2023 represents #EmbraceEquity. Equity being defined as the quality of being fair and impartial. What does this mean to you, and where do you see room for societal or workplace improvement?
Fairness and impartiality are key elements to a balanced life – each allow us to empathise, and to connect – the best human connection one could make. The strongest word here to me is embrace…embrace difference, embrace positivity and be open to embrace that which you may have not before. The very idea of embrace is to encompass, to hold, and to welcome. If we could all do this on a larger scale, equity would follow.
We’ve chosen to speak with you as we see you as a ‘Woman in her Power’ - where do you feel empowered in your life?
Empowerment lies in the in-between - an acceptance of life as is and an intrigue into the future. Nothing in this life is guaranteed, but we persevere. In friendships, in business and in grief I have learned the truth strength of myself.
Where do you feel you are ‘strong’, and what has propelled you to be in your ‘strength’?
I have learned over the past year that the strength my heart holds is immense through its duality. It seems both magical and fitting that the adult heart is about the same size as two hands clasped together. There is an unsung power to the heart, and to love. It waxes and wanes, yet it uncovers its strength at the most poignant times. There is a coexistence of pain and joy, grief and gratitude forever in its orbit - a duality forever dancing as one. I’ve learned that resilience works in counterpoint to adaptability - knowing that gives a new strength in turn.
How do you celebrate the women in your life?
Connection is key. Be it dinners, celebrations, one-on-one catchups, authentic / raw conversations or ocean swims, giving time to those you love is paramount. Celebrate one another’s wins and be vocal about it… not only to the women you love but to anyone who will listen. Quality time and recognition can be the best gift one can give, it’s ever fleeting and therefore worth more than anything temporal.
What do you love and is close to your heart?
My family, my niece, friends, travel and the ocean - all elements that bring community, calm, perspective and introspection.
A lil tangent on the above - I love empowering others.
If you woke up today with the opportunity to add another page to the story of your life, then you owe it to yourself to create the most beautiful story you can imagine. Whatever that is. However that looks to you.
Let the ink spill onto the blank page and fill the empty lines with the magic you thought was out there but was really inside you this whole time. Write a story of hope and redemption. Of strength and perseverance. Of falling apart and having the courage to pick up the broken pieces and put yourself back together again.
Write about how you intimately know grief and heartbreak because you had the courage to love with your whole heart, even when you had no guarantees that you'd receive the same love in return. Let the ink smear across the page from all the moments you laughed so hard that your tears left a permanent mark on the unwritten pages of your future. And let the spaces between words be quiet pauses of appreciation.
Deep breaths and spiritual resets. Gratitude for a life fully lived. If you woke up today with the opportunity to add another page to the story of your life, then you owe it to yourself to write the story of how you lived it fully. Messy and afraid but hopeful and brave. Heart open. Vision clear. Always looking towards the sun.
To a new day. And one day, there will be a last. A last sunrise. A last morning coffee. A last late night conversation. A last glance up at the moon. Maybe I'll know that day when it greets me. Maybe I'll open my eyes and recognize that today isn't like the rest. Or maybe it will feel just like yesterday - just like all the ones before. Maybe I won't get to choose what I do or say because I didn't know. I didn't know. And I didn't know that this was all going to end and I still didn't . . . I still didn't do what? That's the question, isn't it? What are the missing puzzle pieces?
The dreams in my heart that I haven't yet followed. The fears I told myself I would one day face. What's out there in this vast universe that I still haven't explored?
And what about the world within me? What's still left undiscovered in there? And did I offer love with an open heart? Did I allow myself to receive it? Did I get to meet enough people and exchange stories and learn their secret smile and what makes their heart skip a beat? And did I pause? Did I remember to look up? Did I watch the sky today? Those are the questions - the breadcrumbs that I follow until the last. The last sunrise. The last morning coffee. The last late night conversation. The last glance up at the moon. And maybe we can't go back and see it all over again like it's the first time. But every once in a while, we can pause and watch the sky like it's our last time. We can listen to the sounds of the world in motion. We can inhale each breath and feel life moving through us like we won't get this chance again. Maybe that's how we turn the mundane and ordinary into magic. By just being here - present and open. Knowing that each day could be the first of something or the last of something. That each day holds a promise. We just have to be willing to open our eyes to find it.