Supporting women is something that is extremely important to me, I've built my business with this in mind collaborating and employing women at every opportunity possible.
For International Women's Day 2021 we decided to shed some light on other women in business and hear their stories. Running a business is tough work and in the early days is often done in and around other jobs and commitments. It includes risk, self belief and determination. It is so important to support female led businesses and other women in general so we can build a strong community not only for us but for our younger generation as well.
Please take the time to check out what these talented women are up too.
Eliza x
What does success mean to you?
Living a healthy happy life, running my dream business with time to spare for my friends and family
Is there a female connection in your life that has helped you get to where you are today?
There are so many female influencers that have shaped my path, it's difficult to name them all. My closest female influencers would be my Mum, step-mum and Nanna who were/are all very strong women in their own very different ways.
On a more practical note, Johanna Preston taught me everything I know about shoe making and I am forever grateful to her for that. I would not be where I am today with her guidance.
What makes you feel empowered?
Knowing I can make my way through the world doing what I love
What does success mean to you?
Success is a bit of an elusive concept for me, I never really know if I have achieved it or not with most things I do, as the benchmark always seems to be moving along just in front out of reach!
Is there a female connection in your life that has helped you get to where you are today?
Many actually, from the women in my family for the early foundations, to my friends, to every woman who I have worked with in my business. Specifically, for Tsuno, to every female owned wholesale distributor or retailer that took notice of my brand when it was just getting started. These women-led businesses never turned me away and I recognise that as one of the main reasons the brand got the opportunities it did.
What makes you feel empowered?
My ability to access education. I know that if there is anything I want to learn, there will be a way to figure it out.
What does success mean to you?
Success means survival, it means independence and it means sense of worth for me. I think success brings happiness. I’m happy because I am working in my chosen field and I’m therefore happy that I can support my family with what I am doing. Like Laurel, I’m also very happy that this can mean supporting other creatives, I’m especially passionate about supporting other young women to achieve their successes.
Is there a female connection in your life that has helped you get to where you are today?
Once you have a kid, I think you rely on those female connections more than ever. I’d like to give a huge shout out to my Aunty who is always there on the daily to help me with my son Cassius, my sister, who I’d be lost without and of course my mum, who was there from the beginning and always my biggest champion.
Laurel is definitely my rock. She is the technical minded, do-it-yourself, cool, calm and collected, incredibly skilled glass blower that I am very lucky to call both my friend and business partner. When I’m the one spinning in circles, worrying about what to do, she’s there with the calm, call to action plan that was probably right before my eyes but I was too emotional to see!
What makes you feel empowered?
Pretty much Laurels answer! It’s so true though. Working. I feel fearless, confident in my skills and as an accomplished artist. I like the physicality of it and I feel proud to command a team of highly skilled women glassmakers. Seeing a project come together from start to finish, from design to manufacture, then delivery is so satisfying. The best part is on the hot shop floor when a team of three of us are working together, blowing glass, communicating without words but actions. The team in full flight is the most beautiful thing and it’s what pushes me to succeed every day. For years I have worked with a predominantly female team and it is what empowers me. It’s what I love.
What does success mean to you?
Success for me means having the luxury of being able to contribute to something greater than my own lifestyle. Throughout my career as a glass artist I have been supported by an amazing community that freely give their knowledge and advice to those around them. It is my hope that our business, Hothaus, will become successful enough to be able to pay it forward to the next generation of glass artists by providing both a workspace as well as other developmental opportunities to emerging artists.
Is there a female connection in your life that has helped you get to where you are today?
I have been extraordinarily lucky to have been surrounded by strong female supporters throughout my career. The Melbourne glass community is full of powerhouse women such as Maureen Williams, Eileen Gordon, Ruth Allen and Brenda Page who have all been generous with sharing their studio facilities and technical knowledge to help develop and foster myself other members of the glass community.
I would also like to shout out to my current business partner Amanda Dziedzic who I have been working closely with for many years before launching Hothaus together. Apart from being a hugely talented artist she also has some savvy business and marketing skills and I’ve learned so much from her over the years.
What makes you feel empowered?
I feel most confident and self-assured when I am physically working with hot glass – the material that I love and have been enamoured by for over 20 years. It’s during the work that I am in my element, and when we have a team of strong women around us working seamlessly together on a big project, it’s the just best feeling in the world.
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