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Name: Alice Botnarenco
Business: ALISIA ENCO, clothing for women in business
Industry: Clothing & Accessories
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Reason for starting: My first business was a car rental company that I’ve started at the age of 23. In 2009, when the financial crisis started in Romania, I founded the Women in Business Organization, focused on the needs of women who want to be part of a business community; to share their stories, to promote their businesses, to connect them with other women who were in a similar situation.
This year the organization will reach its 6th year and I can proudly say that it is the most active business community of women entrepreneurs in Romania (www.women-in-business.ro). During this time I’ve gained a lot of experience, I went to a lot of business events and I’ve met a lot of businesswomen. This enabled me to have a better vision of the things that women need regarding business clothing. In 2014, I’ve launched ALISIA ENCO, my clothing and accessories brand that aims to harvest creativity in business apparel, against conformity and self-censorship. ALISIA ENCO was designed especially for women in business and embodies the signature of my distinctive style.
Related: Read about another fashion entrepreneur here.
How do you define success? I like to do a lot of things, to move around, to create and to be inspired. I’m a very positive and very ambitious woman and I believe that confidence is a big part of success! When I put my mind to something, I believe in it and I will get it. Still, if it’s not going to be mine, I believe that it’s just not the right time for me.
Hard work and determination must be part of the success, but success can be different for every person. For me success is an everyday adventure, it’s never boring and it’s keeping me on fire!
Biggest Success: I’m waiting for it to come; I dream to have my brand ALISIA ENCO international! I like to think that I haven’t yet reached my biggest, so I work hard towards that goal. My dream is to transform ALISIA ENCO into an international brand that will shape the way women approach business clothing and accessories.
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What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? My biggest challenge came when I had my first baby. He is still very young and I try everyday to manage both my professional and my personal life. You never know how difficult this is until you find yourself trying to do ten things at once, to respond to every business matter fast and in a perfectly professional way, while also spending quality time with the baby. I do this the best way I can, but it will continue to be a challenge.
Who is your most important role model? I have lots of role models that inspire me greatly everyday. First it was my father, who taught me a lot of the things that I later used in my business interactions, and now that I’ve met so many great women through the Women in Business organization, women that have the courage to become entrepreneurs, I think each and every one of them is a role model for me and deserve to be appreciated.
[box_light]Website www.alisiaenco.com
Twitter @AlisiaEnco
Facebook www.facebook.com/alisiaenco
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/alisiaenco[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange