By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

Kristina is one of these women you’re immediately drawn to – the way she talks, the energy she gives, and the style and elegance she exudes (I want to steal her entire wardrobe!)

Kristina runs her own PR company in Berlin together with her partner and a long time friend. When we met Kristina at our Balance yoga retreat last fall her story has immediately captured my interest – not being happy with her current work situation and after reflecting on it she had enough courage to start her own venture.

I am so happy to share my interview with this beautiful soul and I hope you can draw some inspiration from her words just as I did!

You are a businesswoman who runs her own PR company! How cool, but what exactly do you do?

I`ve been working in PR for almost 5 years now and I founded my own business two years ago. My main job is to help young brands and startups to gain public attention through the media and to give their visions a strong voice. I think my passion for telling stories is the key to my work – I just get really excited about great ideas and love to talk about them. For my clients I intend to be more than just a manager, I want to be a sparring partner and part of the team, someone they can trust and grow with.

You have started your business quite recently, what was the push and motivation behind it and when would you say you felt like you’re finally settled in?

I think especially when you are self-employed, change is inevitable. I learn so much from the founders and creators I work with and they keep challenging me and that is where the growth can happen and what constantly motivates me. I think in the past year I settled in with who I am as a working individual and realized once again how much I love what I do. And that is exactly what pushed me to do it in the first place. I wanted to create a work environment where I could grow as a person and have fun with the topics and teams that I appreciate.

You have mentioned that your previous job was not the best environment for you to fulfill yourself. What was happening? Was that a part of the reason to go out on your own?

My previous job – and a first full-time job after university – taught me a lot. Not only about PR but also in experience and work ethics in general. I was able to help to build a brand from the very beginning and to work with people I admire a lot about their power and creativity. It was an intense time and I would not want to miss it, but one day I realized that I could not develop myself further, as the possibilities were limited and I felt like I could not live up to the high expectations. It just became a lot of pressure. It actually was during a 3-day-yoga trip that I realized that I could not expect people or the circumstances to change, but that it was me who had to move on. So fear became trust and I decided to leave – and the fear never came back.

What obstacles did you encounter while setting up your business and now – developing it?

Many people projected their own fears on me and my situation – such as, „there are so many PR agencies out there, how do you want to survive? “ or „being self-employed is such a big risk, what happens if you are sick / pregnant / without projects…“ – the list of potential downers and obstacles is endless, but I just focus on the up-sides. In the end, this is a people`s business and clients want to work with me because we have a connection and they like our reputation and portfolio. The critic is necessary and helps you bring out the best in you, but as one of the female founders I work with, Tanja Bogumil from Kisura.de stated once: You have to learn to differentiate between constructive advice and the random background noise. I always keep that in mind.

I personally know that starting your own business can be scary, what scared you the most? How did you deal with that?

As I’ve mentioned before, I think the fear of the idea of doing it is worse than anything that can actually happen to you. Of course, it is a huge relief when you build something as a team, as I did with my partner Sandra. To go through bad and good together is the best part of it – you can share memories and learn from each other! There will always be times when you are uncertain about some aspects, but I just have the confidence to say that it all will be alright, and quitting is not an option. As I said: Trust is key.

What kind of women have you encountered in the PR industry? Is the competition harsh or is it more of a “there is enough to go around for everyone” situation?

Maybe I am just lucky, but people treat me really kindly. And if there is negative energy, it is just not for me. I meet amazing women of all businesses and in my opinion, there is always enough for everyone and if you focus on what you wish for yourself (and work on it!!!) it will eventually come your way. It is hard work. A 60 hour week is pretty normal, but it is about to go with the flow – and it is great fun!

While starting and now running your own business have you encountered situations where being a woman was identified as an “obstacle” or situations where you felt sexism was at large?

I firmly believe that energy and attitude are everything. If we walk around and keep pointing out only what is missing and being miserable, it won’t change. I refuse to identify myself as weak because I am a woman in the first place. I experienced obstacles in the way that people thought just because you are a friendly person and care about people, PR is just about smiles and handshakes and no hard work at all. But I don`t care about these opinions and hidden sexism. Focus on your personal goals and surround yourself with positive energy and people you look up to. As Victoria Beckham, who I admire a lot for her career path, pointed out recently: My life is too short for negative thoughts! So instead of facing obstacles, networking is very important to me. Before work, I like to meet for early morning coffee with fellow (PR ) colleagues and catch up on projects and ideas. Women should join forces and not work against each other, mutual support and bouncing ideas are everything to me! I am very proud of what my female friends achieve in their work and that we share our successes and failures. Together we stand strong against any attempt to ruin this vibe.

Germany is one of the most advanced countries, what is the situation with women equality and sexism?

Unfortunately, there are still individuals who treat women or people in general with disrespect and project their own insecurities on them, and Germany is no exception. I mostly experienced that people underestimated me in the beginning of my career, but it is a great joy when you can prove them wrong! Women should never be afraid to ask for what they want, to claim their rights, and look out for each other. I stick with my path no matter what and no man or woman can ruin that for me. There are many great campaigns to support women’s rights and German women – and men – are quick to get up and on the streets or in social media networks to fight for their rights. There are many amazing networks and collaborations where women support women and it’s amazing to see that grow and be a part of it. It is important to be there for each other and share knowledge and experiences. I think equality starts in our heads and actually it starts in your very own head!

What were the things that motivated you at the beginning and what motivates you now?

In the beginning, I mainly had to take the chance to work with many brands instead of concentrating on one – it`s great to have a whole variety of topics to work with and to get to know all these amazing founders and designers and their ideas. Now that is still the same, but as time goes by you are able to enjoy the results of your work and that`s motivation, too. At a recent event, my client came up to me and said: You believed in us before even we did it. To be this person for them and to help them grow and become the brand they want to be in the public eye, really means everything to me.

What would you say are the qualities a woman needs when embarking on a journey of starting their own business (or changing careers)?

You must not be afraid to really get to know yourself – because you better start to be your best friend along this ride!! Be honest with yourself and know what you are good at – and what`s not in it for you. Make your passion your business and you will be good at it. We spend so much time in our life working, it better should be with something we love to do! For cultivating those qualities, try to learn a lot, improve your skills, stay curious, and get away from it all from time to time. That could be a daily meditation or a weekend trip, whatever works best for you.

Which experiences in your life were important to come where you are now?

I guess it is the sum of all my experiences that brought me here, but to really decide to start my own business was at a yoga trip in 2014. I was full of anger and fear about the current circumstances and believed that apart from my current job nobody would ever want to work with me more than I even mattered in the Berlin workspace. Over the weekend we were supposed to focus on what we wished to gain and how to let go of negative energies. So I worked on finding more self-esteem and after the yoga getaway, I knew that in order to break free from negative thoughts, starting something on my own would be the next step for me.

What is the downside of running your own business?

Your own business is like your baby – you are responsible 24/7. Sometimes it is really hard to unwind after a long and hectic week. Ideas and plans always keep popping up in my head. What really helps me to relax is a yoga class to get the connection between body and mind in balance. A digital detox is also a good thing, to stay away from emails and to concentrate on being in the now and enjoy a chat with friends, the food market, or a book. The best way to stay sane is to get away from it all from time to time.

What are your plans for the future?

I never plan very much ahead for myself, right now is extra intensive time with new projects and clients and things come together really nicely. I know, this is just the beginning of something amazing!

Any advice for women who are looking to change their jobs, careers, start their own businesses?

Trust in yourself and find the one quality that`s really outstanding. Find out what makes you happy, because only if you are really passionate about something, you can be good at it. There will be hard times and it is all about staying power and positive energy. I truly believe that you can channel good experiences and if you treat business partners, clients, projects, and yourself with devotion and respect, it will come back to you in a good way.

The post The Madame Guru: Kristina Hellhake – focus on your goals and surround yourself with positive energy appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

Danae Mercer is an American travel writer for whom a day at the office means exploring the most amazing corners of our planet. On her own! Talk about determination and wanderlust.

Had I met her back in my early twenties I would have thought that she’s me in the future career-wise. Life has brought me to other places instead (zero regrets here), but it was still very exciting to spend time with someone who’s doing something so close to my heart. The fact that Danae is a super sweet person was a bonus.

This beautiful soul has visited Vis and we spent a week at our Balance yoga retreat this past fall and I am thrilled to share my interview for The Madame guru with you! Inspiration guaranteed!

You are a freelance travel journalist, sounds exciting? What is it exactly that you do?

I’m a freelance journalist who specializes in travel, health, and luxury. This means I’m often traveling on various commissions around the world, writing for a range of outlets in the UK, UAE, and USA. It certainly keeps me busy!

When did you decide you wanted to be a journalist? Was it always the case or this realization came later?

I’ve always known I wanted to write and be a writer. Journalism appealed to me even as a little girl, and honestly, I had never even considered a career that wasn’t centered on writing. I studied journalism and politics for my undergraduate degree in the US, then did political philosophy at Cambridge in the UK. I’ve been working in media pretty much since then — and even before, as I was writing for outlets as a student.

How would you describe your career path from the beginning until now? What were the major obstacles or challenges? Did you ever want to quit?

Journalism is a changing industry. It’s one where you don’t get paid much (ever, really), where things are uncertain and outlets are closing, and where the competition is tough. Yet there’s a real pure joy in finding a good story and thinking of interesting ways to tell it. I’ve been lucky in that the full-time jobs I’ve had (working as an editor for a luxury magazine in Dubai, working in media in the UK) have always been quite flexible, allowing me the freedom to develop and explore.

In terms of obstacles or challenges, it’s always just been about trying to find a balance between commissions and income. There’s also the fact that switching off becomes tough.

What was so far your most satisfying job?

I wrote a book with The Guardian on an Olympic trainee who was severely injured, recovered, cycled from Beijing to London, and raised a lot of money for the air ambulance that saved her life. It was such a blessing to be able to tell that story. And I love The Guardian.

What are the main reasons you are in this line of work and what keeps you going?

I love writing. I love people. I love exploring new things, learning new things, seeing new things. It’s such an amazing profession that, while challenging, also has so many positives.

Were there situations in your career when you’ve encountered challenges just because you were a woman? While trying to dig deeper for a story or otherwise (especially being in so many different cultures around the world)?

I’ve been quite sheltered from this because I’ve tended to focus on luxury or health during my travels. Some of my journalist friends, those who do hard news or investigative stories, have had different experiences.

Of course, there are instances where I’m travelling in remote destinations by myself that I’m made acutely aware of the fact I’m female. I had a situation recently where I ended up getting lost in an unfamiliar city. My presence attracted a lot of stares and quite a few provocative comments. I didn’t feel very safe and the whole process set me on edge. But those instances are few and far between. For the most part, people are good, warm, welcoming and open. I’ve met so many amazing people on my travels.

Is there a harsh competition? Were you ever in situations where you had to “fight” for an assignment or a job?

Journalism is tough. You’ve got to work hard and really push yourself to excel. But I feel like the freelancer world is a close-knit community of folks all striving to achieve something against quite big odds. It’s not ‘dog-eat-dog’ — it’s more supportive, collaborative, helpful.

From my own experience, I know that going out to work on your own can be scary. How was it for you? How do you deal with the stress, fears, and worries on a daily basis and in general?

Going to work on my own has been fairly terrifying. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sometimes keep me up at night (or in my case, wake me up in the morning!). But I navigate that by talking a lot to other freelancers, getting advice and tips, and also taking corporate writing projects to help provide a bit of the stability I need. I also do a lot of yoga!

Is it worth it?

Definitely. I love the freedom and the chance to pursue things that actually interest me. Life is so short and fleeting. Why in the world would I want to spend years of it doing something I wasn’t passionate about? For me, for now, this is perfect.

What were the things and did motivate you at the beginning and what motivates you now?

I’m motivated by the moments between the chaos. I love it when I’m in a little cafe thinking through words and just allowing myself that chance to be creative. Or when I’m in a beautiful destination by myself, surrounded by nature and so many untouched stories. It’s a splendid thing.

What would you say are the qualities a woman needs when embarking on a journey to become a freelance (journalist or not)? Do you have any tips from your experience on how to cultivate those qualities?

I think it’s just being tough but also flexible. The whole industry is in a state of rapid change. Who knows what the media landscape will look like in five years, in 10? But this is exciting. We just need to be flexible. But you also have to be tough. Not every interview will be great. Not every experience will be sunshine and rainbows. And that’s perfectly ok. Sometimes that’s what makes the best story.

What is the downside of your job?

No real stability and you never switch off. I’ve been trying to have at least one non-working day a week, but it’s hard.

What are your plans for the future?

That’s a great question. If you can tell me, that would be fabulous.

Any advice for women who are looking to take the leap and pursue their dream career?

You have to be practical. Research heaps before diving off. Ask other people in your dream industry how they did it and what they wish they would have known. Have a money buffer, because money takes ages to come in and payments are often late.

But if you believe in it, if you have the flexibility in your life and your situation and want to do it, go. Jump. Try it. Other careers will always be there. The skills you have aren’t going to disappear. It’s better to try than to spend life wondering.

The post The Madame Guru: Danae Mercer- it’s better to try than to spend life wondering appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.