Introducing Atelier Collection x Elementa
For the past few months, Atelier Collection and Elementa Interior Design have been planning something special. Yvonne Foley, Founder of Atelier Collection, and Josephine Visser, Founder of Elementa, sat down to talk about entrepreneurship, what makes a space special and why materials matter in design.
It’s an honest conversation between two women in the industry. They share their experiences, perspectives and passion for creating meaningful spaces. The series will be released over the coming days.
Entrepreneurship
What does it really take to build something of your own?
In the first conversation of the series, Yvonne and Josephine talk about how they started, what they’ve learned along the way, and the advice they would give to women starting out on their own journeys. An honest conversation about ambition, resilience and the realities of building a business.
The conversation
What made you decide to start your own business?
Josephine: Over a decade ago I landed in Dubai and started working at several ID firms. Truly great companies. I learned from the best. And then there was this moment. I was standing on a balcony of a luxury apartment on the Palm, butlers greeting the guests, the whole skyline in front of me. And I thought: this is it. I want to do this my way. So I’m here to do it differently: [one line, e.g. more personal, more service, the client really at the center.
Yvonne: I am lucky enough to have been able to travel a lot, I started seeking out craftsman, learning how to hand knot rugs or whittle wood or hand glazed tiles. That led to discussion with other designers like you who also needed these beautoful unique pieces for your clients and that was the genesis of Atelier Collection.
Was becoming an entrepreneur always something you wanted to do, or did it happen organically?
Yvonne: It happened organically because I followed what I love, I love sourcing materials I love searching the world for that unique craftsman and nobody else was doing it.
Josephine: I was exposed to entrepreneurship from a young age. I’m actually the fourth generation of entrepreneurs. My great-grandfather started an architecture firm in the Netherlands in 1925. He was the city architect at the time. Then my grandfather took over the family business, and after him my dad. So it was always clear I was going to start something of my own.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Yvonne: Self-doubt, once you get off that, everything changes.
Josephine: Starting with investors is great. You get to start really loud. And I worked with very, very talented people. People I learned a lot from, people running multi-million companies. In the end I bought out the company, and now we’re growing it. Stepping out on my own is exciting and challenging at the same time.
What’s something about running your own business that you wish someone had told you before you started?
Yvonne: Surround yourself with experts in their field, exceptional people because you’re constantly learning, your constantly evolving. It raises the standards and it raises you
Josephine: Be knowledgeable. But here in Dubai, it’s really about service. I take that very seriously. Number one: pick up the phone. Or, in most cases… return the phone call.
If you could give one piece of advice to another woman thinking about starting her own business, what would it be?
Yvonne: Stop waiting to be ready, as you’ll never start, and then go all in 100%.
Josephine: Just start. You will never feel 100% ready. There’s always a reason to wait. You tell yourself, I’ll graduate first, or I’ll have kids first. Start anyway. And surround yourself with people you can learn from, people who are better than you.
Know someone navigating the journey of building their own business? Send this to someone who needs to hear it.
