Personal experiences turned into a mission

Introduce yourself in a few sentences – who are you today as a person, professional, and woman?

Today I am a woman who combines several roles – mother of three children, wife, and businesswoman, but above all – a person who seeks and lives her authenticity. Professionally, I am a dedicated leader in the field of health and aesthetics, where science and care meet to create not just beauty, but inner balance and meaning. I believe that the true strength of a woman lies in her softness, in her ability to inspire and create, rather than to dominate. For me, success has value only when it brings development – for the people I work with and for the world I leave behind.

How does a lady entrepreneur feel when the Day of the Woman Entrepreneur arrives? What does this day mean for you personally and professionally?

For me, the Day of the Woman Entrepreneur is not just a symbolic occasion, but a reminder of the essence of feminine strength – to create, to adapt, and to turn her ideas into reality. I believe that every woman is an entrepreneur by nature, whether she manages a business, a home, or her own development. Entrepreneurship is an inner state – the ability to see opportunity where others see limitations. Personally, this day is a moment of recognition and gratitude – to all the women who, with persistence and courage, change the world around them, starting with themselves.

What did you dream of as a child? Is there anything from those dreams that still drives you forward?

As a child, I dreamed of being a teacher – I gathered all my stuffed animals and taught them with passion and patience. Today I realize that this childhood game was my first touch with the calling to share knowledge and inspire development. I believe that the best way to learn is when we try to pass on what we have learned. This dream has never left me – it has simply grown alongside me and taken on new forms in my professional and personal journey.

At what age did you earn your first money and what was the feeling? Share a funny or educational story.

I earned my first money at twenty. I had created a small business – a solar studio, where I offered professional makeup while still studying for my bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management. We spent our days in the studio, talking to clients, drinking coffee, and eagerly waiting for new visitors. One day my father asked me what I was doing, and I proudly replied, “I have a business.” He smiled and said, “No, you work at the reception for two leva an hour – the business works when you are not there.”
This conversation taught me something I never forgot – that entrepreneurship is not just about having your own place, but about creating a system that generates value, even when you are not behind the counter. This was my first encounter with the reality of opportunity cost and the true meaning of the word “entrepreneur.”

How did your entrepreneurial journey begin? Do you remember your first steps, the emotions, and the difficulties back then?

My entrepreneurial journey began literally from my grandfather's garage – in an extension to the solar studio I already had. It was a small room of ten square meters, but I invested all my inspiration and desire to create something of my own. While studying for my master's degree in MBA Finance at City University Seattle, I was also completing various courses in cosmetics – that was the direction that truly attracted me. I worked alone and with great dedication, gaining experience on my friends and their mothers.

My education in Hospitality Management proved invaluable – I knew that the key to success lay in quality service and high standards. I worked when people were resting – early in the morning, late at night, on weekends. Over time, I realized that to truly meet the needs of clients, you cannot work alone – a team is needed. However, being an employer turned out to be a new challenge – it requires different competencies than those of a good therapist.

One of my most valuable lessons was precisely how to manage, motivate, and retain the right people. And today, after more than sixteen years, I have the fortune to work side by side with colleagues who were with me back in that little “garage.” This is the true proof of sustainable success.

 

What challenges did you face in the beginning and which taught you the most?

Over more than twenty years of professional journey, I have encountered all kinds of challenges. In the beginning, every “first” experience feels like a storm – the first dissatisfied clients, the first colleagues who leave or create their own studio a few meters away from you, the first inspections and administrative difficulties. All of this is experienced emotionally until you learn to look at it with perspective.

The most valuable realization I had is that in business – just like in life – nothing is personal. Everyone acts as they believe is best for them at that specific moment. This is not betrayal, but simply a different direction. Loyalty, appreciation, and gratitude are beautiful, but they cannot be an expectation – they are a bonus, not a foundation.

Today I believe that every trial comes for a reason. Either we win, or we learn. And sometimes the lessons are more valuable than the successes.

 

What is the most difficult moment in your career or business and how did you manage to overcome it?

The most difficult moment in my career was undoubtedly the year 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the whole world. Our business was closed for weeks, and our locations in Ring Mall and TZUM remained inactive for months. The costs for rent, insurance, and salaries continued to accrue, but there were no revenues. One of the locations, the one in TZUM, did not survive.

This was a trial not only financially but also humanly. Despite the difficulties, I did not lay off a single person from the team – we went through the toughest period together. Shortly after that, when the industry began to recover, some of my colleagues chose new paths – other cities, new opportunities. And I accepted it with understanding because I believe that everyone should choose themselves.

As a woman entrepreneur, I have always put people before business. This can sometimes be a weakness because we lack the cold rationality of purely financial thinking. But it is precisely this humanity, this ability to act with heart and soul, that is our greatest strength.

 

And what is your greatest success so far – that moment when you said to yourself “It was worth it”?

For me, the greatest success is my family. I am not a perfect mother and I do not pretend to be – I often joke that I do not have the patience of a person who “adores” children. But it is precisely this that taught me how important it is to be authentic. The greatest meaning is in our loved ones and in the time we spend together. In work, no one is irreplaceable, but at home we are unique and special.

I believe that the balance between professional and personal is not measured in hours, but in awareness. If we do not have one, we cannot appreciate the other. We do not need to be perfect – we need to be present. I always say: better late than never; better something than nothing. We are not born to be flawless, but to be happy. And happiness is a choice and a state of mind.

 

What is the greatest lesson you have learned as an entrepreneur and as a woman leader?

For a long time, I was proud that I never exploded, never yelled, and never insulted. I thought that self-control was a sign of strength. Today I know that suppressed emotions do not make a person stronger – they simply show on the face, in the gaze, in our behavior, and sometimes hurt more than words. There is nothing wrong with experiencing negative emotions – they are part of human nature. The more we fear offending or hurting someone, the more likely we are to do so because we are not sincere.

True leadership is not about always being calm and impeccable, but about the ability to stand behind the ideas and principles that you believe are right. Being a leader means openly defending your values – this way, people who share them will know they can count on you.

 

Which people or experiences from your childhood have had the greatest influence on who you are today?

The most important lessons about life, leadership, and entrepreneurship I learned from my father. He always told me: “Money is never a problem. If you have a valuable idea, people with money who don't know what to do with it will find you.” Over time, I understood how profound this advice is. Most often, it is not external circumstances, but our own fears and excuses that hold us back – lack of time, resources, or the right moment are just convenient excuses.

My father taught me that if a person really wants something, they find a way. This mindset has served me throughout my journey – from the first attempts in a small garage to building a stable business. And to this day, when I encounter a challenge, I remind myself of his words.

 

How do you maintain your curiosity and inspiration – what are your sources of energy, knowledge, and new ideas?

You cannot do something meaningful if it does not interest you and does not excite you deeply on a personal level. I have always said that I created Dupissima because I was looking for a solution for myself – for my cellulite, for my complexes. Over the years, my needs have changed – from care during pregnancy and recovery after childbirth, through pre- and post-operative care, to today’s focus on perimenopause and menopause. All of these are personal experiences turned into a mission. I was looking for solutions for myself, and today I share them with all the women who go through the same stages.

I have a simple principle: whatever I would not do to myself, to my mother, or to my daughter, I would never offer to another woman – regardless of financial gain. I have turned my hobby into a business, but money has never been the driving force behind my decisions. I love what I do because it is not just about beauty – it is about health, confidence, and living with more meaning. And this satisfaction cannot be measured in money.