Michaela and I share New Zealand heritage and it was at NZ Chamber event that we first met. I believe that co-working spaces are a significant innovation in the entrepreneurship space and will make it much easier for many new businesses to successfully launch. Because of that I was really excited to hear about Michaela’s take on it.
What’s your business?
Woolf Works is an awesome community of supportive, collaborative women. Our relaxed, calm space is perfect for focused work and our memberships are flexible to meet the needs of mums juggling nap times and school pick ups.
What’s your story?
After five years as a stay at home mum / frustrated amateur writer, in 2014 I launched Woolf Works, a women’s coworking space where women trying to work at home can come for focused distraction-free work time in a beautiful space and amongst a community of supportive, diverse women.
What excites you most about your industry?
I love the coworking concept – and I love bringing people together and seeing collaborations and synergies happen. I also love providing a haven for women to put their needs and dreams first.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I am from New Zealand and my husband is Indian. We moved from Mumbai to Singapore in 2011 and this seems our perfect middle ground.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Things are so easy and straightforward in Singapore. I’d love to try my concept in Mumbai but I don’t know if I could face the bureaucracy and corruption.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
If you are going to do, do it properly.
Who inspires you?
Stories of women from the past – who did it all without the internet, washing machines, or iphones!
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Madeleine Albright got her first job at 38 years old.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Stop dreaming and start doing, earlier! And reach out to entrepreneur communities earlier – their support has made all the difference to my journey this year.
How do you unwind?
The Walking Dead. Beach time. Reading to my kids. New Zealand wine.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Thailand – beaches, food and smiles!
Everyone in business should read this book:
Any good quality fiction. We get so caught up in business that I think great fiction is a like a mini-holiday for the brain, its good to put away the business books and the screens and spend quality time with a great book. Never get round to finishing a whole book? Try a short story collection! I’m enjoying Lorrie Moore’s Bark at the moment.
How can people connect with you?
email: [email protected]
web: www.woolfworks.sg
facebook: www.facebook.com/woolfworksSg
blog: woolfworks.wordpress.com
twitter: @woolfworks
This interview article was part of the Callum Connect’s column on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing has started, built, bought and sold half a dozen businesses in a range of industries across two continents. He is the owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 11 countries and he is also the CEO of Entrevo Asia, a company that runs 40 week Growth Accelerator programs.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Get his free ‘Asia Snapshot’ report from www.callumlaing.com
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