I had the immense pleasure and privilege to interview Nada Baeshen. Founder of ‘The Huntress’ and all around cool girl. I was excited I even fangirled about her career in Finance before I was able to focus and ask the questions! Enjoy one of my favorite interviews!!

Please sit back and enjoy our refreshing conversation with Nada Bashen, someone who is unapologetically authentic, not looking or believing in fame, just doing what she loves and what brings her Joy…..

How would you introduce yourself to our readers that are unaware of you…

I would introduce myself as Nada Bashen, and that is how I would introduce myself – Nada Bashen. There is no fame, this is what I believe, that is why I say just my name. If, or when someone asks me what I worked in, or my field…I would say that I have been in finance for ten years, and I opened a retail company while I worked in banking.

I love your company - The Huntress! Please describe the process of how you created the idea and how you select the designers for your boutique? And how has COVID changed your business projections/plans –

I have always been into fashion, when I was young, and in college in Boston. There was a street called Newbury Street, with all these new and upcoming boutiques. And I always said that I wanted to open a store like that, sometime in my life. 

And I did, and it was not like it was a really long time ago. Basically, it’s been now twelve years, so after about three years in banking I opened the store so it’s been in existence for approximately fourteen years.

When you focus on brands that work in the market, I do not think of Saudi Arabia. I do not try to mimic, or copy a concept that I see that I like, because I actually believe that not everything sells in every country. Every country has a different clientele, it has a different style – what works in the market in every country is very different.

I try to do a concept that fits in the market, that is exciting, and innovative. I like to choose a lot of upcoming Bohemian designers that are not found everywhere.

How do you balance being a wife, mother, and entrepreneur…

I have always been good with time management, so in the terms of balance I think it is normal to be able to do these three things. Balancing my life as a mom – I do have help, I am not going to lie. At the same time I think it is very rewarding to be all of these three things – wife, mother, and entrepreneur…at the same time. Because I would not be who I am as a mom, or wife without having this job.

How do you practice self-care and self-love…do you think it helps you to stay balanced –

Self-care, and self-love comes with time. When you start being more content with yourself, and loving with yourself. But that is a thing that takes time, and it is a gradual thing. How do you say…the more you accomplish the more you are happy with yourself.  The more you become that person – that confident, strong woman. Also self-care for me is… I work out  every day, and have time for myself. I like to travel at least two, or three times a year…and have some time to enjoy myself. 

How do you feel when people diminish your accomplishments, because they perceive you to be another pretty face – do you challenge this perception, if so how…

Hmmm how do I feel when people diminish my accomplishments…I really don’t think folks do that to your face, they do it behind your back.  But for me I have reached a point in my life that I am very content with my accomplishments, and other folks opinions really do not matter. 

Then I look at those people that give you that negative energy, and they usually have not accomplished anything in their lives. I am happy where I am, and the achievements in life are not judged by an individual - because each person has different goals in life. Accomplishments are different for everyone, because each one has a different goal. Accomplishments can be many things, they just do not have to be money, or businesses. Perception of an accomplishment can be different – let them diminish them, but at the end of the day let me be content, and happy.

What drives you…

Seeing my business grow. I love the thrill of this job. I enjoy it, it drives me to do something better. I do enjoy what I do, and I am someone who needs to be working. For me it is like seeing a baby grow, it is like my baby (my business). So I want to be a bigger company, a more successful one. 

What is your favorite activity, other than being an entrepreneur, that you enjoy and why… 

The other activity is to travel. I like to discover new cultures, countries, and exploring new places. This is to me the biggest joy in life - exploring the world.

What are your thoughts on the year 2020, what was the biggest lesson you learned from this unprecedented year  

The year 2020 is the year that made me chill, and calm down. Which is amazing because I needed this break. I needed to be home, to spend more time with my son. And I needed to be just working from home.

It helped me to realize that we did not always have to be present, it is a job – I am thinking I had to realize that. In addition to having a lot of time to be home, also time to sit down and focus on the weaknesses in my business to make it better. To change some things, concepts in my business to make it better. So this was a year to re-evaluate, there were no lessons, it was not a bad year – it was a year that gave me perspective.

The last and most fun question! What is your favorite way to pamper yourself and get a boost

Honestly…it is just to travel, I know I mentioned it before. But I really enjoy dressing up, and traveling. To me, and for me it is the thrill to be in some place new that I have never been before.

Thank you…