We had the pleasure of catching up with Cara Saven, founder of Cara Saven Wall Design and winner of the 2021 Woman of the Future Award
What motivated you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
Necessity. After having my first child, I realised that parenting a newborn and working in the corporate world (at the time) were not compatible. I also didn’t expect to become the kind of mom that was overly protective and anxious to leave her baby with someone else. After a year of learning to be a mom, I needed to start contributing to our monthly revenue, so I made use of the only skill set I could think of that would help me make instant cash: I picked up my camera and started taking images of business operations, like the machinery, and turned these into artworks for their premises. That was how my business began.
How has your business evolved since winning the Woman of the Future award?
The business has evolved into a larger one, with more global reach and a bigger team. We have worked and are working on some incredibly exciting and large projects. We’ve also expanded the brand into decor items like tableware and wall hangings, which retailers like Yuppiechef now stock.
What have been some of the biggest highlights of your entrepreneurial journey?
Winning the Santam Woman of the Future Award is most certainly in my top three highlights. I’d never entered a competition before, and just the experience of entering and getting to the finals was so fantastic. The win was the cherry on top. Other highlights include being appointed to work on prestigious projects for places like the Cape Grace or One & Only, but also year-end parties with my team after a year of slogging.
Any key lessons that you’d like to share with aspiring women entrepreneurs?
Juggling kids and working for yourself can be the most exhausting yet rewarding experience there is. If you stay consistent and adjust your input based on the needs of your kids, it is actually possible to build something incredible. I’d also advise hiring other working women – they don’t have time for chit-chat or messing around, and get things done faster than most men.
What’s one thing you’ve learnt that you wish you’d known earlier?
That social media is essential to building a business. I took some time to get there, as I’m not a huge fan of it, but it really is essential. Something I’ve learnt accidentally is that building a brand is way more valuable than building a business. I can only see that now when looking back.
What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered as a female entrepreneur, and how did you navigate them?
Being a good mom while being a business owner was tough. That juggle is not only real; it’s insanely difficult. I always wanted more time and felt like I had too little of it. But now that my kids are older, I can see that it was easier when they were younger as I could work after they went to sleep. Each life stage has its own challenges.
How important are mentorship and networks for aspiring female leaders, and how have you benefitted from them?
This is another lesson I wish I’d learnt earlier. I joined a networking organisation (EO) only 12 years into my business journey, and it has been invaluable. Business owners have an innate understanding of what we go through that people in employment just don’t have. I also made incredible connections through my Woman of the Future journey that I cherish to this day.
What changes would you like to see in the business world that would benefit female entrepreneurs?
Don’t get me started! I want to see businesses understand the need for women to have flexibility in their lives; I want to see women believe in themselves and their unique skill sets so they’re not afraid to take the plunge and start their own thing; I want to see husbands and partners take on more of the motherload so women are not burnt out at the end of every week. Should I keep going? How much time do you have?
What’s next for the business?
We are about to rebrand into Cara Saven – we’re dropping the ‘Wall Design’ part – to put our products under one umbrella, and will be going into the exciting world of fabrics next. Soon you will be able to cover your interior head to toe in Cara Saven.
For more info, visit https://carasaven.com/