On a Thursday evening in London, Vogue Club members gathered for the spring installment of Meet The Founder, featuring entrepreneurial mastermind Carmen Busquets and Laura Hawkins, British Vogue’s acting associate European fashion features director. Best known as a co-founder of (and founding investor in) Net-a-Porter, Busquets was an early champion of merging retail, tech, and sustainable fashion business practices.
Guests were treated to an exclusive evening at Whitcomb’s, a Mediterranean restaurant at The Londoner Hotel, nestled in the heart of the West End. Amidst the familiar faces of the Vogue Club community, attendees savored refreshing spritzes and a delectable array of canapes. Then, everyone settled in their seats, ready to glean insights from the esteemed Venezuelan entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor.
During their engaging conversation, Busquets and Hawkins delved into various aspects of the former’s illustrious career. They discussed Busquets’s role in uplifting women in business, the importance of building a network of genuine contacts, and the common mistakes businesses make when seeking outside investors. These lessons provided invaluable for aspiring entrepreneurs in the audience.
“People often say, ‘This [company] is my baby. ‘ No, it’s not…This is an idea, and once you bring investors, that is not your baby, and that’s not your company any longer,” Busquets told attendees. “If you’re an entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to sell and then [invent] a new idea again.”
In addition to detailing her professional journey, Busquets also shared her personal experience with partial deafness and dyslexia, encouraging party-goers never to let their personal obstacles discourage them from achieving their goals.
“Embrace who you are and your limitations,” she told Vogue Club. “Once we embrace our limitations, our inner spirit is the [only] limit.” Cue rapturous—and grateful!—applause.