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Name: Mira Smoljko

State: Victoria

Job title: Director, one woman show, doer of stuff.

Company: Glamazon Shoes

Describe your typical day…Up just before 6am to walk with friends. Home to get myself ready for work, check emails, organise something for dinner, wake my 3 daughters and get them ready for (primary) school. Once they’re off, head into my favourite café across the road from my shop for a coffee before opening up shop at 10am. The shop is essentially my ‘home office’ so even when it’s quiet, I’m busy on my laptop doing marketing, admin, ordering etc. etc. The million and one things associated with running a business. Once the shop closes, I’m home within 10 minutes (benefits of choosing a location close to home!) and making dinner, catching up on the school day and general domestic duties. (Laptop always on in the background though!) To unwind I might go to the gym (love my boxing classes) and then hang out with my girls before getting them into bed. I might do a bit more work but I try and keep it to a minimum just to unwind. I’m not a big night owl so I’m usually in bed before 10.30pm before repeating the routine the next day.

When was the last time you felt inspired? Anytime I hear/read about an Australian woman who’s started from scratch and built her own business empire. It inspires me like nothing else.

What’s next on your Bucket List and why? More Glamazon shops hopefully. I get so many glamazons of all ages – especially teenagers – that are desperate for shoes in their size that are affordable and fashionable. It would be great to reach out to our interstate customers and provide them with a ‘bricks & mortar’ shop where they can actually try on the shoes.

Tell us something about you that may surprise people? I am an ‘out and proud’ nerd! Yes I love shoes, but my first real love was computers. I was the nerd that spent her recess time in high school in the computer lab!

What’s your top tip for success? Passion – I think you really have to love what you do. For me, the last 14 months since the shop opened has just flown by. I love the variety and the many hats I have to wear. Sure, it can get a bit daunting when you’re doing something for the first time, but I figure that once it’s done once, it won’t be as scary next time.

What would you like to get from your Business Chicks experience? Linking in with like-minded businesswomen. I think that over the years, men have become particularly adept at networking and that’s something we (women) need to do a lot more of in business. There are certainly gender-specific issues that we should be able to address in forums like Business Chicks and it’s about having access to all of this information and networks. I would love to connect with more women that may or may not be in a similar industry, but face the same challenges that I do in my business. Sometimes just to know that someone else is going or has gone through a similar issue to you is enough to draw the necessary strength to tackle it, knowing that it can be overcome.

If you're a Premium/Corporate or Student member learn more about, and connect with, Mira here