06 Mar Joana Ballesteros-Gube

Joana falls under a very special category of women who create, cultivate and hustle hard while seamlessly nurturing everyone and everything around her. She is the inspiring boss lady who designs and runs accessories brand Heyjow— creating multiple collections a year, at the same time managing to churn out exclusive collections for Philippine design icons such as Rajo Laurel and Aranaz as well as online retailer Seek The Uniq. While she is Business Lady Goals  to everyone else, Sheila, Lucien and I fondly call her our dear Madame—poised and polished on the outside but a great big softy on the inside. We’ve known each other for quite some time. What started out as business collaborators for L’Indochine very quickly escalated into a lifelong friendship. In all those years that we’ve been friends, this is what holds true time and time again–Joana puts the same level of thought and intention in everything that she does whether it be running her business, strengthening her marriage or raising her children. She is thoughtful, kind, and generous and sees the potential in others. While she is human just like everyone else with off days and problems, she deals with her struggles in true Madame form— with  grace, humour and a fresh perspective, never forgetting to look at the brighter side of things. Read on as we talk about life’s defining moments, marriage first and embracing one’s mistakes.