Hilde Eiselen conducts her Yoga classes and you can stay at Ballycullen Lodge, an exclusive, luxury mountain hideaway on the boarder of the Wicklow mountains National Park. Hilde offers wellness retreat holiday packages, with a focus on executive stress, in Ireland, Greece and South Africa.
If you would like an energy boost, especially after Christmas, her wellness packages include: yoga, massages, beauty treatments and reflexology as well as forest walks and delicious organic meals in this wonderful relaxing retreat in the countryside.
Hilde also runs a Yoga Safari in South Africa which is coming up in January 2020. It runs from 9th to 26th of January. This is truly a great way to start 2020 with a revived mind, body and outlook. You can still book to go on the Yoga Safari and you can read more about it in Hilde’s website here
IIBN asked Hilde how did she get the idea for her Yoga business?
I was working for Trinity College Dublin where I encountered many stressed executives and academics who needed to retreat from 21st century pressures and reclaim their health, rescue their relationships and consciously nurture their wellbeing.
Give a brief account of your education background.
I am a self-confessed course/study junky. I love to learn and am fascinated by the increasing knowledge of the integration of what used to be separate sciences. E.g. neuroscience applies to every field of the human experience and endeavour including health, wealth and wellness. My background is in psychology, personal development and business. I hold an MBA from TCD, a neuro-transformational coach certification and several internationally accredited yoga qualifications.
Did you always know/ever think you would become an entrepreneur when you were younger?
No never. I come from a long line of doctors, lawyer, academics and church people!
Is entrepreneurship a common trait in your family?
My parents were professionals and academics. My siblings and I, however, have all migrated from successful careers as employees to entrepreneurship, owning our own businesses.
Did you have prior knowledge of the industry before setting up your company?
Oh yes, I did a lot of research and continue to track trends to stay ahead of the game!
What was your previous work experience (if any)? Do you think this gave you an advantage when setting up your business?
I worked for 25 year in business, holding management and executive positions before I set up my own business. It certainly helped a great deal to have both experience and expertise.
How did you initially fund your business? (self-funded, government funding, etc)
Self-funded.
Looking back, would you have changed the method of funding you chose?
Yes, I could have grown the business bigger faster and sooner.
What difficulties, if any, did you encounter when securing funding?
I was too conservative with my plans at the outset as I did not want to be beholden or answerable to anyone. I had had enough of bosses and boards.
Did you encounter any financial difficulties in the first year of operation? If yes, what did you do to surpass them?
Yes. I worked ridiculously long hours.
What characteristics do you feel benefited you most when starting your business?
An in-depth look at the industry internationally, taking advantage of opportunities in Ireland, going for a gap in the market.
To what do you attribute your company’s success/growth to?
Building up an excellent reputation by providing only the highest quality services, always. Nurturing the relationship with customers so the point where most of our business now comes from referrals.
What is your opinion on the importance of a professional network for an entrepreneur?
It is extremely important for 3 reasons; (1) talking to other entrepreneurs to normalise the trails and tribulation of this choice of work, (2) understanding the evolving trends in business e.g. CTI and (3) making connections that generate new ideas to keep you creative and your business growing. I like to do business with people I know.
Do you think entrepreneurship has changed in recent years?
I do. There are many more supports and much more structured business assistance and financial support. The IDA and Enterprise Ireland offer a lot of assistance and the IIBN events always deliver fresh insights and useful contacts.
Would you ever consider starting another company or involving yourself in new start-ups again?
Yes, I am currently involved in an exciting project!
If you had one piece of advice for a new entrepreneur, what would it be?
My advice to new entrepreneurs would be; know what you know and what you don’t know. Invest in expertise you yourself don’t have like social media marketing expertise or accounting. Surround yourself with a highly skilled, passionate team, ensure they ‘get it’ i.e. the USP of your business and listen to them.
