In honour of International Women’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the remarkable achievements of local female entrepreneurs. Here is our interview with Melanie Hachey, founder of Montreal-based brand Wonderblush – a collective that creates makeup essentials designed to make everyday beauty an effortless affair. Crafted with clean, cruelty-free, vegan ingredients that are thoughtfully formulated and produced in Montreal, their products invite you to experience beauty that feels as good as it looks.
1. How did you come up with the idea for your brand?
Wonderblush was born out of my passion for makeup and my desire to create a brand that combines performance, luxury and eco-responsibility. With my team of makeup artists, we listened to our customers’ real needs and wanted to develop beauty essentials that are easy to apply and enhance their natural beauty.
2. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? (What were your motivations or aspirations at the beginning?)
Entrepreneurship was the chance to turn my biggest dream into reality, but also to have the flexibility and agility to evolve at my own pace. It’s this flexibility that makes entrepreneurship so exciting: every day is a new opportunity to grow and develop my business in my own way.
3. What impact would you like to have on people, other women, society in general?
I want to inspire people, especially women, to follow their own path and listen to their intuition. Too often, we stay in a situation that looks perfect on paper, but doesn’t really fulfill us. That’s exactly what I experienced: I was in a job that, on the surface, ticked all the boxes, but I didn’t feel aligned with myself. I had to make a difficult choice, question my trajectory and leave everything behind to pursue what I was really passionate about: makeup.
Through my career and Wonderblush, I want to show that it’s possible to redefine your own success and build something that’s just like you. Daring to take risks, listening to your inner voice and following your dreams to the end – that’s what I hope to convey.
4. How do you manage work-life balance as an entrepreneur? (Do you have strategies for managing stress and preventing burnout?)
Honestly, finding balance is a constant challenge, and I don’t think there’s a magic formula that works for everyone. And let’s face it, I haven’t found it myself just yet! However, I have put in place certain habits that help me to take time for myself and avoid burning out.
Fitness is very important to me: I train five times a week and run on the weekends. It really helps me relieve stress and feel good. I’m also an early bird, so I go to bed early to get my eight hours of sleep. That way, in the morning, I’m rested and have time to myself before everyone else wakes up: I work out, take time to put on my makeup and listen to a quiet podcast.
And with four kids, of course, I have to take time off work to spend with my family! It keeps me grounded and prevents me from being absorbed by work all the time.
In short, there’s no perfect recipe, but these little tricks help me keep a semblance of balance!
5. Are there any women who have inspired you in your professional or personal life, and if so, why?
Honestly, the women who inspire me most are my mom friends. You have to juggle so many things at once: work, kids, family, and try (as best you can) to keep a little time for yourself. It’s really not easy, and yet they always find a way to manage it all.
I admire their ability to keep going, even when it’s total chaos. They remind me that you don’t have to be perfect to do things right, that you just have to find your own rhythm and allow yourself a little kindness. It’s these women, who do their best every day, who inspire me the most.
6. As a woman entrepreneur, have you encountered any unique challenges?
Honestly, being an entrepreneur is a big challenge in itself. One of the biggest for me has been learning to trust myself. When I worked in a corporate environment, I could rely on the experience of a colleague or the approval of a boss to validate certain decisions. But as an entrepreneur, I had to learn to take responsibility for my choices without constantly seeking external validation.
The other big challenge, of course, is balancing work and personal life. Being an entrepreneur is a huge mental burden, and with a family, it can quickly become too demanding. I’ve had to learn to set limits and, above all, to accept that I can’t do everything on my own.
7. What advice would you give to young women who want to start their own business but are hesitant due to fear of failure or perceived barriers?
I’d say go for it, but go for it intelligently. Fear of failure is normal, and frankly, there will be difficult moments, but that’s also how we learn and grow. The important thing is to surround yourself with the right people, ask questions and seek advice from people who have been there before.
Don’t waste too much time waiting for “the right moment” or wanting everything to be perfect before you get started-just get started, adjust along the way and learn as you go. And above all, trust yourself! If you have an idea you’re passionate about, it’s worth exploring.
8. How do you define success?
For me, success means doing something that nourishes me, both personally and professionally. Whether in my family life or in my business, the important thing is to be aligned with my values, to feel motivated and stimulated on a daily basis. It’s not just a question of numbers or recognition, but rather of knowing that what I do has meaning and brings me happiness.
9. Can you share a defining moment or success that you’re particularly proud of in your entrepreneurial journey?
It’s funny to say, but one of the most memorable moments of my entrepreneurial journey was meeting the Etiket team. When I first launched the collection, Etiket was one of the first retailers I really wanted to approach. Their brand selection, customer approach and values were a perfect match for what I was looking for in Wonderblush.
I had the chance to talk to Simon, one of the owners, and Karine, the marketing director. After our meeting, they decided to integrate Wonderblush into their store. It was a great source of pride for me, not only because it was one of my first points of sale, but also because it validated all the hard work, energy and passion I’d put into the project.
10. If you could give one golden rule to an aspiring female entrepreneur, what would it be?
Listen to your inner voice, your intuition. It always knows what’s right for you. There will always be outside opinions, doubts, fears… but in the end, nobody knows you better than you know yourself. And that goes for both your career and the personal aspect of life!
