We start our brand new Feature Friday Premier Partner series with Ana Admirção co-founder and CEO of Ävlan Work Spaces. (What is a Premier Partner you ask…great question! Read to the end to find out more.)
Introducing – Ana Admiração JMLN – Ävlan
We met Ana from Ävlan several months ago when we were looking for spaces to hold our workshop series. One of our colleagues mentioned they had seen an advertisement for Ävlan on Facebook so we booked a walk-through. We were met with a cheery hello from the reception team and taken on a tour of the offices space and boardroom. We found it to be incredibly professional, accommodating, and the boardroom a great fit for our upcoming workshop. Soon after we booked a meeting with Ana. What we found through that meeting was an incredible synergy. Ana is from beautiful Mozambique and now calls Botswana her second home. She started Ävlan Workspaces 2 years ago to fill a niche need that she saw in the business community here in Botswana. It is now a thriving business that is expanding rapidly.
Ana is a businesswoman here in Botswana who – like us – has a passion to empower women in business. Through that conversation came the idea for Premier Partnerships a mutually beneficial opportunity to partner together to serve this community. Check out our interview for more details.
Business Gems: Ana, please tell us a little more about Ävlan workspaces and what it is all about.
Ana: Ävlan facilitates your business to startup and thrive in an innovative, flexible and agile environment. Our services cut down start-up and recurrent costs through our seamless co-working spaces, private offices, virtual offices and meeting facilities all complimenting your business. To do this, our packages are inclusive of all your office needs from our fully trained reception staff, inclusive utilities to tastefully furnished offices. Ävlan is committed to providing excellent quality and relevant spaces to work and do business in an ever-changing business landscape.
Business Gems: Can you talk about when/why you made the decision to start this business?
Ana: I knew that I wanted to build a business that was my own. Something where I could serve others while also creating a business I could be proud of. As I began to chat about options my partner and I began to talk about work spaces. There are very limited options when it comes to workspaces in Botswana. We discussed it at length and the ideas evolved until we reached a “Yes!” moment as to how we would execute the idea.
Business Gems: You are definitely filling a great need and these spaces are lovely. Can you share with us what is your greatest challenge as a business owner?
Ana: Striking a balance between motherhood and running my organization without any hurdles.
Business Gems: YES! that is one that many of the women in our group also face. A very relatable challenge. One that is often unique to women in the business world through societal expectations.
Business Gems: Flipping that question – what do you find to be your greatest reward?
Ana: It may be cliché, but my greatest reward is seeing clients who are appreciative of our services and see the value it provides them and their business.
Business Gems: What will people get from your business that they won’t get anywhere else?
Ana: We believe that our true and lasting differentiation is our utmost dedication to the quality of our services.
Business Gems: What is the one piece of advice you’d give all the other women in our group?
Ana: See challenges as opportunities for growth
Business Gems: How can we fellow Business Owners help support you?
Ana: Given that our type of business is fairly new and not widely known, word of mouth referrals could go a long way to reach potential users who can benefit from our convenient and needed services.
Business Gems: That’s how we found you! And have been telling everyone we know about you!
Business Gems: How can potential clients find you or get in touch with you?
Ana: We can be reached through our amazing team at inquiry@avlan.co and via 3164166. Visits are also highly welcome at our facilities at Plot 205 on Independence Avenue, Gaborone.
Business Gems: Yes! Ladies, go take a look around the offices & get a cup of delicious coffee while you are at it! Thank you Ana for agreeing to this interview. We are looking forward to watching your business grow and soar especially as you expand all of your incredible spaces.
Ladies, as part of this premier partnership – Ana is delighted to offer Business Gems members a 10% discount on all of their meeting facilities (our boardroom and meeting room) as well as a 5% discount on all their office packages (both virtual office and physical offices!). If you are looking for a meeting space or for an office space that is lovely, safe, and equipped to serve the business of Botswana – go check them out!
Premier Partnerships
One of the ways that we are working to support and empower women in business is by creating a Feature Friday for any and all businesses that want to be highlighted in our community. Feature Friday’s are free of charge and will be highlighted our facebook group in the order in which they were received. Premier Partnerships are those that take it a step further and choose to pay a small fee in order to be featured across all of our media channels. To learn more about Premier Partnerships feel free to contact us at hello@businessgems.co.bw.