Dana Carmont is President of EmpowerHER Vo, FEMALE. Community and Alterations Studio and designer of Dana Carmont Malta.
Carmont says that one of her proudest achievments was that she turned a passion in to a project to support women in business by Launching Designers Boutique Valletta – EmpowerHER VO project, where they support 17 different women in business who are either artists, creatives or designers, to give them the tools and resources to build their business in a retail boutique.
These women learn customer service, how to charge theirworth for profit, sales and marketing, inventory, financial skills, staff management, visual merchandising, legislation and retail compliance, technology and POS systems, customer data and loyalty and working as a community with each other.
All this teaches how to run a successful retail business, she says.
“Purpose is a powerful thing, Through my work as President of EmpowerHER, I discovered that success isn’t about personal gain – it’s about how many doors you can open for others, by making them feel inspired, empowered and having a connection.”
Dana Carmont
Running a voluntary organisation that supports women in business, Carmont could see the yearning for women to open their own retail space.
She herself was looking for a space to sell her swim and resort wear, and then came up with a project to involve all like-minded business women.
Carmont says that it was a gap that needed to be addressed as doing retail solo is expensive, time consuming and very costly with hiring staff. Community is now what helps projects business grow.
Designers Boutique is guided by the values of transparency and shared purpose as a community. As a voluntary organisation, their culture is defined by the joy of collaboration.
They make decisions collectively to ensure the EmpowerHER Project remains a transparent, happy, and supportive sanctuary for local designers and the wider community.
Community impact is at the heart of the quarterly initiatives at EmpowerHER VO & their social enterprise arm FEMALE. Community, with their Action For Good Charity Campaigns.
A recent highlight for Carmont was their winter ‘Coat Campaign,’ where they successfully collected and distributed 368 coats to women’s shelters.
By ensuring these were delivered in time to be placed under the tree for Christmas, they aimed to provide more than just warmth – they wanted to offer a sense of belonging and the reminder that their community stands with them.
“There is a specific magic that happens when women support women, and this year, that magic turned into a movement that is growing, and that is success to me.”
Dana Carmont
As regards changing market trends or emerging technologies, the biggest trend Carmont sees is the move toward socially-conscious business.
She says that they are adapting by evolving from a simple boutique into a multi-functional community hub.
By staying agile and listening to their volunteers and customers, they use emerging social trends to ensure their ‘EmpowerHER’ mission stays at the forefront – not just just selling products, but providing a tech-savvy platform for female empowerment.
Balancing businesses with a voluntary organisation naturally demands long hours, but when you love what you do, that energy becomes fuel, Carmont says.
“I truly thrive on the work I do. However, I’m mindful of maintaining a healthy balance. Whether it’s a long walk or catching up with friends, I prioritise time to recharge. Most importantly, I protect my evenings; dinner with my husband is my time to decompress, share our day, and enjoy the peace of being off the clock after 6.30 pm.”
Dana Carmont
What advice would you give to someone looking to start or scale a business in your industry today?
My best advice is to start with your ‘why’ and let your values lead the way.
In an industry that can often feel transaction-based, building a business with a soul – like a voluntary or community-led organisation – creates a unique bond with your audience.
Don’t just look for customers; look for a community. When you focus on empowering others, success becomes a collective journey rather than a solo race
Website: femcommunity.com
Instagram: @empowerher.vo | @female.community.malta | @danacarmont.malta | @alterations.studio
