Berenice Smith: 40 Digital Women to Watch 2020: Where Are They Now?
This week, we’re talking to Berenice Smith. Berenice is the owner of Hello Lovely, a graphic and web design company which she says allows her to give her design, tech and speaking skills to communities in need of a voice. In her spare time, Berenice co-hosts the Full Stop podcast, a childless not by choice community podcast featuring news, special guests, reviews and advice. In this blog, Berenice shares her incredible insights and experience after being named one of Digital Women’s 40 Digital Women to Watch. Hopefully, her story will also inspire you to enter yourself or nominate a fellow incredible woman for the Digital Women Awards 2021
Did you share the news of being named as one of Digital Women’s Top 40 Women to Watch with your community?
Yes, it was shared on social media, in a blog on my website and it’s on my website bio and email signature.
Has you business improved since being featured as a Digital Woman to Watch?
Yes, it’s been such a busy year and I felt it added kudos to my skills for my clients, but it was also a great start to 2020 and a boost to my mental health and confidence.
How did the changing role of digital and tech-based businesses and the sudden increased reliance on digital in 2020 affect you and your business last year?
It improved to a degree. As an introvert I’m happier online and used this by delivering training courses in design and other areas. I also found that I had a lot of clients who were deciding to go into business after furlough or had the time to write or plan their projects. They seemed to have the space to focus or required a distraction from world events.
It also helped the podcast which I’m one third of – The Full Stop podcast – which is aimed at the involuntarily childless community and their friends and family. We were able to adapt our episodes to tackle being single in a pandemic, mental health and Black Lives Matter. We also had weekly coffee chats on Zoom to support our community.
Do you have any advice for women who are considering applying themselves or nominating others for the Digital Women Awards?
Go for it, you really have nothing to lose in doing so. The process is so easy and it’s a great way to raise awareness of your work and of Digital Women. Don’t be afraid to speak up for what you do.
Are there any names that spring to mind that you think we should be watching out for 2021?
Lisa Ann Kissane who runs the NoMo Book group, specifically set up for the childless community. She reads every book in advance and reviews so that readers know if there might be any upsetting themes such as miracle babies or birth and they have the choice to read. Reading has been a huge comfort to many but it can be, unwittingly so, upsetting.
Jody Day who runs Gateway Women, a vast entirely online community for childless women and has been instrumental in giving support to anyone living a life they did not expect to lead, including me. Prior to 2020, the group had in-person meetings and she’s had to adapt them to Zoom whilst maintaining support standards.
Sarah Lawrence who runs After The Storm, is my co-presenter on the podcast and a qualified counsellor. She has used video so well this past year and provides consistent, daily support to her followers.
Rachel Extance, who won last year but deserves a second nomination for homeschooling, running her business and supporting me and many others this year. She’s amazing!
And finally, what is your favourite thing about the Digital Women community?
I like the energy. I confess I’m not in the forum that much but the Facebook group is buzzy and I’ve had so much support for the work I do in design (people take time to thank me) and raising awareness of involuntary childlessness. It’s rare to find that diversity and kindness.
If you’d like to find out more about Berenice, you can find her on social media at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/berenicehowardsmith/
https://twitter.com/hihellolovely
https://twitter.com/TheFullStop1
https://www.instagram.com/berenice_hellolovelydesign/
Or visit Hello Lovely’s website at:
Nominations for the Digital Women Awards 2021 are now open. Here are a couple of key dates for your diary:
8th February: The deadline for award nominations. Don’t wait for a nomination; we encourage you to recognise your own excellence and put yourself forward for the awards!
15th February: Entry deadline for all.
8th March (International Women’s Day): We’ll be announcing the shortlist (decided by our expert judging panel).
Get your applications at the ready! Enter the Digital Women Awards 2021 here: https://digitalwomenawards.com/categories-and-enter
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