Women and Leadership in Spanish Home Furnishings: Ondarreta

On the foundations of the family cabinetmaking workshop, María Luisa Galardi founded this designer furniture company more than 45 years ago, and the baton is now passing to her daughters.

Craftsmanship and a permanent desire to evolve, noble materials and technology, beauty and functionality are the traits that define the collections of this Basque furniture company and its iconic chairs and tables, which have now reached more than 50 countries. A philosophy that the company's founder, María Luisa Galardi, has passed on to her daughters and whose values are still fully in force now that the new generation is taking the helm.

“Our mother has been an example of perseverance in all areas of life. She has taught us to fight for what we want. Nothing comes without hard work—work, work, and more work," said Nora and Nadia Arratibel Galardi, who head up the company’s commercial management and design team, respectively. “We love our project, but we look to the past with tremendous respect for what our parents did,” they continued, and they share their common goal: “To continue to decorate the world with Ondarreta furniture to improve, in some way, the spaces we live in.”

Entrepreneurial spirit.

“Women have taken over important positions in all fields due to their proven ability, but I think that home design is a sector especially suitable for them, due to their sensitivity and great work,” said María Luisa Galardi. “Today, I don’t think that companies run by women have greater obstacles, but rather that the difficulties are inherent to the business world,” she asserted.

However, she recalls, a few years ago, balancing one's personal life and a professional career “was difficult, since there was no concept of sharing household chores.” To make progress in this area, and because they are aware of the importance of balancing both aspects, Ondarreta applies work-life balance measures that offer flexible working hours for its employees.

Additionally, she reflects, “to run a company, you always have to be available and involved 150% of the time. If you are self-demanding, you have to sacrifice part of your family life for your work life, and this sometimes makes us feel like bad mothers, something that I don’t think happens to men (not even today’s men)." Apart from this handicap, and occasional reluctance towards her in some negotiations, being a woman has not been an obstacle to her career as a businesswoman.

“My experience has generally been positive,” agreed Nora Arratibel Galardi. “For years I have traveled all over the world to promote our brand, and I have always received excellent welcomes. It’s not about the countries, but about the people with whom we exchange ideas. When I have encountered representatives who are not used to dealing with women, I have tried to bring what we do best: a lot of professionalism and empathy,” she explained. “A woman’s work is always orderly, friendly. And that is what today’s relationships demand, both with customers and with members of the company,” María Luisa added.

“Naturally,” continued her daughter Nora, “there are markets that are more open than others, but in a sector as closely linked to design as this one, women have as much power as men." That is why she does not hesitate to encourage them to make the leap to internationalization: “I hope they take it with a lot of enthusiasm, knowing well what they have to offer and how their product adds value. There are no barriers,” she concluded.