Women’s History Month: Educating & Inspiring Generations
Now that March is on the wane, we wish to celebrate Women’s History Month 2025 by embracing this year’s theme: "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations." At DOMstay, we recognize the power of community and shared wisdom—how the stories, experiences, and advice of women in business can inspire future generations to dream big.
To mark the occasion, we turn to Marta Nowicka, DOMstay’s founder, alongside three of her inspirational friends and business allies: Atlanta Bartlett, Carolyn Denham, and Kate MacGarry. These visionary women have each built careers defined by creativity, resilience, and leadership and in this conversation, they reflect on their journeys, offering insight for those following in their footsteps
Atlanta Bartlett | Designer, Stylist, Author and Consultant
Atlanta Bartlett is known for her relaxed and accessible style. She began her career at Homes & Gardens before becoming a successful freelance stylist, working with top magazines like Elle Decoration, Living etc, and House & Garden. She was also the Interiors Editor for Red magazine. Her clients include major brands like Habitat, Laura Ashley, John Lewis, and Marks & Spencer. She has authored five bestselling interior design books and co-written two more with her husband, Dave Coote. Together, they co-founded the boutique homeware store Pale & Interesting, Bartlett/ Coote Interior Design, and The Beach Studios.
What advice would you give your younger self starting out your career as a woman in your industry?
1. Own Your Expertise: Don’t wait for permission to take up space. Speak up, share your ideas, and trust that your perspective is valuable.
2. Build a Strong Network: Surround yourself with mentors, allies, and other women who uplift and challenge you. Relationships open doors.
3. Negotiate Everything: Whether it’s salary, promotions, or project opportunities. Know your worth and ask for what you deserve.
4. Set Boundaries Early: Work-life balance matters. Prioritise your well-being and don’t be afraid to say no.
5. Embrace Challenges: We all suffer from Imposter syndrome, but don’t let it hold you back. You don’t need to know everything to succeed just need the willingness to learn
6. Stay Authentic: You don’t have to change who you are to fit in. Your uniqueness is your strength.
7. Keep Learning: Stay curious and open. Never be afraid to pivot if needed. Adaptability is priceless
8. Above all, have fun!
If you had limitless means to start a new venture, what would it be?
This is a difficult question for me as my creative, magpie mind is constantly dreaming up new ideas and ventures. But I am excited about our new venture launching this month. Our Nomads and Pioneers Range is a fabulous collection of cabins and huts on wheels that are an ‘off-the-shelf’ alternative to our bespoke cabin design and build service. There are two designs at the moment based around a narrative of prairie land cabins and outback shacks that can be delivered fully assembled and ready to go! Each design will be available in a variety of sizes and for a host of uses, from simple garden room, painting studio, writer’s retreat or playroom through to home office extra guest room or even as a holiday let. Watch this space!
Carolyn Denham | Designer, Founder of Merchant & Mills
Carolyn Denham began her career with a fashion design degree from Newcastle Polytechnic but discovered her true passion lay in hands-on making rather than design alone. After working in the US and Italy, she returned to the UK, gaining experience as a fabric printer and in interior design project management. In 2010, she co-founded Merchant & Mills with photographer Roderick Field. The company focuses on high-quality cloth, sustainable sewing patterns, and fine tools, rejecting fast fashion in favor of mindful, rewarding craftsmanship. Roderick’s photography and branding helped shape the company’s distinctive aesthetic, attracting a new audience to sewing.
What advice would you give your younger self starting out your career as a woman in your industry?
Be brave. Don’t listen to the doubters, both internal and external! Work harder than you have ever done, and surround yourself with the right people to do the jobs that are outside your own skill set. Ask for help if you need to. You start with an idea. You build a business, and soon you have a company. A company is just a group of people. The key to every successful business is the team and your relationship with that team. If they share your vision and ethos, if you can lead humbly but firmly, if they are all team players with the big picture in mind, and if they all reliably and consistently bring all their individual talents, you can build and build. Make the very best team you can. And cross your fingers, luck is a key ingredient!
If you had limitless means to start a new venture, what would it be?
If I had unlimited resources for a new endeavour, it probably wouldn’t be another business. I love business, where the challenges and successes can be equally rewarding, but I would probably buy a plot of land, a woodland, field or smallholding and set about rewilding. I find the most happiness in nature. I would build a cabin, I would sew, draw and whittle, watch and listen. In time, I hope others would come to sew, draw, whittle, watch and listen with me.
Kate MacGarry | Gallerist, Founder of Kate MacGarry Gallery
Kate MacGarry founded her eponymous gallery in East London in 2002 and has gained a reputation for curating compelling exhibitions featuring some of the art world’s most exciting names. She represents a diverse roster of artists, including Polish artist Goshka Macuga, known for her historically inspired sculptures and tapestries; Bangladesh-born Rana Begum, whose vibrant installations blur the lines between sculpture, painting, and architecture; and British-Kenyan artist Grace Ndiritu, whose work integrates film, textiles, and performance with a strong social focus. MacGarry is also a founding member of the Gallery Climate Coalition, advocating for sustainability within the art world.
What advice would you give your younger self starting out your career as a woman in your industry?
Firstly, I would say you need to believe in your project. It’s an easy thing to say, as the early stage of a business is very hard work and often unstable, and you never really know if it’s going to work out in the long run. Be flexible and never spend money you don’t have. Relationships are very important, so look after all the contacts you make along the way - you need a good database from day one. Some of the supporters you have early on might stay with you for years and be an important part of your journey. Growing the business does not make it more creative; staying small does not limit your reach.
If you had limitless means to start a new venture, what would it be?
I would not start a new venture myself but I would invest in young businesses that have the environment and social justice at their core, especially those that use a circular economy and do not put growth at the centre of their activity.
Marta Nowicka | Interior Architect, Developer, Founder of DOMstay
Marta Nowicka is an Interior Architect passionate about transforming commercial properties into beautiful homes. Her expanding property portfolio led to the creation of DOM, a collection of stunning houses across the UK and Europe, offering unique design-led stays through DOMstay. In addition to her work in design, she is deeply committed to education and has held various teaching roles, including Senior Lecturer positions at Birmingham City University, Kingston University, and the Royal College of Art, as well as Course Leader at London Metropolitan University.
What advice would you give your younger self starting out your career as a woman in your industry?
I would tell my younger self to take a short accountancy course early on and set ambitious goals without compromising on my values! Establishing clear ideals and sticking to them is crucial, as is celebrating successes and supporting your team through challenges. Also, I’d remind myself not to waste time on self-doubt and to seek financial backing where possible. Making time for thorough research is essential, as is keeping detailed notes from every meeting. Lastly, I’d advise reviewing my values and ideals annually to ensure they stay aligned with my evolving vision.
If you had limitless means to start a new venture, what would it be?
If I had a limitless budget, I would start a school for interior architecture and the adaptive reuse of buildings, bringing together everything I’ve done throughout my professional life. This space would offer workshops, short courses, and collaborative project discussions, along with an office for hands-on work. Sharing knowledge is incredibly important to me, and I’ve always been passionate about teaching and working on live projects with others. I envision it as a modern-day Bauhaus, where artists, makers, and designers transform and redefine existing buildings to meet the needs of our ever-changing society. It would also inspire younger generations, especially those struggling to enter the property market, by empowering them to design innovative solutions for the housing crisis.
Latest Stories
