Betty Valentek
36, Austria, Entrepreneur
I am originally from Graz, south Austria. I had planned to study psychology and biology in the hope of becoming a marine biologist, but I actually dropped out in the first term. It was a lot more mathematical than I had anticipated. I then began working in media and publicity in Vienna, and just thrived on the energy of that industry.
I came on holiday to Barcelona with friends and immediately fell in love with the city as a whole. I had it in my head that I was going to do everything in my power to move here. I knew I’d be happy here.I finally moved in 2004 and continued to work in media. At that point everything in my life revolved around Spanish things. It’s when I picked up the language—my friends were mostly Spanish and I think I really adapted to the lifestyle. I remember being extremely happy.
Barcelona is simply a magical place with such an addictive and contagious energy about it. For personal reasons I moved back to Austria in 2006, but I was really unhappy there. My heart belonged in Barcelona and I was just counting down the days to come back. I can’t put my feelings towards this city into words.
I’m a very spiritual person and I firmly believe that despite careers, wherever you choose to live has got to be one of the most important decisions of your life. At the end of the day, it’s your home and it becomes your roots, regardless if you have family here or not.
I never really liked traditional “cooking”, but my grandmother taught me how to bake and I always loved working with pastry. Like many I’m sure, it really started as a hobby until I realised that this could really work, and I decided to take the plunge.
Now I have four different brands within my business, ranging from cupcakes and wedding cakes to even a few naughty treats from my ‘Sensual Sensations’ range for bachelorette parties. I also produce some Austrian delicacies.
When I opened my business it was so important for me to receive the right information. I was very lucky in that sense because I knew a lot of people who introduced me to other people who shared valuable information with me, from legal formalities to brand design. It would have been impossible for me otherwise.
Every day is pure excitement. It’s a highlight for me to open the doors to my bright studio in the Eixample—every day doing what I love. I loved all my jobs before, but this is a dream come true. If you are able to be self-employed and do something that you love, the outcome is just a gift. It’s a gift that I receive every day, and I love it.