Cecilia Mejia studied architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico UNAM, located in Mexico City. From a very young age, she was attracted to design and the creation of spaces and objects. At the end of her studies, she dedicated herself to pursue her dream of creating her own line of furniture and objects for home decor. Upon her arrival in Montreal, she came across ceramics, which she has developed to create a line of objects that speak of her roots in a more contemporary way.
YES: When did you start your entrepreneurial journey and what were some of your goals when you started?
Cecilia: I started entrepreneurship when I finished university in Mexico and decided to pursue my own projects. I designed, built, and sold furniture and home decorations. When I moved to Canada, I was trying to find a way to keep this spirit alive and after trying to find my path here, pottery ended up finding me and I developed a hobby that exploded pretty fast, growing quickly into what it is today. Some of my goals were to find something that represented me and where I come from; something I could be proud of.
What stage are you at now?
I am at the stage of not being able to do everything myself anymore – I need to jump from where I started this business into a professional operation with more people working with me.
What have been your greatest achievements?
My greatest achievement is starting to become this window into what modern Mexican design is – giving Mexican designers an opportunity to exhibit in Canada and giving Canadians a glance of what modern design is looking like in Mexico.
What were/are your biggest struggles?
Networking – not being from here, I needed to start everything from zero, and building this has been, at times, a struggle. In Mexico, I was able to start a lot quicker, but things are taking somewhat longer because of this disconnect with a network here in Canada. This is one of the things I am working on building and developing.
What was the problem you were experiencing before you came into YES?
I did not have any type of support outside of family or friends. Real support. A guide that would provide an objective opinion and feedback for my business and entrepreneurial journey.
What did you find as a result of using our services? What was the best thing about it?
It really helped me to grow my network and find new connections. I have been able to establish collaborations with other YES entrepreneurs. The coaching has also been invaluable for feedback and guidance along the way.
How do you feel about the service you have received from YES?
I really feel appreciative about the coaching and the relationships developed – it was excellent guidance and my coach has become a resource I could ask anything to: administration, taxes, creative inspiration, motivation, and support. Overall, I feel very grateful to be a YES client.
Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share?
As entrepreneurs and immigrants, associations like YES help us to have the support that we all need at some point in our journey. Surrounding yourself with people who support you and believe in you and your abilities is what makes us evolve.
Our Services
Check out our artist, entrepreneurship, and employment program to get a taste of what Cecilia Mejia experienced!