Barcelona is full of female talent, it is a city of progress

Liana Grieg is co-founder of the Juno House club, the well-known space for women designed to help both personal well-being and professional development of its members. We are in the Aribau street headquarters, in the space called Clubhouse, the one with the most New York atmosphere of this entire large restored flour mill. The interior courtyards have the possibility of being landscaped, but also the option of hosting refuge spaces like this one, which at first glance may seem trivial, superfluous, a luxury, but once inside you discover their necessity. Besides, one doesn't have to live by necessities: the idea rather obeys a colossal, resounding, and brazen "Why not?".

--- Be honest: did you live in New York and get fed up?

--- No. After growing professionally in the finance and emerging markets sector, specialized in connecting people and investors, I did a master's degree in Barcelona, while Natalie Batlle, another co-founder (also American), settled in Barcelona to derive her Public Relations work in the field of startups. Therefore, no: we didn't get burned out on New York, or America. There is no break. What we do is carry the spirit of New York within us and package it to develop it elsewhere, in this case, in a wonderful city like Barcelona, ​​to develop it.

--- Does that mean it's a replica?

--- No, I'm talking about the spirit. Not the specific project. In New York right now there couldn't be such a large, and so central, building dedicated to it: there can be small, and more unstable places, with greater constant change of members. On the other hand, our project is genuinely Barcelonian, with a mission and a great team, although imbued with an attitude and a lifestyle that comes from outside. And we realized something: in a city like Barcelona, ​​if you don't create your own project, you won't have it.

--- Do it yourself.

--- And here we have it. We are now more than 500 members, although Juno has come to help both women and men grow. We have a full agenda of activities, both those aimed at members and those that are more open events. Before, there was only one type, women who had exclusive access to all activities. Now, we also have a more "social" aspect, for women who cannot take advantage of the many activities we do as much, but who, instead, do want to build community and networking. We have created a membership type adapted to this profile. And now we are the largest space in all of Spain dedicated to these services for women.

--- So, is the activity daily?

--- The purpose of occupying an entire building is for the activity to be daily and constant, yes. We wanted to make it big and well. The problem was precisely that many women do not know the number of activities we promote. And we wouldn't know them well either, if it weren't for the space! I have a yoga student, with whom I always talked after class… Well, I recently found out that she is one of the most important surgeons in the country, Dr. Constanza Ballesta! Juno serves, therefore, to get to know people. To have the opportunity to connect people who have similar interests.

--- Being in a place is important.

--- Exactly. Belonging to a home, to a community. Now I tell you from an expat perspective: the circles you find in Barcelona are very professional, very sector-specific, and that makes it difficult to find people who simply "are." To be, a place to be and to grow. This is what we are.

--- And is this what you find in New York? I don't think so.

--- Look: when I go to Maine, it's because I want to breathe. On the other hand, when I go to New York it's to plug into electricity and do things non-stop. We are bringing this energy here, that of not stopping, and this makes us help each other a lot. We talk about equal pay, work-life balance, we have a little Juno space which is a daycare service… We want women to have time to do the things they want to do!

--- The Círculo del Liceo has been admitting women for some time now. Why are there no longer exclusively male clubs, like Juno, but the other way around?

--- We admit men as guests or companions, and men have also contributed a lot to the creation of Juno. We also have many invited male speakers. We simply want the spotlight to be on women, but nothing more.

--- What I was telling you: what about clubs where the spotlight is on men?

--- Oh, in that, do what you want. Obviously. I don't know if you need it, what I do know is that we do. We must give each other a lot of mutual support, we multiply energies, we create debates, we try to create a work-life balance for women, it is now totally necessary. We do not understand gender difference as a competition, but as collaboration. And among ourselves, obviously, we also collaborate.

--- What is your assessment of this first year?

--- Spectacular. The physical space exists and is a magnet for restless women. We have achieved a variety of 360-degree activities, and we have touched 500 lives (500 members) and all those who come who are not members. We want to go further, of course, but with time, and develop the idea of members and partners. Offer a greater variety of conditions to approach us.

--- Is Barcelona a closed city?

--- One of the most open I know. With Barcelona, we first have a bond. A history. Then, it turns out that it is full of female talent (and since it doesn't come to light much, this space makes it emerge). Thirdly, it is a city of progress, of technology, and with a special sensitivity for the feminist movement. And finally, it is a city that inspires, it is cosmopolitan, we have counted more than a hundred active professional women's clubs or associations! Barcelona is an excellent bridge between the local spirit and international interest.

--- "Juno"?

--- She is a Roman goddess, who accompanies women in the important moments of their lives. A pillar for women.

--- What do you value about Barcelona that cannot be found in New York?

--- I call it quality of life. Enjoying the place where you live, having more balance between work and personal life. In New York, you give a lot, but you don't end up enjoying it. The city doesn't respond to you as much. In contrast, Barcelona is much more generous in this regard. And it's not provincial, it has none of that. If it were, we wouldn't be here.

--- And now, to grow?

--- Exactly. More events, more speakers, more content, but with more flexible access as a member. We plan to organize brunches on some Saturdays of the month. 95% of our growth so far has been organic, without placing a single ad! Word of mouth, referrals, members bringing members. What we need is to listen to our members, never stop listening to them: we learn a lot from them.

--- More challenges?

--- We want Michelle Obama to come.

--- How?

--- I am sure Michelle Obama will come to see us.

"If Barcelona were a provincial city, Juno would not be here"