Today we’d like to introduce you to Begonia Barbancho.
Hi Begonia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Begonia (yes, like the flower!), and I am originally from Barcelona, Spain. I currently co-own a boutique design-build company in Austin, TX. Barcelona is a long distance from Austin, not only geographically but also in the way that my career has unfolded along the way!
My career, surprisingly, was not the reason for my move to the United States but instead, it was love! I was living in Shanghai when I met my partner (also from Barcelona) during one of his business trips to China. The rest, you could say, is history. I officially moved to Austin, and that’s when my journey got more interesting.
Despite my international background and experience in sales and marketing in Spain and China, I struggled to find a job that felt like a good fit and started to feel like my prior experience wasn’t bringing anything to the table during my job hunt. Eventually, I got an entry-level job in customer experience at a local tech company.
That job challenged me in numerous ways, and I occasionally questioned what I was doing here, but I had a clear objective and a year and a half later, I was able to pivot to marketing.
Eventually, I was offered a new opportunity at a different tech company to join their brand new marketing department. Even though it was initially a great opportunity, the culture wasn’t the right fit for my future goals.
What I first considered to be a significant setback in my career turned out to be an opportunity to reinvent myself completely. Starting from scratch has never been intimidating for me, I have done it several times in my life in more than one country now, and I see it as a chance to grow and build resilience.
At that time, my partner and I decided to entertain an idea we had been thinking about for a long time: a boutique design-build business. Our first project was in 2016; we completely renovated a house from the 1970s in San Antonio, and this was the beginning of LBF Homes.
Fast forward a few years and multiple projects; my day-to-day has evolved into a construction project management role combined with the company design responsibilities.
This new path has brought me peace in countless ways, this is what I was meant to be, and I am not looking back; I can define myself as a multidisciplinary creative proudly, and I envision all-new creative endeavors with excitement.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The day-to-day has proven challenging due to the construction world being a male-centric environment with women often isolated to certain positions. A woman in a construction management position is a minority, a first-generation immigrant-women in construction management, even more so.
Sadly, during this time in the industry, I have faced a lack of respect, I am often underestimated, and my opinions are not taken seriously. For instance, I have had to stop working with some contractors because they have openly expressed to my male partner that they are not interested in dealing with me. As partners, that attitude has been a deal breaker for us.
My antidote to overcoming these situations is: maintaining thick skin, continuing growing to be a better professional, and remembering how far I have come. Luckily, more women are joining the construction industry, and we are here to stay!
As someone passionate about my work, I can easily lose track of time. Co-running a business with your partner can be both the greatest experience and the biggest curse. You can be working and discussing work topics 24/7, so boundaries are key for work-life balance. . When Covid hit and due to the market booming, we were working full weeks, with no days off, for several months. We ended up exhausted in so many ways. Now we prioritize our projects and clients, but we also take our time off and decompress – we have found that this makes us so much more productive in the long run!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
LBF Homes is a boutique design-build company serving the Austin area. I envision each new project independently, meticulously hand-picking each material, finish, and fixture to make the overall space functional, appealing, and timeless to ensure my clients and new homeowners each feel like their home is one of a kind. I feel lucky to have been born and raised in one of the European capitals of design and bringing a European-Mediterranean aesthetic to every design and project is natural for me. I enjoy integrating my roots in my design work in Austin, working with everything from natural colors to locally sourced materials, all to help create inviting functional spaces.
Our goal is a stress-free building experience for our clients, and that is why we divide the company under two umbrellas: build & design services.
Our build services range from design-built custom homes to construction management. We integrate our agile design expertise to help make the best choices every step of the way, also providing our services independently to investors, companies, and individuals.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I am lucky; I have had a pair of wise mentors at home – my parents! As business owners in Barcelona with only primary education, they have both provided for our family with dedication, resilience, and tireless poise. I now realize the magnitude of the sacrifices they have made and thank them for my work integrity, for always being my supporters and for reminding me that I am capable of doing anything and everything I set my mind to. Another factor in the success of LBF Homes is my partner; our complementary skills and commitment to the business has gotten us where we are today. I couldn’t be more proud of him.
(gràcies amor!)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lbfhomes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lbfhomes/
Image Credits
Perla Floyd
