Natalie John, the CEO and owner of The Dreamy Group, is a prominent advocate for women in business. In an interview with St. Lucia Times, she shared her entrepreneurial journey, her passion for empowering women, and the challenges she faces in her line of work.
The Dreamy Group includes Dreamy Weddings, Dreamy Floral Saint Kitts and Saint Lucia, Dreamy Rentals, as well as a range of real estate and concierge services. John’s path to entrepreneurship was driven by a desire to create something impactful.
“As a young person, I went into finance and marketing…and I had enough in that, and I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” she explained.
She initially founded Dreamy Weddings, which rapidly expanded across the Caribbean, before branching into floral design.
“I always look to the international arena to see what’s going on,” she said, emphasising the importance of thinking big, even in a small island nation.
The opening of Dreamy Florals in Saint Lucia marked a key milestone in John’s journey, though success didn’t come without its challenges.
“Just getting all the various permits, going to the different offices, it can be a tedious process,” she admitted. “When you think you have it, then you’re missing something else…. It can become tedious.”
She also acknowledged the common challenges in business, particularly when managing clients’ expectations.
“In business, you will have situations where you have clients wanting more than they actually paid for, and things can go wrong at the most unexpected times,” she said, adding that handling these situations effectively is crucial because “you can lose a couple of dollars, but it’s more important to protect your name and reputation.”
John’s resilience has been key to her success, and she strongly believes in the importance of perseverance.
“Entrepreneurship on a whole… you have to have passion. You have to believe in yourself,” she said, stressing that resilience is essential in the face of challenges.
One of John’s greatest sources of motivation comes from her connection with young people. “I’ve always loved working with young people…. They set the trends. They tell you what’s up and coming. They keep you young. They keep you alive,” she shared, adding that she finds great satisfaction in nurturing young talent. “A lot of times, I get staff members who come in who don’t really know what they want to be, and to be able to mould them… that helps me, that gives me inspiration.”
Above all, John is deeply committed to women’s empowerment. She believes that women in Saint Lucia and around the world should feel confident and capable of overcoming any challenge: “I want to see empowerment. I want the women who could stand on their own, women who are not afraid, women who are ready to take up the challenge.”
