"This is very Juno!" exclaims Natalie Batlle, CEO and founder of Juno House, a women's club that was born as a springboard for female talent and to facilitate conciliation and personal development, which now aspires to be a reference and give voice to today's woman.
“Being collaborative is very Juno; wanting and making things happen; have enthusiasm and an open mind; do not stop; make mistakes a lot and be resilient; go very strong, a lipstick…”, she explains. When they were designing the club space with the interior designer Meritxell Ribé, they applied the phrase to the raspberry and terracotta colors, dominant in the warm and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Batlle, whose father was Catalan, was born in Chicago, something that can be seen in his accent but, above all, in that pragmatism, desire and determination to undertake something that is so American. Juno House started with 300 members, they are at 600 and they are almost dying of success but, with the experience of a year and a half, they have understood that segmenting is the key. The club is a very lively community where networking works great, putting an end to the typical rivalry between women. “We contribute. We collaborate. We connect and help each other. It's in our DNA. If we lose that, we lose everything,” says the board.
Juno is also key to opening doors in a city with a reputation for being closed to those who come from outside – in Barcelona there are many expats – creating links and friendships, as well as business: “It is one of the great achievements of the first year,” says Natalie. proud. The route is two-way and the club has launched a free-access Juno Brunch on Saturdays (you only need to book). It is when there are more children, perfectly entertained and cared for in their own space. “
Year and a half of Juno House. Has everything gone as you expected?
In values and purposes yes. We were looking for women who wanted to change the world, creatives, entrepreneurs, businesswomen... And we have a very diverse community that vibrates. The seniors come more for leisure and to contribute their know-how; The younger ones understand the proposal as a complete package of conciliation, balance... Work, go to yoga, pamper yourself, have a glass of wine with friends...
How have they not adjusted the forecasts so much?
In the conciliation part of the Little Juno. I dreamed of Juno, because when we started it she was pregnant, but the members see it more as an added value than as a necessity. She will triumph. I take it as a challenge.
They have a good agenda and very powerful partners…
With partners we establish strategic collaborations to give value to belonging to the Juno community. A design contest with Casa Batlló for our creative partners in which the winning project will be exhibited in their store; a private bank that brings the best geopoliticians and economists to hold highly organized meetings on current issues; jewelry conferences, art history… It is an intellectual space to learn, they don't come to sell anything. They create experiences for the community. 50% of the cultural agenda is created by the members themselves, we have more than 20 groups led by them in technology, art, health and well-being, tiktokers... We grow hand in hand, it is like an ecosystem.
How are the expansion plans going?
The ambition has always been to have an international plan and we are going to deliver. Madrid is closer and more strategic, because there is demand. And I would love to see a Juno House in Amsterdam or Copenhagen. We work on expansion plans not only physically, but with digital programs and brand strategies, such as promoting mentoring.
