We are Milla and Efe from FEMMA Planning. We do participatory urban planning, which means practically researching the wishes and needs of residents about their residential areas or places under development. Then we format the resident data into a format suitable for urban planners and architects for use in zoning or other planning.
We felt that during our studies that a more critical view of urban planning and development was lacking, so we set out to organize reading circles and workshops for students. Gradually, we also did projects with other clients and ended up formalizing the company and working towards it full time.
The most difficult part of our journey thus far has been building the company stable. It has been time-consuming, and we have been putting effort into marketing because we are not well-known in the industry. We believe that patience and consistency is the key.
The fact that you see the fruits of your own making concretely is thrilling, to say the least.
As entrepreneurs, we have been able to specialize in participatory projects and work according to our own values. On the other hand, following working hours and finding one’s own boundaries has sometimes been challenging. Even though we are passionate about our work, it’s still just work. The myth that entrepreneurs work 24/7 is not true. For us, work is not everything and we also value our free time. Now we are trying to work four days a week. Let’s see how that goes.
But, in the end, we wouldn’t choose any other path. The fact that you see the fruits of your own making concretely is thrilling, to say the least. We are not yet on a sustainable footing with the company, but we can see how far we’ve come on a daily basis. We talk with more customers and are able to contribute to the development of the entire industry – a very cool position to be in, to be honest.
With the help of our own company, we can be involved in building a future in line with our own values.
Entrepreneurship means that you often need to ask for help. Study and work networks have helped us, we have been able to meet various potential projects through acquaintances or we have received tips on potential people to whom we have been able to introduce ourselves or tell about our services. Word of mouth is important for us.
As an entrepreneur, you can quickly respond to needs as they arise. We believe that people’s own activity and thinking is important so that the future looks in line with our own values. With the help of our own company, we can be involved in building a future in line with our own values.
Find out more about FEMMA Planning at femmaplanning.com and follow Milla’s and Efe’s work on Instagram @femmaplanning.
