Young film maker Eli Mak captures jewellery designer Tanya Hamersfeld creating a jewel encrusted mask valued at 42K.

The Melbourne mum of three later donated it the AIDS Benefit Ball.

You may remember Tanya from a post a few weeks back when I took you inside her glamorous boutique in Melbourne’s Armadale.

Photo – Changwei Dean 

Photo – Changwei Dean

She’s about the bling yet not lacking in substance.

Tanya founded and sold her own company ‘Corporate Training Australia,’ and followed her parents footsteps into jewellery.

Here’s some insights courtesy of Tanya…

Martine Harte: Tanya giving back is a really important part of your life, why is that?

Tanya Hamersfeld: My family has had a tradition of giving to charity, 10% of our profits to charity for five generations. That’s just how we roll.

I don’t want to sound contrived but it is just part of my life. It doesn’t have to be financial; sometimes it can be mentoring a young person or giving a shout out to someone who needs help.

Tell us why you decided to sell your training business?

Tanya Hamersfeld: I had 70 full-time contractors and staff in five states, it was completely ridiculous to have three kids with that so after my second baby I shoved on the spanx and sold the business. (laughs)

As you do (laughs) Was it difficult to part ways with your company?

Tanya Hamersfeld: I became a mother of three young kids with parents who live in a different state so that was a different ride!

My best mate got pregnant at the same time and we were very honest about how isolating it was because we like action. I thought I would be comfortable dedicating my life to working on charities but I actually didn’t feel fulfilled.

Best tips for building a business?

Tanya Hamersfeld: To stop every now and then, to listen and learn. Listen to customers: clients, colleagues, mentors, read articles and expose yourself to new ideas. Building a business is very labour intensive and all consuming and if you don’t consciously stop every now and then you will lose perspective.

Shake off that ego driven feeling that you “know” things and try things that may not have worked in the past but might work now.

Best business learning?

Tanya Hamersfeld: That learning never ceases. A business is an organic living thing that is constantly shifting. I know for sure that I don’t know anything for sure.

You’re on the development board at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, can you tell us about that?

Tanya Hamersfeld: I’m obsessed with it actually because it has such an incredible impact and so many notches on its belt in terms of achievement.

It is very progressive in the way it shares information with other institutions. We are working towards an allergy free life for children and so many other medical mysteries are being solved. Ten years ago – with childhood cancer – 80% of patients would die and now more than 80% survive which I think is remarkable.

Exceptional. Can you share time management tips?

Tanya Hamersfeld: If you don’t get through everything just be kind to yourself.

If you have young kids, time management is almost an oxymoron. It’s about time coping.

Ten years time what will be happening?

Tanya Hamersfeld: I’ve got a very elaborate fantasy but I don’t think it’s fit for the public.

Try us…

Tanya Hamersfeld: I don’t have any great expectations but I would like to be cool enough that my kids still want to hang out with me.

Suspect many mum’s reading this will get that..

Tanya Hamersfeld: I‘d like them to still go on holidays with me willingly and I’d like to have open lines of communication with them because I find young people fascinating.

Potentially my ultimate thing would be to lie on a beach with a really handsome waiter who’s got OCD and loves to clean and he can’t stop cleaning and when he stops for a breath he can’t stop pouring drinks.

But I’ll have my kids by my side and the same time. (laughs)

Hook up with Tanya and discover her boutique here