NAME: Donna Benton
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @donna_benton
JOB TITLE: Founder and Chairman of The Benton Group
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Donna’s spirit of adventure brought her to Dubai in 2000,
where she founded The Entertainer and subsequently lead the business from a print
publication to a data-driven technology firm. After her exit in 2020, Donna established
The Benton Group, an international holding company that consolidates several
businesses, such as her renowned swimwear company CAHA CAPO®, a brand that
can easily fit into people’s lifestyle and that makes them feel positive and confident
about themselves, all at affordable prices using the best quality materials. The name
stands for caring, happy, casual, positive, and lives and breathes these four core
values.
#LIFELESSON 1- Save for a rainy day (80/20 rule).
This principle is my Nanna’s saying and based on learning to live on 80% of your
income and saving 20%. Many people don’t plan for the future, which consequently
forces them to work harder and longer. Budgeting accordingly will prevent you from
experiencing a lack of funds when needed. I always say if you save you will always be
able to spend, but if you spend you will never be able to save!
#LIFELESSON 2 - You don’t get respect you have to earn it. Don’t ask anyone to do
something that you wouldn’t do yourself.
Leadership is about inspiring others by showing them what they are capable of doing.
I like to lead by example and serve customers alongside staff in our Caha Capo shops.
It’s good to see what’s going on in store, at the same time showing the retail staff that
your prepared to do the job as well. You have to be “in” the business, not just “on” the
business.
#LIFELESSON 3 - No risk, no reward.
We launched our online platform for CAHA CAPO® in the middle of the pandemic,
followed by the opening of our flagship store in Mall of the Emirates. Leaders need to
make decisions with long-term objectives in mind and are constantly challenged to
rethink and reevaluate their business models. Sometimes you have to go with you “gut
feeling” - if you take to long to do something it will be to late and you would of missed
the opportunity.