Architect, Travelling Yogi, Seeker, Gallerist, Lisbon, Portugal

Meeting Ms. Maryam Benoit in the middle of a chaotic day in Lisbon, Portugal, felt like one major exhale. As you will see from her writing, Maryam has a clear vision of who she is, her mixed background and various travel experiences dictating how she perceives the world and her place in it. I found it very relatable to have a fear of “always missing home” yet knowing that a home is a “mix of people, places and cultures”. Essentially leaving you somewhere in the middle of all these places. Please enjoy and hopefully, exhale.

1. Name.

Maryam Benoit.

2. Where is your hometown?

This is an impossible question. In the past 27 years I have lived in seven countries, three continents. Each of them is, some more than others, a home. I also travelled extensively, spending months at a time in many parts of Asia and South America. Even though I cannot call those places home, they became in integral part of who I am, how I see and understand the world and others. For me, home is a mix of people, places and cultures.

3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation?

I hope to one day be an architect but life has been distracting me with the world and all there is to see and learn. There are so many things I want to do and be. I love art, design and composition. I enjoy problem solving, building, and making. I’m a sustainability enthusiast and an aspiring yogi, designer, and dancer—and I’m obsessed with food and cooking healthy and delicious feasts. 

So far, I have dabbled in working in architecture in the UK, USA, and Ecuador, and most recently I worked for a small firm in Italy. These experiences have made me eager to work on our built environment in more sustainable ways. We need these built environments, that we rely on heavily, to become more harmonious with the planet.

Last year, I spent some time working for a large corporate firm where I dove into the world of social media and all it offers, but also its dangers. Except from the obvious negative points such as how addictive it is, all the horrors that are now available to us etc., what jumped out at me most is how many people share their opinions and inspirational quotes without being fully educated or even fully aware of the complexities involved in what they are sharing. Of course sharing is wonderful, but we have to be aware of this as users and consumers. We have to be selective and educate ourselves very well before shaping our beliefs by what social media influencers share. This experience of working in the social media world really highlighted the importance of education. By this, I do not mean only academics, but education in a broader context.

Most recently I joined Simi Launay, Founder of Ungalleried, to work on the launch of a new contemporary art gallery that's part digital and part physical. We want to break conventional boundaries and make art more accessible. The core idea is to promote and support emerging artists around the world by highlighting the variety of approaches and processes involved in the creation of their work. At the same time, we're fusing interior design with collection and curation to transform the spaces people spend their lives in by filling them with stories instead of empty, generic accent pieces. We're trying to take the idea of a gallery as something that's fixed, separate, and exclusive, and seeing if we can turn it inside out to people, art, and artists closer together. It's been really exciting to join this incredible team of women and get to work on such a cool project.

I'm thrilled to be able to bring art into people's lives and support creatives with an incredible team of women.

4. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? What are some accomplishments you’re most proud of, and what was the turning point to set you on a current path in life?

Career-wise, my upbringing and the activities I did with my parents growing up really shaped my love for architecture. The passion my father showed in his work and all the hours spent paying attention to details, drawing and creating things with my mother. 

5. What did you study in school?

I was very fortunate to attend a small international school in Southern England as a teenager. It was a school based on the type of education I mentioned above, an all-encompassing education. I was taught to think critically not only about my exams and how to get into university but just as importantly to ask myself what I wanted from life. How to live in harmony with the natural world, how to be healthy, how to care for others and myself, how to be open and curious, etc. Sitting silently and becoming aware of my body and mind was a big part of this education. This opened the world to me, and led me to attend a liberal arts college in Vermont, USA, where I studied design, architecture, and contemporary dance.

I was lucky to have four entire years where I could explore space through movement and movement through space. 

6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?

20 is not that long ago, but I feel more lost in the world than I expected I would be. At this stage I imagined being in a place that taking the “traditional” steps would have taken me to: a stable career, being settled, starting a family, etc. I took a few traditional steps, but I decided it was more important to explore. I always dreamed of travelling the world but never imagined I would actually get to see, experience and live in as much of the world as I have.

7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?

Recently my health was knocked down by stress and anxiety. I’ve had to learn to really prioritise myself, my health and learn to reject external (but mostly internally created) expectations of myself. Finding a balance between being ambitious and leisurely. 

8. Advice for other women?

Prioritise yourself. 

Pack a bag and go explore. 

Take risks.

We need to stop separating men and women and it will solve a big part of many issues concerning gender equality. We must embrace the differences between genders.

9. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values"?

We need to work together with men, and realise that humanity is strongest when we are one and we do not focus on differences and separations. I fear that with the whole current, and much needed, feminist approach we are focusing our energy too much on what separates us.

I believe that, even in today’s world, women can be anything they want to be.

10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?

The Alps.

11. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?

Taking the time and space to eat and prepare fresh and healthy meals. It is so important to take care of yourself and others around you. Eating, exercising and enjoying family and friends is, what I believe, the basis of a good life. I dedicate time for myself and others around me to focus on this and be well-nourished. 

12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?

A mother.

13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome?

Fear of always missing home. 

14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?

No, if this was all I got, I would be satisfied. Everything teaches you something, so I’m thankful for all I have done and been a part of so far. Even hard or negative experiences play an important role in who I am and will go on to be. 

16. What are you hopeful about?

Most people are very caring in the world, that makes me hopeful. 

17. What are some ingredients to a good life?

Go outside and breathe.

Super important.

Do good.

Take care of the people around you, show love and gratitude. This goes a long way, and is often reciprocated. If we do things well, with attention, and show care to others, I believe the world and many of its issues will solve themselves. One must forget oneself temporarily and prioritise others to be able to fully help another. 

Be organised.

Organising and being diligent about things is something I excel in, which has eased the way for me most of my life. It is a skill that we take for granted, and assume that people are either organised or not. But often, simple organisation—whether it be with work or simply with managing time—can change your life, and what you are capable of achieving. When you are organised about your life, daily tasks, everything, time opens up. It’s easy for life to become nothing but a series of tasks. If you give yourself the opportunity to be a little strict about organising and prioritising, then suddenly life is opened up and you find time for yourself. 

Listen to yourself. 

We often listen to our exterior worlds, and don't make space to listen to ourselves. Spend time alone, sit quietly, and suddenly you will learn a lot about your desires and needs. 

Be open and curious.

Accept differences, it doesn't mean you have to change, but nurture acceptance and the willingness to learn. It will open your mind. We are not all fortunate enough to be able to travel, but there are people around you that come from different belief systems or cultures and being open to new ideas learning from them can change us for the better and help us better understand what we ourselves believe in. 

18. What is a quality you most love about yourself and why?

This is difficult, many of the qualities that I have and love also have downsides to them.

I like that I'm usually pretty straightforward.

19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Pay more attention to and do more mathematics.

20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)

I don’t read many books, but at the moment I'm reading Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho. 

21. Who is a WOW Woman in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, why you admire them?

My mother and my grandmothers—for demonstrating how powerful and strong women are. For how frank they are. For being the most caring people and for feeding the world amazing food. For being so immaculate in everything they do. For the strength they create and share with the women and men around them. 

22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?

ungalleried.com

www.maryambenoit.com

instagram: @maryambenoit