10 Secrets to Creative Success: What Every Founder Can Learn from Shlomit Malka

Shlomit Malka went from international model to CEO of Happ, reinventing herself along the way. After a decade in the creative world, she saw how freelancers struggled with the business side and built Happ to make their lives easier.

Author

Ben Sharf
November 29, 2024

In Season 3, Episode 4 of Turning Pro, co-hosts Ben Sharf and Adrian Alfieri sit down with Shlomit Malka, the co-founder and CEO of Happ. Shlomit recounts her journey of leaving a high-profile modeling career to create a platform that empowers creative professionals. Motivated by her personal experiences, she sought to streamline the fragmented processes of contracts, payments, and project management for freelancers, enabling them to focus on their craft.

Shlomit also delves into her personal and professional transformation, influenced by the pandemic, a major life reset, and her spiritual practices. In this episode, she shares invaluable insights on listening to your intuition, embracing change, and staying true to your passions while navigating challenges in the creative world.

Find Season 3, Episode 4 of Turning Pro on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

10 Key Lessons We Learned from Shlomit Malka:

  1.  Listen to Your Intuition: Shlomit stresses the importance of trusting your gut, especially when navigating uncharted territories in both personal and professional life.

  1. Reinvention is Possible: Transitioning from modeling to founding a tech platform demonstrates the power of redefining your path, even when starting from scratch.

  1. Build Around Your Inner World: Aligning your inner peace and external actions creates a solid foundation for success and fulfillment.

  1. Create Space for Reflection: Shlomit emphasizes the importance of rituals like observing Shabbat to disconnect and gain clarity amid the chaos.

  1. Identify Real Needs: Many creative professionals focus on visibility but overlook foundational business practices, leading to missed opportunities.

  1. Turn Challenges into Solutions: Happ was born from the pain points Shlomit and her peers experienced, showcasing the power of solving problems you deeply understand.

  1. Celebrate the Transition: Shlomit’s “Turning Pro” moment came when she fully committed to being a CEO, leaving her previous career behind to focus 100% on building Happ.

  1. Freedom Fuels Creativity: Shlomit’s entrepreneurial journey highlights the importance of creating a life where you can fully express your creativity and individuality.

  1. Follow Your Passion with Purpose: Her drive to support creatives stems from a genuine belief in the transformative power of their work.

  1. Service Over Fame: True fulfillment comes not from external validation but from using your gifts to serve others.

Shlomit Malka’s story is a compelling reminder that embracing reinvention and staying true to your vision can lead to both personal and professional fulfillment. Whether you're a creative professional, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, her lessons are sure to resonate.

Subscribe to the podcast here to be notified about future episodes.