Episode 6

full
Published on:

19th Nov 2025

Building Visibility, Courage and a Car Wash Empire – with Maria Pruna [S4, EP6]

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Maria Pruna - an entrepreneur redefining what’s possible for women in male-dominated industries.

Maria is someone I first discovered on LinkedIn, and her story stopped me in my tracks. From Romania to Belgium to Dubai, from corporate roles to owning and scaling car wash businesses, her journey is all about courage, reinvention, and choosing visibility.

In our conversation, Maria opens up about what it really takes to start over at 40+, why visibility became a non-negotiable part of her growth, and how she continues to break barriers in a space where women are rarely seen - let alone leading with authority.

Here’s what we covered:

✨ Buying and rebuilding a failing car wash in Belgium

✨ The bold decision to relocate and the challenges of setting up a new brand in Dubai

✨ Being a woman in a male-dominated industry

✨ Reevaluating life at 40+

✨ Discovering the power of visibility

 

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🔗 Connect with Maria

on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luiza-pruna/

 

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🌐 Connect with Mildred on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mildredtalabi

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https://www.startbeingvisible.com/newsletter

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https://www.startbeingvisible.com/book

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https://www.startbeingvisible.com/WorkWithMildred

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About the Podcast

Start Being Visible
With Mildred Talabi
Welcome to the Start Being Visible podcast.

My name is Mildred Talabi. I’ve spent the past decade plus mastering the art of personal branding in my career, as a former journalist and communications professional, and in my business which has taken on various forms over the years.

I now spend most of my time championing and coaching women to increase their influence, income and impact through being visible on platforms like LinkedIn and beyond.

In this podcast, I’ll be sharing with you some of my insights into the journey to being visible, as well as bringing you amazing candid conversations from professional women who have chosen to step out of the shadows and into the limelight in their work lives.

We’ll discuss the highs, the lows and the in betweens of being visible so that you can find the courage, the knowledge and the resources you need to start being visible in your own life.

Hit the subscribe button to never miss out on our weekly episodes.

If you like what you hear, please leave a review and spread the word.

You can find me on all the main social media platforms as "Mildred Talabi".

About your host

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Mildred Talabi

Mildred Talabi has spent the last decade mastering the art of personal branding in both her career and business as a former Journalist and PR and Communications professional.

Today she specialises in helping female leaders build powerful and authentic personal brands through being visible on LinkedIn.

She is a recognised LinkedIn Influencer, with over 50,000 followers, a 4x published author and the founder of Visible Women Tribe - a global membership community for high-achieving women in business and leadership.

Find out more at mildredtalabi.com.