Sonja M Salmon was a successful corporate lawyer for HSBC Bermuda.

She gave it up to follow her dream and is now the head of her own luxury brand of travel accessories and luggage for women, Ebby Rane.

Her designs have featured in InStyle, Elle Canada and Good Housekeeping magazines.

The mother-of-two said she's been surprised by how much she's learned and grown in her first year as an entrepreneur.

“It was definitely a step outside my comfort zone, but we all find ourselves at times in our lives when we have an opportunity to take some risks,” said Ms Salmon, who lived here for nearly seven years.

“I felt I was at that point in my life and felt the time was right. I prayed about it a lot and felt I was being led to launch this business.

“I didn't have any fear of failure. I have a fire in my belly, if you talk to anyone who knows me they will tell you that, and I have such a strong work ethic. Anything I set my mind to I just go for it.”

That confidence is what led her to try something new after more than 15 years working in the banking industry in Bermuda and Canada.

As a regular business traveller, Ms Salmon said she was always on the lookout for stylish, professional luggage to take with her on trips.

She searched stores as she travelled through New York, London and Hong Kong — but wound up empty-handed.

“I used to get frustrated over what was available in luggage,” the 44-year-old said.

“It was a lot of the same thing. It was mostly bags catering to the male business traveller and when they did gear something towards women it was a pink or polka dot roller case, which isn't appropriate for the executive or senior woman in business.

“I concluded there was no one doing sophisticated and elegant luggage for female business travellers and realised there was a market for it. That's where it all began.”

She was full of ideas for luggage that was both beautiful and functional.

At the time, her role and responsibilities as HSBC Bermuda's general counsel required her full attention.

It wasn't until she left that position in July 2012 to return home to Canada that Ms Salmon was able to put her plan into action.

“I never worried the business wouldn't work out because I don't think about that,” she said. “I knew I had to climb a very steep learning curve. I had spent over 15 years in banking and knew nothing about retail or e-commerce, other than being a consumer. I knew nothing about luggage composition, sales and design. I knew what I liked, but I had to immerse myself in research and learn a lot of things.”

Her former jobs helped to prepare her — she has to work with people, lead a team and be accountable for a budget.

“We have more access to information then we've ever had before,” she said. “Setting up a business is more simple these days. There are so many websites that give you templates for how to create a budget or strategic plan.

“Social media also allows us to do our own marketing without hiring a marketing department.”

She hired people from around the world to create Ebby Rane's logos, business cards and letterheads, instead of employing full-time staff.

“There are lots of tools out there today that allow you to keep your costs low and work with freelancers,” she said.

“We don't come into an office to collaborate, we just work virtually.”

However she said that today's fast-paced and competitive global environment also poses its challenges.

Customers' tastes tend to change quickly, which means it takes a lot of dedication to gain their loyalty.

“We have all the challenges that every new business has,” she said. “We are trying to move at lightning speed and have expanded quickly.”

One of the best parts of running her own business is the added flexibility it gives her as a wife and mom.

Ms Salmon said there are some days when she gets to catch her eldest son's basketball games. On other days she might be up working until 2am finishing up a conference call with suppliers in Hong Kong. She aims for harmony, rather than the usual work/life balance.

“I certainly work just as hard as before, it's just different,” she explained.

She loves getting feedback from women who've enjoyed her luggage.

“Speaking to them and hearing their stories is inspiring me and then I feel humbled to have a product that can enhance her travel experience,” she said.

Visit www.ebbyrane.com.