Fiona Bubear – Financial Director Thinkspace and CEO Bubear Solutions
TL;DR
Fiona, based in Cape Town, is Financial Director at Thinkspace and CEO of Bubear Solutions. She juggles finance, leadership, and gaming (she loves Pac-Man). Her motto: back yourself, set boundaries, and grow. Next up: expanding both businesses.
Meet Fiona: Financial Director of Thinkspace and CEO of Bubear Solutions
Fiona was born and raised in Cape Town, and if you ask her, there’s no other place she would rather be. She’s the Financial Director of Thinkspace and the CEO & Founder of Bubear Solutions, two businesses that keep her challenged, inspired, and busy.
“Cape Town is home,” she says. “I honestly can’t see myself living anywhere else.”
At Thinkspace, Fiona is a part of a team that offers interior design services. Both design-led and project management-driven. Her business, Bubear Solutions, is all about procurement sourcing, managing, and delivering whatever a business needs.
A Day In The Life
Fiona’s days are usually filled with back-to-back meetings, lots of coffee, and the occasional slice of banana bread.
“Whenever I arrive at the office, I always feel happy,” she shares. “It’s a great space to work from. The energy is dynamic, and the people are genuinely friendly.”
But when the workday winds down, Fiona taps into a completely different energy.
A Gamer at Heart
Outside of work, Fiona has a fun side, most people don’t expect that she’s a bit of a gamer.
“I love playing PlayStation,” she admits. “I recently got hooked on the old-school Pac-Man 256. It’s super relaxing. Eating ghosts is my thing right now.”
Leadership Realities
Managing the finances across multiple projects at different stages can get tricky, but Fiona points out that she doesn’t do it alone.
“I’ve got such strong support around me. The other directors at Thinkspace have been so encouraging of my journey with BB Solutions, and I’ve got great finance and procurement teams on both sides. We make it happen together.”
Her biggest piece of advice? “Back yourself. And keep stepping out of your comfort zone, it’s the only way to grow.”
Setting Boundaries (and a Pet Peeve)
One of Fiona’s non-negotiables at work is health.
“I’m begging, please don’t come to work sick, that’s definitely a pet peeve. Just stay home.” – Fiona laughs
She also believes in the power of setting clear boundaries. “You can say no. It doesn’t have to be your default, but you need to know where your limits are.”
What’s Next?
Thinkspace has seen some amazing growth over the past 15 years, and Fiona says the plan is simple: keep building on that success. At BB Solutions, the focus right now is on expanding, building brand awareness, growing the client base, and launching some exciting new drops.
Fiona’s journey is proof that you can lead with heart, hustle hard, and still find time to play a little Pac-Man in between.
