My Career: ‘My daughter has joined me now ...It’s been a wonderful journey’

Name: Sabine Lenz

Lives: Schull, West Cork.

Job title: Founder & Creative Director, enibas Jewellery.

Salary bracket: €60-75,000

Education background: Studied Fashion Design, largely self-taught, with additional training at the Academy for Jewellery & Goldsmithing in Kilkenny under Jane Huston. Founded enibas (Sabine spelt backwards) from nothing 32 years ago – time flies!

Hobbies: I love all kinds of design - at work, at home, or in the garden. Outside of that, I walk the coast, sketch, and spend time with my family.

Describe your job in five words: Creating beautiful, meaningful, timeless jewellery.

Describe yourself in five words: Curious, meticulous, creative, grounded, passionate.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

You need great attention to detail and patience when creating jewellery. I have always been meticulous, from the quality of precious metals I work with to the last detail of packaging.

Receiving a piece of jewellery is special and what you wear should hold meaning and evoke special memories. You also need to be creative and resilient – being a business owner means you are almost always working or at least thinking about work, so you need to love what you do.

How long are you doing this job? 32 years.

How did you get this job?

After finishing my studies in Germany, I came to Ireland where I hitchhiked with a friend. Destiny took hold, and I ended up meeting my husband Len and moving to the depths of West Cork (Schull was much more remote back then that it is now!)

From extremely humble beginnings, I began making one-off jewellery pieces which I sold at local markets. Over the years, I developed my own design style, combining simple designs with traditional craftsmanship in sterling silver and solid gold.

The business grew slowly but steadily, building a reputation for meaningful, heirloom-quality jewellery interweaved with the Irish language, which I love so much. My daughter, Anna-Leah, has now joined the business, bringing fresh ideas while learning the craft alongside me – it has been a wonderful journey, but I think where we are now is my favourite part, it’s so wonderful to see Anna-Leah now in the business she has grown up in, and we work really well together.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

Formal training in jewellery design or metalwork can be helpful, but what really matters is hands-on experience, patience, and a keen eye for detail. Above all, a natural sense of beauty and proportion will carry you far.

Describe a day at work:

I work mostly remotely from my studio next to the house, where I have a complete mini workshop for creating new designs. My mornings usually start with a cup of coffee while checking my calendar and planning the day. I have a few meetings now and no longer spend time in the shops, so I’m lucky to have plenty of flexibility. I try to dedicate a few hours in the morning to creative work — sketching new ideas, developing pieces, and experimenting with materials. Afternoons are focused on mentoring our senior team and building frameworks to support the company’s next phase, guiding and reviewing progress so the business can run smoothly while I step fully back into design.

How many hours do you work a week?

I’m lucky to work around six hours a day, though it can shift depending on the season or new collection launches. Even when I’m gardening or doing other things, enibas is never far from my mind, and that connection is part of what makes it so joyful.

Is your industry male or female dominated?

I would say it is fairly balanced in general. However, there is a notable decline in real craftsmanship in jewellery design with so much mass production and brands simply buying in jewellery to rebrand – something enibas will never do.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

Not significantly — I’ve been fortunate to build a supportive network. I’m never one to look or think about competition – I just focus on how enibas can be the best it can be to ensure our pieces last the test of time and continue to bring joy and meaning to the people who wear them.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10:

It used to be stressful, which was a clear sign it was time to step back and start handing over responsibilities. I’d say it used to feel like an 8 or 9, but now it’s more like a 1 or 2.

Do you work with others or on your own?

Mostly on my own, though I collaborate closely with my daughter and the senior team a lot now.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I’ll definitely be staying on as CEO for the next 3–5 years. After that, I plan to step back into design, by which time everything should be in place for the company to move successfully into its second phase.

Best bits: Creating jewellery that people treasure for life, seeing customers’ reactions, mentoring my daughter, being able to work creatively every day, and living and working in beautiful West Cork.

Worst bits: Meeting tight deadlines.

Advice to those who want your job?

Learn the craft thoroughly, be patient, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to combine traditional techniques with your own creative voice. Perseverance is key.

Any other comments?

Jewellery-making is about more than just objects — it’s about creating things that carry story, meaning, and beauty across generations. That philosophy guides every piece I make.