Danucera Diaries
Entry 41: Gabriela Hersham
Tell us more about yourself?
First and foremost, I’m a mother of two wild and loving boys. Secondly, I’m the founder and CEO of Huckletree, a network of workspaces and innovation hubs across London, Manchester, and Dublin that I've been building for over a decade. My days are full-on: leading a growing business, making big decisions, and trying to show up properly for the people around me.
I’m someone with a zest for life. I love traveling, exploring, meeting new people, trying new things, and adventuring. I always move fast but try my best to stay grounded. I believe deeply in the power of community, in backing yourself even when it's scary and in the small daily rituals that keep you sane when life is full to the brim.
Building a successful business that spans across the UK and Ireland is no small feat – what inner drive or belief has carried you through the toughest moments?
Honestly, it always comes back to the same thing: I genuinely believe that where you work shapes who you become. This is something I feel every time I walk into one of our spaces and see a founder having a breakthrough conversation, or a team that's finally clicked. When things have been hard, and they really have been hard at times, I've always been able to return to that. If the work matters, the difficulty is worth it. I also think I'm more afraid of standing still than of failing. That probably helps more than anything.
"Cerabalm - it's the first thing I'd reorder without even thinking about it. The texture, the way it sinks in, the way my skin looks and feels the next morning - it just works."
—Gaby Hersham Nussenbaum —
Q: With two boys and a baby girl on the way, how are your children shaping the legacy you're building?
Gaby: "Having boys first made me want to build something that shows them what a woman who backs herself looks like in practice, not just in theory. And now having a daughter on the way has made that feel even more personal. I want her to grow up - and grow up watching me - knowing that ambition and softness aren't opposites. That you can be deeply caring and seriously driven. I think about legacy less in terms of what I leave behind and more in terms of what I normalise for my kids. That running a business and being a present, loving mother aren't in conflict. That both things can be true at once."
Q: How do you create space for yourself while running a growing business and raising a family — why is that time so important?
Gaby: "The one non-negotiable I always come back to is moving my body - whether that's a workout, weights, pilates, whatever I can fit in that day. It clears my head in a way nothing else does. Beyond that, it's about small pockets of real intentionality; a proper skincare routine at the end of the day, a walk without my phone, a moment where I'm not CEO Gaby or mum Gaby, I'm just me. That time matters because it's where I remember who I actually am underneath all the roles."
Q: What is one small daily Danucera ritual that instantly makes you feel more grounded or put together?
Gaby: "My evening cleanse, without question. There's something about that specific moment - washing the day off, literally - that acts as a signal to my whole nervous system that we're done. When you're running at the pace I run at, those transitions between modes matter enormously. It's not glamorous, but it's one of the most relaxing five minutes of my day."
Q: How does taking care of yourself impact your confidence as both a founder and a mother?
Gaby: "More than I ever used to admit, but I've completely reframed it over the past few years. When I feel good in my skin, I show up differently. I'm clearer in meetings, I'm more patient with my kids, I make better decisions. It sounds almost too simple, but it's been genuinely profound for me. Skincare has become part of a broader practice of reminding myself: I matter in this equation too.."
Q: Where does Danucera skincare fit into your routine — is it more of a luxury moment, a quick reset, or a bit of both?
Gaby: "For me it genuinely feels like a luxury, and I mean that in the best possible way. In a life that moves as fast as mine does, having something that feels considered and indulgent is something I protect. It's not just skincare, it's a moment that feels a cut above the everyday."
Q: Has pregnancy or motherhood changed the way you approach skincare, particularly when it comes to choosing Danucera?
Gaby: "Completely. Pregnancy makes you hyper-aware of everything going on your skin. You start reading ingredients lists properly, questioning what you actually trust, thinking about what a brand really stands for beyond the packaging. That's pushed me towards skincare where I feel confident in what's in it and why. There's also something about this pregnancy specifically - I've leaned hard into whatever makes me feel like myself. My body is doing something extraordinary and my skin is changing week to week. Having a routine I genuinely trust has been one of the most reassuring things – especially in a moment where I can’t do any of my usual aesthetic treatments!"
Q: What is your number one Danucera product and what makes it a staple for you?
Gaby: "The Cerabalm - it's the first thing I'd reorder without even thinking about it. The texture, the way it sinks in, the way my skin looks and feels the next morning - it just works. There's no complicated technique required. In a world that loves to overcomplicate skincare, that simplicity feels like a gift."
Q: Quick fire: morning or evening skincare, your go-to product when you're exhausted, and the one product you'd never skip?
Gaby: "When I'm exhausted: the Cerabalm. It just feels so good, so gentle and refreshing. It's like a hug for your face at the end of a long day.
Never skip: Factor 50 SPF. Never."
