Long before she built a career in wellness, Monique Pereira was a teenager fascinated by skincare. At 14, while searching for solutions to her own acne, she became fascinated by skincare and the science behind it. Combined with a natural desire to help others feel good about themselves, it sparked a career she has never looked back from.
Today, as Spa Manager of Steenberg Spa, that early curiosity has evolved into something far broader.
After a career spanning more than two decades in the wellbeing industry, Pereira believes true wellness extends well beyond treatments, products or even the spa itself. Instead, she sees wellbeing as something deeply personal, rooted in connection, self-awareness and creating space for people to reconnect with themselves.
“Early in my career, I thought wellbeing was largely about skincare, treatments and visible results,” she says. “Over time, I realised it is influenced by everything from how we rest and move to how we think, connect and experience the world around us.”
That understanding has been shaped by an unusually diverse career journey. After graduating top of her Somatology class, Pereira worked aboard international cruise ships before building and running her own spa business at just 26. The experience taught her that success requires far more than technical expertise; it demands resilience, leadership and a deep understanding of people.
Cruise ships exposed her to world-class hospitality standards and diverse perspectives on wellbeing, while entrepreneurship revealed the complexity of creating exceptional guest experiences and building a sustainable business.
Yet one lesson has remained constant throughout. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is that people don’t always need solutions,” she says. “Sometimes they simply need to feel heard.” It is a lesson that has shaped not only her approach to wellbeing, but her own personal growth.
For Pereira, that insight sits at the heart of Steenberg Spa’s approach to wellness, which centres on helping guests reconnect with themselves through meaningful moments of rest, reflection and care. While exceptional treatments, facilities and therapies remain important, she believes the real value of a spa experience often lies in giving people permission to pause, reflect and let go.
Over years of working closely with guests, she has witnessed how treatment rooms often become spaces where people share life milestones, personal challenges and moments of vulnerability.
“You build relationships that go far beyond treatments,” she says. “Guests share their stories, and over time you realise how important it is simply to create a space where people feel cared for.”
That philosophy has helped shape Steenberg Spa’s evolving approach to wellness. Rather than viewing wellbeing solely through the lens of treatments, the spa is increasingly embracing more holistic experiences that encourage restoration, stillness and reflection. Nature, mindful movement, breathwork and opportunities to disconnect from daily pressures are becoming increasingly important parts of the wellness journey.
“Every guest is different,” she says. “What restores one person may not restore another. Our role is not to tell people what wellbeing should look like. It is to listen, understand and support what each person needs.”
The same philosophy shapes how she leads her team.
While guest wellbeing remains central, Pereira speaks just as passionately about mentoring staff, building confidence and helping people realise their potential. Whether supporting a guest, mentoring a colleague or raising her daughter, she sees a common thread running through all three. “It is about helping people become the best version of themselves,” she says.
Outside of the spa, Pereira draws much of her inspiration from her daughter and the desire to lead by example. Professionally, she credits Steenberg Managing Director Catherine Schulze as an important mentor who has helped shape her growth as a leader. “The people who inspire me most are those who challenge me to keep growing, both personally and professionally,” she says.
Looking ahead, Pereira believes luxury wellness will continue moving away from transactional experiences and towards something far more meaningful. Beautiful facilities and high standards of care will always matter, but increasingly, guests are looking for experiences that leave a lasting impact long after they return home.
At Steenberg Spa, that means creating more than moments of relaxation. It means creating opportunities for people to reconnect with themselves, with others and with what matters most.
“At the end of the day,” says Pereira, “people remember how you made them feel. That is what stays with them long after they leave.”
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Featured Image: Supplied
