What do you currently do?
“As the Vice President and General Manager heading up all of Arbonne’s UK operations, my role is pretty all encompassing and involves the management of all aspects of the business.”
Who do you admire?
“Michelle Mone OBE; she is an entrepreneur and has a great no nonsense approach to business. She is very spirited and not afraid to make tough decisions if they suit the job at hand. I admire her resilience and persistence which are traits we at Arbonne embrace. She works hard and plays hard but always has time for the people around her.”
Looking back are there things you would have done differently?
“When Arbonne launched into the UK in 2007, it was already an established international brand, and my role covered every level of operations for the entire organisation from day one. If I’d have had more time around my responsibilities, I would have liked to have spent longer on the ground with our customer-facing operations team. However, when a diverse range of tasks cross your desk on a day-to-day basis, it isn’t always possible to get back to ‘the shop floor’, regardless of how much you may want to.”
What defines your way of doing business?
“I like to lead from the back during the good times and from the front during the challenging times. This method ensures everyone involved in the business has confidence in what I do and trusts how I operate. I think of Arbonne as my own business and think ‘if I owned this entire company, would I make this decision?’ before deciding anything on behalf of the organisation. Any choice you make in business has to come from the heart.”
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
“Listen and learn from everyone you work with, whether that’s your immediate team, your customers or the team you’re managing. Every individual you encounter can offer something which can help your own personal development. Take a step back and a deep breath and think about what it is you really want to achieve before you do anything.”