What does IWD mean to you?

International Woman’s Day is about celebrating women from all walks of life. The Brave Women who have changed our past, The Women who are taking on the world today and the young Girls who will soon grow into strong Women and will carry on our future.

What does your role entail?

I run Global Beauty, with my husband Paul so we handle the day to day as a team. In terms of my specific role, I mainly look after our website, online and distributor orders as well as the finance end and accounts, while my husband Paul looks after the sales division and new product launches and designs.

What have been some of the biggest struggles and triumphs as a woman in business?

I am lucky in that I have not had many struggles as a woman in business however I do worry about keeping a healthy balance between work and family life. Working from home and home-schooling two children is incredibly challenging, but we have adapted very well given the circumstances. My greatest triumphs in business has been setting up Global Beauty at the beginning of a global pandemic to now seeing how far we’ve grown a year on and walking into my local grocery store and pharmacy and seeing products we’ve created sitting on shelves. It is a real pinch me moment.

 

What skills are important to have in your sector?

Starting your own business, I think you need to work hard and be determined with a good circle of people around you as opposed to specific skills. If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you can achieve anything you put your mind to. Do not let anyone tell you cannot.

 

What are the current challenges for women in your sector?

Now in the beauty sector, I think all the major brands have strong women behind them, either in terms of the creator or those leading them in the industry. Women are killing it right now and I personally love to hear positive success stories about other brands. In business we should all help and support each other especially during this pandemic. Challenges a lot of women face in business right now including myself are home schooling and looking after the children while working full time hours.

 

Describe the 3 characteristics about yourself that you believe led to your success in business.

I have always been hard working and put 110% into everything I do. I can also be very stubborn so if I do not know how to do something, I will spend hours on google or YouTube until I find out rather than give up or ask for help. My parents were self-employed, and I grew up seeing the dedication they put into their business and it gave me a passion to have my own business. When I married Paul, he had the same drive, so it was an easy decision to take the risk and start our own company.

 

What woman has positively impacted/inspired you in your career, and what is one lesson she taught you?

My Mam, she is my best friend and role model all in one. My parents had their own business and four young kids at home, but they worked separate shifts and were like passing ships to make sure one of them was always at home with us, so we never needed childcare. That is what Paul and I have always done since becoming parents. I’ll never forget going through a hard time and my Mam just looked at me and said, ‘ You’ve Got This Girl’ and whenever I’m having a moment or a bad day, I say it to myself and I pick myself up.

 

What do you do on a regular basis to celebrate your woman self?

Every once and a while you need to stop and look at yourself in the mirror and say well done and tell yourself how amazing you are.

 

What is something interesting you are currently working on? Personal or professional.

We are currently working on some new and exciting products that I cannot wait to launch but I’d be in trouble if I talked about them too soon.