This week we feature successful businesswoman, Ann Hawkins, founder and owner of The Inspired Group based in Northampton.

Over to you Ann to tell your story...

How did you get started working with inspiring businesses to help them grow?
I was running events for business owners to hear Inspirational Speakers (still do) and noticed the same people coming each month and taking lots of notes so I asked them if the events made a difference to the way they did business. The answers invariably were yes, but they never got around to taking action because they were just too busy ‘doing the doing’. I invited a few of these folk to meet each other and talk about what they wanted to do and pledge to keep each other on track. We started meeting every month and I would mentor them in between meetings and the results were obvious. Support, peer pressure and accountability worked wonders! I’ve now got several MasterMind Groups in Cambridge and, since I discovered Google Wave, also run them online.

Describe your proudest business achievement:
I am really proud of our monthly ‘Inspirational Speakers’ events. They’re not the most profitable part of the business but some people regularly travel over 100 miles to get to them and some have hardly missed an event in five years. I’m told by the speakers and guests alike that they have a very special atmosphere and it’s a real challenge to keep finding speakers that measure up to the high standards that everyone has come to expect.

and your most challenging time?
Early on in my career I was involved in implementing the Equal Opportunities Act (equal pay and race relations). I was the only female manager in a workforce of 1200 people with five trades unions - one just for the female workers. I was newly qualified and very young but the experience taught me how to negotiate, how to deal with aggressive people and most importantly that business owners and employees think in very different ways about how a business should be run. I’m not surprised that so many talented women choose to start their own business rather than fight their way through the obstacles of trying to get ahead in a job.

What is the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
The purpose of every business is to make money and every business runs by the same financial principles. A business doesn’t care if you love it or hate it, it will work if you get the basics right. Don’t invest emotion in anything that can’t give emotion back.

What two business people (past or present) inspire you and why?
1) Janet O’Keefe trained as a speech and language therapist and set up her business, Wordswell, 12 years ago to provide a service that isn’t provided by the NHS. She is a medico legal representative and makes regular court appearances on behalf of clients who need to fight for the provision of speech and language therapy. She regularly takes on projects that would make most people quail and has a very complicated family life with natural, adopted and foster children. She always works to the highest set of principles, fights for her beliefs and somehow makes it all work. She has had severe challenges that have made her question her own judgement and almost robbed her of her confidence but she has recovered and her business makes a huge difference to the quality of life of hundreds of people.

2) Ada Lovelace was a skilled mathematician who is widely acknowledged to be the first person (not the first woman, the first PERSON!) to write computer programmes. In 1843 she wrote programmes that would have run on Charles Babbage’s ‘Analytical Engine’ the first programmable computer. Ada even predicted that, one day, computers could be used to compose music. While not strictly a business woman she broke the mould of so many female stereotypes and is an inspiration to women in technology. If she hadn’t died at the age of 36 who knows what else she would have accomplished.

What are your three favourite blogs or websites besides HSBC Women In Business?
TED (short for Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a U.S. private non-profit foundation that is best known for its conferences where some of the world’s most innovative thinkers give 20 minute talks. All the talks are available free on TED.com and provide more information, inspiration and fun than any other single source.
http://thisisindexed.com Jessica Hagy started a quirky, funny little blog ‘Indexed’ in 2006, drawing everyday situations in what look like mathematical formula. Now world famous and with books, T-shirts and other products it still makes me smile every morning when I get a new post.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com Straight talking, cuts to the chase, makes you stop and think about your business. I like it because its not preachy but shares great ideas.

We are delighted to announce that our overall 100 Thoughts Twitter competition winner is Julia Macmillan, founder and CEO of online dating company Toyboy Warehouse.

In a peer-to-peer vote Julia won 51% of the overall vote with her thought.... 'hang onto your core vision even if others want to change it you may just be ahead of your time'.

The competition ran on our Twitter account - www.twitter.com/100thoughts. We asked businesses to tweet their pearl of business wisdom, using Twitter's 140 character limit, to be entered into five weekly competitions to win attendance at our 100 thoughts invite-only events. The five winners were then entered into a public vote on www.100thoughts.hsbc.co.uk.

Julia wins one-to-one consultancy with social media and business guru, Peter Friedman, Chairman and CEO of LiveWorld Inc (based in New York). Peter was the Vice President and General Manager of Apple Computer's Internet/Online Services business unit before founding LiveWorld.

Our congratulations go to Julia, well done!

The USA is potentially one of the most lucrative markets (after the EU) for UK fashion, accessories and footwear, yet if companies don't do their homework properly exporting there can be extremely challenging and risky.

To guide you through the complexities and major benefits of selling to the USA, the UK Fashion & Textiles Association (UKFT) has assembled a team of successful exporters, who will share their experiences. These will include:

- Tanya Sarne, founder of Ghost and Handwritten

- Angela Quaintrell, former buyer at Liberty and export sales manager of Shirin Guild

- Roger Wade, ex-owner of Boxfresh and director of Brands Incorporated

In just two hours, Selling to the USA will give you:
- An overview of the market
- Pointers to its future prospects
- First-hand advice from "real" fashion people
- A set of options for exploring and approaching the market
- Advice on how to overcome key barriers

Full details including venue, times and prices are available on the UKFT website.

One of our favourite entrepreneurs, Laura Tenison founder of Jo Jo Maman Bebe, will be on our expert panel at our next 100 Thoughts Live Webinar on Tuesday 22 June.

You can directly ask Laura questions or any of the other panelists including broadcaster Andrew Neil, Nick Peters Editor in Chief of Business First or indeed our very own Chief Economist Dennis Turner.

Please click here to sign up now!

Laura won the coveted Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year 2010 award early this year read our coverage here.

Our congratulations go out to our good friend Mich Turner, founder and director of London’s Little Venice Cake Company, who has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List with an MBE for her outstanding achievement and service to the Catering Industry.

“There are very few occasions in your life when you are so genuinely overwhelmingly surprised. This is truly an honour!”

Mich will attend Buckingham Palace later in the year for her investiture.

If you would like to meet Mich there are still some places for this Thursday's (17/06) SHE Means Business networking evening please click here to find out more.

If you can't make the networking evening we featured Mich in one of our Thursday Showcases click here to find our the secrets of her success.

We want your 100 Thoughts...

We are inviting every enterprising company with business wisdom to share to take part in our 100 Thoughts Twitter campaign. Designed to celebrate and promote nuggets of business inspiration, HSBC’s campaign is inviting businesses to submit their own contributions via the social media platform Twitter.

To take part, businesses should simply “tweet” their thought attaching the #100thoughts hashtag – for example “#100thoughts Cheap is Beautiful”.

Originators of the best “thoughts” will be invited to attend invite-only networking events hosted by business luminaries such as Laura Tenison and Kay Burley across the country – while the most inspiring contribution as voted for by the public will also be offered business consultancy to help their organisation take advantage of the networked world.

So get tweeting…...and obviously please do check out other peoples thoughts and follow us @100thoughts….

We Announce the 2010 London and Manchester SHE Magazine and HSBC Networking Evenings

Our 2009 business networking evenings with SHE Magazine were really well received so we have brought them back for 2010.

The SHE Means Business evenings will take place on 8 June at Harvey Nichols in Manchester and 17 June at HSBC, St James’ in London, from 6pm to 9.30pm.

Speaking at both events will be Katie Perrior of iNHouse PR and entrepreneur Deirdre Bounds, with the focus on PR and internet business. Mich Turner, founder of The Little Venice Cake Company, will join the event in London, which will be hosted by Sky TV presenter Kay Burley, while in Manchester, host and newly elected MP Esther McVey will be joined by hair extension creator Lucinda Ellery. It’s the perfect way to get advice on starting, or growing, your own business.

You'll also walk away with a fabulous goodie bag that's worth £35.

For further information on the speakers and how you can obtain tickets please click here

But hurry - as these will be popular events!

This week's Showcase features Ceri Heathcote who has successfully run Heathcote Communications and Online Fashion Marketing for two years.

Over to you Ceri...

How did you get started in online fashion marketing?
I had always wanted to be a fashion designer but for one reason or another, I ended up studying Environmental Life Science at university before working in a variety of different roles including sales, customer services and management.

I started my own fashion website when I got a bit bored on maternity leave, I then started a blog to promote the website. A price comparison website contacted me to see if I would like to write their fashion blog for them and it all went from there. I set up my own website and blog offering writing and marketing services and I started getting enquiries. I now work on a combination of my own websites including some fashion blogs and a clothes swap website plus writing, marketing and PR work for clients. I basically taught myself how to do it all by setting up and promoting my own websites.

Describe your proudest business achievement and your most challenging time?
Winning my first contract with a high street retailer was one of the highlights. There hasn’t been one specific challenging time, it has been a constant challenge, as a working mum, in terms of managing my time and prioritising. I haven’t had many holidays, weekends or days off since I started the business (on the other hand, I am always able to pick my children up from school and I really love what I do).

What is the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
Many years ago when I worked in a call centre my supervisor told me to ‘Just do it’. You can spend ages analysing whether something will work but you never really know until you try. I used analyse a lot. Now I just try it and see without investing too much time or money. If something looks like it is working, I can then invest more time and resources in it.

What two business people (past or present) inspire you and why?
Saffia Minney, founder of People Tree. Saffia has created a profitable ethical fashion business but her background was in marketing and publishing. She worked on a magazine for four years where she discovered that she loved promoting social and environmental awareness and action through advertising and communications before starting her company which has become an industry leader and innovator in ethical and eco fashion. I try to promote ethical and eco fashion through my business in as many ways as I can.

Sally Vanson, Managing Director of The Performance Solution Training Consultancy and Executive coach, I worked for Sally for three years at the Performance Solution. It was Sally and the Neuro Linguistic Programming training that I completed with her that helped me to understand that I could achieve anything that I wanted to. Unfortunately this led to me leaving my role at The Performance Solution to start to my own company but without the experience and self confidence that I gained, I would never have achieved what I have today. Sally also taught me how it is possible to run a business while being completely ethical and sticking to your values.

What are your three favourite blogs or websites besides HSBC Women In Business?
www.ethicalfashionforum.com - I think this is just such an amazing resource for ethical fashion companies and those who would like to start an ethical fashion company.
www.stylebubble.co.uk – Susie Lau’s fashion blog has a huge following worldwide. It was Style Bubble that first inspired me to start blogging and I still read it regularly as Susie knows just about everything that is going on in fashion, she also has a great writing style and puts together some great outfits.

Spring has finally sprung and we are very excited that our friends over at Orla Kiely have announced the dates of their Spring Sample Sale. Just what is required to kick start your spring/summer wardrobe!

Mark your diaries and get ready to take advantage of amazing prices on fabulous past seasons clothing, bags and accessories.

Where:
The Chelsea Old Town Hall
Kings Road
London
SW3 5EE
Nearest tubes:
Sloane Square & South Kensington

Dates:
Thursday 29th April - 11am - 8pm
Friday 30th April - 11am - 8pm
Saturday 1st May - 11am - 7pm
Sunday 2nd May - 11am - 6pm

Do you have a sample sale coming up? If so please email womeninbusiness@hsbc.com and we will promote on this blog.

Happy Shopping!

Today we feature our first 'serial entrepreneur' Sandra Wheatley. She recently founded Demographik Ltd, a creative design agency, after running her previous company for 11 years.

Over to you Sandra...

How did you get started in the Graphic Design business?
By default, really. I had studied Performing Arts in South Africa where I grew up, and came to London without any ‘proper job’ skills. A brief temping position on reception at an established Design Agency was my foot in the door. I was offered a job very quickly as the Chairman’s PA and had a wonderful but challenging couple of years organising his life and events such as golf days at Wentworth and exclusive lunches at the Groucho Club. I learnt the business while shadowing him, and then started moving up within the organisation. First Account Executive, then Account Manager, and finally, Account Director looking after some fantastic accounts including HSBC. I left after 10 years to start my own Agency with a colleague from the same company. That was 12 years ago. The industry has changed enormously over the years – when I started Macs were only starting to make an entrance so everything was done by hand – it was fascinating. Nowadays the term Graphic Design does not cover the myriad of services you need to provide.

Describe your proudest business achievement and your most challenging time?
Most challenging is easier to recall as it is recent history and I am only just recovering! After 10 years running a business and at a time when it was doing well, and I had a major shareholding in a successful email marketing company I had helped to start, I decided it was a safe time (if there is one) to finally have a baby. I really felt that financially I was in a good place and that I could take six months off to have my baby. On my last day at work, two weeks before having the baby, I was notified that I would have to sell my shares at a reduced price in the email marketing business, or else three of the other shareholders who just had the majority would close the business and start again taking the major client. To top that I was called back three months early by my business partner, as the design agency was hitting hard times. Our two largest clients who had given us most of our business for the last six years had both simultaneously stopped (one due to the credit crunch/mortgage market, another due to political reasons – but none due to our work), leaving the business with a massive overhead and little work in the pipeline. We managed to cut some overheads and keep it limping for a few more months, but more and more businesses started putting their marketing budgets on hold. We would work furiously on a presentation, be told we had won the project, only to be then told that it was on hold for six months while businesses froze budgets. This happened again and again. We finally decided to liquidate at a point where we believed that we could ‘shut up shop’ and the money we were owed would cover the money we owed and the liquidators would sort all that out. I did not realise that once you call in the receivers, people realise they have a bit of a loophole not to pay!! Of course much of the shortfall had to be paid by me personally. Oh the lessons I have learned – I could go on forever! It was the most frightening time ever. My beloved business gone. My income gone. Money owed to the bank because of a personal guarantee and a small baby who needed lots of attention. Emotionally and physically it was exhausting. But in troubled times you very quickly establish where people’s loyalties lie, and it certainly focuses the mind. I will never take success or even liquidity for granted.
Regarding what is my most proudest moment, I guess I should say winning awards or topping the £1million turnover mark, but after my first business falling at such a vulnerable time in my life, my proudest moment has to be getting back on my feet, rebuilding my confidence, and starting all over again!
To begin with I did not want to start another business – I really just wanted a job where I could switch off in the evenings. But some very good friends in the industry convinced me that I was good at what I did and that in the US, you haven’t earned yours business stripes until you have had a business go bust - ‘never follow an unscarred general into battle’. Also, starting a new business with two of the most talented designers and loveliest people I have ever worked with has helped. We have some fantastic clients and I will never again take my eye off the finances or ignore my instinct.

What is the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
Be nice to people on your way up – cause you might meet them on your way down!
This for me is not a difficult one - one should show respect and politeness to everyone you encounter - no matter who they are. I like to think that I treat a courier delivering a parcel with the same respect as a potential client. And now that I have had the experience of falling on hard times – this rings more true that ever. It also sits well with my spiritual beliefs – karma and all that!

What two business people (past or present) inspire you and why?
Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple.
His work has had such an impact on my industry, firstly with the Apple Mac revolutionising the creative and production process, and now with the iPod, iPhone and apps. From starting the company in his garage, and always being the underdog to IBM, then leaving the company (Pixar), then coming back and turning it around. Apple exemplifies all that design stands for in terms of aesthetic and function. And all this without even having a degree. On top of all that he has had to battle cancer.

Karren Brady, Vice-Chairman West Ham United (plus England 2018 Board Member, CEO Birmingham City Football Club, Non-Executive Director Mothercare Plc, Chairman Kerrang!, Non-Exec Director Sport England)
I really just sit and wonder how she does it – and with two small children! I get exhausted just reading the list! While being tough, she is still feminine and has soft edges. I just think she manages to get the balance right.

What are your three favourite blogs or websites besides HSBC Women In Business?
Obviously www.demographik.co.uk/blog - although I am still finding it a bit daunting to actually contribute to (think it is a worry that no one will be remotely interested in what I have to say... are you still there?)

I think LinkedIn is great. I don’t yet use it to its fullest capability, but it has enabled me to get back in touch with business colleagues who I thought I had lost touch with forever and subsequently created more business for me.

www.itsnicethat.com Once in a while it’s just nice to forget bottom lines and indulge in something a little more aesthetic and artistic.

We are delighted to announce that one of our favourite entrepreneurs, Laura Tenison founder of Jo Jo Maman Bebe, has won the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year 2010 award.

Congratulations to Laura who has built a well known brand known across the UK and overseas for fashionable maternity wear, quirky and adorable baby clothing, nursery designs and innovative products. Her company also believes in first class service through honesty, ethical trading, integrity and respect for her customers’ point of view.

If you would like to meet Laura, our next business networking lunch with SHE Magazine is on Friday 23 April at the Hotel du Vin, Brighton and Laura will be sharing where her business inspiration for Jo Jo Maman Bebe came from.

To book your ticket please call SHE Magazine on 0844 481 7937.

It is only right and fitting that one of the most famous British chocolate houses was founded by a woman. Chantal Coady is a chocolatier extraordinaire who has been running Rococo Chocolates for 27 years. She also finds time to write books, on chocolate of course, and to to give back to budding female entrepreneurs by being part of the FreshIdeas mentor network.

Over to you Chantal...

How did you get started in the chocolate business?Sheer mad fantasy really, I was an art student in the days of punks and got a job in Harrods chocolate dept, I had always loved chocolate, and had the idea that there was a different way of selling chocolate to the old “are you being served” style which I met in that esteemed establishment. My idea was to create a theatrical world of chocolate, it seemed obvious to me, but most people told me I was crazy. My mother though, supported the idea and also guaranteed my first loan, so could have lost the family house if I had gone bust. At that time there were no small business loan guarantee schemes, it was a much harder environment to get funding, thank goodness that has changed now.

Describe your proudest business achievement and your most challenging time?
My proudest moment – sounds corny but it was an award which was a total surprise, given by my peers in the chocolate world, a bit like a lifetime achievement Oscar, for “changing the way people think about chocolate”.

My most challenging time, probably September 2008 post Lehman’s crash, when the world seemed to go into freefall and we had not long opened our Belgravia flagship store, having invested a huge amount of money in the shop fit. London just died for a season, and came back to life just before Christmas. We had to look at what we were doing and make some hard decisions, but ultimately it was a really good thing and I enjoyed the scarey ride. The truth is that even in difficult times, it’s hard to eat cheap chocolate when you have a taste for the good stuff…

What is the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
Never assume anyone knows who you are or what you are doing – communicate your core message really well – it can be as simple as a really bold shop front with wording that says not only ROCOCO but CHOCOLATES as well. We actually did just that for our first 10 years and a lot of people were confused about what we sold, when we splashed out on a new sign lots of people came in and asked if we had just opened! That was a long time ago, but a good lesson nonetheless. Also another one is that if you are creating a brand and want to protect the Intellectual Property, invent a name – like Haagen Dazs or Gu Puds, which have no precedent and are easy to protect, unlike Rococo which is a word in the dictionary.

What two business people (past or present) inspire you and why?
I would have loved to have met Mr Selfridge, he had such a talent for retail and was a true trail blazer – its interesting to see that the store is still doing some amazing projects, like its roof top restaurant. Secondly, Paul Smith, who is so true to himself, and has created a global brand so iconic and British. Each of his stores are different, so not following a formula, but a gift for creating beautiful spaces for his fabulous collections. Fabulous windows too!

What are your three favourite blogs or websites besides HSBC Women In Business?
I love Lucy Kellaway and Mrs Moneypenny they are both great in different ways and very funny too.

I love the Radio4 website, and also when it’s the right season Test Match Special. Of course there Twitter, Facebook and the Applestore ...

To all you Mumpreneurs and aspiring Mumpreneurs I hope yesterday was enjoyable and that you were duly pampered!


Image by Vicki Couchman

We always have our eyes open here at HSBC WIB Towers for interesting stories about how successful women got their 'light' moment. Yesterday the Small Business section of The Sunday Times covered mumpreneur Anna Gibson, founder of Micro Scooters, who was always being stopped by other mothers asking where her son got his three-wheeled scooter from. These initial enquiries have led to a business that now sells 120,000 scooters a year and has an expected turn over of £4.3m this year.

What inspired you to start your business and what was your 'lightbulb' moment?

The business world is changing. Fast. Thanks to social media we are now more connected than ever before.

More and more businesses are using social media and online communities to connect with like-minded people. Social media enables engagement with their customers in two-way conversations, increasing brand awareness and encouraging advocacy.

Our friends over at FreshIdeas have designed an event that looks at how to maximise the potential of social media for your business.

The programme will include:

- Insights from the latest trends and research

- Advice on how to measure the ROI on social media spend

- Insight from entrepreneurs and corporate organisations using social media in innovative ways to engage their customers

Speakers include:

Helen Trim, co-founder of FreshNetworks – Building engagement and value with your online communities

James Alexander, co-founder Zopa, CEO Green Thing – Using social media for social good

Anna Rafferty, MD Penguin Digital – Using social media to listen to and engage with your customers

When: Tuesday 30 March 2010
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30 pm
Where: HSBC, 78 St. James's Street, London
Nearest Tube: Green Park (Jubilee Line)

Join us with 100 other like-minded businesswomen for an evening of insight, new ideas and excellent networking.

Book early and avail of the Early Bird Discount - tickets for this event will be in demand.

This week we feature the uber talented Annabel Jardella who with a 20-year background as a make up artist/ designer started Flourish Make Up Limited five years ago.

Over to you Annabel...

How did you get started in the make up/beauty industry?
I was very creative at school and adored cooking, art, and photography and had my nose in Vogue since I was an early teenager. I was clearly always going to do something creative and as my family owned restaurants and I had a flair for cooking it was an obvious route. Just before I was due to go to catering college I had an accident with an oil pan and received burns to both legs and subsequently skin grafts on my feet. So my original career plan to follow into the family restaurant businesses became redundant. A short while later a Red Cross camouflage make up session for the burns to my feet, sparked my interest in make up artistry. I began testing with photographers and built up a portfolio and my career grew from there. Firstly in fashion working in Milan, and then following into the film industry – where I spent ten years working around the world on feature films such as Die Another Day, The Beach, Evita, 101 Dalmatians, Sense and Sensibility to name but a few.
I didn’t have any formal make up training and worked my way as an apprentice through the fashion and film industries, of which I feel very proud but equally would not recommend the lack of training! All the way through my career I have in parallel kept a keen interest and worked within camouflage make up – being something close to my heart.

The idea for Flourish was born after spending three months in the desert on the film Alexander and during a particularly bad sand storm I realised I wanted to go home. I took a year sabbatical from the film industry and went to work in the city in investor relations. It was during this time that the “light bulb” went on and I realised there was a large gap in the market. There was a lack of understanding for what a great tool make up could be if used correctly and how many people had never taken proper make up advice (unlike the way they would treat their hair or wardrobe). There were so many incredible, gifted artists I knew that one minute were working with a list celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Robert de Niro, Gwyneth Paltrow and the next were at home, bored, waiting for the next job. I also was aware that there was no governing body in the make up artistry area and a lot of people trading without ability or experience. I saw the demand for cosmetic surgery rising and in years to come, where we became content with what we have, the need to make the best of our features in the most non-invasive way as well as a requirement for camouflage make up due to the surgical procedures, heal time and post surgery scarring.
The name Flourish was found with a friend of mine one evening over a bottle of wine. We discussed all the things I loved one being flowers and how I thought that we are at our best when inner and outer beauty are in balance and we bloom…Flourish. We got the dictionary out and as soon as I read the meaning of Flourish I knew that it was the right name. I incorporated the company the next day.

Describe your proudest business achievement and your most challenging time?
My most challenging time was 18 months ago when I carried my embryonic business through having a baby and a relationship break-up with limited funds. During this time there was potentially a large cosmetic deal that came to Flourish and was moving at a fast pace. I was out of my comfort zone having to gather information at great speed and without much support. I was the only woman with eight very strong and opinionated men, three involved with Flourish and five with the cosmetics company; I felt I could no longer be heard in what was suddenly a male and male ego dominated environment. At a point it was suggested that I did not need to come to the boardroom to represent my company and that one of the men should do it instead. It was a time I never want to repeat but I learned some fantastic business lessons and how to become incredibly resourceful. I did not take the deal.

I have had a few proud moments, I always feel proud when I see our work, either at a show we may have designed, or something one of the team has created as our team as such amazing talent. I am privileged to have worked on some great projects. But some solo moments seem to stick out - one was when I sat in the crew screening of the film Gladiator and realised what an incredible film I had played a very small part in - I felt very proud. Another was when I wrote my first beauty feature for Time Magazine and received a copy of it in the post. This was something I had dreamed about doing since I was a teenager. Lastly two camouflage jobs, one for a lady who had a very large strawberry birth mark covering half of her face, who had never in 35 years attempted to camouflage it or worn make up. She was amazed and tearful at the result and I was so overwhelmed I left her all the products we had used to make her up. Another time we camouflaged a very large hemangioma on a bride’s face and she sent a beautiful and very touching letter along with photograph of her wedding. I am even more proud to say we have her on the website as one of our brides.

What is the best piece of business advice you've ever received?
In business be very careful who you get into bed with! Simple words but ever so true. Given to me by Josephine Fairley.

What two business people (past or present) inspire you and why?
I am finding this hard to answer as I am inspired by so many people. People who have lived a life they can be proud of, who have achieved great business success but have retained their core values and those that use their success and power to give back to the world. I was recently most inspired at an HSBC dinner when I had the privilege to be included with fourteen very successful and incredible women who all shared their insights and parts of their business journey. I left full of support and with a new energy. Thank you HSBC!

What are your three favourite blogs or websites besides HSBC Women In Business?
Hmm I realise I do not do enough surfing of the web. I find I check BBC Weather and BBC News everyday and after generally after reading the awful weather report I am often found on the Easyjet and BA websites looking for escape. Other than that, Space NK, Net a Porter, All Saints London, Daylesford Organic and I love The White Company.