One daughter, 4years old

Primarily I run a home beauty salon; I decided when Haidee was born that I didn’t really want to return to an office environment, and that connecting with people was much more valid & fun than playing with figures. I commenced studying to that end & now offer a range of home services! During the process of setting up a salon and with a greater awareness of environmental & health concerns, I developed a keenness for chemical-free & petrochemical-free products. Disappointed with the price of similar retail products, I looked into making my own, and then decided to make those products available in my salon. I offer three products ~ a creamy facial cleanser, shower gel & hand/ body lotion, and just adore the positive feedback & happy stories associated with my products. Just to keep things interesting, I also joined the Direct Selling industry via a company that sells a unique brand of stationery, but has very strict guidelines on appearing online. So for that reason I’m unable to mention them by name, but I still thoroughly love the range and really enjoy dealing with all the people I’ve met through selling the products.

Any change in career is always a challenge, but probably my biggest challenge has been in balancing home with work & study, and the constant ambition to fit it all in!

Don’t loose sight of your priorities...sometimes I need to remind myself to interact more meaningfully with my daughter; there’s always going to be house chores to do, business to follow up on, but your children are only so little for such a very short time! I do feel that I’m in a privileged position to have my family.

The absolute best thing about being at home is spending time & socialising with Haidee. I love going out with her & having people over, so that part of it’s fantastic. On the other hand, it means that the time I have to concentrate on study or work is often less than I’d like. However, I do know that in just over a year she’ll be off to primary school, allowing me opportunity then to throw myself further into my pursuits! I’m not sure how I’m going to adjust!

Both my brother & Dad have & do work for themselves, and I guess they’ve instilled in me the need to both pursue what you love & to ensure that family time is paramount. With my background in small business, anything other than a responsible & diligent work ethic is simply unacceptable.

Anything by Nigella Lawson (see below)

I have a bit of a Hospitality background, so really appreciate good service and aspire to provide excellent customer service myself. I also love cooking (& hence eating)

I’d love to say that there’s one intrinsic piece of advice that’s stood me in good stead, but honestly, for me it’s just been a matter of nutting it out as I go. I must admit that I’ve been blessed with an incredibly supportive & encouraging partner, which must be the foundation upon which anything great can be achieved.

Without wishing her to grow up too quickly, I do hope she travels through adolescence relatively unscathed, and emerges into adulthood embracing life & breathing joy into the world!