Chief executive of direct selling, Stella & Dot

What was your first job in retailing?

Well if you call door-to-door sales retailing, then my first retail job was also my first job. After that, it was managing 50 golf course pro shops in 13 states across the US in the early 1990s.

Which retail company do you admire most and why?

I admire J Crew. It is smart, stylish and creative.

What is the trait you least like in yourself and why?

There is plenty about myself I wish were better but I believe that people are generally spectacular.

Who have you learnt most from in your retail career?

Lenny Florence, may he rest in peace. He was a dear friend, a brilliant businessman, generous with his time and money. Google him.

What advice would you give someone starting out in retail?

It’s really not where or how you start that matters. It’s who you are. And my experience is that those who always are worth more than they are paid are those who rise to the top.

What keeps you awake at night?

As a social commerce business, it’s the people part that keeps you up. If we don’t execute, then people we love suffer.

What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Again, it is the people part. We have tens of thousands of talented people who sell our products in North America and more than 300 at launch in the UK. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing our people achieve their dreams.

What’s your proudest achievement?

I am very grateful to be a part of a company that has changed the lives of thousands of women (and a few men too).

What job would you have done if you hadn’t become a retailer?

A professional golfer.

What’s your favourite shop and why?

The Apple Store. I love its use of technology, its handheld registers and its style. 

What was your last purchase?

Apple’s Thunderbolt Display.

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