Voted the UK’s Number 1 Female speaker, Lady Michelle Mone is best renowned as one of Britain’s most influential ladies; both an entrepreneur and an advocate for equality for women in business. Baroness Mone grew up in the impoverished East End of Glasgow when, at the age of fifteen, her father fell ill and was subsequently declared paraplegic and wheelchair-bound for life. This forced Michelle to leave school without any qualifications in search of full-time employment, which sparked her instinct for entrepreneurship.
I sold Ultimo 5 years ago to the biggest lingerie manufactures in the World employing 63,000 people.
FWM: It is an honor, Lady Michelle Mone. You are best known as one of Britain’s most influential ladies. You are an Entrepreneur and Advocate for equality for women in business. Who has been the most influential in your life?
I would say that my Mum and Dad have kept my feet on the ground, they also tell me the truth which is harsh sometimes, but it’s helped me all of my career. I would also say for the past three and a half years my husband to be Doug Barrowman has had a huge influence on me.
FWM: Founder of Ultimo Brands International, the UK’s former leading lingerie brand for two decades, you set out with a vision of helping women look and feel their very best. What sparked your instinct for Entrepreneurship?
I am a very determined person. I believe that you can achieve anything you want in life if you work hard for it. It doesn’t matter where you are from, what education you have managed to get if you want it then go and get it. I started Ultimo from my bedroom and grew it into one of the biggest intimate apparel brands in the World. I created 17 world wide inventions. I sold Ultimo 5 years ago to the biggest lingerie manufactures in the World employing 63,000 people. I then went on to write my autobiography “My Fight to The Top”.
After the launch of Ultimo, Lady Michelle Mone quickly established herself as one of Scotland’s best exports, winning the World Young Business Achiever Award in 2000 at the Epcot Centre in Florida, as well as Business Woman of the Year at the Corporate Elite Awards in London. Her status as one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs was confirmed soon after when Prince Charles invited her to join the board of Directors for The Prince’s Trust.
Towards the end of 2014, Lady Michelle Mone, the proud mother of Rebecca, Declan, and Bethany proceeded to sell Ultimo to global lingerie giants MAS Holdings -one of the world’s largest manufacturers of intimates, with a $1.4 billion. Michelle then decided to focus on her speaking, mentoring as well as her love of design.
FWM: What keys open the door to success?
No matter how tough it gets you can always find a way. Never, ever give up.
