Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky Maria Hvorostovsky

In this short clip, I’m revisiting my conversation with Stuart Trevor, the founder of AllSaints.

I ask Stuart what the early days of AllSaints were like, from the strategies he used to expand the store, to connecting with younger demographics, as well as why he decided to sell the business.

If you’re a fan of the AllSaints brand and want to peek behind the scenes of an iconic British brand, are looking for insights into expanding your own brand, or are thinking about selling, then tune in!

Since selling AllSaints, Stuart has created a new fashion brand - STUART TREVOR - which is focused on producing clothes from recycled clothing or deadstock fabric. You can find out more on his website: www.stuarttrevor.com 

If you enjoyed this short clip, check out the full episode with Stuart Trevor, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiSV1zGUuOY&t=3823s 



Stuart Trevor:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-trevor-b201b912/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/stuart_trevor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuart.trevor/



Follow Maria Hvorostovsky:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo

X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky

HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com



Need help HIRING – http://www.hirewithmaria.com



Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:

https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com/



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When you’re a founder, when is it the right time to sell your business?

In this short clip, I speak to Aaron Chatterley, the co-founder of FeelUnique - the largest online retailer of beauty products in Europe - about his experience with exiting the business.

He tells me about deciding to sell to Sephora, and whether it was the right decision to sell to private equity. Additionally, Aaron provides valuable advice for founders planning their own exit.

If you’re a founder planning your exit, or thinking about whether to sell to private equity then this episode may be for you.



Since exiting FeelUnique, Aaron has started a new brand - Indu - a teenage skincare brand, created with teens, for teens. Check it out!

If you enjoyed this short clip, check out the full episode with Aaron Chatterley, which you can find here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EEWXFBWDizF1OyaCbKIWN

Aaron Chatterley:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-chatterley
IG: https://www.instagram.com/aaronchatterley

Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/

Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com

Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Pre-loved fashion used to be a shameful secret you didn’t want your friends to know about. Now, it’s a global business which is showing no signs of stopping.

As the owner of a pre-loved marketplace business, how do you navigate the delicate balance between sustainability and profitability?

If you’re interested in what it takes to run a pre-loved fashion business, then this episode might be just for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
04:31 - Antonia's Journey into Sustainable Luxury
06:04 - Acquiring Sign of the Times and Merging Businesses
08:07 - How to Outshine your Competitors
10:28 - How to Balance Profitability and Sustainability
10:35 - Strategies for Educating Customers on Sustainable Choices
12:05 - How the Perception of Resale Products has Changed
13:39 - Behind the Scenes: How do you Ensure Authenticity of your Products?
15:22 - What are the Fashion Items that get Bought the Most?
17:01 - Does the Value of Luxury Handbags Increase over Time
17:59 - Handbag Trends: Tips and Tricks
18:56 - What Fashion Items Stand the Test of Time?
19:38 - Top Tips for Shopping Pre-Owned Fashion Items
22:17 - Why did you Want to Start a Business in the Pre-Loved Market?
23:05 - Starting a Business was Easier than Going for a Job Interview
24:47 - Making Mistakes and Growing from Failure
25:57 - Factoring Failure into your Business
27:26 - The Game-Changing Impact of Social Media
28:41 - Embracing the Unpredictable
30:53 - Antonia’s Perspective on Leadership
31:18 - Not Seeing Yourself as a Leader
33:11 - Business Tips: How to Build a Good Business
43:50 - The Importance of Reflection and Disconnecting
49:46 - Challenges Faced as a Founder: Covid and Fundraising

Meet this week’s guest, Antonia Johnstone, the Founder and CEO of Sign of the Times (SOTT) - a luxury pre-owned marketplace pioneering the authentication and valuation of designer goods.

In 1976, Sign of the Times began as a store for selling celebrities' clothes. Antonia, a devoted fan, joined the store in 2008. Inspired to democratise luxury fashion and reduce over-consumption in the fashion industry, she founded her own store, Timpany's, in 2009. In 2019, Antonia acquired SOTT, transforming it into what it is today.



Antonia Johnstone:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/antonia-johnstone-b6759b72
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sign_ofthetimes/
Website: https://www.wearesott.com/

Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/

Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com

Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/



LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Are you a female founder with an amazing business, but struggling to raise capital?

Or are you an investor who is serious about investing in female founders?

For all the incredible female founders out there seeking to secure investment, elevate your networking skills, and make your business shine, this episode is a must-watch!

Timestamps:
0:00 - Trailer and Introduction
01:13 - Why do Female Founders Receive Less in Venture Funding?
07:13 - How to Empower Yourself with Skills for Raising Investment
12:09 - Why There’s a Low Success Rate for Funding
16:53 - How to Find the Right Investors
19:01 - How to Network
19:36 - Are Women Bad at Networking?
21:31 - How to Approach Conversations with Potential Investors
24:50 - What Should Investors be Thinking About When it Comes to Funding Female Founders?
25:19 - How Can We Speed up the Process of Achieving Diversity in Investment Firms?
29:07 - How Can Female Founders Assert their Power when Pitching to Investment Firms?
33:03 - The Importance of Gender Balance in Business
35:20 - Supporting the Underdog: Julia’s Personal Experience as a Female Founder
37:26 - How Julia Started Upper Street
38:08 - Taking Inspiration from Bespoke Shoe-making in Hong Kong
42:28 - Funding Challenges in the Footwear Industry
45:36 - What Makes Founders Investable?
01:07:25 - Building a Sustainable Business and the Role of Co-founders

​​Introducing Julia Elliott Brown, a serial entrepreneur with a passion for empowering female founders. She's behind successful ventures like Upper Street, UpMyStreet.com, and is currently the CEO and Founder of Enter The Arena, which helps female founders fly through offering investment expertise and business coaching.

Julia is not only a business expert but also a compelling keynote speaker and host of the "Fundraising Stories with Female Founders" podcast. Her book, "RAISE: The Female Founders Guide To Securing Investment," is making waves with a 2023 Business Book Awards nomination.

Julia Elliott Brown:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaelliottbrown
X: https://twitter.com/juliaelliottb?lang=en
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0o2pNa2BqPaxowewAjSBOF
Website: enterthearena.co.uk

Books:
Eldest Daughter Effect: How First Born Women like Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Sandberg, JK Rowling and Beyoncé Harness their Strengths - Lisette Schuitemaker and Wies Enthoven
https://amzn.to/3Qwr3lJ

Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/

Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com

Need help HIRING – ⁠http://www.hirewithmaria.com⁠

LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Do you dream of becoming a CEO, or want to be a better one?

Well, if you don't enjoy the pressure, don't become a CEO, warns my guest, Philip Mountford.

Phil is a CEO, Chairman, and NED, who has led fashion retail giants like Hunkemoller, Moss Bros and Versace.

He fell into the fashion industry after a motorbike accident put a stop to his dreams of going to the Olympics - and soon enough, he discovered where his talents lay.

Phil tells me about:

1. Rebranding Hunkemoller
2. Out-strategizing Victoria’s Secret
3. Making Hunkemoller profitable
4. Failing as a CEO

If you’re interested in taking a peek behind the executive curtain, or are an aspiring CEO looking for tips, then tune in!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
00:43 - Unpacking Leadership: Definition and Purpose
04:00 - Being a Chameleon Leader
13:56 - Leaving a Lasting Legacy
18:58 - Retail Landscape and Strategies for Inclusivity
30:49 - Dealing with Public Scrutiny
38:57 - An Unexpected Love Affair: Career Transition
48:01 - Evolving CEO Roles: Leading with Vision
52:33 - Advice for Aspiring CEOs
56:03 - The Art of Decision-Making

Philip Mountford:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philipmountford
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philip.mountford/
X: https://twitter.com/P_Mountford
Website: https://www.hunkemoller.co.uk/

Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/

Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com



Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/



Give us a Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Expectations of the office have changed. That typical dreary, depressing office block with uniform cubicles - who wants to go there?

No one. So who’s out there, trying to change that?

My guest is Gaby Hersham, the co-founder of Huckletree, a network of community-driven and design-led workspaces which aims to challenge the typical workspace model.

She believes that a well-designed workspace can profoundly impact your work and mindset for the better.

Gaby tells me about conceptualising Huckletree, leading a physical office business through COVID-19, and the future of flexible spaces.

We discuss why working from the office is beneficial in helping with innovation, creativity and productivity, and she shares her thoughts on why your colleagues shouldn’t be like family, as well as balancing work and family life, and overcoming “mum guilt”.

Gaby also sheds light on the unique struggles women entrepreneurs face, and the power of asking for what you want, whether in business or life.

Tune in if you’re interested in hearing about the potential of flexible workspaces, want to reimagine your approach to work and productivity, or just want to hear a badass woman entrepreneur’s story.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Trailer and Introduction
01:08 - Being a “Passionately Curious” Leader
09:22 - Conceptualising Huckletree: Creating a Home for Innovation
12:31 - Working Smarter, Not Harder
14:25 - COVID-19: Shifting Mindsets for the Better?
18:36 - The Future of Flexible Spaces
24:24 - Designing Workspaces for Innovation
28:56 - Work and Team: Different Roles for Different Spaces
29:56 - Work, Family Life, and Mum Guilt
44:12 - Being a Woman Entrepreneur: People-Pleasing, Gender Bias and Imposter
Syndrome
54:25 - Don’t Ask, Don’t Get
59:54 - Business Lessons

Gaby Hersham:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gabriela-hersham-26b12565
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielahersham/
X: https://twitter.com/gabrielahersham
Website: https://www.huckletree.com/

Maria Hvorostovsky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maria_hvo
X: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: https://www.hvosearch.com/

Podcast filmed, edited and produced by:
https://www.londonbeautyphotographer.com

Need help HIRING – https://www.hvosearch.com/



Give us a Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.