Today is International Women's Day - a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women across the globe. We're celebrating a little closer to home though, taking this opportunity to put our Co-Founder and Commercial Director Hannah under Forbes' Quickfire Questions...
1) Did you have a hero when you were younger?
I've been lucky enough to grow up surrounded by a seriously close-knit family and some amazing female role models - my Mum, sisters, aunty and cousins to name a few. However, heading up the lot of us was always my Nanny Irish - from as far back as I can remember she has been my hero and I wish I could put her boundless personality and character into words but I just can't do her justice so you'll have to trust me, she was incredible.
2) Do you have one now?
There are definitely people that I look up to and whose businesses and work ethic I would love to emulate (young female founders such as Grace Beverley and Whitney Wolfe Herd for example), but I don't like to get too hung up on comparing myself to my 'heroes', that can be a dangerous game I think.
3) Do you get bored easily?
I definitely get distracted easily, especially by my phone (which I sometimes have to literally leave in another room if I have to get something done by a deadline) but weirdly I don't think I get bored that easily. I can get stuck into the most mundane tasks (hello excel spreadsheets) and not mind too much. I think that makes me boring?
4) How would you describe your leadership style?
Honestly? Untested ha! It'll be a learning curve for me when we grow our team but I like to think that if you treat people well and treat them like adults you can't go too wrong, right?
5) What are your ambitions?
I'd love to grow the Home County Candle Co. team and grow the brand into a household name. We have some really exciting products and developments in the pipeline that I'm so excited to launch! Personally Oli and I would also love to buy a holiday home somewhere beautiful like The Cotswolds.
6) Do you believe in luck?
I do but I also don't think you can rely on it - the harder you work the luckier you get!
7) What qualities do you look for in colleagues?
The most vital thing I look for is work ethic - I don't cope very well with lazy people so if people are willing to work hard I'm happy!
8) Micro-manage or big picture?
Something I need to work on before we grow our team because I'm definitely a micro-manager! I'd love to be big picture but I leave that to Oli, which is why I think we make a good team!
9) What's your favourite time of the day?
This is a hard one! I'd say probably the evening - not just because it's dinner time but I also think I have some of my best ideas and do some of my best work when I don't feel the pressure of '9-5' (still working out the flow of my day now I 'work for myself' - cringe). I'm not glorifying working every evening, but sometimes I like the feeling of catching up or 'getting ahead' whilst I'm not expected to be 'working'.
10) (Not a Forbes' question) What is your favourite Home County Candle Co. product?
I chop and change like the wind but at the moment it's got to be The Northumberland Reed Diffuser - we don't shout about it enough but the scent is literally beautiful! It's subtle but so clean and fresh, absolutely perfect for Spring/Summer months and a definite contender for our wedding scent for this August!
