Q&A with Michelle Mone OBE, Entrepreneur and co-owner of Ultimo Brands International and owner of UTan.

[RachelMumsnet]

We're running a Q&A this week with Michelle Mone OBE who will be answering your questions and sharing her tips on building a successful business. Post your Qs to Michelle before midday on Friday 1st May and we'll post up her answers the following week

Michelle Mone OBE is the co-owner of Ultimo Brands International and founder of Ultimo, one of the UK’S designer leading lingerie brands. Michelle is regularly listed as one of the UK’s top female entrepreneurs and has built a hugely successful career on one incredibly simple concept: helping women to look and feel their very best.

Michelle grew up in the East End of Glasgow. She left school at 15 to begin modelling but this was cut short when she became pregnant with her first child. Soon after going back into employment she set up Ultimo which developed the first Ultimo bra. Over the years Michelle’s empire has gone from strength to strength, developing beyond the original umbrella of Ultimo to encompass 15 patented inventions and brands including Ultimo Bridal, Ultimo Swimwear, Ultimo Black Label and joint venture lines including ‘Adore Moi by Ultimo’ for Debenhams. In 2012, after three years of intensive research and over £1 million spent on development, Michelle launched into the world of beauty with a range of tanning products, UTan.

Michelle is a regular fixture on national television, and most recently fronted a campaign for British Airways. Her autobiography My Fight to the Top was released in March 2015.

Michelle is speaking at WorkFest 15. Visit Workfest 2015 to find out more information about the event and to buy tickets.

UTan is also available from Boots.

Hi Michelle, I'm a huge fan and although my career is going well, I've not taken care of my body or health, but thanks to you I've been inspired to do something about that through diet and exercise.

My question is, how to you balance your work and home life so that your kids (and parents) don't come second? I have teenage boys and elderly parents and I want to be there for them, even though I travel a lot for work. I make the most of technology to Facetime them etc. do you have any tips?

Thank you!

Hello Michelle,

Firstly, huge congratulations on your continuing success!

Secondly, I know, at a personal and family level you continue to invest or offer charitable support to the East End, which is never publicised but always appreciated so well done and thank you.

My question is how can parents in the East End ensure their children are fulfilling their potential? You left school with no qualifications. So did 100% of pupils at a Dennistoun high school in 2012. Not one higher between them. What did you grow up with that meant this never hindered you

Keep gon yirsel hen :)

Another fan here :)
I read somewhere that you had recently been made redundant when you had your idea to source more comfortable bras and made it into a business.
Did you have that idea in the back of your mind for a while or was it a lightbulb moment?
I'm about to take voluntary redundancy and am toying with different options I could look into- need to read you biography for tips :)

ditto on the fan thing.

Michelle....did I hear you correctly this morning on Sky that you are currently mentoring, or have mentored, 105 start up businesses...I was only just having my first cup of tea at the time so could have been 5 or 55, but whatever, that is impressive you find the time – so may I ask are they all clothing related, or are you spreading your marketing and general business skills to a cross section of businesses?

BTW If you keep going like that you should get a The Apprentice spin off show of your own, as you have far more character and ability to hold an audience than that po-faced, laugh a minute…..Alan Sugar man.

Hi Michelle, I had a great career in the music industry before taking break to raise a family. Now, seven years later, I have a part time job and want to return to a full time position. I am having a good response to my CV and have found that more senior roles attract a more attention rather than trying to apply for entry level positions. However, I am just being pipped at the post at several interviews. I am receiving great feedback.
My question is: How much do companies value women over 45 and should I continue to pursue my quest to re enter at a fairly senior level or should I change course. I am concerned that companies say they welcome returning mums and older women, but actually don't. I worry that I am wasting my time and I am fulfilling their quota of a broad range of applicants. I seem to be so close and know that I still have a huge amount to offer having kept my skills up to date.

We now have Michelle's answers back and are going to upload them. Many thanks to all those who joined the Q&A and to Michelle for agreeing to join us and share her wisdom.

@ShebaQueen

Hi Michelle, I'm a huge fan and although my career is going well, I've not taken care of my body or health, but thanks to you I've been inspired to do something about that through diet and exercise.

My question is, how to you balance your work and home life so that your kids (and parents) don't come second? I have teenage boys and elderly parents and I want to be there for them, even though I travel a lot for work. I make the most of technology to Facetime them etc. do you have any tips?

Thank you!

You’ve got be organised, plan well. I’m constantly planning all the time. Before I close my eyes at night I’m always thinking about what the kids want and I always plan for them to not be surprised. Once the house is in order I can concentrate on the business side because the kids are prepared and ready. It’s about planning, planning, planning all the time – it’s constant. But expect the plan to change throughout the day because it probably will – but it’s about being adaptable and flexible.

@ASAS

Hello Michelle,

Firstly, huge congratulations on your continuing success!

Secondly, I know, at a personal and family level you continue to invest or offer charitable support to the East End, which is never publicised but always appreciated so well done and thank you.

My question is how can parents in the East End ensure their children are fulfilling their potential? You left school with no qualifications. So did 100% of pupils at a Dennistoun high school in 2012. Not one higher between them. What did you grow up with that meant this never hindered you

Keep gon yirsel hen :)

Circumstances made me leave school – my dad was confined to a wheelchair and I wanted to support my family. If you don’t get the education you want or expect, your life isn’t over. It’s about having fire in your belly and going for it – that will make a huge difference, not necessarily your qualifications.

@Wishful80smontage

Another fan here :) I read somewhere that you had recently been made redundant when you had your idea to source more comfortable bras and made it into a business. Did you have that idea in the back of your mind for a while or was it a lightbulb moment? I'm about to take voluntary redundancy and am toying with different options I could look into- need to read you biography for tips :)

It was a complete ‘light-bulb’ moment, borne of the frustration at not being able to find something that enhanced cleavage but was also comfortable to wear. I was at a dinner dance and had to take my bra off in the ladies toilets because it was so uncomfortable. I went back to the table and told everyone ‘I’m going to make a bra!’.

@Isitmebut

ditto on the fan thing.

Michelle....did I hear you correctly this morning on Sky that you are currently mentoring, or have mentored, 105 start up businesses...I was only just having my first cup of tea at the time so could have been 5 or 55, but whatever, that is impressive you find the time ? so may I ask are they all clothing related, or are you spreading your marketing and general business skills to a cross section of businesses?

BTW If you keep going like that you should get a The Apprentice spin off show of your own, as you have far more character and ability to hold an audience than that po-faced, laugh a minute?..Alan Sugar man.

Yes, 105 people! But they’re not all startups and some aren’t a business at all. I will be meeting them one on one, either through Skype or phone calls – covering everything from their career, business, or startup ideas – applying my life experiences on how to turn your life around and how to get in the zone. I’m loving it – I’m setting it up on my website Michellemone.com – I’m offering free scholarships to come and spend two days with me.

@MoanCraft

Hi Michelle, I had a great career in the music industry before taking break to raise a family. Now, seven years later, I have a part time job and want to return to a full time position. I am having a good response to my CV and have found that more senior roles attract a more attention rather than trying to apply for entry level positions. However, I am just being pipped at the post at several interviews. I am receiving great feedback. My question is: How much do companies value women over 45 and should I continue to pursue my quest to re enter at a fairly senior level or should I change course. I am concerned that companies say they welcome returning mums and older women, but actually don't. I worry that I am wasting my time and I am fulfilling their quota of a broad range of applicants. I seem to be so close and know that I still have a huge amount to offer having kept my skills up to date.

Everyone’s circumstances are different. Sometimes when you go back to work as an over-40s and you’ve just had kids, employers might see your dependability in a good light – that you have greater responsibilities as a mother or father and are thinking more long-term. There’s no right or wrong – only your own circumstances and how you get them to work for you