Drawing inspiration from the beauty rituals of the Sudanese women she grew up amongst and learning about herbal remedies and skincare products passed down many generations in her family, Lindsay Salthouse decided to start her own company to share the wisdom she had learnt.

Does any particular woman stand out to you as a brilliant leader? Why?

Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop. She began selling her homemade creams in shop doorways in England in the early seventies. Her passion and dedication to realising her dream and the ethical way she ran her business is a wonderful example of brilliant leadership. Why? Because she started from absolutely nothing, typing labels to put onto her jars of moisturizer and begging people to try them and built up one of the most successful business empires of all time whilst still holding on to her strong principles of honesty and ethics in business.

What unique value do you think a woman brings to the workplace?

EQ as well as IQ.  Sorry guys, but men don’t have it!  Because of EQ women are more astute and gifted at being able to read situations far more quickly and identify potential problem areas in the workplace and by so doing, take quicker action than their male counterparts.

What advice would you give someone starting out in their life/career?

An absolute must is to get qualified in your chosen profession. Research your business career vision thoroughly before rushing in to something which appeals to you but which may not be right for your talents. Be prepared to make sacrifices, be courageous when things are tough, believe in yourself and never give up! Don’t be too proud to ask for help or advice if you need it.

What has been the hardest lesson you have learnt in business?

Gifting a shareholding in our company without fully understanding the legal implications. We gave a much loved and respected employee a 10% shareholding freely as a gift. Two months later she resigned and brought a legal action against us to force us to pay her cash for the value of her shareholding. It was a very tough and stressful time for us as a small business but it was a valuable albeit costly lesson to learn particularly with the “compensation mentality” and “I’m owed” culture rife in today’s world.

What is the secret of your success?
 
Dedicating the company to God and having an attitude of gratitude.  Being blessed with a great bunch of people as our work team.   Treating others as we wish to be treated.  Remembering that we all have bad days and until we have walked a mile in someone else’s shoes, we cannot know what their life is like.  Nurturing and caring for our customers and going the extra mile as a matter of course.

Lindsay Salthouse - Aromatherapist/Herbalist & Company Founder and Director of The Victorian Garden Organic Skincare Company - can be contacted on Mobile Number: 0724446799 / Email Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information on The Victorian Garden Organic Skincare Company please visit their Website: www.thevictoriangarden.co.za
 

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