Managing director and one half of the Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa success story, Hellen Ward tells MothersWhoWork.co.uk how?she’s juggled family life and a successful career…and still had the best haircut at the school gates.?
Name: Hellen Ward
Age: 40
Children: Elysia, four and Oliver, six
Job title: Managing director
Company: Richard Ward Hair and Metrospa, Sloane Square, London
Profit in first year: Loss of ?25k in 1992 ? along with lots of tears! Now we have a turnover of ?4m.
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What was the motivating factor for starting your own business?
Meeting my husband Richard and being influenced by his unwavering belief in our ability to create a successful partnership. Being in the right place at the right time to create a new business from a management buy-out giving us a unique opportunity.
What’s good?about working again?
Having my own identity. Getting away from the school gates and being myself again. Accomplishing something real every day and getting a work-life balance between enjoying being a mum and also utilising my brain power.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been you highs and lows so far?
I think every business has lows – you have to have them to appreciate the highs. We’ve had several, but I can honestly say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I’m a great believer in the power of positive thinking so try to see the good in every twist and turn that the business takes. The high’s are seeing the team we’ve cultivated being so strong, passionate and dynamic.
What is available to mothers now that you wish you had access to when your family was younger?
Every time I see a new invention, pram, or bit of technology that would have made my life so much easier I get jealous that I didn’t have it when they were babies! I only discovered Bumbo seats when Oliver was practically walking! I noticed the other day that Doctor Brown’s anti-colic bottles now have their own steriliser and got very envious that I used to struggle fitting them into my old one!
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
I’ve cultivated a brilliant support network. I have a wonderful deputy Julie whose been with me for 15 years and knows me inside out. We both share a great PA who has become the 3rd edge to our triangle. I have a fantastic nanny who used to be our housekeeper and has also been with me for 10 years. Julie is one of my best friends and Pat our Nanny is part of our family now.
What has been the high point along the way?
Motherhood is wonderful – it’s the sort of experience you can’t actually put into words at times. I love the children being older now and enjoying time with them – holidays, days out – now they can communicate and share experiences with us its great.??
I loved project managing the move to our super-size salon in 2005 – it was the most stressful, rewarding, exciting time of my career. Launching our Richard Ward product range in 2008 has been amazing, too.?
And the?worst?
Doing the project managment (see above!) as I had to come back to work when Oliver was just 11 weeks old to get it all sorted out.?
Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can’t have a successful career and a happy family life at the same time?
I think you can ? but?? you have to be prepared to compartmentalise your time and stick to it rigidly. I don’t take personal calls when I’m working my three days per week and don’t take work calls when I’m at home being a mum and I don’t break those rules for anyone. I find people respect your time if you respect it yourself!