An uncomfortable dinner plagued by her push-up bra set Michelle Mone on the road to entrepreneurial success with a mission to invent the perfect bra.
After leaving school at 15, the Glaswegian worked as a model before landing a job as a sales representative for Canadian beer company Labatt. But following the sale of Labatt?s UK arm to Whitbread, Mone found herself with a pay-off and no clear idea of what to do.
View the video interview
Mone discusses her views on what it takes to achieve business success and the story behind Ultimo.
Ultimo, a gel-filled, cleavage-enhancing bra, was the result, landing Mone the ?World Young Business Achiever? award in 2000. Her company, MJM International, last month announced that revenues had trebled in the last financial year.
Mone believes that her story proves that determination, rather than education or background, is the key to success. ?I grew up in the east end of Glasgow, which is typically a working class area....no qualifications, no money behind me....If I can make it work, I think everyone can,? she says in a video interview on FT.com.
Mone?s top tips for entrepreneurs:
? ?If you remain determined and focused and set goals, you will make your dream come true.?
? ?Sometimes there might be a product that?s already out there....and it?s about making that product better. If you think you can make something better and you can make a good business out of it, then why not have a go??
? ?It doesn?t matter at all where you?re from, what background you came from, if you come from money or not.?
Read other entrepreneurs? top tips:
