Since launching the UK’s first bamboo tissue brand, The Cheeky Panda in 2016, I’ve been really fortunate to have received mentoring support by a number of industry veterans and it’s been integral to increasing my professional growth. It’s been invaluable to work closely with ex Vita Coco CEO, Giles Brook and Simon Duffy, Founder of Bulldog Skincare, who have generously shared their expertise and counsel along my journey to help me grow the brand to where it is today. I strongly believe that everyone should have access to mentors at all stages of their careers, to support them on a professional level, to provide unbiased counsel and to be a friendly sounding board to get a second opinion.
Any business owner knows that running a burgeoning company isn’t easy and each day brings a new set of 
challenges. When I launched The Cheeky Panda, I didn’t have previous FMCG experience, was grappling with English being a second language and was trying to convince an established industry to use a completely new material, bamboo, instead of tree-based tissue that had been used for decades, for the greater benefit of our planet. It was tough.
I’m incredibly fortunate to run the business with my husband and co-founder, Chris Forbes, and as entrepreneurs we both have our own opinions. Getting an impartial view when we’re so close to the day-to-day operations is incredibly useful from people outside of the company, and has also often given me the confidence to make a tricky decision when I’ve been able to talk it through first. Having mentors has helped to refine my problem-solving skills and also offered encouragement when I’ve needed it the most.
It’s useful to have access to mentors with different backgrounds and experience, so you can tap into a huge spectrum of expertise, as well as their contacts. People assume that mentoring is time consuming, but it doesn’t need to be. Everyone is busy and very often, I’ll send a ‘cheeky’ message via WhatsApp and if needed, we’ll meet face-to-face. For example, when The Cheeky Panda was growing at an accelerated rate, Giles was incredibly helpful in identifying that we needed to hire a senior management team and a CFO and COO, to help free up my time to focus on growing the business. I hadn’t had previous experience of hiring at this level and Giles joined the final stage interviews and shared his opinions on the candidates – and we now have two incredible people in the team that can drive that side of the business forward.
Simon has been fundamental in helping to expand key listings with retailers, for example helping with preparing presentations with buyers which resulted in listing our Biodegradable Cleansing Facial Wipes and extended shelf space in Boots, with a dedicated shelf tray. As I said before, what has been imperative is helping me mentally prepare for these meetings and walking in with the confidence that the pitch has the seal of approval from some of the best entrepreneurs in the UK who have successfully launched multiple products to market.
What’s amazing about mentoring is what goes around, comes around. I would encourage anybody to become a mentor if they have the opportunity to do so, as it’s one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Since the beginning of The Cheeky Panda journey, I have always mentored my team internally as I hired really talented graduates who were green, without prior experience and I therefore have always been very hands on and guided them on a day to day basis. Seeing them develop and flourish to become successful is so rewarding and some of our graduates have climbed the ladder within the business to senior roles, while others have taken their experience to other companies.
I’ve expanded my mentoring and mentee network in various ways, including attending industry events and actively networking with inspiring entrepreneurs. One year, I was honoured to receive a Startup award and was subsequently approached by Conversation With Purpose to mentor their clients. I provided mentorship to senior Managers working in an accountancy firm, guiding them with entrepreneurial thinking and leadership skills, to help them further their career to become partners. It was a new experience for me, but I decided to give it a try, and I’m pleased that I was able to add value and aid in my mentees’ career development.
During the Amazon sustainability accelerator two years ago, where I was invited to be a speaker, I encountered a brand called ETHOSA who provides waterless personal care solution. The founder, Gaëlle Chatelard, kindly gave me samples of their products. After trying out their products, I became enamoured with the brand and its 
potential impact on reducing plastic and carbon, while offering excellent skincare solutions to customers. I’ve now become their mentor, and I am enthusiastic about assisting them in their brand development.
I’m still very busy serving as the CEO for The Cheeky Panda, yet I’m enthusiastic about supporting females who are innovating in the sustainability space, aiming to pave the way for the next generation of female entrepreneurs in sustainability. On a basic human level, mentoring involves sharing knowledge and providing encouragement to others. In the business world, which can at times be lonely, having access to such support can make all the difference. It is, hands down, one of the most rewarding elements of my job, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without the invaluable mentorship I’ve received along the way.
