Lush co-founder says scientists must follow passion
A co-founder of cosmetics giant Lush has said any potential scientists should follow their heart and passions when they choose a career.
Helen Ambrosen set up the company in 1995 with five other co-founders in Poole, Dorset, where it is still based, and it now has stores in more than 50 countries.
She admitted her chemistry knowledge was a "bit hit-and-miss" early in her career and she accidentally knocked herself out by sniffing chloroform – but she has now made more than 10,000 formulations in her work.
Ms Ambrosen was talking to BBC Radio Solent to celebrate the UN's International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Tuesday.
"As a woman in a scientific career, I think I would say 'really find out what your passion is. Is it for the outdoors, is it for plants, is it chemistry?'" she said.
"And scientists, please don't forget about manufacturing, because manufacturing solves so many problems and issues. The UK needs to be manufacturing.
"We used to do it really well and now we don't. I think we need more science in manufacturing and more commitment from scientists to help it out."
Had she listened to advice from her careers advisor, she might never have had the career she has had with Lush, which has 104 shops in the UK and Ireland.
Getty Images"I was advised to work in an office, which was totally not me. So think about what your passions are. Often they really are quite different to what your educator might be telling you," Ms Ambrosen added.
"I think to have a good career, you've got to follow your heart, you've got to follow your passions. You spend a long time working and you owe it to yourself to create a life that's vibrant, different, rewarding."
Jet Shears, Lush's quality manager, has worked for the company since 1999 and initially started part-time packing bath bombs.
At the time she was training to be a social worker but traded in that for one with cosmetics full-time.
"It's an incredibly rewarding job and it's very exciting for me and the team when the new batch of products comes to us," she said.
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