Natasha Pilbrow is COO and co-founder of on-demand beauty platform LeSalon. Not only does she want to provide a beauty service that busy clients can easily access and enjoy, she also wants her technicians to be able to work flexibly and safely.
Her mission is to use technology to create a platform that allows women to work on their own terms, honing their skills and expanding their client base under a discerning brand associated with high-end and quality treatments.
As a former lawyer and mother of two, she understands how difficult it can be to strike a work-life balance and find time for yourself, so wants to make it easier for busy women to live and work on their own terms.
Tell Us About A Typical Day At Work
I take my children to school in the morning, and then get to the office around 9am. I’ll check through my emails on the way to see if there’s anything urgent that needs dealing with.
I spend the morning in the office catching up on emails, talking to brands and suppliers about introducing new products and services, and liaising with our marketing team on newsletters, social strategy, and press content.
Often in the afternoon we’ll have Salonettes in for training. I’ll also spend some time looking at who’s booking what and when, to ensure we’re balancing supply and demand sufficiently.
What Two Things Do You Do To Build Your Confidence?
First of all I’ll get a manicure. I generally go for a nude colour polish but if I need that extra confidence boost I’ll go for a strong red. Having clean and polished nails always makes me feel tidy, organised and capable of achieving anything!
Exercise is a big part of my life because it makes such a dramatic difference to how I feel and how I cope with stress. If I am feeling overwhelmed or tired I know that a high intensity cardio session will give me energy and totally change my outlook. I literally come out flying!
How Do You Balance Work And Life And Make Time For Yourself?
It’s a constant juggling act, but I find it really helps to ensure I’m totally present in whatever I’m doing; whether that’s working or eating dinner with my children.
It’s often tempting to step out from a playdate to take a call, but I find splitting your attention like this can send out the wrong messages to your family. Plus you wind up feeling unfulfilled.
Planning my schedule also makes a big difference. Moving everything from my to do list and into my calendar really helps me prioritise and keep on top of things.
I also try really hard to carve space in my schedule to relax and clear my head. I like to use the Calm app for ten minutes of daily meditation during my daily commute to the office, and also enjoy a lunchtime yoga class.
What’s Your Top Beauty Tip?
There is no doubt that a healthy diet, drinking lots of water and sleep make the most significant difference to my skin but there are a few products that help as well. A daily Vitamin C serum in the morning (PC&E Skin Strength), retinol (The Ordinary) and an exfoliant (GoopGlow Microderm exfoliator) all help make your skin brighter and healthier looking.
What’s Your Definition Of Success And How Has This Changed Over The Years?
In the past I definitely saw success as hitting big milestones and being the best at everything. I’m far less competitive now, and am far more driven by fulfilment.
For me, success is being able to recognise what is ultimately important to you (and that may not be what “conventional” success looks like to others).
I really admire people that are able to work out what happiness and fulfilment really means to them individually and follow this path – irrespective of what others might think.
How Do You Feel About Getting Older?
So far, I’m really enjoying it! I’ve reached a stage in my life and career where I really feel I can thrive. This is thanks to both my personal and professional support networks which I’ve built over the years.
I think people often underestimate how much you learn throughout your career, but you really do learn a lot and before you know it you have lots of incredible friends and contacts who can help you succeed when taking a risk on something like starting your own business.
I don’t think LeSalon would’ve been the success it is if I’d launched it five or ten years earlier, so I’m grateful for age the knowledge, wisdom and confidence it brings.
