Page 10 - BOSS Today Issue 43

BOSS Today #43 LEADERS OF THE FUTURE

WONDROUS STORIES

The BOSS Leaders Of The Future Conference, held at Stationers’ Hall on Friday 8th March, reminded
specialist OP industry researcher Martin Wilde of the power of storytelling.

nce again, this year’s BOSS Leaders presentations off by taking us secured the Tesco account - she
Oof the Future Conference gathered through her own extraordinary story. launched with them with only one
together the best and the brightest Following a near-death experience colleague at very short notice, which
of our industry’s young talent within through anaphylactic shock as a child included pulling pallet loads of
the August grandeur of Stationers’ (in which her parents were told that product by hand down the road to the
Hall, bringing a combination of both she had four hours to live) and two awaiting fork lift truck. The Creative
continuity and freshness that seemed years of missed schooling, Ponan told Nature brand is now in Sainsburys,
exactly right for this occasion. With how she had turned her ‘weaknesses’ Co-op, Asda, TK Maxx and Ocado, as
the stained-glass windows around us into opportunities by buying out well as in more than 11 countries.
telling tales of printers through the allergy-free snack company Creative Inspiring, courageous and
ages and the stories that they have Nature at the age of 22. At the time, reflective, Ponan explained that
reproduced, the day seemed ripe for the business was making a £56,000 the main things that she learned
younger voices to take up the mantle loss and Ponan “changed everything during this journey were:
and tell new stories of their own. about it”, returning it to profit within
Emily Jones (Fellowes UK) and Scott 18 months and gambling the last n Have a purpose: make sure
Castle (VOW) set the tone for the remaining cash of the company on a you and your colleagues are
day, telling the tale of the Leaders of trade show stand at the ExCel, where continually on board with what
the Future committee and its work. she made a connection with what your business is all about.
Julianne Ponan “Entrepreneur turned out to be the Tesco buyer. n Time management: how do you
Extraordinaire” kicked the day’s Ponan then revealed how – having manage and value your time? Don’t

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