Anni Townend in Conversation with Julia Yule, Co-Founder and Director of Bloom and Blossom

In episode 3, series 2 of Leaders In Conversation Anni was delighted to be joined by Julia Yule Co-Founder and Director of Bloom and Blossom, an award winning British business that provides natural routine led, solution focused skincare for the whole family.

The experiences that shape you 

Julia starts the episode discussing her greatest leading influence was her parents. She highlights that they were massively encouraging and pushed in a way that kept them accountable.

The journey to success

Julia discusses her years in PR, fashion and magazine which although incredibly glamour was hard work but incredibly important to work your way up. 

She said that “you need to do, and you need to see and you need to experience. So, I've always applied that in whatever I do. And I'm very determined”. 

Positivity in the workplace 

Julia goes on to discuss the importance of leading with confidence but also vulnerability. She says that “To be able to lead a business takes a team, right, it takes people. And so, to give people that ability, and that chance to shine and feel confident in something that they're doing particularly at that time’.  

They both discuss that trust is vital as well enjoying what you do and one of the top things that distinguishes great leaders from good leaders is the ability to being a positive mindset. 

She said that “if we take business, having positivity in the workplace is imperative as a leader, but also, as an individual” and that we should celebrate the wins however big or small.

The To Be List

Anni shares her to-be list tip… “we can get bogged down in to do lists, things we must do. I'm a great encourager of having a To Be list. So alongside, particularly for those people who love to have a list, to have the To Do list, but also to have the To Be list, who am I being,  how am I going to show up today-  wholehearted, determined, bringing a positive mindset ..”. 

Building a flourishing partnership 

They  both go onto discuss the Bloom and Blossom, the fantastic small, independent British brand that Julia and Christina,  her sister in law/ business partner created in 2010. She said that “We wanted to build a brand, we wanted to build something that took us out of, or within the realms of body care, but slightly out of just quite the small maternity sector, albeit a beautiful sector that we still cater for certainly.”. 

Both having the same clear vision, the same principles of how they want to get there has been keen to their journey of success. 

She believes it’s also important to listen, both with Christina but also her team. Creating a safe environment of diversity of thought. 

The importance of routine

Anni goes onto share her love of the Bloom and Blossom brand products and its focus on creating routines for sleep, skincare and more.

Julia shares that we should “sit, listen and encourage as much as you can. Have the courage yourself and encourage it all out of others as well”. 

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

Vulnerability as a leader  Positivity in the workplaceThe To Be List Build a flourishing partnership with a friend Building a beauty and self care brand The importance of self-care for success

To find out more about Bloom and Blossom and Julia and to buy their wonderful skincare products for your wellness do go to www.bloomandblossom.com 

 If you would like to be a guest on Leaders in Conversation, please contact Anni on [email protected]