29 June 2021|Brand Story, Female Founder Spotlight, Latest Posts, Meet the Successful Founder
As part of our Female Founder Spotlight series we were delighted to catch up with Michelle Rust, to learn more about her entrepreneurship journey.
Could you introduce us to your company and the inspiration behind it?
I’m Michelle and I live in a beautiful part of Yorkshire with my husband Andy of 21 years and our two teenage children, Isabella and Charlie. Treacle our 5 year old cockapoo is also worthy of a special mention as she brings a smile to all our faces daily.
In 2014, an opportunity to take voluntary redundancy from the pharmaceutical company I was working for at the time came my way, and after 22 years in the industry, I decided to take the leap and start my own business. I finally un-packed my ‘permanently’ packed overnight case in May 2014 and formed my consultancy business.
In my early 40s I started to struggle with the symptoms of the menopause, mostly due to sleep deprivation brought on through night sweats and hot flushes. Coming from a background in pharmaceuticals, I have always had a deep-rooted interest in anything to do with medicine, supplements and new treatments. I knew I wanted to take a more natural, non-invasive approach in managing my symptoms and as more and more information became available over the years regarding the possible benefits of CBD oil, I became increasingly intrigued in how it worked and the different types available on the market as not all CBD oils are created equal. As such, I believed passionately that creating a premium CBD oil was the right thing to do, and Potyque was born. Potyque is a premium brand of natural CBD, based on honesty and integrity, using only the finest extraction processes. We massively underestimate the power of plants, which is odd really when you realise how many pharmaceuticals are derived from natural products. The next step for us is to help as many people understand how CBD oil can help, understand how to choose the right oil for them and ultimately gain benefit from Potyque.
What would you love to share to encourage other women to start their own company?
What have you got to lose and what is the worse that could happen? Take the plunge, you never know what path it may take you down and the opportunities that my land at your door.
What are your 5 top tips for entrepreneurial success
1. Do something you are good at – you are more likely to succeed and be happy
2. Believe in yourself
3. Tenacity is a valuable skill – you may well face many setbacks, having the ability to pick yourself up and keep going will ultimately drive you forward
4. Be kind and genuine – fake people are so obvious! People will never forgot how you made them feel!
5. Never be afraid to ask for help regardless of how silly you think the request, or the question is – it shows humility
Who are the 5 women who inspire you the most?
Michelle Obama – what can I say that hasn’t been said by women around the world over and over again… for me she is the ultimate role model.
Karen Brady CBE – so successful, so early on in her career, in what could only be described as a ‘man’s world’ and of course very funny to watch on The Apprentice too
Trinny Woodall – reinvented her brand to what it is today, she is inspiring and down the earth and I particularly loved watching her videos throughout lockdown.
An ex-colleague, as inspiring people are sometimes right there and in always your life – we still speak regularly and no matter the challenge, she speaks wise words that would often make me see things from another pair of eyes… she’s usually right, but not always!
Last but by no means least, my mum for too many reasons to mention.
What is your favourite saying/inspirational quote?
There are a few twists on my favourite saying, but the version I tend to hear myself saying is by Maya Angelou the poet and novelist;
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Those words constantly resonate with me and I honestly hear them most days.
Website link and social handles
Instagram: potyquecbd
