Here's how this nail art CEO is shaping our future

We've scoured the country to find 2016's hot new innovators: the game-changing women transforming the way we live and work. Meet Sharmadean Reid MBE, one of the winners of our Future Shapers Awards in partnership with Neutrogena...

The beauty innovator Sharmadean Reid MBE, 32

Reid is the founder of WAH London, the brand that spearheaded modern nail art. Now she’s supporting other female entrepreneurs through her business workshops, FutureGirlCorp.

You can always turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’. When I first started out, I applied to open a nail bar at Topshop and was turned down, which was so deflating. Later, I pushed for another meeting, which resulted in us getting a pop-up store that later turned into a permanent Topshop concession that we held for four years. Persistence and hard work pay off.

Now is the time for female entrepreneurs. I have just launched FutureGirlCorp, an epic 12-hour business workshop marathon for future female CEOs. Women are versatile and resilient already; now I want to teach them how to think about building big businesses.

Always go one step further. Add another zero to the end of your financial projections. Hell, add another two if you’re feeling brave. The next generation of women need to think bigger than ever.

Give something back. After meeting fellow ‘future shaper’ Jaz O’Hara at an event, I went to the Calais Jungle refugee camp to donate food. I also painted nails in its Women’s Centre. It’s the little things that make people feel a sense of dignity when everything else is crumbling around them.

Recognition for being good at your job is priceless. I got an MBE last year for services in the beauty industry. That was pretty cool.

Look ahead. I want to digitalise the beauty experience next and I’m opening WAH Soho, which I hope will become the salon of the future, connecting on and offline commerce.

#passiton ‘Control your emotions. It’s important to be able to walk into a meeting and block everything else out.’

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