Ella Doran - 2011 Mentor

Ella Doran is an award-winning designer whose photographic prints have become modern classics. She has her own store and has designed collections for John Lewis and Habitat

Ella Doran is an award-winning designer whose photographic prints have become modern classics. She has her own store and has designed collections for John Lewis and Habitat.

We caught up to talk inspiration and her own experiences of mentoring.

What fired your ambition to start your own business? I had a loan of £4000 from The Prince's Trust. I also had a mentor and my cash flow was regularly assessed.

MEET THE REST OF THE 2011 MENTORS HERE

What’s the best careers advice that you’ve been given? Be true to yourself - it's crucial to stay focused. Keep to your plan and make sure it stacks up financially.

What’s been a career high? Winning awards is a great boost. One particular memory is watching a Bridget Jones movie at the cinema and seeing my African tablemats in her kitchen!

What makes a good mentor? Experience, understanding, compassion and someone who is interested, not just interesting! There’s never a dull moment in learning and the most rewarding thing from having mentors is speaking to someone who has done it all before.

WANT TO BE MENTORED? CLICK HERE

OR JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AND BECOME A MARIE CLAIRE MENTOR, JERE