Maria Hatzistefanis, founder and CEO of the global skincare brand Rodial, has opened up about the realities of building a business from scratch. In an interview as part of our Women Who Win series, she reveals that her success was far from overnight, taking 18 years of hard work.
Hatzistefanis started Rodial from her bedroom in 1999, and the company now sells products in 20,000 stores worldwide. She credits her breakthrough to the viral 'snake' serum, but insists that the journey was a long one. 'I never planned on becoming an entrepreneur,' she said. 'Circumstances just brought me to the point where my only option was to start my own business and so I just learned how to be an entrepreneur along the way.'
Offering advice to aspiring business owners, Hatzistefanis emphasises the importance of differentiation. 'Do your research and make sure that your business idea is different to everything else that's out there in the market,' she said. 'You need to have a point of view that no one else has.' She also stresses consistency in branding and the need to tell a story on social media rather than just promoting products.
On work-life balance, Hatzistefanis admits sacrifices are necessary. 'I've had to sacrifice my social life as I spend a lot of time at work,' she said. 'When you start your own business something has got to give and you have to look at your priorities.' She recommends exercise, yoga and meditation to manage stress, and encourages networking in person rather than just online.
Hatzistefanis also shares her hiring philosophy: 'When I interview someone, I try to find a reason not to hire them. I always try to look at the worst case.'
