FRIDAY FEATURE: Julianne Ponan, Creative Nature Superfoods Winner of a Woman Who Achieves Award

During the coming months we are featuring many of the Woman Who Achieves Finalists, Winners and Sponsors in our Friday Feature.

Introducing Julianne Ponan, Founder of Creative Nature Superfoods Winner of the Woman Who Achieves Scale Up Award Sponsored by Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank

We asked Julianne our Friday Feature questions and here are her responses:

Name: Julianne Ponan
Business Name: Creative Nature Superfoods
Twitter Name: @creativenature & @julianneponan
Who is your role model and why?
Richard Reed from Innocent Drinks who had an idea and followed it through with passion and persistence. When times are tough – and when they are great – I see Richard in my mind’s eye.
What’s the worst job you have ever had?
Actually I’ve loved the jobs I’ve had as I’ve learnt so much from each job – however it must be said I loathe housework and my worst job in the home is cooking! It’s a good job I have a fiancé who loves to cook and comes up with the new product recipes!
What’s the best business advice you have ever received?
This is difficult – I’ve received so much – and also so much I should have ignored! I think it simply has to be to believe in myself and trust my gut instinct. I also believe strongly in networking and surrounding yourself with people smarter than you so you can learn from them.
What is your proudest achievement in business?
There have been many, however securing the first order from a big supermarket brand when we were in our infancy – even though it meant working until the small hours for a few weeks to meet the deadline. It was a very steep learning curve – which taught us so much in such a short period of time.
What is your favourite business book?
Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie
and just for fun…
Which personality or business person would you invite to sit on your dream Board of Directors and why?
Blake Mycoskie – I’ve always believed the phrase ‘if you’re the smartest person in the room you are in the wrong room’ – I’m young, I’m passionate and I want to learn from someone I admire who has been on a similar path.
If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
It would have to be Ariel from The Little Mermaid or Moana from Moana. Dreamers both, who are adventurous, wishing for more and taking the opportunity when it comes along. Also, strong minded female characters!
Tell us an amazing fact about you, that not many people know?
My fiancé Matt proposed to me earlier this year in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Harry Potter is my guilty pleasure – and when I was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 to watch, I found myself listed alongside Harry Potter himself – Daniel Radcliffe!