What​ ​does​ ​creativity​ ​mean​ ​to​ ​you? 
 

For​ ​me,​ ​being​ ​creative​ ​is​ ​having​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​and​ ​freedom​ ​to​ ​dream​ ​up​ ​ideas​ ​and​ ​then​ ​turn​ ​it​ ​into​ ​reality!​ ​It takes​ ​passion​ ​and​ ​drive​ ​to​ ​execute​ ​your​ ​ideas,​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​definitely​ ​worth​ ​it. 
 

My​ ​whole​ ​DNA​ ​is​ ​as​ ​a​ ​creative​ ​-​ ​I​ ​have​ ​dyslexia​ ​and​ ​so​ ​I​ ​like​ ​think​ ​I​ ​see​ ​things​ ​in​ ​a​ ​special​ ​light.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​only ever​ ​picked​ ​the​ ​creative​ ​road​ ​in​ ​life​ ​(and​ ​always​ ​will). 
 

What​ ​was​ ​your​ ​upbringing​ ​like,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​that​ ​led​ ​you​ ​to​ ​where​ ​you​ ​are​ ​today? 
 

My​ ​mum​ ​and​ ​dad​ ​raised​ ​me​ ​by​ ​educating​ ​me​ ​that​ ​even​ ​though​ ​my​ ​intelligence​ ​is​ ​not​ ​considered​ ​the​ ​“norm“ It​ ​is​ ​just​ ​as​ ​strong​ ​in​ ​a​ ​different​ ​way,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​I​ ​can​ ​achieve​ ​what​ ​I​ ​want​ ​if​ ​I​ ​tap​ ​into​ ​my​ ​creativity​ ​and​ ​have the​ ​​ ​hunger​ ​to​ ​work​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​get​ ​where​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​go. 
 

Where​ ​do​ ​your​ ​best​ ​ideas​ ​come​ ​from? 
 

I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​dreamer​ ​-​ ​I​ ​dream​ ​up​ ​ideas​ ​and​ ​often​ ​wish​ ​I​ ​could​ ​have​ ​all​ ​the​ ​time​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​to​ ​create​ ​them.​ ​My ideas​ ​come​ ​from​ ​within​ ​-​ ​unplanned​ ​or​ ​unexpected.​ ​So,​ ​I​ ​could​ ​be​ ​walking​ ​along​ ​the​ ​beach​ ​or​ ​at​ ​my​ ​desk when​ ​something​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​mind.
 

What​ ​does​ ​inspiration​ ​look​ ​like​ ​for​ ​you? 
 

To​ ​be​ ​inspired​ ​I​ ​need​ ​space​ ​in​ ​my​ ​morning​ ​routine​ ​to​ ​tune​ ​into​ ​my​ ​thoughts,​ ​and​ ​have​ ​time​ ​in​ ​the​ ​evening to​ ​rest,​ ​recoup​ ​and​ ​reflect​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​inspired​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​day! 
 

For​ ​me​ ​that​ ​would​ ​be​ ​“Making​ ​shit​ ​happen”.

If​ ​there​ ​were​ ​a​ ​secret​ ​to​ ​success,​ ​what​ ​would​ ​it​ ​be? 
 

Firstly,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​what’s​ ​important​ ​is​ ​to​ ​find​ ​out​ ​what​ ​success​ ​means​ ​to​ ​you​ ​in​ ​particular.​ ​To​ ​achieve​ ​it​ ​-​ ​believe in​ ​your​ ​own​ ​strengths​ ​and​ ​keep​ ​a​ ​laser​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​the​ ​positives​ ​you​ ​have​ ​and​ ​work​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​get​ ​where​ ​you want.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​never​ ​spend​ ​your​ ​time​ ​comparing​ ​yourself​ ​to​ ​others,​ ​or​ ​what​ ​their​ ​success​ ​might​ ​be​ ​to them. 
 

What​ ​were​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​challenges​ ​that​ ​you​ ​faced​ ​early​ ​on? 
 

When​ ​DW​ ​became​ ​a​ ​startup​ ​and​ ​entered​ ​the​ ​“startup​ ​world”​ ​-​ ​I​ ​definitely​ ​found​ ​having​ ​dyslexia​ ​challenging because​ ​it​ ​affected​ ​my​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​how​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​people​ ​may​ ​view​ ​me.​ ​So,​ ​I​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​let​ ​my​ ​actions speak​ ​louder​ ​than​ ​words.


 

What’s​ ​the​ ​secret​ ​to​ ​resilience? 
 

Over​ ​the​ ​years,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​become​ ​more​ ​resilient​ ​than​ ​ever!. ​I​ ​think​ ​the​ ​secret​ ​has​ ​been​ ​having​ ​confidence​ ​in what​ ​I​ ​stand​ ​for​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​been​ ​so​ ​great​ ​having​ ​so​ ​many​ ​people​ ​who​ ​support​ ​what​ ​Designer​ ​Wardrobe​ ​is​ ​all about. 
 

Having​ ​the​ ​most​ ​amazing​ ​directors​ ​on​ ​our​ ​board​ ​in​ ​Designer​ ​Wardrobe. ​Simon​ ​Moutter​ ​(general​ ​manager of​ ​Spark)​ ​and​ ​Shane​ ​Bradley​ ​(the​ ​startup​ ​king!)​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​highlight.​ ​Each​ ​person​ ​we​ ​have​ ​had​ ​who has​ ​joined​ ​the​ ​DW​ ​journey​ ​has​ ​also​ ​been​ ​such​ ​a​ ​great​ ​asset. It​ ​was​ ​amazing​ ​in​ ​our​ ​third​ ​round​ ​of​ ​investment​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​give​ ​other​ ​members​ ​of​ ​DW​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​take part​ ​and​ ​have​ ​a​ ​slice​ ​of​ ​our​ ​company.​ ​Also,​ ​reaching​ ​100,000​ ​members​ ​on​ ​DW​ ​is​ ​an​ ​incredible achievement​ ​to​ ​Aidan​ ​(my​ ​business​ ​partner)​ ​and​ ​I. 

What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​New​ ​Zealand​ ​is​ ​like​ ​for​ ​creativity?​ ​Is​ ​there​ ​something​ ​about​ ​‘Kiwiness’​ ​that​ ​helps or​ ​hinders? 

I​ ​think​ ​us​ ​Kiwi​ ​creatives​ ​are​ ​shining​ ​at​ ​the​ ​moment!​ ​We​ ​are​ ​in​ ​a​ ​new​ ​time​ ​and​ ​age​ ​and​ ​we​ ​have​ ​so​ ​much potential​ ​and​ ​resource​ ​to​ ​start​ ​innovating.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​go​ ​far​ ​without​ ​the​ ​traditional​ ​learning​ ​approach,​ ​and New​ ​Zealanders​ ​really​ ​support​ ​and​ ​helps​ ​one​ ​another​ ​in​ ​that​ ​journey. 



What​ ​would​ ​be​ ​the​ ​advice​ ​you’d​ ​give​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​turn​ ​their​ ​creative​ ​passion​ ​into​ ​a full-time​ ​gig? 

Once​ ​you’ve​ ​identified​ ​that​ ​you’re​ ​ready​ ​-– ​just​ ​get​ ​started​ ​one​ ​small​ ​step​ ​at​ ​a​ ​time!​ ​Don’t​ ​be​ ​afraid​ ​to​ ​make mistakes,​ ​the​ ​important​ ​part​ ​is​ ​beginning.​ ​My​ ​advice​ ​would​ ​be​ ​to​ ​work​ ​out​ ​where​ ​you​ ​need​ ​help,​ ​and​ ​go from​ ​there.​ ​You​ ​may​ ​find​ ​getting​ ​a​ ​business​ ​mentor​ ​a​ ​great​ ​way​ ​to​ ​get​ ​going. 

What​ ​have​ ​been​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​lessons​ ​you’ve​ ​learned? 

I​ ​have​ ​learnt​ ​the​ ​more​ ​you​ ​are​ ​challenged​ ​or​ ​faced​ ​with,​ ​the​ ​stronger​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be.

Where​ ​to​ ​next?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​goal​ ​you’re​ ​working​ ​towards? 

We​ ​are​ ​about​ ​to​ ​release​ ​our​ ​new​ ​platform​ ​on​ ​both​ ​web​ ​and​ ​mobile​ ​– ​and​ ​our​ ​concept​ ​store​ ​that​ ​will​ ​be​ ​the biggest​ ​highlight​ ​yet​ ​– ​as​ ​it’s​ ​been​ ​the​ ​hardest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​amazing​ ​thing​ ​our​ ​team​ ​has​ ​ever​ ​worked​ ​on. ​I know​ ​our​ ​members​ ​will​ ​love​ ​it​ ​so​ ​I​ ​am​ ​so​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​make​ ​my​ ​vision​ ​for​ ​DW​ ​come​ ​to​ ​life.