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Image / Agenda / Business

My Career: Sculpted by Aimee founder Aimee Connolly


By Aimee Connolly
25th May 2023

@aimeeconnolly_com

My Career: Sculpted by Aimee founder Aimee Connolly

Creator of make-up brand Sculpted by Aimee and a former IMAGE Young Businesswoman of the Year winner, Aimee Connolly has grown her brand from small start-up to international success in just a matter of years. Here she shares more about her career journey to date – including her best advice and what she does to unwind.

Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
From a young age I knew I wanted to work for myself and with the way my career developed, launching my own brand felt like a natural progression.

In college, I studied… Commerce and French.

My most formative work experience was… working in the House of Fraser beauty hall as part of my Transition Year programme. It’s where my love for make-up began. The confidence and knowledge I gained working there has been invaluable.

@aimeeconnolly_com

My first real job was… as a sales assistant working at the Urban Decay counter in House of Fraser. They hired me after I completed my transition year work experience there.

The most invaluable thing I learned early on in my career was… learning that hard work pays off and that you can make things happen when you have passion and determination.

A common misconception about what I do is… that it’s all very glamorous! There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that people have no idea about. Things like shoots and events are a very small part of what my job entails.

My main responsibility in work is to… coordinate everything! I started Sculpted by Aimee singlehandedly, and I still play a part in every aspect of the business, from product development to stock forecasting. Now, I’m blessed to have a fantastic team around me who have helped me grow my business and who have brought so much to the table.

Do you have a career mentor or someone you look up to/seek advice from?
My biggest inspiration has always been my mum, Clare. She’s an amazing businesswoman and role model to me. I also have an amazing group of friends within the industry who give me the best advice and are my biggest cheerleaders.

The biggest risk I have taken in my career so far is… launching my first product, as I had ploughed my life savings into it.

I wake at… at about 7am usually, but sometimes earlier if I have a call with an international customer or supplier.

The first thing I do every morning is… check my phone – something I really need to get out of the habit of!

My morning routine is… have a quick shower and grab something to eat before I head out the door!

@aimeeconnolly_com

I can’t go to work without… having a chat with my fiancée, John.

I travel to work by… on foot if the weather is ok, otherwise I will hop on the Luas. With the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon coming up I’m trying to get my steps in whenever I can!

On an average workday I… have no idea what the day might bring! Every day is different which I absolutely love!

I start my working day… sitting at my desk, reviewing my to-do list for the day.

The first thing I do at work is… the first thing I do is check my emails.

I usually spend the first portion of the day… sitting at my computer, the second half of the day is usually spent in meetings.

I break for lunch at… I typically break for lunch at about 1pm. I usually have something I’ve brought in from home.

The most useful business tool I use every day is… my phone.

I save time by… delegating. I have a great team of people around me who I trust implicitly!

I rarely get through my working day without… spending too much time on my phone!

The best part of my day is… catching up with my amazing team.

The most challenging part of my day is… attempting to finish up! There’s always else something to do.

I know it’s been a good day if… I leave the office feeling relaxed and happy.

I usually end my day at… around 6pm on a good day. I’m conscious of trying to improve my work/life balance!

Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

I switch off from work by… exercising! I love walking and running and it’s so easy to just throw on runners and get out there. This year I’m running the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon on June 4th which I’m really looking forward to.

Before I go to bed, I’ll… watch a show or read a book.

I often prepare for tomorrow by… I always make a list of anything on my mind to clear my head before bed.

After a long work week, I destress by… catching up with friends or having a night in with John.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is… opening the Sculpted by Aimee flagship store on Grafton Street last year.

If you want to get into my line of work, my advice is to… always work hard and believe in yourself!

@aimeeconnolly_com

I’ve just finished working on… we’ve just finished launching Sculpted by Aimee in the Middle East which I’m so proud of. At the moment, I’m working on planning my wedding!

The 2023 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is now open for entries! Businesswoman and entrepreneur Aimee Connolly is a Vhi ambassador for this year’s event. She is calling on women all around the country to join her and be part of something big on June 4th! Enter now at www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie

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