Kate Morris is a beauty-obsessed digital entrepreneur who founded her first business, online cosmetics retailer adorebeauty in 1999. Her most recent project is foundation matching tool findation.com. She was awarded Telstra Young Businesswoman of the Year for Victoria in 2010.
Growing up, what kind of career did you want to pursue?
I wanted to be a lawyer. I actually got as far as the first week of lectures, and then thought, “I don’t want to do this! What was I thinking?!”
… and as a little girl, what did you imagine working life to be like?
I thought meetings sounded very important and exciting.
What qualities do you most admire in a female colleague?
Honesty, tenacity, self-motivation, initiative, and a good sense of humour. That goes for male colleagues also.
You are a role model for women, how do you think you can assist in their success?
I hope I can provide some inspiration to those who think “I can’t”. You absolutely can. You don’t have to believe it, you just have to do it.
What is the best path to success in your field of endeavor?
Persistence, and willingness to risk failure in pursuit of success.
How would you describe your ideal work day?
As long as it starts with a good coffee, any day can be a great day.
What’s the key to successfully balancing work and life?
A supportive partner helps tremendously; as does outsourcing as many domestic tasks as possible, so that your “home” time is actually spent relaxing and enjoying your family.
If you had an afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it?
At the cinema. A good movie means 2 hours in another world, with no interruptions.
What makes you happy?
My daughter’s giggle. The smell of fresh bread. New shoes. Nice emails from customers.
What brings you sadness?
Bad things happening to little kids.
What’s your motto?
Feel the fear and do it anyway.