We’re closing off 2021 with another incredible episode about health and wellbeing, this week with the fabulous Nicola Mendelsohn, who is the Vice President, Global Business Group at Meta. Nicola also is the chairperson of the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation, which she founded in 2019 after herself being diagnosed three years prior.  

Whilst trying to understand her own condition she connected with the 'Living with Follicular Lymphoma' Facebook Group. This gave her the insight, advice and support from a close-knit on-line community going through the same journeys. Over time, Nicola became more involved in the stories and experiences of the individuals in the group as well as her own treatment. This led her to develop relationships with leading clinicians and investigators in the field, who convinced her that by raising awareness and funds, so much more could be done to transform the lives of FL patients.

In this episode, Nicola tells us about how her drive to help and support others throughout her life has been guided by her faith, the challenges she faced after receiving her FL diagnosis and why she remains hopeful for a cure. 

For more information about Follicular Lymphoma or to support Nicola in finding a cure, please head to https://www.theflf.org/ 

The ask: Head to the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation website to learn more about Follicular Lymphoma, spread the word and donate to stop this incurable disease. 

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On this week’s episode of Start Somewhere, I’m delighted to speak to an amazing trailblazer in sustainability and female empowerment. Joining me is the incredible Natalie Deacon, Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for the iconic beauty brand Avon. Natalie is also the President of the Avon Foundation for Women. 

In this episode, Natalie tells us the compelling story of Avon’s founder and champion of women, David H. McConnell. And Avon, through their foundation, have made it their mission to speak up about gender-based violence and empowerment of women. We also speak about the role of brands in guiding consumers to live more sustainably and the latest innovations in biotech that Avon is using to push the envelope on what is possible with natural ingredients.   

The ask: It’s all about making small steps and small changes. Even if everyone listening to the podcast would recycle beauty product waste from their bathrooms, or would share one post on social media raising awareness about domestic violence, it would incrementally create an unstoppable movement for change. 

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For this week on Start Somewhere, I’m thrilled to be joined by the wonderful Helen Cox, Global Environmental Reporting Lead for one of my favourite beauty brands, LUSH. Like myself, Helen is part of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition Steering Committee. 

Before joining Lush, Helen worked in financial services, specialising in international cosmetics retail, then shifted to the financial reporting process, with an interest in climate change. An avid sustainability advocate, she wants to make sustainability accessible to and actionable by all.

In this episode, Helen tells us about her ‘full circle’ career path at LUSH, how LUSH has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability and purpose and why more beauty brands should be in coalition with one another. 

The ask: If we do nothing, nothing is going to change except get worse. If you want to do something, just go and do it. No action is too small. 

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