Our Under Her Skin series gets to the heart of what drives women on their journey to success. In partnership with Medik8, we’re delving into exactly how women find their motivation and put their best foot forward every day in the workplace.  

From business choices to listening to gut feelings, here’s how Author and Journalist, Yomi Adegoke, Chief Sparkle Officer of The Glitter Sphere, Nishma Patel Robb and AllBright’s CEO Viv Paxinos found inspiration throughout their rise to the top. 

Nishma Patel Robb- Founder & Chief Sparkle Officer of The Glitter Sphere

Nishma is a former Brand & Reputation Leader at Google and now owns her own company, The Glitter Sphere, where she guides female business leaders to the very top of the careers.  

What is one thing you couldn’t have been successful without?

There are two things, but they’re connected. I couldn’t have been successful without sequins and sparkle.  They have been my armour and have made me stand out in a sea of grey. But it’s more than that, they are also a great way of welcoming others to you.  

Sparkle starts conversation. It’s how I got my first job. I was standing in a queue when a woman complimented me on what I was wearing. She turned out to be my interviewer. I got the job.   

When you’re hiding your sparkle and excellence, you’re keeping the best parts of you a secret. So, go out and sparkle.  

What does your morning skincare routine look like and what does that self-care ritual mean to you?

My morning routine is very much around preparing for the day ahead. It’s lovely to take a few minutes to focus on and be positive about yourself and look at your face in that almost unmasked way. We are all victims of the things we say to ourselves in the mirror, so looking directly at myself as I put that skin care on can be incredibly mentally nourishing. 

Skincare, for me, is a positive affirmation.  

Can you tell us about a career risk you have taken that has paid off?

The biggest one for me was leaving a successful career at Google and the world of tech at the height of the AI boom. It was scary, but a step I am so glad I have taken. I was trading it for something I truly believed in; that sense of authenticity and rewriting the rules.  

These career moments are investments in becoming unmissable. I knew I had a real passion to go off and unleash the brilliance within other women and be a part of reshaping and rewriting the rules.  

Finally, what do you think is a common misunderstanding about successful women?

I think people think success is an absence of doubt- it isn’t. We all have those 3AM moments of doubt, where we second guess the things that we're doing.  

 But the more authentic we can be, the more we can be comfortable in owning our story, in recognising what we can contribute, the better. There’s always more to someone’s success than the image they present to the world. 

 It's a bit like good skincare, isn't it? It's not about perfection. It's about being really comfortable and embracing those doubts.  

That's the secret behind successful women.  

Yomi Adegoke- Author and Journalist

Yomi has written about the intersection of race, feminism and popular culture for Elle UK and The Guardian. She is the author of The List and has co-authored novels including Slay in Your Lane and The Offline Diaries with her best friend Elizabeth Uviebinenè.  

What is one thing you couldn’t have been successful without?

The sisterhood, 100%. I’m lucky enough to have a lot of incredible, talented women around me. It wasn’t a coincidence that I co-wrote my first novel with my best friend, Elizabeth. We wrote it two years out of university, she was working in the city and I was working as a journalist. Elizabeth had had this amazing idea for a guide to life aimed at Black British women and she pitched the idea to me. I then pitched it back to her as a joint project.   

That situation is emblematic of what my career and success has been like. Always alongside other incredible women that I’m unbelievably blessed to know.  

What is a part of your success that no one sees?

I'd say one thing about my success that no one sees is how long in the making it's been. It's really funny when people congratulate me on my first book, The List. It's actually my fifth, but my first solo book.  

I was a journalist for, you know, nearly a decade. I'd been putting the work in for a very long time, and I think, with successful women, there can be this misconception and assumption that we just kind of fell out of the sky. 

There's a quote by Tom Clancy, "Being an overnight success is ten years in the making”, which is definitely something I can relate to. A lot of people assume that I've been in the industry a lot less time than I have.  

What does the morning of a successful woman look like and how does skincare play a role?

Honestly, my morning routine is messy and inconsistent. I haven’t had a proper routine for a while. Skincare is actually the only consistent part of my morning. Part of the reason I decided to get rid of my hair is because I thought it would help me be ready on time!  

I really got into skincare around the time of lockdown and is something I’m always really happy to be asked about because it is the one ritual I prioritise every day, that helps me feel put together.  

Have you ever felt judged for your ambition?

Absolutely, and I think that is mostly because of stereotypes. It’s a strange thing. There is an idea around ambition and being a woman that has packed a lot in early in her career that it’s about being cut-throat and that I must be really savage, which could not be further from the truth.  

That ‘pull the ladder up behind you’ attitude is certainly not me, or any of the other wonderful, successful women I have around me. It’s an idea and a stereotype that is projected, it isn’t reality.  

There are so many ways to define success, but for me it’s about being happy. It might sound cheesy, but it’s true.  

Viv Paxinos- CEO of AllBright and everywoman

With a background in media, Viv has been the CEO of AllBright since 2023, and everywoman after its acquisition in 2024.  

What drives the decisions you make in your career?

Passion and purpose drive the choices I make in my career. If I am going to make a decision, it has to be something I genuinely believe in, something I can stand behind and champion.  

I’m also very commercially driven and am always looking for opportunities to create growth. So, I get my energy from finding ways to marry the two together and achieving growth and commercial success from causes I really believe in.  

Morning skincare can be a confidence ritual in itself. What does your morning routine look like each day?

I’m an early riser. I'm officially part of the 5AM club. It works for me, I start my day with a hot drink and then take my dog for a walk. I have a rule that I won’t look at my phone for at least the first 45 minutes of the day.  

With skincare, it’s about using products that make me feel really good and ready to take on the day. I wear SPF every single day of the year; winter, summer, doesn't matter. Then I get my kids up and ready for their day too.   

I know a lot of CEOs like to say they’re not up early, but I love it. I find so much energy from getting up and facing the day head-on. 

Have you ever felt judged for your ambition?

Often, usually by other mums on the school run. My career means I’m not always able to do the pick-ups and drop-off of the school run, and I have felt the judgment that comes with that.  

The way I have dealt with that is to find other working mums. The ones who also don’t have time to do the school run every day. We have a WhatsApp group. We go out, have fun and support each other.  

What piece of advice would you give women starting out today?

Firstly, it is so important to back yourself with confidence. Believe in yourself and your abilities. That really is the first step. Secondly, and I say it often because it is so true, your network is your net worth. Taking time to really invest and build that group is the most important thing that you will do throughout your career. It's how you'll get your jobs, it's where you'll find your support.  

I don’t just mean your professional network; it’s the people that will pick you up when you’re struggling too. For me, that is my sister, my family and my friends. I always say, you need your own, personal board of directors, they are the people that will keep you thriving.  

Lastly, what in your life are you truly proud of?

I'm proud to be a role model for my children and other women. I am very proud of my ability to lean in and own up to my ambition. It’s something I think women all women should do. Ambition is not something to be ashamed of. I really love working. I love making a difference. I'm really honest about that being something I take pride in.