Overcoming All Odds to Success with Susie Ma of Tropic Skincare

06/04/19 • 65 min

Today we’re honoured to welcome Susie Ma, Tropic Skincare founder, to the Ikonns Podcast. Appearing on the iconic Forbes 30 under 30’s 2018 list, Susie often left us in awe as she spoke to us about her compelling career story and how her entrepreneurial spirit was carved out by her experiences in childhood.

Born in Shanghai under the one child policy, Susie describes the stark contrasts she faced in early childhood moving from China to Australia and then finally settling in the U.K. After seeing her mother struggle as a market seller in London’s Greenwich Market, Susie’s desire to gain a better life for herself and her mother led to her starting her own business.

“We were in this horrible trap, and I just thought my mum can’t physically do any more work, she’s working the maximum hours that her body can physically handle, it’s up to me now” – Susie Ma

Susie founded Tropic Skincare when she was 15 years old, pursuing the only goal to help her mother out. After creating first home-made skin care products packed in jam jars and originated from her Chinese origins and experiencing some initial success, Susie tells us how her company – the fastest-growing skincare company in the U.K. – was born from her appearance on BBC’s television series The Apprentice in 2011 and how Alan Sugar firing her was also a blessing in disguise.

“Have that vision, believe that you can do it, but you have to be prepared to work damn hard at it” – Susie Ma

We’re sure you’ll experience the same goose bumps we did as Susie’s motivational spirit shines through in every word she speaks!

Here’s what else we talk about:

The building blocks needed for creating your vision
Building an honest business with a hands on approach
Being risk averse and building organically
Learning lessons from your peers
The infinite purpose of your business

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Susie Ma, you can find out more about her here:

Tropicskincare.com

Twitter

Instagram

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode33

“Have that vision, believe that you can do it, but you have to be prepared to work damn hard at it” – Susie Ma

We’re sure you’ll experience the same goose bumps we did as Susie’s motivational spirit shines through in every word she speaks!

Here’s what else we talk about:

The building blocks needed for creating your vision
Building an honest business with a hands on approach
Being risk averse and building organically
Learning lessons from your peers
The infinite purpose of your business

Hope you enjoyed this week’s episode with Susie Ma, you can find out more about her here:

Tropicskincare.com

Twitter

Instagram

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode33

Previous Episode

How to Have Deep and Meaningful Relationships in Your Life

In todays episode, Alex and Mimi discuss what it means to go deep both with yourself and others and how doing so can enrich your relationships.

When facing challenges and conflicts throughout our lives, we have a choice, do we stay in the comfort and familiarity of the shallows or do we go out and explore the depths and face the challenges that can help us evolve?

“The true wealth and gifts lie in the depths of our soul and the souls of other people that we come across” – Mimi Ikonn

Admittedly an extrovert, Mimi discusses the challenges she faced at a silent meditation retreat and how facing her fear of listening to the heart led to an important lesson. Alex discusses the significance of maintaining the ability to self reflect in an age of social media and instant gratification.

“The moments of nothing are where you actually have that space to reflect and get to know yourself a little deeper” – Alex Ikonn

Placing honesty over the guarantee of happiness can lead to a healthier relationship, and whilst this honesty may be upsetting or challenging at first, transparency can be an important communicative tool that helps us avoid a build up of negative feelings towards each other over time.

We all have our different paths in life but one thing that we all have in common is having to face challenges along the way. Building healthy and fulfilling relationships can be difficult at times, but those that are built on core principles of honesty and vulnerability can help them stand the test of time!

Here’s what else we discuss today:

Two steps to a meaningful relationship
The fear of loss and how it can stop people from evolving
How social media provides shots of dopamine comparative to gambling
Not being afraid to ruffle some feathers
Conflict can be a wake up call and gift in building your relationships
You never stop learning
Social media can be a helpful tool for discourse

We would love to hear from you! Head on over to our website at www.ikonns.com and submit a question. Ask anything from a wide variety of topics, business to relationships... so feel free to ask away!

Resources from today's episode here:

Lazo Freeman – Body, Mind, Soul Transformation podcast.

Insight timer – meditation app.

Tara Brach – Meditation Podcaster

The Case of Doing for Doing Nothing - New York Times article.

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode32

Next Episode

Random Fun Questions with Alex and Mimi

Today we’ve got a bit of a spontaneous and fun episode as Alex and Mimi answer a wide variety of ‘questions that nobody ever really asks’.

Have you ever wondered how the Ikonn name originated, who Alex’s perfect dinner party guests would be or how Mimi deals with the choice between an aisle or window seat? Get to know them more and see if they get to know each other better in the process as they answer a whole bunch of questions such as:

Did you have a nickname growing up?
What is your favourite childhood TV show?
How do you relieve stress?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled off?
If you could get back any article of clothing you once wore, what would it be?
If you could play any instrument which would you play?
If you could live in one city for the rest of your life where would you live?
Do you sleep with your door open or closed?
Do you still watch cartoons?
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone?
What was your favourite concert of all time?
Do you believe in ghosts?
Who would you like to see in concert?
Have you ever won a contest?

We hope you enjoyed this episode as much as us and we appreciate you for listening! As always we would love to hear from you! Head on over to our website at www.ikonns.com and submit a question. Ask anything from a wide variety of topics, business to relationships... so feel free to ask away!

Full show notes: https://www.ikonns.com/podcast/episode34

Produced by Jason Sanderson - Podcast Tech