Cork's Noella Gabriel: ‘I’ve never apologised for my choices’

“There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”

That’s a renowned quote from former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and one that Noella Gabriel keeps to mind as co-founder and global president of ELEMIS, a globally renowned skincare brand available in 110 countries.

Noella, who is originally from Bandon, is a speaker at the upcoming National Women’sEnterpriseDay (NWED) in the Radisson Blue Hotel Little Island on October 16.

This year’s theme, ‘Making It Happen’, encourages participants to challenge norms, embrace innovation, and harness collective strength to redefine the future of entrepreneurship.

And among the many things Noella will be chatting about on the day is the importance of kindness, having a hunger to learn, and knowing your worth.

Referring back to the Albright quote, she said that women “can be very brutal to each other,” and in many cases crueller to women than men might be.

The businesswoman has memories of people who didn’t help her at various times in her career, but it hasn’t defined her, or held her back.

Noella joined ELEMIS when it was in its start-up stage in 1989, after being headhunted. A classically trained singer, she left Cork for New York, settling in London where she managed the beauty department in Harvey Nichols, describing it as the “best four years” of her life.

“Then, one Thursday evening at 8.20pm, I was finishing up and the phone rang. I answered and it was an investor who wanted to create a new wellness range and she heard I was the one who might make it happen. I met her and that was the start of my whole journey into ELEMIS,” said Noella.

That was in 1989, and 35 years later Noella has been director of education at ELEMIS, general manager of the UK, general manager of the US working from New York, and is now global president.

“There’s not a role I haven’t done and enjoyed,” she said.

Her motivation from the start, she said, has been her hunger to learn, and it’s a message she shares with the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

“When I chat to girls, they talk about their next salary and their next title, and that really wasn’t on my radar at all. I went anywhere I could learn, and I had a huge hunger for knowledge and another stamp on my passport, and that drive gives you a real hunger to be with people and I believe you learn from people. I don’t think you learn from the text book, I don’t have a degree, I’m from the university of life and I thank all the people I met along the way that helped shape me to what I am today.”

Noella also said she’s never been financially motivated.

“I was in Harvey Nichols running the beauty department and I got the call and I decided I was going to get involved with product and treatment development for this brand, whatever it was going to be, it wasn’t even launched at that stage, and to me that rocked my boat.

“That’s kind of what’s missing today – now we get the degrees, we do the masters, we come out and we think we have an entitlement to be and do very quickly. Well, I would say it doesn’t work like that,” she said.

“I think what we’re really missing in every industry, are people who want to come in and roll up their sleeves and learn from the grassroots up. We’re missing those people who really want to be in it for the industry and not for the title and the commercial gain, and that’s a pity,” she said.

Her key business advice is that “worth and value will be recognised”.

“A good work ethic is so important, I’ve a zero compromise approach to this, and I’m not alone in that, the world is full of these people, so it’s important to just trust in it.”

She applied that same trust when it came to working reduced hours when her daughter Kate, now aged 26, was younger.

As a single mother, she didn’t return to full-time work until Kate was five, and she made no apology for it.

“If you have a value, and a worth, all of us have, we should trust that more. I’ve never apologised for my choices ever, and that’s really fundamental.”

Noella was, however, supported by ‘incredible women’ in her family and regularly flew back to Cork to hand Kate to her sister, to fly around the world on business.

“I also have three nieces who, at every chance, would come to me in London and stay to help, so it’s about women supporting women – I could not do this alone, but by having good women around. We call ourselves ‘Little Women’ – there are six of us and their support is invaluable. That’s how women can be very powerful for each other, being an incredible support.”

Noella hasn’t felt any additional challenges in her career because of being a female.

“Of course, being a female in a female industry is a plus. I’m a woman selling to women, that’s very valuable. But, in my experience, women have a place to be as successful as men.

“We are the mult-itaskers, there’s no doubt about that – how we can do lots of things very well. We think differently, we’re very organised, very structured and I don’t think we get enough credit for that in business. We’re as good as any man in any boardroom, and that’s the truth,” she insisted.

What would she tell her younger self embarking on her business career?

“To trust the gut. Even if everything stacks up commercially, if the gut says no, I’d trust it. So tune into your gut instinct.

“I’d also say to talk less and listen more. When you’re young, it’s about being heard, but there’s a much greater power in being a great listener. It’s not always he who shouts loudest wins the golden post, and I wish I had known that better, earlier, but that’s the growth.”

Noella, who has just bought a house in Kinsale, is very much looking forward to the South West regional NWED across Ireland.

The South West Regional event, hosted by LEOs Cork & Kerry, will celebrate two decades of empowering and inspiring female entrepreneurs. Despite her incredible successes, she insists she’s going there to learn like everyone else.

“The day is about sharing what we learn, and that’s always a great platform, and I know I’ll come away with one or two things that will make me think about things differently, that’s ultimately what they’re for.

“It’s a day where women are honoured and where our voices are heard, and that’s absolutely vital.”

Women in business at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey and from all sectors are welcome to the South-West event, from entrepreneurs with a business idea to start-ups and well-established businesses.

Síle Seoige, broadcaster, podcast host, MC, wellbeing speaker and yoga teacher, will be the day’s MC, network facilitator and interviewer.

The members of the interactive Panel Discussion of ‘Leading Lights’ representing LEOs Cork and Kerry are Marie Toft (Emotionise AI), who is also the event’s Regional Ambassador, Norma Kelly (Praline Pastry & Chocolate Shop), Claire Keane (Second Street Bakeshop), and Yasmina Renaudin (RedaCare).

Speaking ahead of the event, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said, “National Women’s Enterprise Day is a significant event in our calendar each year.

“A celebration of female entrepreneurs and businesswomen, the event informs and inspires women at all stages of the business development journey.

“There is a great line-up of speakers and inspirational businesswomen for next month’s event, which will also provide an opportunity to network and discover what supports are available for entrepreneurs in the region.”

• Places are limited so booking via www.localenterprise.ie is essential.