Hello, I’m Sarah Stopforth from Ormskirk. I recently turned 40, so, like many women in their 40’s, I’ve been reflecting a lot about my career and how I got to where I am today. So many people falsely believe that anyone who is successful got there overnight, but in reality, people go through much more than that, and it is often a bumpy road. This is why I wanted to share my professional journey so far with the POW readers, so you can see that there’s much more to the story…

My strong work ethic took me from a paper round at 13 into hospitality. Not wanting to accumulate any debt at university and already having a passion for working with people, I liked the independence of earning my own money.

Eventually, ambition took me to Ireland with my elder sister. Still only 19, it felt like a daunting leap of faith, but I met some lovely people, learnt valuable life lessons and gained the confidence to know I could be successful – I just wasn’t sure how.  

At 21, I returned home to become my own boss. My creative flair led me to set up a beauty business. Supplementary jobs that funded my training courses included a receptionist position and a position at a local jeweller. 

The business soon went from strength to strength, and I believe this resulted from me simply being professional, reliable and committed. There is no magic formula; I am just aligning myself to a strong business ethical perspective and purpose.  

At 29, I welcomed my beautiful baby girl into the world, who has since become my ‘why’. I want to show her that she, too, can be independent, resilient and empowered in the way that I have.  

As a new mum juggling work and family commitments, I came across the natural skincare company I work for today. Having suffered from acne, I was uncomfortable putting toxic chemicals on my skin, and this company (albeit in its infancy) stood out a mile as being wholly natural – as well as looking, smelling and feeling great. 

With no experience in direct selling, I could have easily walked away from the opportunity. However, the business model was entirely risk-free. Merely purchasing a starter kit with no obligations, no targets, just incentives, I could give it a go (alongside my beauty business). 

Well, the rest is history! My passion for the brand and its ethical stance to create a healthier, more sustainable world grew as the months went by. We support numerous charitable causes worldwide, and I feel fortunate enough to work for such a forward-thinking company led by the most incredible philanthropic CEO yet still retain the independence of working for myself and guiding and supporting others.  

“Ten years on, I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to travel the world with like-minded women (and some men). We support one another and celebrate each other’s successes.“

For me, grit, determination, resilience, embracing opportunities, being kind, loyal and appreciating others are all key ingredients to being part of a meaningful, empowered network while helping to make the world a better place!