LAUNCHING:
CARLA BARNETT
Company:
SoL Cups
THE BIG QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL TITLE?
UK & EU Operations Manager & #solmate
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
I coordinate all aspects of SoL Cups UK & EU operation, bringing together the website, warehouse, accounts, marketing, sales, and customer communication.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD AND WHAT CHANGED?
I am going to be really honest and say that when I was in high school all I wanted was to work in finance in an office with absurd hours in order to earn obscene money. THANKFULLY very early on I had the experience of working in this environment and after 4.5 years of the banking and law industry I knew it was absolutely not the right path for me to lead a fulfilling life. I made the scary choice to quit in favour of working in an organic vegetarian grocer/café while I finished uni and planned my next move. Even though it may have seemed like a backwards step to all my old colleagues and classmates, I was happier than ever.
WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
Bachelor of Law and Business
WHAT’S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
Don’t work hard, work smart.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?
It is going to sound kinda cheesy but I want to say Rebecca Veksler, who founded SoL whilst suffering an autoimmune disease at the age of 23. She found a gap in the market and created a beautiful 100% plastic free reusable cup that not only helps consumers save the planet from unnecessary disposable plastic waste, but makes it enjoyable and tasteful to do so. She has provided a solution to a huge throw-away waste problem that I care so much about and I am very grateful to be working alongside such a powerful woman on this mission.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT?
I am working from home and cafes as opposed to a stuffy office which is so refreshing.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WORK ROUTINE IF YOU COULD?
I would teleport my team of Australian solmates over so we could all work alongside each other again. I do get so much done working solo but I miss the vibrancy of working with Bec and the team dearly.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
I intend to have expanded SoL ‘s operations across UK & EU so that SoL is the go-to re-usable cup for sustainability and style. With an amazing team of like minded solmates equally passionate about our mission to end plastic production, I intend to have built SoL as an education platform and forum for eliminating waste and embracing taste.
DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE THE SAME PERSON AT WORK AND IN PRIVATE?
Totally. I am all about establishing relationships and friendships with all my stockists, clients and suppliers, as we all share this mission together.
WHERE AND IN WHAT ROLES ARE WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AT YOUR COMPANY?
I feel so incredibly blessed to say SoL has a very powerful female team. The founders of the company Rebecca and her mother Rimma are amazing strong women who are equally so much fun to work with. Coming from working in such male dominated industries it is so refreshing to be working alongside women who are all so supportive of each other.
DOES DIVERSITY MATTER TO YOU?
Absolutely, diversity brings innovation and the most creative solutions.
HOW GOOD IS YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE?
As we are a new business setting up in the UK, there is so much work to be done so I feel like I am currently working more than my ideal work life balance, but I am very happy to do so for this time as it is all important work and I want to see this company succeed because I truly believe the product will drastically help re-connect humans with the environment and become more conscious about the impact of our everyday actions.
WHAT QUALITIES DOES BEING IN YOUR ROLE NECESSITATE?
Passion for the environment, people and making things work with love.