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Sarah Curran-Usher MBE, Managing Director of True Fit & Non-executive Director of French Connection
Having created the legacy that was My-Wardrobe in 2006, with an offering of luxury brands from Mulberry to Missoni, Sarah Curran-Usher has since picked up titles at Shop Direct as luxury director and a year later as managing director; she has been a non-executive director at French Connection since 2017, and is currently the managing director at True Fit, who were the first size/fit solution in the market in 2005 with the likes of global sites such as Macy’s, UGG and Ralph Lauren using the platform. In other words, Curran-Usher is a retail god! She knows her purpose in life consists of two things; to disrupt, and drive progress in retail.
This year, Curran-Usher has begun mentoring entrepreneurs, which she finds hugely rewarding. Her mentees are women in business who vary in ages and stages of their journey. “I had an incredible mentor, Elizabeth Hammond, who is now such a close and special friend. She helped me to find my confidence and was a great sounding board at tricky times. To be able to pay this forward, especially in times like this, is important.”
Curran-Usher admires all the women who have forged the way for the businesswomen of today. “Anyone who stood up to stop society from blocking their dreams for change, are all worthy of admiration. I also hugely admire the next generation of girls and women, who will continue to push for change and balance in fairness. It’s exciting to see this happen and completely inspiring.”
Though we have seen the growing impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the health of people, jobs and the economy, Curran-Usher believes that as a society, we become kinder to one another. “We stopped to ask everyone we came across, how they were doing, and we cared enough to listen to the answer. I hope this compassionate side of society can continue to build.” She counts her blessings now more than ever, and no longer allows herself to focus on the small things or her and worries.
Over the years, she has dropped all fear she had in saying no. “I probably say no more than ever. It’s an age thing, and I’m no longer worried that if I say no, I might not be asked again,” she tells WOTC.”
“In an industry which is notoriously male dominated, #IPLEDGE to support women in Tech, and get the younger generations to understand that data and insights are king. Allowing data to show you the answers is following sanity vs the vanity of feeling you need to have the answers. It's nuanced but the difference is huge.”