Jacqueline Gold: Executive Chair at Ann Summers

Not many business leaders can say they’ve had bullets sent to
them through the post, been poisoned by their nanny and arrested
on multiple occasions.


In this edition of Business Leader Insight, we talk with
Jacqueline Gold CBE, Executive Chair of Ann Summers, at her
Surrey home to talk business, legacy, resilience and much more.


Daughter of West Ham United chairman David Gold, Jacqueline has
blazed a trail of her own in her business career. She took Ann
Summers from a small, seedy sex shop with four stores in the
1970s, to one of the UK’s iconic retail brands. Not only is she
the face behind Ann Summers, which celebrates its 50th birthday
this year, Jacqueline Gold is also widely-recognised as one of
the UK’s leading businesswomen.


Overcoming adversity and life-changing moments along the way,
including losing her son at eight months old and fighting breast
cancer, Jacqueline is a fierce champion for female empowerment in
the bedroom and boardroom.


Jacqueline is the driving force around #WOW (Women on Wednesday).
#WOW offers a place for women to network and celebrate each
other’s successes, whilst gaining support and advice to grow
their businesses. Every week female entrepreneurs and small
business owners can join in through Jacqueline’s Instagram,
Twitter, and LinkedIn by tagging themselves or someone they know,
telling them a bit about business, and using #WOW. Winners stand
a chance to win a mentoring lunch with Jacqueline and a learning
day at Ann Summers Head Office.


Here's what we covered during the discussion:


- What is keeping you busy at the moment? (0:39)


- When did you first realise your father wasn’t somebody ordinary
and your future would lie in business? (1:23)


- What was the environment like when you first started at Ann
Summers? (2:47)


- Can you tell us about the Ann Summers party plan and the impact
this had? (3:32)


- You eventually became CEO and transformed the business – but
did you ever find you had to battle against the notion you were
given the business and the opportunity? (4:42)


- The last few years has seen the rise to prominence of Onlyfans,
with the top content creators making high 6-figures per month.
Reflecting on the societal attitudes towards sex since you took
over Ann Summers, how much do you believe they’ve changed? (6:57)


- You have faced a lot of adversity in your life. Do you feel
your resilience has been key to your success? (9:22)


- How have you found networking throughout your business career?
(12:53)


- As a leader in retail and someone who's been in business for
many years, take us back to the moment the Prime Minister
announced that all retail stores had to close. What went through
your mind? (14:10)


- If you were 18 and had to start a business again today, what
would you follow the same path you have or would you do things
differently? (16:39)


- Have you had to change Ann Summers to address the ESG agenda?
(17:33)


- What will Ann Summers look like in 30 years’ time and what
would you like its legacy to be? (19:43)


- You’ve blazed your own trail as a female business leader. Who
has inspired you, whether in business or not? (22:10)


- Do you have any business advice for our viewers? (24:13)


- What is one fact about you that we can’t find online? (25:50)


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