Anna Royall-Smith

Describe your work in a sentence.
I am the co-founder of Stellar Couture Concierge, a personal shopping service that delivers designer outfits to the customer's home or office and allows them to try before they buy, with no obligation of purchase.

What gave you the idea for this startup?
The idea came to my mind when I shopping for a charity event I was attending. I was going from changing room to changing room so I started to feel hot and agitated while trying on all those different dresses. I got to thinking about how much easier it would be if this could be done at the comfort of my own home - kind of like online shopping but without having to pay for the piece upfront.

What is your No.1 personal principle/success mantra at work?
Be positive - it's contagious! Also, everything happens for a reason - just learn from it and move on.

What is one important skill you think every professional should have?
Good networking skills are crucial nowadays. You must be able to network and get yourself out there. It may take you out of your comfort zone, but is very important to always stay confident. Also, good timekeeping; it simply shows respect for others

What has been your most challenging experience to date and how did you resolve it?
Building the trust of clients. When you are new to the market and you are part of a concept that involves entering people's personal spaces, you have to learn to build trust. We are constantly staying connected with our clients and future clients through social media and print so that they can get to know exactly what we are about, which is making them feel and look their best for any occasion.

Who's your role model as the perfect professional?
Nobody's perfect but an amazing professional role model (who I have grown up watching) would have to be Oprah Winfrey. What's amazing about her is that she has and still influences people and distributes a positive and meaningful message to the world, even though she faced some hardships in life and career.

If you had one free hour in the day to relieve stress, how would you use it?
I'd have to say a yoga class. Yoga relieves stress by clearing your mind for the practice ahead.
Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
As I previously said, stay positive, and believe in yourself and your ideas.  Also take the time to listen to people around you who are kind enough to offer advice. You can learn so much from others' experiences.

What is your greatest dream, professionally?
To be in a place where my family is comfortable and my work respected. To ensure I love what I do. It would be amazing to have a company that your children can be involved in one day and has longevity.

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
That's the million-dollar question! First, I would ensure close family members received a nice surprise!
Our family has actually been through quite a lot, with my son suffering from pneumococcal meningitis at the age of two, and both myself and my husband having lost a parent due to cancer. So I would like to donate to a few chosen charities. A wonderful family vacation would be in order and then it would be choosing the right avenues on how to invest the money. I'm sure a new pair of shoes would be in there too!
- Staff reporter