Rivka Rose
Chair, Faith in Nature, on New York, taking Fridays off and Barbra Streisand
What was your first-ever job? Selling lemonade on our street in New York City. I was about eight years old and my friend and I had a lot of fun.
What’s been your worst job interview? Aged 17 I applied for a part-time position with a local department store. I answered a question honestly and, perhaps, not very diplomatically - but it wasn’t what they wanted to hear and I didn’t get the job.
What was the first music single you bought? Poisoning Pigeons in the Park by Tom Lehrer, a Harvard professor who recorded a few albums.
How do you describe your job to your mates? Hands on, creative, strategic and very rewarding.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Creating amazing, beneficial products that are ethically sound. The principles on which the business was founded 40 years ago are still with me today and that’s hugely motivating.
What is the least rewarding part? How about ‘most frustrating’? My team and I have so many exciting and innovative ideas for NPD that our biggest problem is: which one? The process from concept to shelf takes an inordinate amount of time due to the rigorous testing required. We can see a market need, want to get it out to our consumers but we have to ensure that products are right, safe and fit for purpose. Having to be patient can be hard.
What is your motto in life? An obstacle is a challenge to overcome.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? I recently turned mine into a reality - Fridays off.
Do you have any phobias? Heights. Don’t ask me to go on a Ferris wheel.
If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? I’d like the toiletries section to be more engaging.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? Belgian chocolate, no question.
What animal most reflects your personality? Meerkat - industrious, alert and slightly cheeky.
What’s your favourite film and why? It’s got to be Breakfast at Tiffany’s - this film still reminds me of home.
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Barbra Streisand - I admire her feistiness.
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