By Business & Finance 
Sarah O’Connor and Isolde Johnson, co-founders of The Cool Bean Company take the Business & Finance 60 second challenge.
Q: What was your first job?
Sarah: Dishwashing in Café Paradiso in Cork. Isolde: I worked as a chamber maid.
Q: What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Growing Cool Beans in the last year from five stores around Dublin to national listing in Ireland and launching into the UK.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Sarah: Before you react, think about the other person’s perspective. Isolde: Always think about your personal brand as well as your business brand.
Q: If you could step into the shoes of one person for the day, who would it be and why?
Oprah Winfrey; she’s an icon for women.
Q: In three words or less, how do you define success?
Happiness on waking.
Q: How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
Working towards a common goal and knowing that our products help people have a healthier lifestyle.
Q: How do you relax?
Sarah: Netflix and early morning workouts. Isolde: Walks on the beach with my husband and dogs.
Q: What’s your motto?
The only thing you can control in life is your attitude. Be a positive bean!
Q: Future plans?
World domination, #beanrevolution.
Always think about your personal brand as well as your business brand
BEAN BUSINESS MACHINE
The Cool Bean Company was founded by Sarah O’Connor and Isolde Johnson to create no fuss, no nonsense, superhero food. At the end of a long day working, Sarah and Isolde struggled to find a healthy, tasty and convenient meal to eat so they set about creating their own. They took the protein-packed deliciousness of the humble bean to create their signature product – Cool Beans.
Cool Beans is a healthy beany meal in a pot in three delicious flavours; original tomato, smoky paprika and hot chilli. After a successful summer trading at music festivals and events, Cool Beans launched into the Irish retail market with Supervalu in September 2014 having completed the Food Academy Programme.
Cool Beans is now available in Supervalu stores nationwide and is about to launch in Waitrose in the UK. Cool Beans was awarded Best Ready Meal at the Quality Food Awards and won Silver at the Blas na hEireann Awards. Sarah and Isolde were recently nominated for Image Business Women of the Year Awards for Best Start-Up and won Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur for Dublin City.
