By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Aisling Cullen, founder of Thanks Plants
Aisling Cullen is founder of Thanks Plants vegan food company. The company was founded one year ago and its meatless meat products are now on sale in 57 stores in the Dublin area and also available online.
Q. What was your first job?
I’ve always loved to work and got a paper round at around 13 or 14 years old, and I was waitressing through my late teen and early twenties. But my first real job out of college was as a Retail Fashion Advisor for Savills, working on retail projects like the Dundrum Town Centre.
Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
My kids, of course!
Q. In three words or less, how do you define success?
Making things happen.
Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
When things get hard or overwhelming, put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.
Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
I am so enthusiastic about Thanks Plants and I think that comes across with the team. I try to include them when talking about what’s happening in the company or future plans for the brand. I’d love to say that we do lots of team building activities in and outside of work but with COVID that’s not possible right now.
Q. How do you relax?
There’s no time to relax at the moment! But I’m looking forward to yoga classes coming back after lockdown. I’ve started making cocktails at home on the weekend which is fun.
Q. What’s your motto?
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
Q. What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
I’d love to take Thanks Plants nationwide, and then around Europe. I have lots of ambition for the brand.
