We’ve talked about Natalie Massenet before, so we all know she’s an all round inspiration and awesome career woman. This week we got the news that the creator of our fave webshop Net-a-Porter has left the team, and so we decided to look at some of the reasons she’s our inspiration this week.

#1 She came from humble beginnings

Knowing that Natalie started Net-A-Porter from her flat in Chelsea gave us all the boost to carry on and make CGD great. We never felt too hard on ourselves because coming from humble beginnings doesn’t mean you’re doomed to fail.

#2 Her work ethic is amazing

Can you imagine packing up orders from your flat and sending them off to people? Can you imagine starting a business and doing all that work basically by yourself with a few friends? This was Natalie’s life at the start of the company. As she once said, “Having the positive belief that it will all be O.K. just means that you hustle and make it work because failure is not even an option in your own mind.”

#3 She stands by her values

Net-a-Porter was merging with Yoox, a partnership which would have ensured the company would make $1.4 billion yearly revenue. According to sources Natalie wasn’t happy about this despite the money she would stand to make. She saw Yoox as a very different company to the one she created in her flat all those years ago, and so she sold her shares and resigned. It’s important to stand by what you believe in. Natalie proved that by not letting money sway her decision.

#4 She left with dignity

No matter what went on behind closed doors in the company, Natalie’s published statement oozed grace and dignity. “The completion of Net-a-Porter Group’s merger with Yoox Group is the right time for me to move on to explore new ideas and opportunities,” said Massenet in a statement published online. “The business I started in 2000 could not be in better shape today. Having joined forces with Yoox Group, the company will be bigger, stronger and superbly well positioned under Federico Marchetti’s leadership to lead the industry and create the future of fashion. As a continuing loyal customer I will be excited to see the next chapter for this amazing business.”

#5 She didn’t hold on to her company

A lot of us, in Natalie’s position, might have just stayed, unable and unwilling to let go of a company that we felt was our ‘baby’. If we were forced to let go, we might have felt a pang of despair at the thought of the future. Natalie’s optimism is evident, “As for my own future, my entrepreneurial drive is as strong today as it always has been, and my passion for innovation will continue to be my greatest guide in business,” she said in her statement. As well as letting go of her biggest venture, she’s prepared to create something new, and excited to keep working.

Natalie Massenet is our fave career girl. We know whatever she ends up doing it will be fabulous! Good luck Natalie! 

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