Career advice: How I became CEO of Olverum

Dominic Hawksley sits at the helm of legacy bath and body brand Olverum – a company whose heritage spans an incredible 94 years.

As CEO, Hawksley's job is to ensure that Olverum remains in the consumer mindset as a luxury brand that brings a touch of elegance and indulgence to their bathing and body care routines.

Below, the executive reveals his rise to the top and how he steered the company's biggest change – transitioning from a one sku brand – Olverum’s Bath Oil (pictured above) – which it had been for 87 years, to a broader beauty and wellbeing company that encompasses bath, body and skin care.

Tell us about your first job in beauty?

Aged 18, I worked on the floor of Macy’s fragrance department in New York, US, as a Brand Ambassador, asking customers if they would like to try a perfume.

Although potentially soul destroying, this job helped me to quickly develop a thick skin.

What was a lesson you learned early in your career?

As a former professional actor, I have long been aware of the power of storytelling.

That creating ‘spell’ is paramount and, as Simon Sinek [American author and inspirational speaker] is famous for saying, “people will remember how you made them feel far more than what you said”.

Dominic Hawksley, CEO of Olverum

Is there someone who has helped you climb the ladder or provided some key advice?

My family has owned businesses in the beauty and fragrance space since the early 1980s, so my business mentors have therefore been family members.

My father, Michael, taught me that it is important to allow your employees to make mistakes – although hopefully not the same ones repeatedly and not in the business-ending magnitude.

What is the best thing about your current job?

My most enjoyable function as CEO of Olverum is leading the creative direction of the brand.

The truth is that many of the skills I developed in