Walpole: What does your role entail, and how long have you been doing it?
Fungai Ball: I have worked in the cosmetics industry for 15 years. Half of that time I have worked as cosmetic chemist and the other half I’ve spent doing product management. Currently, I am the Head of Product and Innovation at MONPURE, a luxury haircare brand with a strong focus on science. I’ve been with Monpure for over a year now, and work very closely and directly with the founder, Nate Bigger. I am responsible for bringing new products to the market, driving innovation and managing the entire new product development pipeline from idea to shelf. Part of my role involves working closely with external testing houses to ensure we can scientifically and practically support our claims. Sustainability is at the core of our brand and, as such, I oversee the supply chain network to minimise our carbon footprint across the board.
What’s your career background and what makes you passionate about what you do?
I studied Cosmetic Science in London, UK and kicked off my career as a chemist with a leading colour cosmetics manufacturer in New York, USA. I briefly returned to work in the UK, but quickly relocated again for an exciting opportunity in Toronto, Canada, where I had my first experience as a sole lead for the then start up brand, Bite Beauty (now re-branded to Lip Lab). It was my most challenging role and, yet, a super-rewarding one. The brand grew quickly, beyond our expectations, and was eventually acquired by Kendo brands.
After this, I returned to the UK and worked my way out of the lab and into product management across all categories: make-up, skin care, toiletries, professional salon products and hair care – an area I am truly passionate about. My experience has seen me lead developments for brands such as Monpure, The Inkey List, Marks & Spencer’s beauty brands, Boots' brands, various salon brands and The Body Shop just to name a few.
My hybrid role, which spans from technical to commercial, is involved at all stages of the product cycle. This means I am able to nurture a product from an idea to a physical offering on the shop floor. My passion is to deliver products that solve a problem for someone, and make a noticeable difference to the individual, therefore driving and leading innovation is a strong passion of mine. I am constantly seeking out the best high quality and ethical ingredients to deliver desired results, as well as premium and luxury textures to enhance the experience of consumers.
Can you tell us about a woman who you look up to regarding your work?
I would say Susanne Langmuir, founder of Bite Beauty. I was very early in my career with so much to learn when I went to work with her to help launch Bite Beauty and in the time I worked with her, I was immensely inspired by her drive, determination and story. She spent many years working on various of her own brands in North America and never gave up – until one day, Bite Beauty took off and changed the course of her entrepreneurial journey. I remember emotional conversations in the lab when the pressure was on and her determination to make the brand a success as we only had one shot at our exclusive partnership with Sephora. The experience taught me that in life, sometimes when you have no other choice but to continue and failure is not a viable option, that’s when you push through and find your success.
What’s a significant obstacle for women in your industry or the wider luxury sector that you feel isn’t talked about enough - and why is it important to highlight?
As a mother of two young boys, I know how difficult it can be to juggle the demanding needs of a family with the demanding needs of a progressing career. Learning how to balance work and life is difficult enough and I know women who have taken a step back in their careers because they were not able to meet the needs of both. Working at Monpure, I have found a great work and life balance; so thankfully, I am able to pursue my career and climb up the ladder without feeling as though I am being held back or unable to. I think it’s important for women to seek out the right environment in which they can thrive in their careers without making compromises once they decide to start to growing their families.
What advice would you have to other women following your career path that would have helped you when starting out?
The key is to find something you enjoy and are truly passionate about. There needs to be purpose to your adventure and it has to be on a personal level. I think there’s a difference between a job and a career. A job is something you can leave and move on from, but a career is something that grows and moves with you. I have been working in the cosmetics industry all my career and I cannot see myself anywhere else because my passion lies here and my ‘job’ is also my hobby therefore I am motivated and excited to do it every day. There are, of course, days when things aren’t so perfect, but overall the good outweighs the not-so-good.
What does success look like to you?
Every couple of years I like to compare how much I have grown and what I have achieved on a personal level, as well as a professional level. On a professional level, seeing a brand or a product you worked on soar brings the ultimate satisfaction and hunger to do even more. This is also a strong personal achievement of what I, as an individual, am capable of. This continues to fuel my passion for the industry.