#192: Ann Summers CEO On Surviving Sexual Abuse And Becoming A Lingerie Tycoon

If you've ever been to the UK or Ireland, you've probably walked past an Ann Summers store and felt intrigued to step inside. Specialising in sex toys and lingerie, and with over 140 brick-and-mortar stores, Ann Summers is undoubtedly one of the most popular sex toy brands globally. The CEO of Ann Summers, Jacqueline Gold CBE, joins me this week to discuss her journey to success and how she became one of Britain's wealthiest women. Following a childhood of neglect and sexual abuse, Jacqueline is on a mission to empower and inspire women from all walks of life to pursue their dreams and challenge the status quo. Discover how Jacqueline turned her childhood trauma into her superpower, and how she helped Ann Summers dominate the sex toy industry for decades.   Discussion points 04:36 Jacqueline’s childhood 06:13 Jacqueline’s relationship with her parents 12:30 Why she kept her abuse a secret 14:20 Coping mechanisms 17:07 Forgiveness 20:24 Recurring thoughts about her abuse 21:33 Jacqueline’s first part-time job 25:56 Sex toys 30:00 Ingredients for a successful business person 35:25 Jacqueline’s first store 39:53 Creating a welcoming environment 42:25 Selling online 45:40 Innovation within the market 49:35 Giving up 51:10 Jacqueline’s purpose Show Sponsors: Smartkas: Providing food security as a service Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Jacqueline Gold CBE https://www.instagram.com/jacquelinegoldcbe/?hl=en https://jacquelinegold.com/ https://twitter.com/Jacqueline_Gold?s=20