Maria Hatzistefanis: How I muscled in on the beauty industry

Maria Hatzistefanis noticed the popularity of plastic surgery stemmed from a desire for instant results. But, rather avoiding the knife, most people sought out fast-acting cosmetics instead. Now, Rodial has gone international and is able to count celebrities among its fans.

Maria Hatzistefanis spotted her business opportunity while still at university. As a writer for a Greek fashion magazine in her spare time, she noticed that the rising popularity of plastic surgery stemmed from a desire for "instant results". But given most people "would avoid surgery if possible", any other cosmetic treatment that offered quick results was likely to be profitable. But it took ten years for her concept to become reality.

After graduating from Athens university, Hatzistefanis went to New York to study for an MBA. She then worked for Salomon Brothers and climbed the rungs in the corporate finance department. But she couldn't let her business idea wither and in 1999 she quit her job. By this stage she was living in Britain. With help from her husband she was able to put £20,000 towards her new brand: Rodial.

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James McKeigue

James graduated from Keele University with a BA (Hons) in English literature and history, and has a certificate in journalism from the NCTJ. James has worked as a freelance journalist in various Latin American countries.He also had a spell at ITV, as welll as wring for Television Business International and covering the European equity markets for the Forbes.com London bureau. James has travelled extensively in emerging markets, reporting for international energy magazines such as Oil and Gas Investor, and institutional publications such as the Commonwealth Business Environment Report. He is currently the managing editor of LatAm INVESTOR, the UK's only Latin American finance magazine.