Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, board responsibilities, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today, we meet Conna Walker, the 32-year-old founder of House of CB.
If you’re not on Instagram (or into wearing tight dresses), you may not have heard of the popular British luxury womenswear brand which is known for its corset silhouette.
But with an army of over 6 million fans on social media, the company says one dress is sold every 30 seconds.
And it all started when Walker was just 17 years old.
“I didn’t have a corporate career before this. I’ve learned everything through trial and (lots of) error, from sourcing and branding to marketing,” the millennial founder recalls to Fortune.
The company says one dress is sold every 30 seconds.
Retail, however, is in her blood. Her parents had a secondhand market stall in East London. She began by accompanying them on their work trips to China to buy clothes and sold them on eBay, before moving on to her own designs and website.
While still in school, she was quietly building an empire.
“I even saved customers’ email addresses from eBay (which definitely wasn’t allowed) and emailed them saying everything was 10% cheaper on my new website,” Walker says. “That’s when we really took off. I built everything without outside funding; just reinvested profits, stayed close to my customer, and used Instagram early on to build a community.”
Now—just 15 years later—House of CB is now a multimillion-pound business and one of the most searched for womenswear brands. Last year, it opened a 45,000 sqft flagship store on London’s famous Oxford Street. You can also find the brand’s gowns, corsets, swimwear and more in the likes of Selfridges, Nordstrom and ASOS.
And it’s not slowing down any time soon: It’s opening a new 10,000 sqft LA store later this year and venturing into the bridal shopping space.
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
A great team, there is nothing that compares to a team that brings great ideas and even better execution.
And the worst?
Product that hasn’t been popular! Doesn’t happen very often, though, so it’s not so bad.
If you have children, what does your childcare arrangements look like?
No children yet, but if I did, they could come to work with me.
What are your living arrangements like: Swanky apartment in the city or suburban sprawling?
I split my time between our two main offices in both London and Los Angeles. In London, it’s very much city living, and in LA, my home has that laid-back Cali feel with tree-lined streets and space to breathe, but you’re still close enough to the buzz of the city. Fortunately, I get a mix of both London city life and California cool. Both homes are close to the House of CB offices.
How do you commute to work?
I love to drive, so I’m always driving and always taking calls in the car. A surprisingly good place for getting my thinking done.
Do you carry a wallet?
Always! I’m a cash kinda gal, so I always have some handy.
Do you invest in shares?
I do! I don’t use any specific platform, and my decisions are made from what I think the market will do. I watch the news every morning (one that’s as unbiased as possible) and tend to make decisions from what I think will happen moving forward.
“I didn’t have a corporate career before this. I’ve learned everything through trial and (lots of) error, from sourcing and branding to marketing.”
Conna Walker, founder, House of CB
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Don’t spend more than you earn. A basic concept, but one that is the most important.
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
Private Suite at LAX. I fly a lot, so I love a service that frees up my time and makes everything more comfortable.
Where’s your go-to wristwatch from?
I have a few, my favourite is my Patek, but my daily is the Cartier.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
I’m not a huge coffee drinker, I prefer tea. Must be because I’m British.
What about eating on the go?
I’ve adapted to eating on the go as my job often requires me to, whether I’m on a shoot, at my desk, or having a quick lunch. Erewhon has become my favourite for its convenient and healthy grab-and-go options.
Where do you buy groceries?
The farmers market!
How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home?
I’m very lucky to have a chef, I’m not much of a cook myself. Some of my favourite restaurants are Gaia in London and Dunsmoor in LA.
What would be a typical work outfit for you?
As I work in fashion, we don’t have a particularly strict dress code and can be both quite playful or quite lazy, depending on the day. A typical outfit could be a structured blazer, paired with some light denim jeans and a pair of ballet flats for comfort (or heeled boots if I want to dress up).
Not particularly, I’m quite old school.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
Trips whenever I get the time! I love boats and historical sites.
My beloved electric car!
How do you treat yourself when you get a promotion?
No promotions in my job!
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
I would love to go to Japan and also Brazil—I haven’t yet visited either.
How many days annual leave do you take a year?
Owning your own company means you don’t really have set days off. I’m available every day, even when on vacation, which I’m more than happy with. I’m very lucky to have the flexibility that I have.
