PODCAST: Season 3, Episode 1: Melanie Morris & Pippa O’Connor

Work Rest Slay is a monthly podcast hosted by IMAGE Contributing Editor Melanie Morris, who speaks to some of the most compelling Irish and international people in business, spilling the truth on the real secret sauce for a successful career.

Our next episode in the series launches on Saturday, February 3, 2024, and features Pippa O’Connor, one of the most well-known Irish entrepreneurs in beauty and fashion.

Work Rest Slay: In this episode…

Former model and successful businesswoman Pippa O’Connor has gone from strength to strength throughout her career. Her many accolades include author, TV personality and entrepreneur – founding popular fashion brand POCO in 2016 and POCO Beauty by Pippa, which just launched last year.

In this episode of Work Rest Slay, Pippa shares what it takes to be an entrepreneur across multiple industries, including the lessons she’s learned throughout her career and how, as a mum of three married to her business partner, she’s managed to find a successful rhythm that works for her.

In its eighth year, Pippa looks back at her fashion brand POCO and how far it’s come. Initially launching with only five styles of jeans sold exclusively online, which was rare at the time, POCO quickly gained popularity and grew into the success it is today.

Part of this growth is due to Pippa’s experience and how, as an entrepreneur, she’s learned to keep a cool head in tough times. “It’s not what’s happened to me, it’s how I deal with it,” Pippa explains. “When things go wrong, I’m quite good at taking a deep breath and going ‘okay, what does this actually mean? Is it really the end of the world? How can we deal with it?’ I try to see the positive even in the bad times.”

Her latest venture was launching her new beauty brand last year with just one product – the Universal Glow Treatment SPF 30 – despite being warned against it. However, Pippa went with her gut and is proud to say that Universal Glow is now sold out. “When I have something in my head, I don’t care what anyone says to me – I’m doing it,” she says. The brand has since expanded to include more products and is thriving.

When asked what advice she’d give her younger self, the business leader said: “Remember that not everyone knows it all. I was told many times in my career to calm down and relax with all of these dreams I had. I was being put back in my box. So, I would tell my younger self that you absolutely can do it. You’re so much more capable than you realise.”

For more on Pippa’s career journey, listen to the newest episode of Work Rest Slay below:

About Pippa

Pippa O’Connor Ormond is a well-known fashion, beauty and business entrepreneur. Awarded Young Businesswoman of the Year in 2017, her portfolio includes fashion brand POCO, which she founded in 2016, and POCO Beauty by Pippa in 2023. Pippa has also invested in Ireland’s newest premium Irish vodka istil38.

Pippa has a massive following on social media as well as her hugely successful website Pippa.ie, which caters towards fashion, beauty and lifestyle areas.

Watch the full episode 

This season of Work Rest Slay is in partnership with Range Rover. Every Range Rover leads by example with modernist design, connected, refined interiors and electrified performance driving unrivalled luxury – inspired by exemplary design since 1970. As part of a sustainability-rich vision of modern luxury by design, every Range Rover is available as an electric hybrid. A fully electric Range Rover will arrive in 2025 and a fully electric Range Rover Sport in 2026.