assessing Anita
Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, died last night of a massive brain haemorrhage.
Anita walked the way before others did and spoke the things she had on her mind, and for that reason if nothing else, she should be remembered as a great pioneer. However, she was also a multi-millionaire who sold out her business empire to the highest bidder - even when that was one of the cosmetics companies she had been battling with for many years. In latter years she admitted herself that she should have looked harder to find a way to build a business which could not so easily be taken over by the interests of the lenders.
Ultimately, whilst she was able to use her celebrity in ways to help the poor and she clearly gave away a lot of money, she was foremost a businesswoman who thought mainly about herself. Like Bono and Geldoff, the world has been richer for her contribution. Godspeed Anita, rest in peace.
Anita walked the way before others did and spoke the things she had on her mind, and for that reason if nothing else, she should be remembered as a great pioneer. However, she was also a multi-millionaire who sold out her business empire to the highest bidder - even when that was one of the cosmetics companies she had been battling with for many years. In latter years she admitted herself that she should have looked harder to find a way to build a business which could not so easily be taken over by the interests of the lenders.
Ultimately, whilst she was able to use her celebrity in ways to help the poor and she clearly gave away a lot of money, she was foremost a businesswoman who thought mainly about herself. Like Bono and Geldoff, the world has been richer for her contribution. Godspeed Anita, rest in peace.
Labels: anita
posted by Joe at 12:06 AM
3 Comments:
I missed that last night and was shocked to hear of her death this morning. I hadn't expected it.
I didn't know her but what I've picked up about her doesn't suggest to me that 'she was foremost a businesswoman who thought mainly about herself'.
I don't think she was a businesswoman before she started the Body Shop and she had a lot to learn so she was bound to make mistakes. Plus what did suffering from Hepatitis C for so many years do to her. It may have drained her energy and made her feel like giving up the fight to some extent.
She was human and had feet of clay like the rest of us, but even so she did so much we can admire. I don't know how much of her fortune she held on to, but she gave several million away.
Definitely RIP Anita.
You are entitled to your opinion, Karin. I have said what I have said.
A different perspective. :-)
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