The Human CEO: Kiki McDonough on Leadership, A Little Bit of Luck, and 40 Years of Fine Jewellery

Show Notes:
In this episode of The Human CEO, we sit down with Kiki McDonough, founder of her eponymous fine jewellery brand, as she reflects on nearly 40 years in business. Starting in 1985 with no prior experience designing fine jewellery, Kiki shares her journey from a blank sheet of paper to building an internationally recognised brand celebrated for its coloured gemstones and timeless designs.

Key Highlights:

• The Early Days: How a surprising request led Kiki to create jewellery that empowered women to buy for themselves.
• Shifting Buying Behaviours: Kiki explains how women’s habits have evolved—from waiting for gifts to confidently purchasing their own jewellery.
• Leadership Philosophy: While Kiki doesn’t consider herself a traditional leader, she reflects on the importance of empathy, common sense, decisiveness, and discipline in running a business.
• Economic Challenges: How the current economic uncertainties are impacting SMEs and why more attention needs to be given to small businesses.
• The Human Connection: From her fond memories of a childhood “toy shop” to her joy in seeing customers leave with smiles, Kiki celebrates the human element of business.
• Key Influences: The role of Margaret Thatcher’s ‘can-do’ atmosphere in the 1980s and Kiki’s creative roots in a family of jewellery experts.

Memorable Moments:

• Kiki’s realisation of her success: spotting someone wearing her jewellery in the crowd at Wembley Stadium.
• “I’ve never put ‘back in 5 minutes’ on my door”—a testament to Kiki’s discipline and commitment to her customers.
• Celebrating 40 years: Kiki shares plans to revisit designs from her archives and expand further into the UK and US markets.

Books Mentioned:

• Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier
• Never by Ken Follett

Leadership Wisdom:

Kiki’s approach to leadership emphasizes empathy, optimism, and the courage to make quick decisions—even when they might not always be right. Her lessons are a powerful reminder for business leaders to remain focused, adaptable, and connected to their teams.

Listen as Kiki McDonough candidly shares her journey of resilience, creativity, and passion for bringing joy to customers—one piece of jewellery at a time.

🎧 Tune in to hear Kiki’s full story and what’s next for her business as she approaches this incredible milestone.

Website: www.kiki.co.uk