Rubina Hussain is Senior Optometrist at New Vision Opticians, Harrow and a mother of 2. She has opened 2 completely different businesses, Jack Harvey London and Xpresson Instant Manicure in memory of her sister and father. Her aim is to raise money for cancer research through donating a percentage of sales from events showcasing her products. Born in Harrow, to parents from Uganda, she studied Optometry in 1998 at Aston University.
In 2011 Rubina's world drastically changed when her sister, age 39 passed away from breast cancer, followed by her father. In 2014, Rubina decided to create Jack Harvey which specialises in long lasting, designer reed diffusers, candles and stunning fine jewellery. Xpresson has been dubbed the "10 minute Manicure" allowing women to create perfect nails anywhere in minutes.
Jack Harvey London is proud to be the signature fragrance in London’s most prestigious hotels, including the iconic London Hilton on Park Lane. Rubina has also raised money for various other charities through her numerous events.
1) Which place or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Has to be London!
2) What are your proudest achievements?
My parents pride in my Optometry degree, raising my children to be happy and be good human beings, and watching my 2 brands grow into what they are now.
3) What inspires you?
This will sound odd…grief is my motivation and this motivation inspires me; I will not be defined by grief, I will redefine it and make it a positive emotion People ask me do I take and break and rest, my answer to this is... My sister and father have left this world, but my future is still expanding and I intend to make the most of it by helping pave a path to a cancer free world as part of their legacy. One day, with the public’s help and support I will make a difference to this disease. That's when I will rest.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
Time, or the lack thereof! Working 6 days a week as a locum Optometrist while simultaneously looking after 2 separate businesses (day and night!) is very challenging, and couple this with motherhood, it’s no wonder I look shockingly tired! I’m still trying to find the happy medium between career, quality time with kids and me-time!
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My sister Salima Padhani, as Jack Harvey London and Xpresson Instant Manicure were developed as a result from me seeing how she couldn’t smell her home fragrance very well during chemo, and how this treatment made her nails black and blue. After she passed away I decided I wanted to develop beautifully fragrant reed diffusers and candles and sprays that actually lasted and also a beauty item that can be used at home that could make someone who is suffering so much feel beautiful, so I chose nails as Salima was a dentist and her hands were so important to her work.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
In my current Optometric role, it has to be the fact I help people see, and have on occasion saved someone’s eyesight by correctly diagnosing and referring appropriately. I love it when a child wears specs for the 1st time! You never get over the “wow it’s so clear!”face! But I also love all my client testimonials on how the Reed diffusers and candles and sprays make their home smell amazing, or how great their hands look with the nails!
7) And the worst?
Time! There are not enough hours in the day for what I need to accomplish on a daily basis!
8) What are your long term goals?
I hope one day to make my businesses so profitable so I can donate huge amounts to vital cancer research to help find a cure. Big aspirations, but a famous man once said “I have a dream” and this is mine. Cancer can happen to anyone, my loved ones or yours, so I hope to help in some way stop this.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
Healthcare; I would recommend yearly scans for everyone over the age of 18. Full body MOT as in most cases of cancer, early detection improves survival rates.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Marie Curie - her words inspire me… “We must persevere in confidence and believe we are gifted for something. Our particular duty is to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.
