Susie Ma

Founder of Tropic Skincare, Guest Dragon on Dragons’ Den & Top 10 In The Sunday Times Beauty Rich List

Susie Ma’s Biography:

Susie Ma is a British-Chinese entrepreneur, philanthropist and the Founder of Tropic Skincare, one of the UK’s fastest-growing privately owned beauty brands. Best known to millions for finishing third on The Apprentice, where she secured investment from Alan Sugar, Susie has since built a purpose-led business that blends commercial success with social impact. Set to appear as a guest dragon on the 23rd series of Dragons’ Den in 2026, she is widely sought after as a speaker for her insight into ethical entrepreneurship, brand building and values-driven leadership.

Susie’s journey began aged 15, when she started making body scrubs using her grandmother’s recipes of sea salt, macadamia oil and essential oils, selling them at London markets. That hands-on start laid the foundations for Tropic, which has grown into a nationwide business powered by over 38,000 ambassadors across the UK. Under Susie’s leadership, the brand has become known for its direct-selling model, community focus and rapid growth, earning repeated recognition in national business rankings and league tables.

Alongside commercial success, Susie has embedded purpose into every layer of the business. She created Tropic’s Infinite Purpose, committing 10% of profits to charitable causes and funding 6.8 million days of education globally, including opening four schools across Nepal, Cambodia and Madagascar. Her ‘Give Back Friday’ campaign and Women Supporting Women initiative further demonstrate her long-term commitment to empowering underserved communities.

Susie’s work has earned her over 400 industry awards and appearances across major media platforms, including the High Performance Podcast. Today, she balances business leadership with advocacy, inspiring audiences with a story that proves growth, ethics and impact can thrive together.

Why Hire Susie Ma?

Susie is hired as a keynote speaker for her rare ability to combine entrepreneurial grit with purpose-driven leadership. Drawing on her journey from teenage founder to recipient of the Marie Curie Prix D’Excellence Award for ‘Beauty Gives Back’, she delivers practical insights on scaling ethical brands, empowering communities and building high-performance cultures. Her talks resonate with business leaders, start-ups and organisations seeking sustainable growth, authentic leadership and measurable social impact, grounded in real-world experience rather than theory.

Susie Ma’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Susie Ma’s inspirational career in business and entrepreneurship:

• 2026 – Guest Dragon on Dragons’ Den
• 2025 – No. 9 on the inaugural The Sunday Times Beauty Rich List
• 2024 – Appeared on J.P Morgan’s Top 200 Women-Powered Businesses Report
• 2022 – Won a Marie Curie Prix D’Excellence award for ‘Beauty Gives Back’
• 2019 – Featured on Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35
• 2018 – Tropic appeared in the London Stock Exchange’s book of 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain in 2019
• 2018 – Won EY Entrepreneur Award for ‘Building a Better Working World’
• 2018 – Selected as an Outstanding Entrepreneur at the Global Business Excellence Awards
• 2018 – Forbes 30 Under 30
• 2017 – Won 5 Stevie Awards for Women in Business
• 2016 – Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track’s ‘Emerging Brand’ award
• 2011 – Came third on season 7 of The Apprentice
• 2004 – Established Tropic

“From the moment Susie began speaking, the room was completely engaged. She combines entrepreneurial grit with purpose in a way that feels both aspirational and achievable. Her keynote struck the perfect balance between practical business lessons and powerful personal storytelling, making it one of the most memorable sessions of our event.” – Tim Munton, Talent Agent

“Susie delivers far more than inspiration, she delivers perspective. Her ability to connect commercial success with social responsibility is compelling, authentic and refreshingly honest. Our delegates left with clear takeaways on growth, culture and purpose, and many described her talk as a highlight of the entire conference.” – David Simms, Talent Agent