CEO of 'The Ordinary' Opens Up About Her Co-Founder’s Tragic Death

In this episode of Begin Again, Davina McCall sits down with Nicola Kilner, the powerhouse CEO behind beauty empire DECIEM and founder of The Ordinary, to explore the highs and heartbreaking lows of her journey. From co-founding a $2.2 billion beauty empire in her 20s to navigating the tragic downfall of her business partner, Brandon Truaxe, Nicola opens up about the immense challenges she’s faced. She reflects on her father’s struggle with alcoholism, the resilience it instilled in her from a young age, and the lessons she’s learned about leadership, loss, and finding purpose in chaos. Raw, inspiring, and deeply personal—this is a story of strength, survival, and redefining success on your own terms.

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(00:00) Intro

(02:14) Nicola’s Childhood and Her Father’s Struggles with Alcohol

(13:55) Early Entrepreneurial Spirit and the Power of Kindness

(18:40) Meeting Brandon: A Life-Changing Connection

(20:17) The Beginnings of Deciem: A Vision Takes Shape

(23:37) How The Ordinary Was Born

(31:51) (Ancient & Brave Ad)

(33:10) (Adobe Ad)

(34:13) Brandon’s Experimentation with Drugs

(48:16) The Public Downfall

(1:08:17) The Tragic Loss of Brandon

(1:15:55) Recognizing the Signs and Offering Support

(1:20:18) Starting Over and Finding Joy in Life

(1:27:58) Championing Mothers in the Workplace

(1:38:06) Davina’s Final Thoughts

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