Julie Chen is the co-founder and CEO of The Cheeky Panda, a pioneering company dedicated to creating sustainable bamboo-based products. Julie, along with her husband Chris Forbes, launched The Cheeky Panda in 2016 from their spare bedroom. Under her leadership, the company has grown into an eight-figure turnover business, selling products across UK, Europe and US.   

Julie recognised the potential of bamboo as a sustainable alternative to traditional paper products, which led to the creation of a range of eco-friendly items including toilet paper, kitchen rolls, biodegradable facial tissue and wipes, sanitary pads, baby wipes and nappies.  

Her innovative approach has not only transformed the paper industry but also promoted sustainability on a global scale.  

Julie's efforts have been widely recognised; she was named Business Woman of the Year by MSDUK, listed among the Financial Times' 30 UK female entrepreneurs to watch, and featured in The Raconteur's Top 50 CEOs of 2024.