Adrienne Winkelmann has a lot to be proud of. Starting a business with just $5,000, growing it to a well recognised and respected brand, and beating breast cancer while still running the company. Her proudest moment however, is being awarded an honorary doctorate from AUT.
The 58-year-old attended the University's graduation ceremony today where she was also the guest speaker.
Having left school at 15, Winkelmann was accepted into what was then ATI when she was 21, despite not having completed secondary school.
She set up Adrienne Winkelmann after this and 35 years on, the company employs 25 staff with all the clothes still made and tailored in New Zealand.
"There have been challenges, not in the least of which was fighting a ferocious cancer I had a few years ago," Winkelmann said.