Justine Juliette Alice Roberts
Birth date1967 (age 59–60)
Alma materNew College, Oxford
Known forfounder and chief executive of British websites Mumsnet and Gransnet

Justine Juliette Alice Roberts (born October 1967) is the founder and chief executive of British websites Mumsnet and Gransnet.[1][2]

Early life

Roberts was educated at Guildford High School[3] and at New College, Oxford, where she read PPE.[1]

Career

Roberts was named in the Media Guardian's 2010 power 100.[1] Along with Mumsnet co-founder Carrie Longton, she was voted number 7 in BBC Woman's Hour's "Power List 2013" of the most powerful women in the UK.[3][4]

In May 2011, Roberts founded Gransnet,[5] a sister site to Mumsnet, for the over-50s.

She has appeared on The Media Show expressing concerns about legislation to regulate blogging,[6] and in May 2013 she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Great Lives programme, nominating football manager Bill Shankly. On 24 December 2015, Roberts was listed by UK-based company Richtopia in the list of 500 Most Influential CEOs in the World.[7]

Roberts was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to the economy.[8]

Personal life

Roberts married journalist Ian Katz not long before founding Mumsnet.[9][10] They had four children and separated in 2019.[9][11]

Recognition

She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2013.[12]

Inspiration and motivation

In 2024, Justine Roberts wrote a 'Letter to her younger entrepreneurial self'[13] in which she spoke about how the community around Mumsnet is what inspired her and the purpose they gave her guided the businesses. She also quoted the community's support as the same reason the business "never had to spend much more than maybe £100 on advertising".[14]

References

  1. ^ "Women entrepreneurs: Justine Roberts". The Guardian. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. ^ Nielsen, Tina (April 2011). "Justine Roberts, founder, Mumsnet". Director Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Carrie Longton and Justine Roberts". BBC Radio 4. 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  4. ^ "The Power List 2013". BBC Radio 4. 2013. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  5. ^ Phillips, Tom (6 May 2011). "Mumsnet goes grey as it launches Gransnet". Metro. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Justine Roberts of Mumsnet on regulating bloggers". The Media Show. BBC Radio 4. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Top 500 CEOs: From Tim Cook to Justine Roberts, These Are the Most Influential CEOs in the World". Richtopia. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  8. ^ No. 61803. 31 December 2016. p. N9.
  9. ^ Brown, Maggie (July 2018). "The challenges facing Ian Katz at Channel 4". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  10. ^ Rustin, Susanna (4 October 2014). "Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts: 'We could do with all the parties being a bit more feminist'", The Guardian, p33.
  11. ^ Smith, Julia Llewellyn (2023-01-07). "Mumsnet founder: 'Our users are deranged when it comes to Meghan'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  12. ^ "100 Women: Who took part?". BBC News. 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  13. ^ EV (2024-06-04). "The CEO Letters – Justine Roberts | By EV". EV. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  14. ^ EV (2024-06-04). "The CEO Letters – Justine Roberts | By EV". EV. Retrieved 2025-05-01.