Cate Luzio is the founder and CEO of Luminary, a global professional education and networking platform focused on women across all professional journeys. “We are gender inclusive and our goal is to advance women in the workforce regardless of that professional journey.” That includes women in transition, women in entrepreneurship, women climbing the traditional corporate ladder or women in government and nonprofits, she says. “We create education, learning and development, as well connections and community to support those journeys.”
When it came time to launch Luminary, Luzio decided to self-fund. She built a successful career in corporate investment banking, saved money for over 20-plus years, and was determined to control her own destiny. “I had the privilege to self-fund the business, and I know not everyone has that privilege; but, I think you should think long and hard about how you are going to build, grow and scale. The path to investors and external capital isn’t just one way. There are many financial instruments out there that can help a small business owner grow.”
Luzio sat down with Jessica Abo to talk about who should consider self-funding and the three things women need to build a sustainable and profitable business. Watch the video above for the full interview.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Female CEOs and founders may be more common than ever, but the CEO gender gap remains frustratingly wide at 17:1. In the STEM industry, the gap becomes more of a gulf.
For instance, from an outsider’s perspective, AI is still seen as an area best guided by men. People working within AI say otherwise. A full 71% believe women bring unique perspectives to the field. 63% believe having more women in AI would help remove bias from products and results.
Four years ago, Goyette entered the AI space. She was CEO of a rapidly growing firm that wanted to use AI to accomplish its increasing number of initiatives. Fast forward to today, where she leads her firm’s newly launched sister company, Two Story. Two Story provides innovative solutions built on AI and behavioral science fusion. The company’s performance analytics products enable businesses to leverage machine learning to make more confident hiring decisions, unlock employee potential, and develop leaders.
Two Story presents a novel way of looking at the old problem of how to engage and encourage team members without burning out their spark. However, Goyette discovered though the market was hungry for future-forward, AI-driven ideas, she had some unique obstacles to overcome. And they had to do with her gender.
Responding to “but you don’t fit the mold”
According to Goyette, the first male venture capitalist (VC) she met with to talk about the seeds of Two Story couldn’t accept that she wasn’t a 28-year-old man. Other male VCs echoed similar sentiments, including that she was “distractible.” What they didn’t realize was that Goyette was on a mission and wasn’t easily daunted.
Determined to build products that coupled algorithms and psychometrics, Goyette bootstrapped Two Story to profitability.
“People thought I was crazy,” she admitted. “It was clear to me that this was where the future was going. I jumped in with both feet.”
Goyette’s risk-taking may have seemed unusual, as women have long been labeled as more risk-averse than men. However, as her actions show, what seems like risk externally may be more measured and calculated. Goyette was very clear on the direction she wanted to take: Honoring the human while adding value to the field of AI.
Overcoming challenges caused by AI fear, confusion and concern
Her message struck a chord. Despite early criticism, Goyette began to be recognized as a top AI CEO, which meant she also had to navigate murky waters. As she notes, AI can be very polarizing. People frequently express skepticism — including those who are familiar with AI.
Case in point: one VC tried to talk her out of moving forward with tying AI and behavioral science together. Debating why she shouldn’t enter the AI and behavioral science space, but making every point, in conversation, as to why they should enter the space. Ultimately, the VC admitted it was a good idea, but still refused to support it. That conversation and others like it just proved to Goyette that she was on the right track and couldn’t back down. “When smart people are making your points for you and telling you it’s a bad idea, you figure you’re probably onto something,” she chuckles.
Goyette addresses critiques of AI-fueled performance analytics by operating with full transparency. Two Story’s explainable algorithm is transparent and explainable by design. Her team’s first priority is making ethical AI. Rather than being a “marketing gimmick,” Two Story’s transparency is simply the way the company works.
And the work is what Goyette cares about. As a dynamic, hands-on CEO, she aims to help others prioritize people with their work.
“This isn’t just helping organizations,” she says. “I have found that leaders unintentionally burn people out. They don’t know what truly drives performance so they try 27 things. The work we’re doing is so important for the whole system. We eliminate what doesn’t matter and help teams to focus on what does. We’re not burning them out; we’re helping them drive meaning and purpose so they’re motivated to make an impact.”
Bringing together women, AI, and leadership roles
Goyette is not the first female CEO, nor is she the first woman to join the AI startup realm. Nevertheless, she’s blazed a trail by leveraging her behavioral scientist roots to reimagine a new use for AI. She’s also an inspiration to other women who may find it difficult to get started on their journeys because of the underrepresentation of women in CEO roles.
The good news is that female CEOs such as Goyette tend to support one another. Goyette credits many female CEOs, including Sarah Hill of Healium, for their friendship and support. During a Renaissance Weekend, she met Anima Anandkumar whose work in AI has revolutionized the industry. Goyette calls Anandkumar both humble and inspiring.
There’s little doubt that as time moves on, more women, including those working in AI, will have “CEO” after their names. Leaders like Goyette are making it possible by showing gender shouldn’t be limiting. Instead, all visionaries regardless of gender should feel limitless about the opportunities that lie before them.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
As a millennial woman founder, I know firsthand the obstacles that women encounter in the corporate world. Although there has been some progress over the past eight years, the representation of women, particularly women of color, is still lacking. According to McKinsey & Co, only 1 in 4 C-suite leaders are women, which is a staggering statistic. However, the situation is even more alarming for women of color, as only 1 in 20 hold a senior leadership position.
I started my first business at age 16, and now, at age 26, I am running a seven-figure fintech consultancy. But my success hasn’t come without its fair share of challenges. Like many young women in the corporate world, I have faced bias, skepticism and a lack of representation. That’s why it’s more important than ever for young women to have strategies to overcome these obstacles and succeed in the corporate world.
Here are some key strategies to break through the barriers and achieve our goals.
Building a strong network is absolutely essential for success in the corporate world. As a young woman in this industry, connecting with other women and allies who can provide support and guidance is especially important. Here are some ways to build your network:
Attend industry events and conferences: This is a great way to meet new people and learn about the latest trends in your field. You might even be surprised by how many like-minded individuals you come across at these events.
Join professional organizations or networking groups: My advice would be to look for groups that are specifically focused on supporting women in your industry. These groups can be an incredible resource for making connections and building relationships with other successful women who have gone through the same challenges you’re facing.
Seek out mentors: As a young woman in the corporate world, having a more experienced woman in your corner can be invaluable. Look for senior-level women in your company or industry who you admire and reach out to them. Don’t be afraid to ask if they would be willing to meet with you for coffee or lunch.
Connect with your colleagues: Building relationships with your coworkers can help you build a strong support system and open up new opportunities. Take the time to get to know your colleagues, ask for their advice and insights, and find ways to collaborate on projects.
In the corporate world, it’s important to constantly develop and refine your skills. This is particularly true for young women who may be starting out in their careers and seeking to prove themselves. By investing in your own growth and development, you’ll be better positioned to take on new challenges and succeed in your career. Here are some ways to develop your skills:
Seek out learning opportunities: This can include online courses, webinars and training programs that can help you build new skills and knowledge. You can also seek mentorship or coaching from more experienced professionals in your field. Don’t be afraid to ask for help — everyone starts somewhere!
Volunteer for new projects or initiatives at work: This can give you the chance to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities, all while demonstrating your value to your team and organization. Don’t shy away from opportunities pushing you outside your comfort zone.
Hone your existing skills: Take the time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and look for ways to improve in areas where you may be struggling. Seek out feedback from your colleagues and supervisors and use it to inform your growth and development. Remember: No one is perfect and there’s always room for improvement.
Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in your field: Read industry publications, follow thought leaders on social media and attend conferences and events to stay informed and ahead of the curve. Don’t let yourself fall behind — staying current is crucial in today’s fast-paced corporate world.
It’s easy to feel like you have to work twice as hard to prove yourself in the corporate world. But investing in your own growth and development is one way to give yourself an edge and position yourself for success. Remember, you’re capable of achieving great things — it’s just a matter of putting in the time and effort to develop your skills and knowledge.
In the corporate world, it’s important to be your own advocate. This can be particularly challenging for young women who may be hesitant to speak up or self-promote. However, speaking up for yourself and advocating for your ideas and contributions is essential for getting ahead in your career.
Early in my career, this was one of the biggest challenges I faced. I remember sitting in meetings where I had great ideas, but I was too afraid to share them for fear of being dismissed or ignored. It took me some time to realize that if I wanted to make an impact and be successful, I needed to have confidence in my ideas and the value I brought to the table.
One way to start advocating for yourself is to be proactive in sharing your accomplishments and contributions. Don’t be afraid to speak up in meetings or presentations and share your ideas and insights. Look for opportunities to take on new responsibilities and demonstrate your value to your team and organization.
Another important aspect of advocating for yourself is setting boundaries and speaking up when you feel uncomfortable or unsupported. I remember a time when I was working on a project with a colleague who was constantly interrupting me and talking over me in meetings. It was frustrating and demoralizing, but I didn’t know how to address the situation. It wasn’t until I spoke up, set boundaries and was able to establish a more respectful working relationship.
Remember, advocating for yourself doesn’t mean being aggressive or confrontational. It’s about having confidence in your ideas and contributions, setting boundaries and speaking up when you need to.
As young women in the corporate world, we face a unique set of challenges. But with the right mindset, strategies and support, we can overcome these obstacles and achieve success in our careers.
Remember, you have the power to shape your own career path. By developing your skills, speaking up for yourself and seeking out mentorship and support, you can navigate the corporate world with confidence and purpose.
In the end, what matters most is staying true to yourself and your values. Be authentic, be resilient and never stop pursuing your goals and dreams. With hard work, dedication, and a supportive network, there’s nothing you can’t achieve. So go out there, break down those barriers and show the world what you’re capable of!
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
With Women’s History Month upon us, it’s important that we honor, celebrate and recognize the impacts women entrepreneurs make across the business world. Women business leaders play an essential role in their local communities, our economy and the world at large. They serve as a vital part of the world’s economic engine and empower the next generation of women to reach their goals as entrepreneurs.
Women made strides toward equality and advanced their mark on business in 1988 when The Women’s Business Ownership Act was passed. This act, which was supported by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), was created to address the needs of women by eliminating lending practices by banks that made business ownership more difficult for women than men.
This year, as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Women’s Business Ownership Act as well as Women’s History Month, it’s important to pay respect and acknowledge our history and recognize its impact on the present. There is still work to be done as we can pave the way for a successful generation of future women leaders and entrepreneurs.
A look back at women’s entrepreneurship over the last 35 years
More than three decades ago, the process to start a business changed for the better for women. The Women’s Business Ownership Act was passed and empowered women entrepreneurs across the country to pursue their business goals. Prior to its passage, women business owners were required to have a man related to them as a co-signer on their business loans. The act helped reduce discrimination based on gender and allowed women to access capital to start a new business or fund their existing business.
There has been a significant increase in women-owned businesses since that milestone event. A few years after its passage, the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. reached 6.4 million in 1992 — this represented one-third of all domestic firms and 40% of all retail and service firms, according to the United States Census. As of 2019, the number of women-owned businesses has doubled to nearly 13 million (representing 42% of all U.S. businesses), and a 2022 study showed that over the past three years, the number of women entrepreneurs grew by 48% year-over-year, which outpaced their male counterparts by 22%.
How we change the future for women business owners
Though we’ve made great strides over the last 35 years, women continue to face greater challenges than their male counterparts — for example, access to capital remains a critical issue for women and minority business owners. According to Bank of America’s 2022 Women and Minority Business Owner Spotlight, nearly one-third of women business owners do not believe that women will ever have equal access to capital, and for those who do, they believe on average it will take nine years to achieve equal access. Clearly, we still have much progress to achieve.
To help overcome the disparity in access to capital, women need support and resources to navigate the capital landscape and identify potential sources of funding, such as equity, debt and grant capital. Banks have a responsibility to provide accessible capital solutions. There are a number of resources available right now that many women business owners don’t know about. For example, in 2021 Bank of America launched the Access to Capital Directory for Women Entrepreneurs to help connect women to organizations that provide funding for women-owned businesses. Additionally, the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell provides the opportunity for women to earn a certificate in business from the Ivy League university. The bank has also recently launched a public marketplace to support and showcase women-owned businesses that participate in programs to drive women’s entrepreneurship.
Mentorship can also make a considerable difference in your professional growth. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance and value of this, both as a mentor and a mentee, and how much more can be achieved when you pay it forward and help lift other women up. This can be done through providing programs and materials, serving as a confidant to a peer or encouraging women to look into new, educational resources.
Education will continue to be key as women work to achieve full equality in business. Whether it’s learning about business tactics or how to apply for grants, women must use every available resource to enhance their knowledge and reach as they begin their business endeavors. Through collaboration with fellow women and business partners, they can enhance efficiency, strengthen financial knowledge and deploy their creativity that takes their businesses to unseen levels of new success.
Many women business owners face challenges daily, but they continue to overcome adversity and remain dedicated — as we’ve observed over the last 35 years. I have especially seen this in my personal and professional life. We have a lot to celebrate, but I am even more excited and exhilarated to see what we accomplish in the next 35 years.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
For more than two decades, my co-founder and I have built an education business focused on mentorship, transparency and ethical guidance, and are committed to cultivating a culture where working moms of all ages and life stages can thrive. Before I launched this college admissions company, Top Tier Admissions, my professional network in educational television, publishing and as a parenting expert included women who inspired me, personally and professionally, as mentors and colleagues. I knew I wanted to use my position as an owner to empower working parents and create a culture that reflected this, even as we operated virtually. Today, I’m proud to lead a team composed primarily of working moms.
Like many in business, I’ve been watching as the mass exodus of working women shapes conversations around associated policies and leadership retention. According to McKinsey, 10.5% of women in leadership are leaving their jobs — an alarming attrition, and the highest rate in the last five years. The private membership network for women executives, Chief, recently launched a campaign, #MakeWorkWork, to amplify how companies are supporting women leaders. In an interview with Forbes, their CEO, Carolyn Childers, notes that “… over 90% of women say that they would stay at a company if they were just invested in it.”
So how do we invest in women, particularly those who are also balancing caregiving roles? Here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way — as a founder, a mom, a grandmother and a leader of working moms — to connect and support teams while delivering high-quality products and expertise.
Post-pandemic, traditional 9-to-5 jobs are declining, and for good reason. By prioritizing work/life balance and flexibility in order to accommodate parenting responsibilities, team members can be better valued and respected as whole people. Our team sets their own hours and works from anywhere. Moms with very young children can choose to take on a lighter client load for a season, for example, waiting until their youngest enters pre-school or the baby is sleeping through the night.
Working mothers make exceptional entrepreneurs, but to set them up for success, it’s key to prioritize independence and control over working environments, hours and futures. The capable and experienced members of our team have this kind of freedom, and so flourish.
2. Supportive mentors and peers
A team is more productive when its members are encouraged and motivated to reach out and share expertise. Regardless of gender or parenthood status, everyone who contributes to the company’s mission should feel seen and valued. Drawing on the experiences of fellow team members fills in the cracks and lifts us up, energizing engagement with clients.
Our philosophy as college counselors is to mentor students and families one-on-one. At the same time, team members mentor each other with casual lunch Zoom drop-ins, by sharing resources, concerns and case studies on Slack, and by imparting more formal expertise when it comes to deliverable reviews.
Dropbox is an obvious asset for any remote business. We appreciate the ability to learn from one another and prioritize transparency for more effective collaboration, and so each counselor’s student folders and files are available to the team. This way, we can brainstorm together, ask for peer review and share resources. We also rely on Slack for day-to-day feedback, quick questions and encouragement and to foster a sense of community and collegiality when we aren’t physically in the same place.
4. Lead by example
When my co-founder and I started Top Tier Admissions, our children were young. We had each other’s backs and cycled work days to match work/life rhythms. I was up early and handled the 5:00 a.m. international calls, while Michele was a night owl and dove into work after her children were asleep. Now, as a grandmother, I am seeing my daughters navigate the same precarious balance that comes with work and home obligations.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Between managing your business and your family, your schedule on a daily basis can be a little hectic. As a mompreneur myself for almost 30 years, I understand where you are coming from. From answering client emails to getting your kiddos snacks to completing chores, your day is full of motion. As crazy as it can get, you have a routine in place. You know what works best for everyone and you do an amazing job of juggling it all.
But then something disruptive is thrown in like a school holiday. Your carefully crafted schedule gets thrown out the window, and it’s every person for themselves. Times like spring break can be extra stressful for mompreneurs because the kids are home, you might be trying to work and some of you might even be on vacation with your families — and still working!
While I encourage you to take some much-deserved time off, I understand that is not feasible for everyone. I remember when I first started as a freelancer with my kids, I could not take time off, but I also did not want my family to miss out on vacation time. I spent many vacations — like spring break — working while traveling with small children. It was not easy, but it was worth it, which is why I want to share my tips with you for juggling everything when the kids are out of school for long vacations like spring break.
These are tried and true tips that I have learned over the years, and I hope they help you enjoy time with your children.
When it comes to making a plan, start by figuring out how you want to divide your time between your family and business commitments. Do you want to give the kids extra attention during their break or do you want to keep your work schedule as normal as possible? Once you decide, create a schedule and stick to it. Consider setting aside specific blocks of time for each task so that you can stay on track and get everything done.
You should also make sure to leave some wiggle room in case something unexpected comes up. Finally, don’t forget to include time for yourself in your plan. As a mompreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and neglect your own needs. But taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your family and business. So make sure to carve out some time to relax and unwind.
2. Set boundaries
During spring break (or any school holiday), you don’t have to drop everything and be with your children 24/7, but you should make sure that you have time to spend quality time with them. Have a conversation with your family about the expectations for the week like what activities you will do together, when you will have time to work, etc.
It’s also important to set boundaries with work. If possible, try to block off time in advance to ensure that you are able to dedicate time to your family without feeling pressure from work. This could be an hour or two each day or a specific block of time during the day or week. Make sure to communicate your plans with your colleagues or clients and let them know when you will be available and when you won’t. That way, you can enjoy your break without worrying about emails piling up or missing an important deadline.
3. Be flexible
If you know that certain days are going to be full of activities with the kids, try scheduling any necessary tasks beforehand or make up the time later on. You may also want to take advantage of the extra time your kids have off by delegating some of their chores to them while you focus on your business. Being flexible during the spring break season doesn’t mean sacrificing your business goals. Instead, it’s about finding a balance between parenting and being an entrepreneur. With a little planning and creative thinking, you can have a successful spring break season both as a mom and a business owner.
If you need help managing the kids during spring break, don’t be afraid to ask for it! Reach out to family, friends or even childcare providers if you need assistance. You may also want to consider a babysitter or nanny who can help with activities and take the kids off your hands when you need to focus on work.
If you have the means to do so, hiring a virtual assistant to help with day-to-day tasks can free up some of your time. You can also outsource some tasks such as bookkeeping, social media management or web design. This will allow you to focus on what’s important to you and your business. Finally, don’t be afraid to lean on your support network. Ask for advice or help when you need it. It’s often easier to ask for help than you think!
5. Take time for yourself
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the extra demands that come with having kids out of school, so taking some time to relax and unwind can help you stay on top of your work by doing something you enjoy, like reading a book. Taking time for yourself can help refresh your energy levels and increase productivity. Finally, remember that it’s okay to take some time away from work during spring break. You don’t have to feel guilty about taking time off, as long as you plan ahead and make sure all your work is taken care of. Balance is key and taking the time to invest in yourself will help you keep up with all your responsibilities.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
There is no question that capital is queen, and it is number one on the list of what women need to support their businesses. But with investment in women-owned businesses declining, it is more important than ever to look beyond the capital and dive into other needs.
We are all very aware that there has been explosive growth in online shopping that was accelerated by the pandemic. The world has learned to be very comfortable purchasing everything from household goods to high fashion from various online stores. The flip side is that businesses of all sizes have been driven to set up their own online shop to reach their customers. This is coupled with many women leaving the traditional workforce during the last two years and having started their own businesses with a digital footprint.
Given this environment and my mission to support women entrepreneurs, I wanted to understand what women-owned businesses needed beyond capital. So, I asked over 6500 of these businesses two questions: what impact does selling online have on their revenue, and what did they need most to succeed? This is what they told me:
Within the next 12-24 months, 60% of their sales will be through online channels. This is not surprising, as the pandemic showed us all how to perfect the art of online shopping. But they also have learned that all shopping sites are not created equally. Creating a trusted online brand takes time and money. The experience of starting your own website and immediately seeing sales is the exception, not the rule. And joining one of the major online retail channels is costly and time-consuming. A comprehensive plan with a budget and resources dedicated to online sales or ecommerce is critical to building an online business.
86% of respondents said they would prefer live, instructor-led sessions over the thousands of hours of “how to” videos available on the web. These business leaders want to ask questions. They want real-time answers that address their specific businesses and that they can act on immediately, rather than generalities that could be helpful if the conditions were exactly right. Plenty of basic information about online selling is available for free — some of it is very good. But the information she finds may or may not be relevant to a specific instance, and it likely will take hours of searching and watching videos to find applicable, detailed information. Having an expert ask specific questions and get immediate answers streamlines the process and enables her to more quickly and efficiently grow her online sales.
80% are interested in joining a cohort of women business owners to learn. There is strength in numbers. Women enjoy and learn from one another. And our research shows that they prefer to learn with a community of women who are having a similar experience.
78% of these women business owners are looking for information on digital marketing and determining the best online sales channel(s). We heard the message that online marketing, cutting through the noise and understanding where and how to promote your brand and find your target customers are of utmost concern. The landscape of advertising on social media is changing quickly, and there are so many places to spend precious marketing dollars. They need a way to create a plan that will deliver results.
85% of women surveyed reported not leveraging strategic tools to support their business. Think CRM (Hubspot, Monday Sales, Pipedrive), accounting (Quickbooks, Freshbooks, Oracle NetSuite) and marketing (Hootsuite, Planoly, Klaviyo). There are free or low-cost versions of these products available, but these business leaders have little or no time to search them out and determine which is right for them. Having a resource and a community of other women business owners in a similar situation who could share their experiences and provide feedback would enable these business owners to short-cut the decision-making process and move forward with the right tools to help them grow.
An equal number of women business owners told us they needed insight and information on selecting the right online sales channel. Over 90% surveyed reported that they have their own website. Many have launched their standalone online store, believing subscribing to website services for just $20 per month would enable a seamless and quick revenue stream. Or that joining one of the large online channels (think Amazon, Etsy, Poshmark) with millions of customers and brand recognition would lead to instant branch reach and immediate sales.
As a female business owner, all of this resonates with me. I, too, am hungry for capital to run my business. But like the women who answered my survey, the resources I need to grow to go beyond money. As we are pivoting and scaling our business to meet customer demands in the complex, online, direct-to-consumer business environment, we too are looking for community, practical advice on marketing and channel sales and an experienced expert to ask those specific questions about our particular business. We have been fortunate enough to find them.
Tiffany Pham says her grandmother is the reason why she started her company, Mogul. “She was such a mogul herself. She was this incredible woman who ran businesses in Asia and was always looking to provide people in need with opportunities.” When her grandmother passed away, Pham made a promise to herself that she would follow in her grandmother’s footsteps. Today, her global diversity recruitment company is transforming workplaces for women around the world. She sat down with Jessica Abo to talk about how Mogul works and her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. To watch the full interview, click on the video above.
Jessica Abo: Tiffany, tell us about Mogul and how it works.
Mogul is a global diversity recruitment company that is made up of three parts. The first part is our talent ecosystem. That’s where we support women, minorities, veterans and people with disabilities. We really nurture them and cultivate them to reach their greatest potential.
Then, next, we have our talent solutions. That is where we provide Fortune 1000 companies and many of the world’s leading startups, scale-ups, IPO and companies with software solutions and services to help them transform their workplace.
And then the third part of Mogul is our social impact. Everything that we do internally and externally aims to give back towards global good. We aim to provide diverse talent in need with educational opportunities and economic access to enable them to reach their greatest potential and help the world to grow to its greatest potential.
What kind of support does Mogul provide?
Mogul supports women and diverse professionals by providing them with a platform at OnMogul.com/join where we enable them to join and provide their information — and then from that information, provide them with access to industry leaders, access to opportunities and ultimately access to learning that is going to enable them to accelerate their skill sets and themselves.
Does someone need to be at a certain level in their career to benefit from Mogul?
Mogul supports at all levels. So you can be entry-level, mid-level, senior-level, at the board level, and we’ll still be able to help you no matter what, be able to achieve that next step in your career, be able to accelerate yourself to grow to, again, your greatest potential.
What are some of the services that you offer?
Mogul offers our Diversified Search Services, which is essentially us using our own technology to place roles on behalf of our clients. Our clients are turning to us because they believe either they have a lack of capacity on their end, or that our methodologies are superior, leading to better results. Using our own technology, we’re able to be more comprehensive and thus inclusive in our efforts. And as a result, the right person is being selected for the role.
And what I love about this is that it is creating true change in our clients’ workplaces. It means that at the board level, for example, more women are being placed, more people of color, more veterans and people with disabilities.
Given your experience, what advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
In these times of turmoil, always trust your instincts. Throughout childhood, throughout your teen years, throughout your 20s, your 30s and onwards, these experiences have all shaped your intuition, your knowledge of what’s meant to happen, what’s meant to be for yourself. And as a result, always trust it.
As an executive, as an entrepreneur, for example, over time, a lot of incredible team members have joined you and they’re helping you and they’re supporting you in this journey that you’ve undertaken to build this company that’s creating impact. But from time to time, something will strike you, something will hit your gut, and you should speak up. You should trust that gut. If something’s not sitting well with you, it’s probably not right. Speak up. Trust your gut.
It was 2012, and Beatrice Dixon was running out of patience. She’d been dealing with chronic bacterial vaginosis that returned almost monthly, and doctors continued to prescribe medication that was more of a quick fix than a long-term solution.
Dixon felt she wasn’t being heard, so she began to do some research on her own — which was overwhelming in its own right.
“I was in this perpetual state of taking medicine, going back to the doctor and getting another prescription,” Dixon says, “which then led to the doctor’s office of Google. Which is not the one that you want to be in. You don’t want to be on Google trying to figure out what’s going on with you.”
Dixon began alternating between medication and holistic remedies she researched online, but she saw no significant results. Then, her grandmother spoke to her in a dream.
She describes how her grandmother (whom she never got to meet) was sitting across from her at a round table. The room was all white, with just the two of them at the center.
“I remember her telling me, ‘I’m not here for us to have a conversation. I’m not going to be here long,’” Dixon recalls. “‘You need to memorize what’s on this paper, because this is going to solve your problem.’”
Dixon woke up with a kind of urgency she’d never experienced and began immediately jotting down the ingredients that came to her in her sleep. Dixon began collecting the aforementioned ingredients at Whole Foods, where she worked at the time, and after a few days, she created her own formula.
After the fifth day of using the formula, Dixon was entirely cured of her BV.
“It had literally gone away,” she says. “It was crazy. That was the moment when I realized that this is what I was going to be doing for the foreseeable future.”
“It got to the point where people were saying, ‘Look, I can’t take this for free anymore.’”
After Dixon perfected her formula, she knew she had to share her discovery. Because Dixon had only raised financing from family and friends and had created the product in her own kitchen, she couldn’t afford a clinical trial — so she ran her own.
Dixon didn’t ask for money in exchange for her homemade product, which ultimately became The Honey Pot’s bestselling The Honey Pot Co’s Normal Wash. Instead, she asked that people review the formula and give her feedback on how well it worked or didn’t.
Her friends and family were hooked.
“It got to the point where people were saying, ‘Look, I can’t take this for free anymore, take some money,’” Dixon says.
That’s when Dixon knew she was onto something, so when news hit that the Bronner Brothers Beauty Show was coming to Atlanta, she took it as her chance to expand her reach.
“It felt like the best place for us to launch because there was nothing but humans with vaginas walking around,” Dixon laughs. “So we went to the hair show. We made 600 bottles. We sold 600 bottles. It was insane.”
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Honey Pot
“There was no plan B either, so this s**t had to work.”
This was in early 2014, only about a year and a half after Dixon made her first Honey Pot product. The business began to grow, and despite increasing demand, The Honey Pot company continued to operate out of Dixon’s kitchen for another two years while Dixon kept her full-time job at Whole Foods to make ends meet.
Through 80-hour weeks and tireless work, Dixon never wavered from her mission, certain that women needed her product in their lives. “It was really hard,” she recalls, “but I always knew that no matter what, we were going to be okay. There was no plan B either, so this s**t kind of had to work.
In the early days of Honey Pot, the team traveled to trade expos and natural hair shows where they’d give out products to people who were interested in their plant-derived approach to feminine care. One of those early recipients was a hairdresser, who was so impressed with the product that she told her client about it. That client was a buyer from Target — the rest is history.
The retail giant got wind of the company by 2016 and presented Dixon and her small team with a proposition to sell their products in their stores. It was the expansion Dixon had always dreamed of — literally. By the time Target decided to sell the products in stores nationwide, the company had produced around 24,000 bottles and made nearly $250,000.
From there, The Honey Pot continued to grow not just as a business, but as a platform to empower other women of color to “reclaim their wellness.”
Dixon and The Honey Pot launched its Reclaiming Wellness campaign in 2020, wherein the company — in partnership with Target — travels to historically Black universities and hosts seminars and talks on wellness and encourages women to “reclaim” their power when it comes to their bodies.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Honey Pot
“As you grow as a business, it’s important for you to understand where you are, but also understand where you want to go when you have more resources.”
One of Dixon’s main initiatives is to address societal stereotypes when it comes to being a woman of color in the U.S. — particularly, she says, fighting against the problematic belief that “Black women are stronger.”
“That’s the mantra that creates an environment for Black women to be dying [during] childbirth more than anybody else,” she says. “We’re helping women understand that [they] don’t have to continue to die.”
Although the Reclaiming Wellness campaign is only in its third year, the initiative has been Dixon’s goal since starting the brand in 2014. Before 2020, Dixon didn’t have the capital to launch Reclaiming Wellness, so as the company grew, she jumped at the opportunity to finally carry out what her overarching mission was from the start.
“As you grow as a business, it’s important for you to understand where you are, but also understand where you want to go when you have more resources,” she says.
Now, in its third annual campaign, The Honey Pot is partnering with Target and traveling to Clark Atlanta, Howard, Prairie View A&M and North Carolina A&T to host panel discussions with specialists in both medicine and education to help women gain ownership of their well-being.
Dixon hopes that The Honey Pot will continue to not only serve as a resource for women to understand their bodies and find the treatment they need but also become a vehicle to pass information down to future generations.
“It is a very tribal thing, to be able to pass information down, and that is literally built into the fabric of Honey Pot — us being able to educate and empower women on what they need,” Dixon says. “From the beginning, we were focused on it being a generational thing. But what that’s grown into now is that it needs to be a generational thing as it relates to education, to self-love, to self-respect.”
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The long and winding road to success is filled with challenges and stumbling blocks. There’s so little room at the top — and the climb to get there can change people. A once powerful visionary bends to the will of his or her investors, losing sight of his or her narrative and purpose in the name of profitability. It’s a common story.
But Fawn Weaver, CEO of Grant Sidney Inc. and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
I love sparkling wines, and I recently discovered the McBride Sisters Wine Company and this particular bottle: Sparkling Brut Rosé. I’ve become obsessed. I brought my new favorite bottle to dinner parties, opened it when I had guests over and gifted it to a girlfriend. My friends like the wine as much as I do.
“My curiosity for wine started as a child,” says Robin McBride, co-founder and president of McBride Sisters Wine Company. “I can recall trying to ferment Welch’s grape juice in baby bottles under my bed! My sister and I always had a passion for wine that we wanted to share with the world, in an industry where very few people looked like us.”
The size of the U.S. wine market is approximately $63.69 billion, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% (from 2022 to 2030). The sparkling wine segment, my favorite, is predicted to grow the fastest at 7.7%, driven by prosecco and Champagne.
Enter the McBride Sisters Wine Company, which the sisters founded in 2005 in California, first as importers and then as wine-makers. Its collection of still, sparkling — and canned — wine has taken the industry by storm in recent years.
Robin McBride and her sister Andréa McBride John co-founded their company in an industry that has notoriously lacked diversity of representation. “About one percent of one percent of all winemakers are Black,” Phil Long, president of the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV), said in an interview with Wine-Searcher. “If you’re looking at winemakers and brand owners overall there are over 50, but if you’re looking for African Americans who are both the winemaker and the brand owner, there are just a few dozen.”
Image credit: McBride Sisters Wine Company
The McBride Sisters have ignited the movement to change that. “My sister and I are on a mission to transform the industry, lead by example and cultivate community,” Robin McBride says. “One delicious glass of wine at a time.”
Here are the three most important lessons McBride and her sister have learned as they’ve built the largest U.S. Black-and women-owned wine company:
McBride has always been a problem-solver. As a child, she loved to take things apart and put them back together. She also recalls asking a lot of questions. “I got on everyone’s nerves,” she says. “I was always on a mission to find out the why and seek out solutions.”
Now as co-founders, the sisters are always in problem-solving mode. On their journey to build the company, they have been under-resourced and understaffed. The pandemic was another reminder that money won’t solve everything. “We can’t pay to play in our industry. The other players are just too big and will always outspend us,” McBride says. “During the pandemic, we needed to innovate around ways to engage our consumers. We created a free online wine school on Facebook and filmed modules from home, and it didn’t cost us much more than our time. We not only engaged our community but grew it [by providing] useful content.”
The sisters’ road to building their business hasn’t been easy. “There is an immediate lack of credibility you can feel from investors who are skeptical of your success as a Black woman founder, because you must be an anomaly,” McBride says. “Hundreds of questions come your way. Who actually owns the company? Who makes your wine? Do Black women even drink wine? Bias is a business killer.”
Early on, an investor actually recommended that the sisters get a white man as a partner to help them raise money. But the sisters wouldn’t give up; they would not be ignored. “We are great business leaders, and we know our consumers,” McBride says. “Eighty percent of wine purchases are made by women. And yes, despite what some of those investors thought, Black women do drink wine.”
Today, the McBride Sisters Wine Company employs 51% people of color and 93% women, which includes an all-women winemaking team.
In 2019, the McBride sisters were invited to the Essence Festival, and they were asked to join the mayor of New Orleans on stage at the opening party. They decided to make a wine to commemorate the moment and called it Black Girl Magic Riesling. They made fewer than 100 cases for the event, and the demand was enormous. The sisters weren’t prepared for how well it would be received.
“People really loved the wine,” McBride says. “For my sister and I, it was an opportunity to celebrate our culture and community, to honor Black women. Because for far too long, the industry has not catered to us as consumers, and it was important to us to create a line of wines for us as a community that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
The McBride sisters continue to push beyond all barriers to provide customers with a wine that represents their culture, their story, their likes and their celebrations. “This collection is inspired by and is meant to celebrate the incredible Black women in our family, our community, and everyone who celebrates them,” McBride says. “It’s our opportunity to give back to so many Black women who continue to support us.”
Jeanelle Teves is the General Manager of North America at Bugaboo, where she leads the future growth strategy and is passionate about empowering new parents. Before joining Bugaboo, she spent nearly a decade at Nike where she worked on campaigns such as the first launch of wearable technology Nike+ FuelBand, London Olympics, Paris Fashion Week and Women’s World Cup. Today she has secured partnerships with the TODAY Show, GRAMMY Awards, and many celebrity parents-to-be. She sat down with Jessica Abo to discuss what’s on the horizon for Bugaboo and her parental advice for moms and dads looking to be more productive.
Jessica Abo: Jeanelle, whether we have our own children or we take care of other people’s children, we have a lot of moving parts when we’re dealing with little people. Tell us a little bit about your day-to-day life as a working mom and at Bugaboo.
Every day looks different! In the morning, I could be meeting with my Amsterdam-based headquarters team where we talk about future innovation concepts and where I provide my feedback. And in the afternoon, I’ll be working with my U.S.-based team on business results. Outside of this, I am also a mom to two young children, a five-year-old and a two-year-old, and it is so important to me that I’m present for them. My partner is a stay-at-home dad, and we don’t have any childcare support, so we work together to align our priorities and time so that I can show up at Bugaboo and for my family.
What does that look like for you starting from the time you wake up in the morning?
I find it helpful to begin my day by writing, what are the three biggest priorities? And I just ask myself the question, what is going to move the needle? I ask myself this question before diving into any week. Then, I communicate those priorities to my inner circle. Every Sunday evening, I have a meeting with my partner and we review those three priorities for our family. Every Monday morning, I have a meeting with my leadership team and we review the three business priorities. That way everyone around me is united on time, energy and dollars invested, and together we are stronger.
When it comes to the office, what have been some of the biggest wins to date?
When I first joined the company, I was returning to work after just having my son, Maximilian. I was in the very fresh newborn stage and feeding him around the clock. And I’m pretty sure that in my first one-on-ones, my teammates could hear the breast pump going. It became really clear to me at that moment that I wanted to be able to create a flexible company culture and updated policies that live our brand purpose: to empower parents in the workplace. Since then, we have modernized our employee handbook to support families. We’ve extended maternity and paternity care, incorporated reproductive financial support, initiated flexible working hours and half-day wellness Fridays. To be in a position that creates change in the workforce is something that I am deeply proud of.
And what are some of the biggest accomplishments that you’ve had as a mom?
I have found tactics to blend business and family, and feel fully present for my children in the best way that I can. For me, that means giving my full self to my family in the morning. So I am not there throughout the entire day, but I am fully present in the morning. I make my kids a balanced and healthy breakfast. I sit down with them with a cup of coffee and we talk about what my kindergartner is going to be doing that day. I talk to my preschooler about what his day’s going to look like, and I am fully there. And then when I leave for the office, I’m on, I’m in work mode. That is the best that I can do and I protect those mornings.
I love that. It’s almost like you have a morning meeting with your kids, which is amazing. When you think about work mode and you look ahead to 2023, what are some of the things that are on the horizon for the brand?
We have just announced our Push to Zero Campaign, which is our ESG commitment to be carbon footprint net-zero by 2035. What does that mean? From materials and fabrics to sourcing and finishing, every element of our strollers is thoughtfully considered to create a long-lasting product and to reduce its impact on the planet as much as possible. As part of this commitment, as of this year, our strollers will be made with bio-based materials.
What are some of the productivity hacks that you can share with other working parents?
My favorite productivity hack is to find your biological prime time. Everyone has it. This is when you are sharpest and you feel like you have a spark of energy and focus part of that time on yourself. So for me, that is early in the morning, first thing when I wake up and I begin every day with a morning routine that sets me up and I swear by it. I wake up at 5:00 am, again, this is what works for me, and the first thing that I do is reach down and I grab my journal, which is next to my bed, and I write down what I am grateful for.
I drink a ton of water, which is also there right by my bed. And I do a really simple workout. It doesn’t have to be complicated. I work out for 25 minutes and just move my body. From then, I usually have about 30 minutes where I can set up my workday and really write down those three priorities that I want to tell my team before it’s time to get my kids up. And then I am fully with my kids. Filling my cup first, allows me to be extra productive and then give to everyone else for the rest of my day.
Finally, what do you want to say to the parents out there who might be feeling that guilt of, “I’m at the office, but I want to be with my kids,” or, “I’m with my kids, but I still have all of this work to do”?
Sometimes when it’s really overwhelming and you feel like you have a lot to do, you have a lot at your desk, you have a lot going on at home. How can you just be 1% better? How can you be a 1% better teammate? How can you be a 1% better manager? 1% better mom? Those things that at the moment seem to make no difference added up, make a profound change over time. I love the concept of marginal gains.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
I’ve been a serial entrepreneur driven by my passions my entire life. I love the challenge of creating something from scratch and am always eager to learn new things. One of my most notable accomplishments was co-founding the first-ever fashion denim brand: True Religion, which sold for more than $800 million in 2013.
When I co-founded the company, denim had no stretch; you either wore stiff jeans or jeggings. Worst of all, there were no suitable jeans options for curvier bodies out there. They were clearly being underserved. The designs of our jeans were very technical and intentional in order to achieve a sexy jean that would fit every body type.
In 2008, I sold my shares of True Religion and set out for my next phase in entrepreneurial endeavors. After I left the company, I started building homes, and as I was staging them, it was impossible to find cohesive styles that fit with the designs and aesthetics. It was arduous to decorate the rooms in these homes and make them look seamless, so I decided to do something about it.
I founded Style Union Home, a luxury home ceramics brand with handmade pieces crafted in LA, two years ago to fill that gap. Since then, the line has been carried in 200 stores across the U.S., and it’s still growing.
My passion for being the first to develop something motivated me to start all of my businesses. I have used my 30-plus years of experience founding and selling them to help shape my new home-fashions line — and I’m doing things differently this time.
These are lessons that I’ve learned along the way and have incorporated into Style Union Home.
I’d never deal with an all-male board again.
At True Religion, I was the largest shareholder, but I was also the only woman on the board. During my time at the company, it was hard to find any support from the all-male board of directors.
We were disrupting the denim industry, and often times they didn’t recognize how to do that because they couldn’t see or relate to the woman’s perspective. We were developing a brand for women, and they couldn’t figure out how to do that. I fought for many of my ideas that ended up being successful for the brand because I knew what our customers wanted.
Being the biggest shareholder and not being heard was the biggest thorn in my side. The men I worked with could be exclusive; they didn’t care to listen and figure out what it was women really wanted.
As a result, I never received the support I needed.
For example, while we were still building True Religion, Neiman Marcus reached out and wanted us to create a dress. The board immediately shut down the idea — they said it had nothing to do with denim. They didn’t see dollars in the project, but I knew they were wrong.
I created the dress for Neiman Marcus anyway. That denim dress was on the cover of the Neiman Marcus catalog and garnered a lot of positive attention. None of that would have happened if I had listened to the board and not gone with my gut.
I’m committed to hiring and working with incredible women.
As a result of my experience with the all-male board, I knew I wanted to work with women. As entrepreneurs, we need to build our teams, and by hiring women, we have the power to ensure that they receive equal pay and become part of an inclusive environment. The only way to tackle issues like this is to make the change yourself, and everything else will follow.
Today, I’m focused on working with women and supporting them every step of the way.
When it comes to my hiring process, it’s really about passion for me. I look for people who are ambitious and love what they do. Of course, you want to work with people who have experience and know what they’re doing, but they should also be passionate about the work they’re putting out there.
Today, I’m focused on working with women and supporting them every step of the way. We’re developing a brand primarily for women, and women know women. They can see the vision ahead because they understand and appreciate our customers’ perspectives and what they need.
Understand the difference between listening and hearing.
Every entrepreneur should work on their listening and hearing skills — and they’re not the same. Anyone can passively pay attention to what they’re being told and repeat it back, but are you listening and absorbing what’s being asked of you?
As a leader, you need to listen to your teams and understand their needs. They need to know that you are mindfully present. You can’t run a business with a team that doesn’t feel supported. That’s when things start to fall apart.
An entrepreneur is only as good as their team.
Every brand has a vision, and the only way to execute it successfully is by surrounding yourself with people who can also see the big picture. Entrepreneurs need to be able to depend on their teams, and you can only do that if you’re working toward the same goal with a solid group of people. The vigor of the people around you is fundamental to your success.
Despite being the largest shareholder at True Religion, I never felt supported because the team failed to see what I did. It’s essential that you align yourself with a team on the same page about your vision and let them know they’re valuable.
Stay true to your leadership style.
Women in business obviously face a double standard in the workplace. We’ve been taught to do what we can to fit into the “boys’ club” or to tone down our feminine energy.
But the things that they tell you to downplay (for example, leading with emotional intelligence) are what could make you a great leader in your field. We’re asked to alter our identities when we don’t need to; we just need to learn how to harness those qualities.
Your passion is valuable. It will speak for you, and people will be receptive.
You don’t need to be aggressive to get your point across. You can be heard by staying true to yourself and your leadership style. Your passion is valuable. It will speak for you, and people will be receptive.
Leadership by example is the hallmark of a good leader.
A strong leader makes a strong team. Your actions, however small you might think them to be, have influence over your team. Respect your employees, and they will respect you in return. They have to trust you, and the only way to earn their trust is by showing them that you put your words into action.
I would never ask someone on my team to do something I wouldn’t do myself. Being a leader does not make you superior to others. You’re all critical pieces of one big unit that only functions when you’re in sync.
If you’re not ready for something, there’s nothing wrong with saying “no.”
Business owners think that they have to say yes to every single opportunity that comes their way. But they’re operating on a scarcity mindset. They believe that if they say no, the prospect is lost forever. But I haven’t found that to be true at all.
When making decisions, it’s essential for founders to learn when to say no because it can make or break their business. It’s tempting to say yes when you’re presented with a potentially lucrative offer, but you have to think strategically about the long-term impact. Before making any commitments, you should wait until you have all your ducks in a row.
If a business owner knows they aren’t prepared for something, the worst thing they can do is say yes to it and possibly sacrifice that connection. If you’re not ready, that’s okay. Don’t do it. They’ll come back.
I will never repeat the mistakes I made at True Religion, but I’m grateful for the lessons that I’ve been able to learn along the way.
I’m taking all of my experience into Style Union Home’s growth plan for 2023. Aside from these lessons, we’re also utilizing invaluable information from our retailers and customers to guide us in the right direction.
I will never repeat the mistakes I made at True Religion, but I’m grateful for the lessons that I’ve been able to learn along the way because now I know exactly how I want to run my business and how that contributes to success in the long run.
In celebration of Black History Month, we are spotlighting great entrepreneurs from the past and present.
When Tennesha Wood moved to San Francisco after nine years in the Army, she landed a job in sales and began to explore the online dating scene. It was 2010, and searching for love online involved logging into a website on a computer, not swiping on the many apps people have on their mobile devices today. “I met a lot of really great guys that way,” Wood says. “But not everybody you meet is going to be your Prince Charming forever, and there are some frogs in there. Most of the guys I met were really cool — they just weren’t for me. There wasn’t that spark and chemistry.”
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Self-care has become an all-encompassing term that has strayed from the importance of everyday commodities that keep us in good health and spirits. Though pampering and “treat yourself” moments still have value, here are ten ways to invest in yourself to produce long-lasting, positive results.
It’s never too early (or too late!) to start saving for the future. Depending on your employment status, there are different retirement savings accounts. 401(k)s are the most common since these are employer-sponsored and often come with an employer match. However, freelancers also have options, such as a SEP-IRA or a high-yield savings account, to put away extra, tax-free dollars for retirement.
2. Schedule a health checkup
Self-care first includes taking care of your physical health. It’s easy to discredit regular checkups when you’re feeling healthy, but make this the year to get your blood work done. It creates a baseline for your health to identify areas needing improvement or extra attention.
Also, choose areas in your life where you can make small changes. Improving your health doesn’t always mean a drastic overhaul; it may be as simple as drinking more water or adding an extra 30 minutes of exercise to your day.
Many people with health insurance aren’t sure exactly what it does and doesn’t cover. If you’re unsure, talk with your HR representative or your health insurance provider to get an overview of deductibles, co-payments and other supplemental benefits you may not be aware of. Then, decide if the health care plan makes sense for your current lifestyle.
Are you paying for benefits you don’t use, or do you need additional benefits that aren’t covered? Selecting the right plan will help ensure you have what you need without paying the extra expense for anything you don’t.
4. Ignite your curiosity
Maintaining healthy cognitive functions through new pursuits gives a boost to the brain. Get curious and find what speaks to you. This can be anything from exploring local museums, embarking on different hiking trails, learning a new language or reading more books.
There’s no limit to what you can do, and these activities can ignite more creativity and motivation in your work. While it may be helpful to look to others for inspiration, make them enjoyable so you’ll want to make them a regular occurrence.
5. Prioritize mental health
Mental health has been at the forefront of people’s lives over the past few years, as many have experienced burnout. We often equate productivity with a value that drives us to go beyond our means and leads to anxiety, stress and depression. Take note of your everyday stressors and see how to reduce or eliminate them. Then, replace them with relaxing outlets that allow you to recharge.
There are various ways to prioritize mental health, from practicing positive self-talk to meditation to scheduling an electronics-free day. You may have to try different solutions before you find one that fits.
Consistent sleep is one of the essential factors of good health but one that is often overlooked. For many, it can be challenging to wind down from the workday. Therefore, you must “train” your body to prepare for sleep by getting into a nighttime routine.
Create a sanctuary for yourself to improve your sleep habits. Enjoy a soothing cup of herbal tea, perform a skincare routine, and snuggle in with a good book rather than scrolling through your phone. Additionally, ensure your bedroom is dark and cool for ideal sleep comfort and turn on soothing sounds if it helps lull you to sleep.
7. Try something new
What have you wanted to try but have always held back? Maybe it’s public speaking or contributing to a blog. Whatever “new” has been on your to-do, make a plan, schedule it on your calendar and go for it. It’s common to hold back from these activities due to fear of the unknown or failure, but trying new things helps create confidence and can be the catalyst you need to push you to the next level.
8. Learn to set boundaries
Boundary setting is crucial to relationships yet can be difficult to master. It doesn’t always involve simply saying no to people’s requests. Instead, it requires protecting your own values when people violate them. Setting boundaries may mean spending less time with certain people, removing yourself from toxic situations, or declining invites to events that don’t improve your life. Explore areas where boundaries will help you grow, and keep in mind growth itself is a work in progress.
Learning how to enjoy time spent alone is a valuable gift. We are inundated by a false sense of connection through the internet, which often makes us feel lonelier than ever. Then, we overschedule our calendars to make up for human connections, only to feel drained afterward. Slow it down and plan a few solo dates a month to see how it feels to be truly present with yourself.
For those who aren’t used to spending quality time alone, it can feel awkward and uncomfortable initially, but these stem from your own perceptions. Take in a matinee, sit in a coffee shop and read, or enjoy a concert or event you’ve wanted to attend. Alone time has been linked to improved stress management and greater life satisfaction, so it’s worth trying to give yourself more time.
Getting active can take on several directions. It can be physical, emotional or spiritual. The point is to engage with people and pursuits that feed your soul. Whether volunteering within your community, setting yourself an exercise goal, or learning more about personal development, there are endless ways to get active and invest in yourself this year.
The “Gossip Girl” actress is done apologizing for being a control freak. After all, obsessing over every little detail is what’s made her mixer brand Betty Buzz a raging success.
That was the question Fur co-founders Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung were asking back in 2015, as part of the qualitative research the duo conducted on family, friends — even strangers at cocktail parties.
Schubert and Tung were on the cusp of launching an innovative body-care brand at the time, but it meant taking a big chance.
Both Harvard grads who’d been friends since seventh grade, the soon-to-be co-founders had already established themselves in the corporate world. Schubert was a management consultant at Bain and Company, while Tung oversaw marketing at Maybelline — and was “super jaded” by the increasingly crowded beauty space.
Still, Schubert was ready to tackle the then-untouched pubic haircare market, and after some persistence, she convinced Tung to join her. Now, their natural body-care collection is a major hit, including the Fur Oil that started it all: “gentle enough for pubic hair and skin, but effective from head to toe,” which retails for $52 per bottle.
Entrepreneur sat down with Schubert and Tung to learn about the mission behind their “taboo” beauty line and how they transformed it from an idea to a cult favorite that counts actress Emma Watson among its many fans.
“[Pubic hair] was a taboo topic that people didn’t feel comfortable talking about.”
It all started in 2014 when Schubert asked her sister and friends what they were doing in terms of body hair care.
“I was getting waxed religiously at the time,” Schubert recalls, “and just thinking about, What do I want to wax? How do I want to wax? What do I do between sessions? I get terrible ingrowns — what are people doing about that?“
The information available on the subject was scarce, and when Schubert searched for products that might help solve her problems, she came up empty-handed. Ultimately, she concluded that some serious stigma was at the root of the issue.
“[Pubic hair] was a taboo topic that people didn’t feel comfortable talking about,” Schubert says — and she wanted to change that.
“We all grow body hair,” she says. “We all choose to groom or not groom our body hair. And I just really got the feeling that people would want products like this.”
There was only one choice when it came to body hair maintenance, Tung adds: removal.
Schubert wanted to partner with Tung on the venture, so she got creative at her holiday party in 2014. She handed Tung the still-unnamed blue bottle of formula that would become the company’s groundbreaking oil, poured her a “really stiff drink” and asked her to give it a try.
Tung, a lover of product formulas and development, was immediately impressed by the oil, which counts grape seed, jojoba, clary sage and tea tree oils among its key ingredients.
“I tried the formula, and I thought it was amazing,” Tung recalls. “It did what it [was supposed to do] on the pubic hair area: softens your hair, makes your skin better, but also it’s just an amazing experience. And that was when I was like, Well, this could have legs.”
“Either people immediately got it…Or people would be like, ‘That’s disgusting. I didn’t think women had body hair anymore.’”
When Tung joined Schubert in the qualitative research process, asking a range of would-be consumers what they thought about a pubic haircare brand, she saw two camps emerge.
“Either people immediately got it and loved it and said, ‘Wow, I can’t believe we never thought about this. I can’t believe a product like this doesn’t exist — that’s brilliant,’” Tung explains. “Or people would be like, ‘That’s disgusting. I didn’t think women had body hair anymore. Why would you do that? That’s gross.’”
But from a marketing perspective, the polarized response intrigued Tung, who says that “strong reactions, positive or negative, mean that there’s something memorable — something for you to hang your hat on in terms of messaging.”
That gives someone having an initially negative reaction to the idea the chance to engage with the conversation and potentially become open to it.
“It allows them to at least think about it, and if they’re thinking about it, you can encourage them to talk about it,” Tung says. “If you can encourage people to talk about it and keep it a comfortable, safe space, people can express a variety of opinions and have the opportunity to change their minds, including myself.”
When Schubert served as the brand’s “first salesperson” and took the product into stores, she often faced similar resistance. She recalls being kicked out for solicitation and told to go on Shark Tank(and they did in 2020, even striking an on-air deal with Lori Greiner).
And even those who did express interest in the product had reservations about leaning into Fur’s unapologetically authentic branding: One major retailer loved everything about the oil but just didn’t think having the word “pubic” on the box would resonate with its customers.
“We went pretty far down that path of evaluating,” Tung recalls, “Is pubic really a dirty word? Should we be removing it from our branding? But of course we knew we had to stay true to what we wanted to do and where we came from.”
As co-founders who’d built their business from scratch and are still self-funded, turning down the request was tough — but essential.
“It was a really big relationship,” Schubert says. “But we knew, being a mission-based brand, that that was something that we could never do. And so to this day, ‘pubic’ is on the front of the Fur Oil box. It will always be on the front of the Fur Oil box because this is what we’re here to do: to encourage conversations around pubic hair and body hair.”
“As a mission-based brand looking to destigmatize the taboo around body hair, it’s so important to be in places where everybody is thinking and shopping.”
Fur’s dedication to its original mission continues to pay off big-time, attracting an enthusiastic fanbase that includes Hollywood A-listers like Emma Watson.
It was 2017 when Fur’s website started “going crazy;” the co-founders discovered Watson’s Into the Gloss interview, where the actress and activist shared that Fur Oil is an essential part of her beauty routine.
“She really understood our product,” Schubert says, “and we sold out of two years’ worth of product in three weeks. That was definitely a moment that put our brand very much on the map.”
In the years since, Fur has stayed on the map (and expanded its territory) by rising to meet unforeseen challenges as they come up, especially as they pertain to growth and scale.
Despite being “thrown for a loop” during Covid as many brands were, navigating changes in the market, digital platforms and, of course, the supply chain, Fur weathered the storm — and even thrived.
The brand has quintupled its staff over the course of the pandemic and is on track to see more than $20 million in revenue this year.
Part of the secret to Fur’s success lies in its prioritization of omnichannel growth.
“It’s so important to be in places where everybody is thinking and shopping and has the ability to get to it,” Tung explains. “And if you were to look at our revenue breakdown, we’re very evenly split across all of our partnerships and our channels — that’s so important because in this day and age, people shop everywhere all the time.”
Naturally, a lot has changed in the near-decade since Schubert first set out to solve the pubic problem no one was talking about, but when it comes to founders who might have an idea today (taboo or not), some lessons learned remain just as relevant.
First, don’t wait to figure out the whole path, Tung suggests — just get started.
And Schubert’s best piece of advice? (Also the very reason Fur exists.) “Every ‘no’ is a ‘not yet.’”
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
While business operations are generally black and white (hello, spreadsheets,) there are often unique cultural and environmental nuances that drive how a Black-owned brand is developed and launched, ultimately shaping how it is received and grows in the marketplace. Learn from global executive leader in public relations and brand elevation, Zakiya Larry, how to shape and grow a Black-owned brand that stands out and lasts. Also, discover how to go beyond checking a DEI box, to enhancing any company’s operations with Black-owned brands.
Zakiya Larry, immediate past Chief Communications Officer for Constellation, a group within Stagwell, elevates brands and awareness through visibility strategy, media coaching, speaking and PR training, crisis mitigation and strategic public relations.
Zakiya’s media features as an expert include: The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine (.com,) FOX News Radio Network, BlackEnterprise.com, The Washington Post, ESSENCE, Ebony, and many others.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The road to entrepreneurship isn’t as glamorous as what’s portrayed on the #entrepreneur side of Instagram. The formula for success doesn’t contain any jets or fancy clothes or cars but rather a ton of grit and conviction. Growing a company from a two to 30-person team had several challenges. Things like iterating the product, funding and even hiring people to join the journey posed as mountains that had to be conquered by our team. If you’re looking to start a company — you’re in for a wild ride!
I’m not claiming to be an expert, but I wanted to get these thoughts out there to help anyone in the thick of business ownership. (Or even on the cusp of it!)
Here are five lessons I’ve learned as a first-time female founder.
It’s wishful thinking to wait for the stars to align to start moving toward your business goals. You may feel a case of overthinking, but when you’re building a business, speed of iteration will be your best friend to success. Start somewhere. No decision is perfect, and few decisions will result in the death of your company. It’s a matter of making small actionable steps daily to reach your goals.
Perfection is the enemy of progress. The first iterations of the product will likely be rocky. But getting your product out to the market with beta testers led us to a product we are incredibly proud of today. Without feedback, it is impossible to iterate effectively. I ask myself regularly, “what can I do today to make us better than yesterday?”
Easy enough, right? I believe good people build good teams and good teams build good products. Building your team is one thing that’s vital to the success of your business. The secret behind Smartrr’s growth is the team we’ve built. Finding that talent from scratch was one of the most challenging things I’ve faced. I know I said never to wait for perfection. Still, it’s essential to clarify the type of culture you’re looking to build your business around and focus on aligning the right people that will add value to the specific culture.
Starting a company is a challenge; having misalignment internally will only distract you from your goals and can be your downfall. Take your time in selecting who is in your inner circle. This includes your team but also all other stakeholders as well; your investors, your partners and your customers. Surround yourself with well-intentioned, ambitious and intelligent people, who are dedicated to solving the problem you seek to build around, and success will follow.
Then, align those folks behind a customer-obsessed mindset. It sounds simple enough, but it is so easy to get distracted by who has the latest shiny object or clever marketing campaign in the space. Be relentless in surfacing your customer’s pain points and feedback, avoid looking at what other competitors are doing and set your sails toward what needs you can fulfill for your customers and prospective customers.
As a result, we continue to develop innovative solutions and stay aligned with our mission and goals internally. If there’s one thing you should take away from this piece is that everyone in your company (regardless of what product/service you’re providing) needs to be laser-focused on the end consumer.
If you get this right, the team will not only build something incredible, but your team will inspire one another every day and drive a strong culture, better productivity and a stronger business.
Reflection is vital
Everyone will have a different path to subduing various levels of anxiety caused by day-to-day business tasks. For me, the two things that help are sleeping — that’s more of a short-term solution — and reflection.
It’s easy to block bad calls, days, etc. That said, confronting the good and bad through reflection gives you the privilege of growing and maturing. With time, you will look back at the same event that made you sick to reflect on and laugh at what once ruffled your feathers (trust me, we’ve all been there. You are not alone.). With every misstep, misfortune and mistake you make, the one before doesn’t look so bad.
As a founder, you really don’t have the option to stop when things get rough. Again, I’ve been there. Once you get through the next challenge, you look back and know you are better for it. Reconcile the bad, and even laugh at what triggered you in the past when you can. When faced with a new challenge, take those steps forward and focus on what you can control — those previous challenges will help you know that you can get through another. More often than not, you’ve accomplished greater feats.
Capital isn’t the only thing you can gain funding for
I can write a whole other article on how to raise funds for your business effectively, but with the space I have, know that there is so much to gain from being in a room with investors with years of experience in your space. A good investor relationship, in my mind, is not based on the foundation of capital provided.
In our early stage, our “best” investors are those with whom we have a true partnership. They are the ones we can call for help for whatever reason. They are not investing merely to fill an investment thesis bucket. They are excited by what you are doing and take the time to learn about you and your vision for the company. They don’t wait for you to reach out. They’ll take the initiative to introduce you to a potential client or just to see how founder life is treating you.
When you are actively fundraising, remember this: just as much as you are telling them your vision, they should be telling you theirs. Do your due diligence, and ask hard questions; find out who they support, their current portfolio companies, who they can connect you with and their stances on trends in your market.
Create goals outside of your business
You will undoubtedly be tested and pushed outside of your limits and challenged to push through many mental barriers. Another helpful way to grow is to create accomplishments outside of work. What I’ve found particularly helpful while working on Smartrr is to challenge myself to find purpose beyond work. Being so focused on something so large as scaling what we hope will continue to be a thriving business, short-term wins are essential.
One example of that is hiking on the weekend: getting fresh air does wonders, but getting to the peak of a hike, “winning,” in a sense, is a great win that helps fuel my mind for the next week ahead. Hard to believe when you are deep in the trenches, but wins won’t always come from your business. Set goals and crush them, both in and out of your organization!
As a first-time founder, these five lessons have brought joy and success into the entrepreneurship journey. This is not your “success formula,” but lessons I hope you can take, practice and fuel your growth in business and life. Remember, success isn’t linear nor manifests the same way for all instances, but please apply these principles to how you see fit in your day-to-day. Get clear on your goals, and I hope you start your 2023 off great!
Lisa Myers is a former attorney and a mom of two, who says she failed at breastfeeding when she went back to work. Now she’s making sure that other moms feel successful when it comes to their baby-feeding journey. She sat down with Jessica Abo to talk about her company Ceres Chill and more.
Jessica Abo: Lisa, can you tell us what was it like for you when you went back to work after having kids?
I was a partner at an international law firm. I was lucky enough to have paid maternity leave, but still, you were trying to be the person you were before you were completely sleep-deprived and keeping a small person alive and being at a law firm in a group that was pretty much all men. Trying to be who I was before was a huge challenge.
So how did you come up with the idea for your company?
Having had my son and going back to work early from my maternity leave, I was determined to be the best mom I hoped or thought I could be. When I went back, I had all my pump parts, I was ready to go. I pumped, and I had a bunch of little bottles lined up on my desk, and realized that it was another epic fail, because what was I going to do with that milk? I worked with a bunch of guys. The last thing I wanted to advertise was that I was actively lactating.
So, I put the bottles in my suit pockets, went down the hallway, had to find a paper bag, stuffed it in the communal fridge, and then rushed home on my long commute, and it just wasn’t good enough. That day I searched and searched for something other than another bag, another cooler, something bulky, something that required prep and something that would not last more than six hours. I needed something more. More capacity, more time, just something that would support me and maybe even if I was lucky, something with a little bit of style and a little under the radar. There was nothing, and I was pretty disgusted with that. And I figured if it wasn’t out there, I knew there was a need, and I was going to make it happen.
Ceres Chill is about solving those problems for moms. It’s a two-chamber system, so you can either store your milk in here for 12 ounces, or your milk in here for 24, and you just put your ice either in here or in here. You’re reversing it, of course. The upper cup becomes a baby bottle. You can pump it directly. It connects directly to your pump, either here or here. So you can double pump. You can adapt as you need to on the go. If your flight gets canceled or if your day goes extra long, all you have to do is add some ice for another 20 hours. So it just adds a lot of versatility and opportunity for moms who are trying to do it all, or for caregivers who are out with a baby. It can be a bottle warmer, and when you’re all done, we have a straw top and it can chill an entire bottle of wine in less than 20 minutes without diluting it. Don’t ask me how I know.
What have been some of the highlights for you since starting Ceres Chill back in 2020?
I started a few weeks before the pandemic really shook everyone to their core. I realized the women who really needed us, the customers, and the incredible people that have formed the base of this company were essential workers. They were doctors, nurses, postal workers, police officers, firefighters and grocery checkers. People who were on the front lines, who were trying to keep their children healthy. We as mothers knew that breastfeeding was the best defense we could give our children against this unknown but viral threat. So I made it a point to support those women, those members of the community. My husband is active duty military. I’m a military spouse. So we’ve been able to partner with breastfeeding and combat boots and different frontline organizations. I’m really, really proud of that work. But I would say one of the big things for me on a personal level as an entrepreneur is I now have some of the most incredible people working with me toward this common goal of empowering women and supporting families all over the world, and there is nothing like it. And I would not have had that had I not found this need and founded this company.
And what have been some of your biggest challenges?
I was certainly told my idea was silly. I was told I was a bad mother, neglecting my children, putting my marriage at risk. Certainly jeopardizing the financial security of my family. There was a lot of judgment. People who loved me begged me to stop because I gave myself shingles. You lose sleep and you sacrifice, and if you’re lucky and you have a good idea and you are in touch with your customers, you have a shot at succeeding. But there are a lot of stories out there of people who tried hard and failed, or tried really, really hard and it made it look easy, but it never really was.
So I love it. It has been amazing. But make no mistake, it came at a cost, and I’m grateful for where we’re at, but it’s not easy. It’s just worth it.
What do you wish more people knew when it comes to breastfeeding?
I think the key, particularly for entrepreneurs and business leaders, is to understand how even the smallest effort on their part can have a big impact on their bottom line and the morale of their employees. Breastfeeding may seem like this abstract concept or something very selfish and personal that an employee wants to engage in, so it should be on her own time. However, giving her a safe, private, clean place to pump and providing support for the schedule she needs to be successful will ensure her health and the health of her infant, which contributes to her health, because there’ll be fewer absences and sick days. If you are supporting an employee in that way, other employees see it, other employees aren’t getting as sick, and they understand that you as a company are prioritizing the mental health and physical health and welfare of everyone.
And finally Lisa, what advice do you have for the person out there who has their own big idea?
You have to share it. I understand there’s this great hesitation to keep it a secret because someone will steal it, but without sharing it, without putting it out there in the world, you are preventing any forward progress. I’m not saying someone won’t try to steal your idea, so protect it. Get an attorney if you can. But also, if you can afford an attorney, do your best. Do your research, file your own provisional patent, and move forward.
And if you can’t file a patent because it’s not something that can be protected, well just get out there and get aggressive about it. Because if you’re putting the energy in, that’s something somebody else isn’t going to do. If it was easy to be an entrepreneur and start a business, everybody would. And I’m here to tell you, it’s not easy.
