What women support and inspire you on your career path or in your business? I worked in the fashion retail industry for many years and my female managers really gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself. I would not have started this business without them believing in me and molding me into who I am now. They taught me leadership skills, decision making skills, resourcefulness, people skills, time management skills and so much more. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and that was key in my growth as an entrepreneur. I could not have done it without them. Shoutout to my momma for raising me right and continuously telling me I am a beautiful princess that can do anything I put my mind to. So much love for these women!
What gender specific challenges, stereotypes or barriers have you had to overcome during your career (or in your business)? Being a woman in business is not easy but so rewarding when you push through the barriers. Many emotions that have come for me over the last 2 years in business is feeling unworthy of any praise or good feedback I would receive. I could not believe that I was capable of creating something that other's actually enjoyed. It is taking time to build my confidence and believe in myself as a woman in business.
Where are you feeling empowered (or disempowered) in your own woman's story?
... and has covid19 amplified this for you? I am feeling so empowered by the amazing women entrepreneurs I have connected and collaborated with over the last 2 years. Covid19 has most definitely amplified this for me. My business would not be what it is without the amazing women that lifted me up when I first started out and as I continue to grow. We recognize each other and instead of comparing ourselves to each other we work together to bring a strong force that is way more powerful than being on our own. Collaboration over competition every day. I have had to move past these old beliefs of comparison and competition but the more I work with other women the more those old beliefs fade away. We are so much stronger together.
How have your female networks and companionships supported you through the past year? Just by reaching out and going out of their way to tell me that they enjoy my products or want to work with me in some way. Even just by sharing my content on social media. They may not realize but it means the world to me and I try my best to do the same for others. It seems like whenever I would get worried about sales, a beautiful woman entrepreneur would pop up just at the right time to work on a project together or make a wholesale order. I could not do it without them.
How has owning your own business changed your life and how you see gender equality? It has changed my life in so many ways. Firstly, just knowing that I have the ability to create my own schedule is the most freedom I have ever felt. I now feel like abundance is infinite and there are infinite possibilities. The energy you put in is the energy you get back, law of the universe. I don't rely on a steady paycheck which can be scary but also so amazing because the sky's the limit as to what I can achieve. There are no limitations. I feel that my life is more rich and abundant and unpredictable and that actually feels so good. True freedom.
Covid19 has disproportionately affected women (taking on a heavier burden at home and with childcare in lockdowns). How can we support other women as we start the social and economic recovery process? The most important thing we can do on a personal level is continue to love ourselves and take care of ourselves as I believe our outer world is just a reflection of our inner world. Loving and taking care of ourselves will help us stay in a good head space so that we can help and inspire other women too. We need to continue to promote self love and self care for women. To remind women that they matter, they are important. There are so many amazing women that reached out to me when I first started out and needed that confidence boost so much. We can also do the same for other women that are starting out in business and help lift them up and promote them to our followers/clients/friends. If you love someone's work, tell them! You never know the difference you can make in their world. The best thing we can do is communicate with each other, reach out to each other and find ways to work together.
2020 has big momentum in gender equality, only to have the pandemic derail it. How do you foresee the impact of those movements in our communities in 2021?
Covid19 was just the trigger but I believe we are entering into a new earth and women will only continue to rise from here. We need to continue to release competition and connect and collaborate with each other. We need to change the way "business" is viewed. I mean, we already are and I can only see it continuing to grow and expand. We need to remind ourselves, there is more than enough to go around for everyone. There is so much abundance to go around. If someone has similar work to yours, that is okay. The universe will always take care of it, there is nothing you have to do other than work on you. Continuing to bring awareness to this subject is key. Now more than over, we create our own reality.
How can we contribute to these movements on a day to day basis? How can leaders and people of influence contribute to these movements? Take 5 minutes out of your day to scroll through social media and if you come across someones work that you love, tell them! You never know what can come out of it. COMMUNICATION is truly the key here. Continue to spread awareness through your brand as well.
What would you tell your younger self (in career or business)? What do you wish you had known or not spent so much time worrying about? Enjoy the process! If you keep trying, you will never fail. It is through our mistakes that we learn and grow. We have to be willing to make mistakes to get to where we want to be.
We've all had that moment in our business where we wanted to quit... what was that moment for you, and how did you keep going? I would say the hardest part was in the beginning when I had all my savings tied up in essential oils, waxes, bottles and was experimenting. There was a lot of wasted product and it was scary to see my money essentially getting flushed down the drain. I told myself that it would all come back to me in time. The energy I put in will always come back around and it totally did. I just kept telling myself that I have to spend money to make money. It all comes down to trust, trusting in yourself and that the universe has your back.