Day: September 15, 2022

Eli Melrod of Solful: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis or CBD…

Eli Melrod of Solful: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis or CBD Business

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

The stigma around cannabis remains. Because of my age and the acceptance of cannabis in my social and professional circles, I had assumed the stigma around cannabis was fading. You feel the negative perception of the industry daily, even in legal states. The stigma is real and proves there is still an enormous amount of work that needs to be done to educate the general population that the cannabis plant is truly medicine.

As part of my series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis Business” I had the pleasure of interviewing Eli Melrod.

Eli Melrod has been an entrepreneur in the California cannabis industry since 2015. His interest in the health and wellness benefits of cannabis began in 2006, when his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and discovered the power of cannabis to help him manage pain, nausea, appetite, anxiety and sleep. While studying economics at Wesleyan University, Eli became increasingly interested in cannabis and inspired by the opportunities presented by the imminent end of cannabis prohibition in California. In 2014, Eli left school to pursue his passion and quickly became an expert in the early-stage industry of adult-use cannabis.

Inspired by his father’s experience, Eli dedicated himself to bringing cannabis to people whose health, wellness and happiness could be improved by its responsible use. He first worked for an established cannabis testing lab where he learned the science of cannabis, gleaned firsthand insights into the industry and established strong personal relationships with cannabis innovators and farmers from San Jose to the Oregon border. Eli formulated numerous business ideas and iterated on them with family friend and veteran entrepreneur, Peter Dickstein. In 2017, Eli and Peter launched Solful, a destination cannabis retail brand in Sonoma County with a focus on educating the community, offering personalized customer experiences and sourcing only the best small batch, sun-grown cannabis. Solful was founded in Sebastopol, CA and has enjoyed numerous Sonoma County business accolades, including best cannabis dispensary in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Eli, who serves as an Emerald Cup judge, has continued to deepen his involvement with the cannabis community, speaking about his experience at venues including the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Sonoma State University, the Sebastopol Senior Center and the Oakmont Cannabis Club. He hosts a biweekly radio show on KSRO about cannabis and was honored as “One to Watch ‘’ in the North Bay Business Journal’s 40 under 40 feature. Eli Melrod is Solful’s CEO.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you share with us the story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I’ve been a part of the California cannabis industry since 2015. My interest in the health and wellness benefits of cannabis began in 2006 when my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and discovered the power of cannabis to help him manage pain, nausea, appetite, anxiety and sleep. While studying economics at Wesleyan University, I became more and more interested in cannabis and was inspired by the soon to be legalization in California. In 2014, I left school to pursue this passion with the hope I could help bring cannabis to people whose health, wellness and happiness could be improved by its responsible use.

I first started working at a cannabis testing lab to learn the science side of cannabis. It was during this time that I was able to cultivate relationships with many cannabis innovators and farmers from all over California. Inspired by this brief exposure to the industry I began formulating business ideas. I was lucky enough to have Peter Dickstein, seasoned entrepreneur, as a close family friend. In 2017, Peter and I launched Solful, a destination cannabis retail brand in Sonoma County, with a focus on educating the community by offering personalized customer experiences and sourcing only the best small batch, sun-grown cannabis in Northern CA.

Our first Solful location opened in Sebastopol, CA and has received numerous Sonoma County business accolades, including best cannabis dispensary in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. In early 2022 we opened our second location in Santa Rosa and are working hard to open our third location in San Francisco in 2023.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

After taking the plunge into the cannabis industry, My “aha” moment came during one of my first visits to a cannabis farm. I met Craig Johnson, owner of Alpenglow Farms in Southern Humboldt County, at the 2015 Emerald Cup. I vividly remember him wearing a bandolier full of joints — he invited me to the farm, and being a huge enthusiast of sun-grown cannabis, I was honored to visit this treasured land. When I arrived at his property at the base of a mountain — Craig pulled up on his ATV — needless to say, I wasn’t sure what to expect. This wasn’t your typical farm or farmer. Like most experiences in cannabis, I trusted my gut and I jumped on the ATV with him. As we rode up the mountain, he walked me through Humboldt’s history, the farm’s characteristics, and microclimates. I was blown away by the landscape and quality of the land and knew Aplenglow was the farm I wanted to build Solful’s cannabis flower program around. If I could figure out how to share this cannabis flower with the world, I knew I was on to something.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Thinking back to my early days in the industry, at my first job in cannabis I wasn’t allowed to tell people where the building was located. The company was completely legal, but we were told not to disclose the location. Apparently this was because the landlord didn’t want his other tenants knowing a cannabis building was operating in his building.

As much as I laughed at how secretive I had to be about my very legal job, it was my first real eye opener on the reality of the stigma around the cannabis industry. To be a fully compliant, licensed company and still need to be operating behind close doors — it’s still hard to wrap my head around.

Are you working on any exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?

Our team has been working hard to expand Solful’s retail footprint. We opened our second location in Santa Rosa earlier this year and have a third location opening in early 2023 in an incredible community and neighborhood in San Francisco.

Each year we have been focused on improving our sourcing. We now have our own distribution center which enables us to have full control of what goes into the jar after the flower leaves the farm.

As we prepare to open Soful in San Francisco, as a native to the city, I am excited to bring some of the world’s best cannabis back to SF.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Hands down, I am most grateful for Solful’s Co-founder Peter Dickstein. To have a business partner with over 40 years of professional experience and running successful businesses has been key to Solful’s success.

As a larger industry, a huge perk in cannabis is that you get to work with people of all different backgrounds and ages. It’s something I see a lot in this industry and feels unique –those of us just starting out in our 20s and 30s have a lot of sentiment and appreciation for working with and learning from these veterans.

This industry is young, dynamic and creative. Does your company use any clever and innovative marketing strategies that you think large legacy companies should consider adopting?

This is less of a marketing strategy and more of a core mission for me–Solful is trusted by our community to cultivate health and happiness through cannabis. I have worked hard and made it a priority to create purpose for the entire Solful team. We focus on training, education, and culture to reinvent the cannabis retail space. For all customers — from experienced users to the cannacurious — we want them to walk into Solful feeling comfortable and confident they will find the product they are looking for with the help of a long-tenured team who holds ourselves to the highest values: the Solful Standard.

Dubbed “Health & Happiness Consultants” our team delivers on the promise. And they are, in fact, a happy team: in a time when good hires are scarce and job jumping is frequent, we have very little employee turnover. I believe this is due to the team having a purpose, which has translated into an incredible retail experience.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the Cannabis industry? Can you share 3 things that most concern you?

Excites me most:

Selling products that have a positive impact on people’s lives — at the core, the cannabis industry is striving to improve health, happiness and well-being.
Craft cannabis continues to gain momentum and consumer interest is there to push craft forward. Every year these products get better — the farming techniques are evolving and flower quality and distinction continues to increase with each new harvest.
While the industry has had its fair share of ups and downs, I continue to be grateful to have the opportunity to build an organization that is consistent with my own personal mission. It’s unique to be a part of a budding industry that aims to bring health and happiness to customers. It’s a movement I am proud to call my own.

Concerns me:

At the pace the industry is consolidating, it’s concerning to think what this means for the future of the heritage farmer. It’s nearly impossible for them to keep up with these larger, powerful companies. There is a real risk that we could lose the entire Emerald Triangle region.
There has become a focus on low cost, high THC products in the market. I see the way the industry is responding to economic challenges — more and more companies are competing based on potency/low cost vs. quality.
The slow pace in which we are seeing cannabis regulations evolve in California is a real concern. Here we are today, five years after recreational legalization, and we still have many municipalities in the state that don’t allow cannabis. The pace doesn’t seem to be accelerating as it should.

Can you share your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis Business”? Please share a story or example for each.

As a young entrepreneur, I had no idea the regulatory roll out of the cannabis industry would be so turbulent. Being completely unregulated in 2017 to fully regulated by 2020 — it’s been difficult to respond to these regulations as they are constantly changing. In 2019, we were in a situation where most of our supply chain wasn’t fully licensed. We gained access to the track and trace system well in advance of many core supply partners and for a period of time we had to revert to entering products by hand, which was a full time job in itself.
The challenges of cannabis banking. I was always aware that cannabis banking was a hurdle for startups, but I had no idea how many obstacles we would face getting Solful into a stable banking situation in 2018.
Understanding the realities of the non-legal cannabis market. I didn’t understand how large and robust the non-legal market was and how those competing markets had an effect on the legal market in regards to pricing. The reality is that consumers are willing to purchase flower from the non-legal market. It’s easy to access and more affordable.
The challenges around advertising and marketing. I underestimated the many and ever changing obstacles cannabis companies face to get in front of new consumers, specifically those who aren’t already shopping at dispensaries. There are tight restrictions on social media– you aren’t allowed to post any sales incentives on Instagram. There are even regulations on contacting customers via text. With all marketing and advertising, you must be nimble and creative and willing to quickly change platforms of communication.
The stigma around cannabis remains. Because of my age and the acceptance of cannabis in my social and professional circles, I had assumed the stigma around cannabis was fading. You feel the negative perception of the industry daily, even in legal states. The stigma is real and proves there is still an enormous amount of work that needs to be done to educate the general population that the cannabis plant is truly medicine.

What advice would you give to other CEOs or founders to help their employees to thrive?

It’s essential to build a mission driven culture that supports your employees. Always be clear about your company’s values and purpose, and you’ll attract the type of employee who in turn wants to help you live and breathe that ethos everyday.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

Embracing regenerative and sustainable farming, not only in cannabis, but in all agriculture. Our generation needs to make this a priority for both the planet and our health — we need to take better care of our land so in turn we can source better, healthier products.

What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-melrod-95479993/

https://www.instagram.com/solfulca/

https://www.facebook.com/SolfulCA

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Eli Melrod of Solful: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Leading a Cannabis or CBD… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Mignonne ‘Maggie’ Gavigan On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a…

Female Founders: Mignonne ‘Maggie’ Gavigan On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Know your strengths. I see color and pattern and texture all around me and with my ADD, I need to compartmentalize, make priority lists, hire people who have expertise in areas I do not.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mignonne “Maggie” Gavigan.

Mignonne “Maggie” Gavigan Smith, founded Mignonne Gavigan in 2014 after discovering that women felt instantly more confident when wearing her unique designs. As a New York City based, North Carolinian bred accessories designer, Maggie is widely regarded for her playful, color-forward aesthetic and fresh, elevated point of view. She continues to redefine wearable designs with a couture sensibility. With strong southern roots and a background designing for luxury fashion brands, Gavigan hones a signature, laid-back style with masterful technique and a designer eye.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I grew up in North Carolina with loving parents and three brothers. In school, I excelled in Visual Arts and was accepted into the North Carolina school of the arts in elementary school. I loved drawing and painting and it gave me such an important creative outlet from a young age. My parents encouraged me to go to undergraduate school and then specialize in a master’s program more geared towards arts. I enrolled in Parsons Paris and was accepted and transferred to Parsons New York where I began my career in Fashion. I worked as an apparel designer, a handbag designer and then a footwear designer before starting Mignonne Gavigan in 2014.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

One of the more interesting stories in our history is the one that compelled me to start my own brand in the first place. I mentioned my background as an apparel designer, and it was through a serendipitous discovery during that time that Mignonne Gavigan came to be. I was experimenting with a beaded vintage couture gown and an embellished piece of fabric fell to the floor. I picked it up and pinned it around my neck and loved the cool scarf vibe. As I walked home through SoHo, 3 different people stopped me on the street to ask where they could buy my “scarf necklace.” From there, I knew I had something special and there was a huge opportunity.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Ha, maybe separation between work and home, which is ironic in the post-COVID WFH world we live in! When we first started the Company, to save money on office space we worked out of my apartment for 2 years. While it was absolutely the right decision from a business and financial perspective, we learned the hard way (after a few hundred cardboard boxes and countless arguments with our building super about running a shipping operation out of a TriBeca loft) that it was time for us to get a real office! We became real good friends with our Fedex team though, they would come inside and hangout with my cat Franklin during pickups!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I could never name one person. Obviously, I am insanely grateful to so many people along the way: co-founders, employees, investors, believers, and each and every one of our customers. But every moment comes with unique challenges — I truly believe every experience provides an opportunity to learn. It could be as trivial as someone who compliments your outfit, or as deep as your oldest friend, mentor, etc. Support and encouragement comes from unexpected places along the way. I am so thankful to be where we are today and MG wouldn’t be here without the team surrounding us.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

From what I’ve witnessed, as my peers have had kids, each family meets a crossroad … who is going to stay home and watch the kids … is it Dad? Mom? Nanny? Daycare? Often, even if a family has help, so much of the day to day household tasks and childcare responsibilities fall on women, regardless of if they are working a job outside of the home or not. It makes it very challenging to focus on either work or family, let alone give 100%. Spending the last almost 20 years in New York City, I’ve witnessed a shift in women empowering and supporting each other to create companies and fulfill their dreams, whatever that may be. Having your own support system of women that are there to help you move forward or help you pick up the pieces and always have your back is critical. I’ve always relied heavily on the advice and support of successful women. Loving what I do has helped me with the juggling that is being a working parent and allowed me to prioritize work and family at different times to be the best Mom and Founder that I can.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

More female conversations and support groups to fund and advise young entrepreneurs. I believe the world of podcasts has been a great tool for listening to other founder’s stories in their own words beyond written words: unscripted, unedited and more honest. Additionally, more access to flexible, quality childcare is so critical for the advancement of working women (and all working parents).

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

Women have superpowers. our perspectives and ideals are vastly different than those who have held the reigns before us, we have a different vantage point. I would say if there’s one thing women are good at — it’s multitasking! The key to running a successful organization aside from having the passion and drive would be to be able to juggle many hats at once, especially at a startup.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

There are a lot of false narratives about entrepreneurship, but forums like this one are helping dispel those myths and paint a real picture of what it’s like to build and run a company. Some truths that may contradict perceptions about starting a company/being a founder: It is HARD work. Starting a Company is not a get-rich-quick scheme, it is a long winding road with many ups and downs. Entrepreneurs aren’t just born with a stomach for risk tolerance, you need a genuine passion for what you are building in order to weather the many storms along the way.

Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?

Being a founder and being a leader really requires leading by example and being willing to put in the work and show your employees the kind of dedication that you want to see from them. Being an employee often allows you more of an ability to leave your work at work. Being a founder means taking your work home (almost always) and often taking on your employees’ personal challenges as your own, especially in a small company where you don’t necessarily have dedicated HR, etc. Blurring those lines can become challenging, and I can recall losing sleep over employee’s personal situations — both out of love and care for them, but also as a response to how those situations can affect the business. Being able to navigate those challenges is a huge part of being a founder, and it takes a lot of time to figure out strategies to help work through personnel challenges and decide how to handle different situations from both a personal and a business perspective.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Know your strengths. I see color and pattern and texture all around me and with my ADD, I need to compartmentalize, make priority lists, hire people who have expertise in areas I do not.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t get caught up in the small stuff. Keep pushing forward.
Understand your P&L. Knowing the numbers is everything.
Understand your customer. Knowing who you are designing for, what are their interests, likes and dislikes, etc.. There is so much customer data at our fingertips, leverage it to make informed decisions.
Go with your gut. No one knows or cares about your business the way you do.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I entered fashion when the industry was not a kind place … everyone wore black … it was cutthroat. At MG, I wanted to foster a culture of positivity. It’s policy that MG employees treat each other with kindness and respect. No problem should be on the shoulders of just one person. We are all in this together and will solve each problem together.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I consider myself an environmentally responsible person. Protecting the environment and animals/wildlife is very important to me. I am a lover of animals, birds, wildlife in general (as anyone who sees our collections would know ☺), nature is such an inspiration to me and my designs. We are all witnessing the drastic climate change and the impacts this is having on all of us. It’s our responsibility to protect both our land and the animals in danger of extinction. We know what we have to do to stop it — it will take courage and ambition, but we can do it.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

There are so many women entrepreneurs I respect and admire, a few that come to mind for me would be Tory Burch for how she has taken her namesake brand and transformed it into one of the most successful lifestyle brands, Lori Grenier for her passion to bring joy to people and lead with kindness, Sara Blakely for her ability to lean into failure and remain true to her vision, Kirsten Green for her risk tolerance and commitment to drive growth and support success.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Mignonne ‘Maggie’ Gavigan On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future of Beauty: Ian Sanderson of AnteAGE On How Their Technological Innovation Will Shake Up…

The Future of Beauty: Ian Sanderson of AnteAGE On How Their Technological Innovation Will Shake Up The Beauty Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Confidence is key. Find things that make you feel good whether that be your skincare, make up or other aesthetic treatments. When you feel good about yourself it is a gorgeous thing.

As a part of our series about how technology will be changing the beauty industry over the next five years, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ian Sanderson, President of AnteAGE.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I’ve been an entrepreneur for 25 years, so AnteAGE isn’t my first startup, but it is my first venture into skincare. I’ve really been able to marinate in the world of cosmetic chemistry, aesthetic medicine, and cell biology over the last 11 years. Thankfully, my co-founder Dr. John is a brilliant doctor/scientist, and he’s also my dad.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Buy me a drink first? Ok, this is one of the those “is this real life?” experiences: My father and I were asked to speak at a very exclusive longevity conference in Beijing a few years back. There were about 20 of us invited; we were all flown in first class, then whisked by speedboat to a private lakeside resort owned by a Chinese billionaire (who, of course, wants to live forever.) So, there I am for several days meeting with Nobel laureates, billionaires, and a handful of the most respected scientists in the world. I learned a ton and was able to speak on the topic of skin as the first step on the path to complete cellular rejuvenation.

Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?

I think that tipping point came for me in 2018, when we had two years in a row of sales growth over 100%. That’s when I knew we were going to make it. We’ve been working to keep up with that growth ever since. There was nothing strategically different we were doing before or after that tipping point, we just held on long enough for our products to gain traction in the market and then hired a great team to keep building on the early success.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My distributor in Dubai, DubiMED, taught me how to run a high-quality sales and marketing organization. I have been going to Dubai several times a year for the last five years both to support that market and also to learn from it. Without that relationship it would have taken me a lot longer to grow AnteAGE to where it is today.

Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. The beauty industry today has access to technology that was inconceivable only a short time ago. Can you tell us about the “cutting edge” technologies that you are working with or introducing? How do you think that will help people?

Growth factors and exosomes are what we see as the cutting edge of beauty science. When we apply energy to the skin, or stimulate with microneedles, we are creating a hormetic challenge resulting in a beneficial response. The problem is that older patients have a less robust response, and these are exactly the patients who want these treatments. Growth factors offer us the ability to reprogram that response, regardless of the age of the patient. That’s exciting! We’ve been creating with the most powerful (bone marrow stem cell) growth factors for many years. Now, we are working with regenerative topicals taking advantage of EVs (Exosomes) to get a more powerful and elegant response.

Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this technology that people should think more deeply about?

We live in a time where new and world-changing technology is often talked about, but slow to materialize. I believe that what we need to worry about is our regulatory infrastructure, and to make changes to safely speed up positive breakthroughs in all fields of science. We have an incredible academy of dermatologists and other specialties who both understand the science behind these types of treatments and care for the safety and outcomes of their patients. I leave it to them to ensure the breakthroughs made in the lab find their way into the practice of aesthetic medicine.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the “beauty-tech” industry?

The “science-first” trend that we have seen over the last few years is exciting because we are able to really get down to what makes lasting changes in our body. Discoveries around exosomes are a great example of where biotech is leading the way in aesthetics.
It is nice to see a return to minimalism in aesthetics. People want to keep a youthful look, and they are moving away from the heavy fillers and opting for a more natural appearance.
There are so many new devices coming out, many of which require less and less downtime for patients. This is exciting because the ethos of AnteAGE is to decrease inflammation. Our products are compatible with almost any device and work to accentuate the results by speeding up healing and optimizing the outcomes of these very clever machines. Providers are now able to combine therapies and modalities to give their patients customized results.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

This isn’t new, but ethics in our industry can be questionable. Going back to the “science-first” approach, we find that some companies make claims about their technology that are not entirely true. This can be frustrating when we see brands making claims or using buzzwords about their products that do not prove out in the lab. It would be nice with some of these new things to require more transparency.
Social media is an incredible tool for marketing and brand awareness but there are some crazy things being shared out there, some of which can cause pain or permanent damage if not careful. Some kind of oversight may become needed, especially for professional aesthetic treatments being done at home. We have seen people injecting black market filler, neurotoxins, and encouraging questionable surgeries. Many young viewers are very impressionable, and I think we have a responsibility to keep them safe.
The ”new normal” that has been created for how people are supposed to look has had an impact on the self-esteem of so many people. I am happy to see more representation and inclusivity from brands across the board. We are certainly in favor of creating products to help people feel confident, but that should be tempered by celebrating a variety of looks and not attempt to make everyone look the same.

You are an expert about beauty. Can you share 5 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Confidence is key. Find things that make you feel good whether that be your skincare, make up or other aesthetic treatments. When you feel good about yourself it is a gorgeous thing.
Compliment someone every day. Bringing joy to others will also light you up.
Have good posture. This sends a message to your brain that all is good. This will radiate outward without you having to do anything special.
Have gratitude. Be grateful for your surroundings, be grateful for your Botox. It doesn’t matter what it is but consciously acknowledging gratitude is something I think everyone should get in the practice of doing. Your attitude plays a big part in how others perceive you. You will come across more beautiful to others and you will feel better about yourself if you can ditch some of the negative chatter in your mind.
Take care of your skin and wear an spf daily. Find a skincare routine that works for you and something you can stick to. Don’t make it overly complicated.

I think we need to reconnect with nature. I feel a surreal level of calmness and clarity when I’m barefoot in a jungle, sitting in front of a fire, or swimming in the ocean. We need to find a way to make all our technology disappear into the background so we can benefit from it without being robbed of our humanity. Accomplishing that, to any degree, would be of great benefit to billions.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential”
― Ray Dalio

I’ve come to realize that I spend a lot of time and money on activities that may fail. And without fail, those are the activities that lead to my success. The stuff that isn’t risky doesn’t really move the ball forward.

How can our readers follow you online?

I’m not on social media, but AnteAGE has much to say on Instagram @anteageskin

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.

The Future of Beauty: Ian Sanderson of AnteAGE On How Their Technological Innovation Will Shake Up… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Rajia Abdelaziz of invisaWear On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as…

Female Founders: Rajia Abdelaziz of invisaWear On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Being a founder is definitely not for the faint of heart. It takes lots of hard work, patience, and dedication. If you’re the type of person that likes to work from 9 am — 5 pm then starting a company may not be the right fit for you. When you’re trying to start a tech company, you’re working around the clock. You also have to be comfortable taking big risks. If you’re not, then you will have a tough time running a company because it’s constantly taking risks.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rajia Abdelaziz.

Rajia Abdelaziz is the founder of the viral, life-saving jewelry collection, invisaWear. Rajia graduated from The University of Massachusetts with a degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. A scary incident she experienced in college, inspired her to create invisaWear for a school project. When she realized that the only products on the market were ugly panic buttons (the kind that even your grandma doesn’t want to wear) she knew she needed to develop it into a real product. Today, invisaWear is backed by America’s #1 security provider (ADT). She is proud to have developed a product that helps save lives with a click of a button.

I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a double major in electrical engineering and computer science. In college, my involvement as the President of The Society of Women Engineers, inspired me to get more women into tech. I found my love for the industry as an intern with Amazon in robotics. I never meant to start a business. It happened by accident after a scary situation I experienced in college while leaving an event. I thought to myself “Maybe I should ask someone to walk me to my car.” I had a lot of friends at the event but ignored my gut feeling not wanting to inconvenience anyone. I thought that I was just being paranoid with all the true crime stories I have listened to. Although I had my phone with me there wasn’t enough time during this situation to grab it, unlock it, call 911, and get help. In that moment I realized how important it is to protect yourself and your loved ones. I went online looking for a safety device but everything on the market were big ugly panic buttons that not even my 80 year old grandmother would want to wear. That’s what sparked the idea behind invisaWear. It started as a class project and took off like wildfire. I turned down job offers by some of the most well known tech companies to pursue it because I knew it would really help people.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

Honestly, I feel like invisawear’s most interesting story was the first time we saved someone’s life. It’s been 5 years since that moment and I still get choked up when I talk about it. We were able to help a young woman who was involved in a serious car accident. Most people don’t realize this but during the majority of car accidents your phone gets thrown out of reach. The particular car accident this woman was involved in was so bad that she was trapped in her car and couldn’t get out. She had nothing to rely on to call for help except her invisaWear keychain. The keychain alerted her family and the police. They were able to arrive at the scene simultaneously and it ultimately saved her life. Hearing her say the words “I just prayed to god that this button would help me” gives me goosebumps.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

One of the funniest misconceptions I had about starting a company was I assumed that when you had a product, the hard work would be over. You spend countless hours trying to raise money, develop the product, and launch it. I always thought that when we brought the product to market that this is when the hard work was over. I thought magically people would purchase the product, I didn’t realize that this is when all the hard work actually began. Marketing on a national level is very expensive. Figuring out how to scale your business is even harder, I wish someone could write a step-by-step guide on how to start a Billion dollar business!

It’s really hard to narrow it down to one person because we’ve been extremely fortunate to receive so much support from the City of Lowell, University of Massachusetts at Lowell, investors, family, and more.If I had to pick one person, it would be one of our lead investors, Louis. Louis previously sold his company and retired at one point but decided to return to the workforce to help people in the community. He was one of invisaWear’s first investors and has been an incredible mentor. When he chose to invest in invisaWear, he told us he was doing so because he had sisters and nieces. We really hope that one day, if we are fortunate enough to be as successful as he is, that we can choose to spend our time in the same exact way — giving back to the community.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

I think the biggest thing holding back women from founding companies is the lack of funding resources geared toward women owned businesses, thankfully this has been changing over the last decade. However, I can’t tell you how many pitches I’ve gone into where there isn’t a single female investor on the decision making committee. I can’t tell you the amount of men who told me that women don’t worry about their safety because they themselves have never once had to worry about being sexually assaulted or attacked.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

I think there needs to be more female investors. Women who’ve run successful companies should be joining Angel groups and should become venture capitalists. Funds should be required to make an equal amount of investments between female founded startups as they do in male started startups

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

We think differently than men and experience unique challenges that they don’t necessarily face. I never meant to start a company, I was simply looking to find a safety device that was stylish and discreet. However, I was shocked when I couldn’t find any. After raising funding, I was no longer surprised that I couldn’t find the device I was originally looking for. So many men deemed women’s safety as a non-existent issue and not enough women are starting their own companies.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

One of the biggest myths is that your first company is bound to fail. I can’t tell you the amount of people that told my business partner Ray and I that since we were first time founders our company was bound to fail. If we had listened to them we wouldn’t be as successful as we are today.

Being a founder is definitely not for the faint of heart. It takes lots of hard work, patience, and dedication. If you’re the type of person that likes to work from 9 am — 5 pm then starting a company may not be the right fit for you. When you’re trying to start a tech company, you’re working around the clock. You also have to be comfortable taking big risks. If you’re not, then you will have a tough time running a company because it’s constantly taking risks.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

1. Don’t listen to the people who tell you you’re never going to make it

So many people including family and friends told my business partner and I that we’d never be able to start a company because we were only 21 years old.
They’d say things like, 9 out of 10 businesses fail — the odds are just against you.
Don’t listen to these people, think about what if you’re the 1 out of 10 that doesn’t fail and focus on why you’re doing what you’re doing.

2. Your first product will never be perfect

So many companies and business owners waste so much time getting to market because they’re product isn’t “perfect”.
You need to get to market as soon as possible with a minimum viable product and as you grow you’ll be able to innovate and to make your product “perfect”.

3. Always Innovate

If you don’t, you’re going to become a Blockbuster.
You need to always be thinking about what’s next.

4. Customer Satisfaction is the Number One Thing You Should Focus On

1 happy customer will tell 5 people, 1 unhappy customer will 10 people.
I built our company off happy customers who keep spreading the word about our mission.

5. Always surround yourself people who are smarter than you

So many founders let their ego get in the way, stay humble and find others to support your business / mission that are more knowledgeable than you.
Surround yourself with mentors who’ve learned mistakes the hard way so you can avoid making the same mistakes yourself.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I’ve been trying to help mentor other companies and encourage other people to start their own businesses. My brother works for my company in Marketing. After seeing how well he’s helped my company scale their social media efforts, I encouraged him to start his own consulting business. Watching him land other clients and become equally as successful as I am has been so heartwarming.

I honestly would start a movement that requires people to be more kind. Sadly there is so much hatred and anger in this world. Crimes across the country have been skyrocketing. I’d love to see someone doing something to help people come together and spread love not hate. My business partner and I are trying to start a non-profit called the Community Protection Initiative. It will allow people to attend FREE self defense classes and it will teach people bystander intervention. You won’t believe the amount of people that do nothing when they see someone else being harassed or attacked. Our goal is to change this by educating people on how to intervene in a safe manner.

I really admire Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo. When I was a little girl my dad told me a story about how Marissa built a nursery in her office after she had her baby. I really admired how she juggled both while working for one of the biggest names in tech and media.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Rajia Abdelaziz of invisaWear On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Maya Shaposhnik Cadena of Vetted Pet Health On The Five Things You Need To Thrive…

Female Founders: Maya Shaposhnik Cadena of Vetted Pet Health On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Don’t hire too early. I really thought that hiring early on would help me accelerate the business but at the earliest stages you still don’t know which direction you are going to grow in so it’s best to wait until you “desperately” need someone in a certain area. Then you can bring someone in because there is already direction.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Maya Shaposhnik Cadena, the CEO of Vetted Pet Health. Maya is a three-time entrepreneur and fundraising executive. Born in LA, she has lived and founded companies in Tel Aviv, New York, and now Chicago. Her background is in operations, sales, and management but her true passion lies in empowering people around her.

I have always loved empowering people. I personally felt empowered when I did the military. I felt that the military trusted me enough to lead teams and complete missions that were critically important. Wherever I go, I strive to empower those around me and give them the support they need to reach their maximum potential. My love for pets runs deep. I grew up with dogs my entire life. At one point, two of our Pugs accidentally mated and instead of having 2 dogs, we have 7! My sister, who is a true role model for me, even served in the K-9 unit in the military. At one point, I was even privileged having a working-dog relationship, which I so loved and respected. When my husband and I got our first dog, a little French Bull-dog named Shor. I became exposed first-hand to the struggles of pet parenting. I kept going to my vet clinic asking for help, advice, and support. I found out quickly that they are totally under water and that the clinic is not your go-to for all things pet-related. I started to resort to Facebook groups, google searches, and Reddit channels where I learned so much about pet parenthood. But it was also very overwhelming and the advice always contradicted itself. Through this process I understood that there is so much we don’t know as pet parents and when I ran it by Veterinarians they also felt frustrated that no one is teaching us about this but did not have the bandwidth to explain to people what they could do for their pets in between annual vet visits to keep them happy and healthy for many more years. That’s when we decided to found Vetted Pet Health, a preventative health membership for pet parents that empowers them to give the highest standard of at-home care.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I met one of my best advisors because I “opened up” to someone on my flight from Chicago to Tel Aviv about some of the challenges of my company. I started speaking with the person sitting next to me on the long 11 hour flight. At first it was just small talk, but then we quickly started speaking about business. Little did I know that he was also an entrepreneur and was a few years ahead of us in the start-up curve. I opened up to him about the challenges and what I need to do to overcome them. I knew I needed help, specifically in digital user acquisition, but this was such a different world and I was learning about it, but not fast enough. He suggested I reach out to his friend, Doron Dvir, who used to be the head of user acquisition at Lemonade insurance. He connected us via email on the flight. I met Doron in person a few days later. He fell in love with Vetted and loved the problems we are facing. We quickly made him an offer to be on our advisory board and have been working with him ever since.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Not telling people that we only serve cat and dog parents. This has led to some interesting chats on our 24/7 chat feature in the app. Think R SQUARED: Rabbits and reptiles!

I would like to thank my co-founder, Ashley Brooks. She has been the best co-founder I could ever ask for. There have been so many times that she could see how much weight I was carrying on my shoulders and what it was doing to my ability to lead. She really empathizes with me and has “come down into the hole with me”. She has pushed me to achieve greater heights and has not let me quit on myself. She has also been such a great match for me in this crazy roller coaster of a ride. No matter what the obstacles are we have full faith in each other and trust each other to push through them all, one step and a time, and together.

I would say the greatest thing holding women back is support. Even though you hear of all these VC firms that are focused on women founders I have found that many of these women-focused investors will not lead rounds. This shocked me because what is the point of leaning on an investor to help you push through the most difficult stages if in your earliest stages if they are not leading. It makes finding that partner who can support you get through all the hurdles difficult. There are so many difficulties in being an entrepreneur that adding the fact that you are usually the only women in the room when it comes to pitching to any investor partners you add another level of complexity and you need to find a way to not let it affect you, or in the best case be a motivator to make you want to change the landscape.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

At the very least, I think VC’s should do everything in their power to recruit women partners so that there could be more women pitching to women. Out of 30+ VC’s I pitched there were only 3 that had women in the meeting, which made it a very interesting dynamic. I also think VC’s that focus on investing in women should lead the rounds. This to me is a level of leadership that we need in the space if we want to have the support we need to get through the challenging initial stages of a start-up. As a society, I believe that parents should tell their children that they can really succeed in anything they want, if they don’t give up and keep pushing forward with a growth mindset. I feel like I had this support from both of my parents and they always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to. That voice continues to accompany me through everything that I do today.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

In my time working with men and women I have seen that many women have a crazy ability to multitask naturally. This is a gift that can be invested in because as an early-stage entrepreneur one of the most important skill sets is the ability to multi-task and do many things at the same time. This is our added value and an advantage that most women possess (maybe because of the societal expectations we have on us). Other than that, women make up a huge amount of the population and can definitely create products and services that they were longing for. To me there is no doubt that if you are in desperate need of something then there must be many people out there that need the same thing. You can be that leader and serve that market.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

Raising enough money will solve all your problems. This is not true. You can raise as much money as possible but if you don’t have a good strategy and many contingency strategies and a strong team then this will not lead you to success.

You need a plan for everything. No, this is not true. You need a direction and you need a goal but you do not need a plan for everything. I have seen too many people have analysis paralysis and this is debilitating. You need to jump into the water, take a risk, measure the results and constantly tweak until you find the right path. But honestly… just do it. Don’t overthink it.

I think that everyone can be a founder. If they love what they do and want to change and have impact in a certain space then everyone can be a founder. However, not everyone can be a CEO and not everyone can be a solo founder. I knew early on that I wanted to be a founder and a CEO, because of the skill set I possess. But I knew very clearly that I did not want to be a solo founder. I know I work best when I have a co-founder. So I decided to go out there and look for my “work” soulmate. That is when I met my co-founder, Ashley Brooks, at the Chicago Booth school of business. We clicked immediately and within a few weeks we decided to become co-founders. She is the CTO and possesses a whole other slew of skills that I do not. We lean on each other and help each other overcome the many hurdles of starting a business.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Don’t hire too early. I really thought that hiring early on would help me accelerate the business but at the earliest stages you still don’t know which direction you are going to grow in so it’s best to wait until you “desperately” need someone in a certain area. Then you can bring someone in because there is already direction.
Fire as fast as possible. I thought that firing in the 3–6 month range was good. I quickly realized that it is not true for early stage companies. When you don’t fire quickly you are burning capital, which is equivalent to oxygen in a start-up. You also burn time, the most important resource for an early-stage company, because you try to invest more time to prevent firing that individual. But the reality is that if you get to a place of firing someone it would be best for them and also for the company to do it sooner rather than later because the chances that you could invest enough time to help them grow is very low. I would say you should fire in the 2–3 month range if the metrics are not met.
If you are looking for a co-founder, Don’t settle on one. Look for someone you feel safe with. Someone you feel like you could lean on and could be there through the difficult times. Someone who shares the same values as you. I think the best co-founder is one that has a totally different skill set than you and is willing to debate things out with you, rather than just “accept” everything you say.
Don’t over think. Just do it. My co-founder recently told me that one of the best pieces of advice she ever got was to say: 1.2.3. And then jump. Now she says it outloud and just does it, without overthinking it. This allows us to move quickly and test so many assumptions so we make better decisions everyday.
Take care of your mental health. This cannot be stated enough. I now truly believe that burnout is the number one reason why start-ups fail. So make sure you make space for whatever you need to be headstrong. Without that strength, your start-up will not be able to be steered to success.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I hope so. But what I hope for more is to continue to make the world a better place while I am here. I don’t want to stop or ever think “I did enough” — to me you can always improve and do more.

I would empower young girls to understand just how much power they really have. I would work with them to really engrain a level of self confidence that they need to maximize their potential in this world. I see so many women that have so much power and are oblivious or downplay just how much they can change. I want to look those little girls in the eye and let them know that I believe in them and am always here to support them.

Sheryl Sandberg. I look up to her because to me she is a true definition of power. She has not excelled in one area in her life, but in multiple areas. I truly believe that successful people find a way to succeed in many different avenues, not just one. Through all of her trials and tribulations she found a way to success in business, having a family, overcoming some of the worst tragedies and still inspiring a whole group of women. Thank you for being you.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Maya Shaposhnik Cadena of Vetted Pet Health On The Five Things You Need To Thrive… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Elise Jenkins of Ella’s House On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as

Female Founders: Elise Jenkins of Ella’s House On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Remember your why. On days when things are tough, remember why you started in the first place. There are days when you won’t feel like doing what you’re doing, but considering your why will remind you why it’s all worth it.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Elise Jenkins.

Established in 2022, Elise Jenkins founded Ella’s House in response to the struggles she faced when she chose to obtain her college degree and have her daughter at 21 years old. Jenkins wanted to create a safe place in Nashville for women to be empowered in their choice to continue their education and become a parent. Upholding their core values of providing holistic help to balance education, health, and family, Ella’s House is designed as a place of refuge that connects peers in similar circumstances, provides physical and mental health resources, and supports women as they pursue their degrees.

Offering a sanctuary for mothers and expecting mothers who are full-time students, the organization provides basic necessities such as housing, food, community, and childcare resources as well as support with tutoring, career advising, educational grant and scholarship assistance, parenting, and life skills. Ella’s House’s support creates a pathway to success for these women to earn a degree and achieve their goals.

I grew up in Nashville and moved away during college to attend Auburn University. Originally, I had planned to go to school to be a psychologist but ended up switching majors to a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. I’ve always been interested in people and learning more about how experiences can shape one’s life. I found out I was pregnant shortly before starting my final semester of school. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by family and friends that supported me as well as my then-boyfriend (now husband). I also was interning at the time at a nonprofit in Nashville and living at home while I completed my internship. Having my parents so close gave me such a sense of unconditional love I know not many women in similar situations get to experience. I wanted to create a space for pregnant and parenting collegiate women that could offer not only a safe place to live but a community of like-minded friends who could empathize with their circumstances and support one another.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

One of the most influential moments was a meeting I had at Ella’s House with a group of women who shared a similar story to mine. Ages 18–80, I was astounded at how alike our feelings and inner experiences were regardless of the specific circumstances or what happened after they found out they were pregnant in college. Seeing that so much has stayed the same since the 1960s is absolutely heartbreaking. I was so inspired by these women’s stories and felt so encouraged to continue pushing to make Ella’s House a well-known space for Nashville women.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

In my first TV interview, I thought I was going to throw up in the parking lot beforehand. I was so nervous and sweaty and trying to do deep breathing in the bathroom before I went on air! Luckily, the reporter was lovely and gracious and I actually had a wonderful time speaking with her. I’m definitely glad that “first” is over though, it was so nerve-wracking!

My mom has absolutely been my rock. From the day I showed her my positive pregnancy test to working as our Director of Operations at Ella’s House now, she has been supportive and encouraging through it all. I can’t imagine many people who are willing to jump all in at the idea of a brand new non-profit but she has been a driving force and wealth of knowledge since the very beginning of this journey.

The combination of a lack of representation and societal pressure I think holds a lot of women back from founding companies. I see so many amazing women who have done it in various spaces but would love to see the numbers shift a bit more equally.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

As individuals, encouraging young girls you know to follow their dreams, try starting businesses young (think lemonade stands, etc.,) and encouraging traits like decisiveness, strength, and tenacity will go a long way in overcoming obstacles. Societally, highlighting women founders in your own life and using their products or services as well as sharing their business creates representation to the larger masses!

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

So your ideas can come to life! Seeing something you’ve dreamed up become reality is so special.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

It is too hard. Yes, it is a lot of hard work but also is doable. Or, on the flip side, the myth that this is so easy. Creating your own schedule is great but it also means I’m working a lot of times when I should be asleep or doing other things.

If you have an idea and the persistence to really go for it I absolutely think anyone can become a founder. There are tons of resources online for any business-type things you don’t know already and people are often more than willing to help out if you ask nicely! I think it more comes down to work ethic and drive than business-related knowledge!

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

You can do it! You can be scared but do it anyways — it will be so worth it in the end.
Use your connections. Ask for help when you need it. Find people who know more than you do and are willing to share their wisdom.
Gather a team you love. These people, especially at the start, should “get” the business and your work style.
Back up your computer regularly. My computer crashed last month which would have been devastating had I not recently backed up all my info and documents. Keep things secure and back up your data so this is never an issue.
Remember your why. On days when things are tough, remember why you started in the first place. There are days when you won’t feel like doing what you’re doing, but considering your why will remind you why it’s all worth it.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I think any woman that comes into Ella’s House, whether to live or for a single meal, leaves feeling loved, supported, and respected. If that’s the case for just one woman — I am more than proud of the work we are doing.

I would love to see Ella’s Houses nationwide! Outside of that, I think encouraging people to give their time to things they believe in could create such a culture shift. Saint Francis of Assisi said that “for it is in giving that we receive.” Focusing more on others and less on ourselves would cause a world of good.

This is not a very exciting answer but my dream people to have meals with are the women at Ella’s House. They are all so unique and strong. I love hearing their stories and seeing how much they’ve overcome to get where they are!

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Elise Jenkins of Ella’s House On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Natalia Lumen of ThyForLife Health On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your…

Female Disruptors: Natalia Lumen of ThyForLife Health On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

‘You can do it all, but you don’t have to do it all every single day’. This applies to me pretty much every single day because I let my energy and motivation guide me where my time is best spent. Some days I spend more time on business development, other days on product, and other days on my toddler and a baby running around a playground!

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Natalia Lumen.

Natalia Lumen is the Founder & CEO of ThyForLife Health Inc., an award-winning mobile platform built for the 400M people with thyroid conditions worldwide to effectively manage and optimize their health. After living with thyroid cancer and experiencing the pains of managing one’s health data, Natalia sought to provide a solution for all thyroid conditions. Since launching in 2020, Natalia has been named a “Trailblazing Women to Watch in 2021”, 2020 Global Awards Winner of “Women-led Start-Up of the Year”, and has been featured for her business acumen in a variety of outlets including NASDAQ, Crunchbase, BC Business, Tuck Magazine, and in 2021 became a featured guest speaker at Harvard University.

Sure! Even though it’s hard to tell from my highly international background, I’m originally from Ukraine but have lived in Canada the past ~3 years, Switzerland ~2 years, Singapore ~4 years, London ~5 years, pursued my MBA at Tuck Dartmouth in the US ~ 2 years, with an immense number of other international stints. I’m no stranger to airplanes, moving homes, countries and continents, and it’s no surprise (to me) that I built a global team and seek out opportunities to work with people from as diverse of backgrounds as possible as it makes life and work so much more engaging and interesting!

While in Singapore in 2017, working in a high-flying management consulting career about to hop on yet another airplane to my project in Bangkok, I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, a disease I never thought could develop in a young, budding, healthy woman. Jet setting came to a halt. I was on an operating table twice having my throat cut and thyroid removed. This upheaval in my life forced me to step back from the high-pressure career I had been building for a decade.

I was finally able to take a deep breath, get grounded and connect with the rest of the world where 1 in 8 women and 1 in 40 men suffer from a thyroid condition, a disease that is silent yet paralyzing when unmanaged. After struggling with homemade spreadsheets and an overwhelming amount of information, I decided to build an app (ThyForLife Health) to help manage my new life, and for everyone else also struggling to manage their thyroid condition. Today, we have over 22,000 member downloads and over 2,200 active users globally at ThyForLife, the first and only global community and tracking app that provides support for all thyroid conditions.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

We are building a solution that will disrupt the way people with thyroid conditions understand their thyroid health via intuitive displays that connect the dots (correlation between medication, blood test results, symptoms, etc.), access expert-rated content, and connect via a first-of-its-kind global community anonymously. Our goal is to uplift each individual by helping each person integrate their disease into their lives.

For years thyroid diseases have been considered well managed and not requiring any additional attention than is already given by the healthcare community. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Most of the people I have personally interviewed who suffer from a thyroid condition are frustrated about the disconnect between the symptoms they experience and the attention they are given in their care. This silent disease can cause havoc in one’s life if unmanaged, from heart palpitations to brain fog that paralyzes one’s working life. This has to stop, so here we are, building a solution that is transforming the way so many of us manage our thyroid health.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

My mistakes aren’t usually funny in the actual moment! But one that comes to mind is when I was on a Zoom call pitching to a panel of judges for a grand prize and my 18-months old stormed in to sit on my lap and comfortably take a poop on me as I was answering some grueling questions. I could hardly contain my laughter and had to wait 10 minutes for the session to end to burst into laughter with tears together with my family who observed the ordeal. I didn’t get the grand prize, but I came away with a hilarious memory that will last a lifetime!

On a more serious note, as we were starting up, I had committed $30k in salaries to our growing team during the fundraising process, confident in the investors who gave me a verbal commitment, only to realize that the money wasn’t coming in. Serendipitously, our first angel investor became indeed our angel, as the funds came in 2 days before I was due to pay our team. The joys of ‘behind-the-scenes’! One lesson I did learn is that a verbal ‘yes’ from an investor (or a customer for that matter) is not a ‘yes’ until the documents are signed or the money is in the bank.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

Absolutely. Having mentors is probably the single most important reason why we’ve been able to get to where we are today. I’d say that every juncture on my journey has had a different set of individuals/ mentors who have helped me navigate my decisions and transitions. They are former managers and colleagues, and most recently, fellow founders, investors, and of course, my family and friends. I think of my mentors as a personal Board of Directors where each person brings their own strengths and perspectives.

I would like to call out my partner because our relationship is my biggest strength — I can lean on his shoulder, both literally and figuratively. He is wise, clear-headed and a joy to be around. I love sharing the highs with him and really appreciate his perspective when he twists all the lows on their head.

I would also like to call out our very first investor who has been exceptionally supportive of me and our team. He is the most perfect investor one could ask for — giving me the space to run the business and encouraging me along the way. He has also facilitated multiple helpful introductions and doesn’t put any pressure on me as he’s there for the long haul.

One thing for sure, our company ThyForLife Health is much more than me as the founder, as what I have achieved thus far wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of all of my team members, advisors, investors, and cheerleaders in the community. Our team has worked incredibly hard this year to bring our product to life for millions of people with thyroid conditions globally.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

Industry is disrupted only when the market is ready for it. One can have the most innovative idea in the world but if there’s no demand for it, there’s nothing to show for it. Hence, I do not believe that disrupting an industry can be ‘not so positive’, because if people want it/ need it/ are willing to pay for it, there’s room for disruption to take place.

I also strongly believe in market timing for the disruption to take place. As an example, let’s take COVID pandemic as a prerequisite for disruption of the healthcare industry. All of a sudden, the pandemic accelerated virtual healthcare and the ecosystem has had to evolve to accommodate virtual doctor appointments, deliveries and other services. The demand for virtual care was spurred by both doctors and people receiving care, and here we are, witnessing the industry accelerating in the emergence and evolution of digital products and services.

We at ThyForLife Health have benefited from the attention that the world is giving to virtual healthcare and we no longer need to prove to anyone that there is a need for mobile-first health-related solutions.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

‘If one can think it, one can do it’ — it’s a quote from a book that I like reminding myself of once in a while. Our company ThyForLife Health in its form today is a good example of starting something from the ground up.
‘You can do it all, but you don’t have to do it all every single day’. This applies to me pretty much every single day because I let my energy and motivation guide me where my time is best spent. Some days I spend more time on business development, other days on product, and other days on my toddler and a baby running around a playground!
‘There’s no rush’. That rings true to me and I remind myself of it when I feel any sense of time pressure. An example of this is when we had a major delay in launching on iOS. We launched eventually and ended up with a significantly better setup in hindsight as it pushed us to revisit our tech stack and adjust accordingly. Sometimes just letting things sit for a while allows me to focus on the bigger picture.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

We’re just at the tip of the iceberg and there’s so much more that I envision for ThyForLife Health. We are building a one-of-a-kind global community, and tools and resources that would uplift each individual, and there are millions of us who would benefit from such personalized thyroid care. I am not in a rush as the longest way round is the shortest way home! Slow and steady wins the race, so stay tuned and follow us on social @thyforlife to keep abreast of all the ways we will be shaking things up!

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

That’s an interesting question as I try as much as possible to create an equal world in my own mind and actions, and my partner and I are very intentional about it, as we have a young daughter who’s taking note of everything we do!

However, in reality, and today’s day and age, when I speak to my fellow women founders, I find that the biggest challenges are:

1) having to ‘prove oneself’ more: I had investors tell me I need a tech co-founder before they invest in our company; I don’t agree as I have had success employing a tech partner instead of making them a co-founder, and I’m aware that this is an objection investors make more often to women than men;

2) having a much harder time raising funds from investors: there are studies done on this already and it’s a well-known topic, one that I have personally faced as well despite all of my highly competitive credentials;

3) women disruptors who have children being labeled as mompreneurs; this term certainly makes me feel like I am not being taken seriously. Unless most male entrepreneurs do not have children, there should be many more dadpreneurs out there than mompreneurs, yet the term isn’t coined that way. I can be a mom and a professional, just like my male counterparts.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

One of my MBA classes at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth hosted Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, recognised as #1 Executive Coach in the World, Top Ten Business Thinker and the New York Times bestselling author who has advised the top CEOs of the largest companies. Marshall gave a talk that had a very deep impact on my thinking, and in particular, his Buddist approach to accept impermanence, practical ways to deal with challenges and my favorite is his gesture where he waves his hand and says ‘ahhh’ as a way to let it go. I fall back on it often when I get frustrated to just let it go. I also loved his book “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” and will be ordering his new one ‘The Earned Life’ soon. Thank you, Marshall, if you’re reading this!

Anything climate related is a passion of mine, so a movement related to preserving Earth and Mother Nature is something that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people. It comes down to individuals making wise micro decisions that would make a difference in the grand scheme of things.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Silence is full of answers”. I love this quote a lot because it reminds me to slow down and listen in at a time of uncertainty. At the end of the day, my intuitive self knows what needs to be done, and it’s a matter of slowing down enough to recognize it. It’s relevant for me at every juncture really, and that’s when I get my most creative juices flowing, — with my notebook, pen, and a hot cup of tea!

How can our readers follow you online?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thyforlife/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/natalialumen

All other social channels: @thyforlife

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Female Disruptors: Natalia Lumen of ThyForLife Health On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Shawna Robins of Kaia Health and Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will…

Women In Wellness: Shawna Robins of Kaia Health and Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Develop a spiritual practice — After doing an eight-week intensive coaching program with Marianne Williamson, I realized how deeply I was craving a spiritual practice. Now I start each day with ten minutes of guided meditation, prayer, and gratitude. I also do a meditation in the afternoon before I shift into mommy/family mode. It helps to calm me after working all day and allows me to reconnect with my inner, intuitive voice.

As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shawna Robins.

Shawna Robins is a best-selling author, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and CEO of Kaia Health and Wellness. Her signature program, The Rest & Reset Academy, is an online wellness program for women who want to reset their sleep, create healthier habits, and change their lives. Shawna’s first best-selling book, Powerful Sleep — Rest Deeply, Repair Your Brain, Restore Your Life teaches women in midlife how to make powerful lifestyle changes so they can reclaim their sleep again.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

Sleep had never been hard for me . . . until I turned forty-seven. Perimenopause hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew it was a struggle for many of my clients, friends, and family members. I would listen to and empathize with their complaints of sleepless nights, hair loss, weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, and lack of libido. I would help them develop nutrition plans and exercise routines and point them to bioidentical hormones. But inside, I really, truly had no idea what all the fuss was about. Until I stopped sleeping too. It was maddening and took all my effort to find my way out of the dark hole of insomnia.

After a few months of trying everything in my arsenal to fix my sleep, I finally found a strategy that worked. This led to writing my first Amazon best-selling book, Powerful Sleep — Rest Deeply, Repair Your Brain, And Restore Your Life and creating my online program, The Rest & Reset Academy to help peri and postmenopausal women reclaim their sleep and take back their lives.

Menopause today is not the same as it was for our mothers and grandmothers. By learning the right tools to help the body recalibrate, women in midlife can feel more free, alive, and vibrant than they did in their 20’s and 30’s.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

When I first begin coaching with a new client who is struggling with menopause symptoms, I point out the gorgeous painting of the Santa Barbara harbor which hangs behind my desk in my office and tell the story of my mother’s menopause journey.

“When my mother turned 52, she was finally able to empty-nest after all three children had left home. A good friend asked her to try out a painting class and she agreed. After being a stay-at-home mother for two decades, she finally had the freedom and time to explore a creative outlet. So, she went to this painting class and started painting the most beautiful pieces of art that now sell in galleries and have received numerous awards. You never know what talent, skill or interest is inside of you, waiting all this time to finally blossom.”

Before menopause, a woman’s body is driven by a biological need to procreate, nurture and support other’s needs before her own. After menopause, this biological drive shuts off and the next stage begins. This is the gift of the second half of life. You finally have the time and freedom to reconnect with yourself again. The “self” you lost running after children, building a family, creating a career, and finding a partner. And when you finally have time for yourself, you might uncover an incredible talent just like my mother did.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The biggest mistake I made was being intractable with my publisher on the subject for my first book, Powerful Sleep. I wanted to write a book that would teach powerful women how to become even more powerful. I wanted to “influence the influencers.” So, I laid out a book pitch with all the steps needed for extremely Type A, busy, intense executive women to make small but powerful changes in their daily lives, thus resulting in lasting changes. It was a mixture of The Butterfly Effect meets the Superwoman Syndrome. But my brilliant publisher told me something very important: “Women need help sleeping and you can help them.”

I pouted and balked and argued my points for about a week, but in the end, she was right. Women do need help sleeping. And I can help them. So, my first book was born. Once I dove into the research, I could clearly see why sleep is the most powerful and underused tool for health and healing in a woman’s life.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Menopause has a stigma. Its brand is an old Crone — the visual image of a woman who has lost her youthful glow, energy, skin, hair, and vitality. Although virtually all women in the world experience menopause, it remains a taboo subject for many. In 2021, The State of Menopause study found that 20% of women in the U.S. ages 40–65 had menopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, anxiety, depression) for a year or more before seeing a healthcare professional and 34% had never been formally diagnosed or received any kind of medical support.

With the number of menopausal women worldwide estimated to reach 1.1 billion by 2025, I believe it is time for a re-brand. My online wellness program, The Rest & Reset Academy teaches peri and postmenopausal women how to show up for themselves in a whole new way. Together we focus on improving sleep, resetting diet and nutrition, developing healthy stress management skills, creating community, and providing accountability. By teaching women how to make small but powerful lifestyle changes that are sustainable, my program helps to improve their overall quality of life.

I know firsthand that menopause doesn’t have to be debilitating or exhausting. The second half of a woman’s life is a time of new creative power, wisdom, and personal freedom. Both my books and my programs inspire women to step into it and live with joy and passion.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Lifestyle “tweaks” are a great way to describe what needs to happen so that women can continue to sleep well and stay healthy as they age. No big, huge sweeping changes. Just a few small but powerful tweaks that will make a huge difference over time.

My first tweak is to commit to 30 min of daily exercise 5–6 times per week. I know this is hard with our fast-paced lifestyle, but exercise will lessen menopause symptoms, improve sleep, improve brain and heart health, lower stress levels and boost serotonin to help improve your mood. If you are peri or postmenopausal, then you need to fight to keep your muscles, so make sure to add in strength training and stretching 2–3 times per week to your routine.

My second tweak is the hard truth that your nightly glass (or 2 or 3) of alcohol is destroying your sleep, causing you to gain weight and aggravating your hot flashes. If you want to have a glass of wine (or other alcoholic beverage) before or during dinner, then fine. But no more than one or two times per week. Anything more than this amount will rob you of the restorative nighttime rest your body needs and make your menopause symptoms even worse.

The third tweak is to find an endocrinologist who specializes in menopause to help you find the right hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). Your primary care doctor and your OB/GYN do not have the intricate knowledge of your hormones in the same way that an endocrinologist does. There are some great bioidentical hormones that can be used along with diet, nutrition, and supplements to help balance out your hormones and restore your energy, libido, and nighttime rest.

My fourth tweak is to eat whole, real foods. This means eating fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables with plenty of high-quality protein. During menopause, a woman’s need for more protein increases, so make sure you have 20 grams of protein at every meal. Some good options are eggs, chicken, turkey, salmon, nuts, lentils, beans, tofu, quinoa, tempeh, hemp, and chia seeds. Beef and pork are fine in moderation. Aim to fill ½ of your plate with colorful (think rainbow colors) fruits and veggies at every meal along with a full serving of protein (it should fit into the palm of your hand).

My final tweak is to make sure you are protecting your adrenals. These important organs are located on top of each kidney and are responsible for managing your metabolism, making sex hormones and releasing cortisol (the fight or flight hormone) among many other things. As your ovaries begin to shut down in perimenopause, your adrenal glands take over the production of your sex hormones — estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. If your adrenals are already burned out from a lifestyle of chronic stress, along with too much coffee and sugar, then they are not able to function correctly. You will feel constantly exhausted, suffer from low sex drive, weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and brain fog. So protect your adrenals by cutting back or eliminating all caffeine (coffee, black tea, chocolate, soda), take a methylated B vitamin supplement and find healthy ways to de-stress like walking in nature, taking a warm bath, reading, gardening, meditation or Yin Yoga.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

It is my personal mission to help millions of women around the world reclaim their sleep. Without seven to nine hours of uninterrupted nighttime rest, women in midlife can develop chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and depression.

By teaching through different mediums — my books, my YouTube channel, and my online program, I hope to share my knowledge with women on how to prioritize and achieve nighttime restorative sleep so they can feel healthy, vibrant, and full of energy again.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Self-care is not selfish — The old cliché of putting on your own oxygen mask first before helping others is truly the best advice. Take care of yourself first.
Delegate tasks to make more time for yourself — Delegating items off your daily list is a game changer. When you feel the need to control and monitor all aspects of your work, family, and personal life, you can easily get burned out, overwhelmed and exhausted. Sure, things might not get done exactly as you prefer, but they will get done. Let go of perfection and let others help you so you can have more time to do the things that you enjoy.
Build your community — Loneliness is worse for your health than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Women are biologically wired to live in a connected community. Connecting often with your friends and loved ones is great for your health by naturally lowering your stress level.
Make time to rest — Without proper rest, you cannot be the powerful person you have been put on this planet to be. I am a full-time working mom, so taking time to rest and recharge myself is an important part of practicing what I preach. When I am exhausted and stressed out, every aspect of my life, my family, my health, and my wellness suffer
Develop a spiritual practice — After doing an eight-week intensive coaching program with Marianne Williamson, I realized how deeply I was craving a spiritual practice. Now I start each day with ten minutes of guided meditation, prayer, and gratitude. I also do a meditation in the afternoon before I shift into mommy/family mode. It helps to calm me after working all day and allows me to reconnect with my inner, intuitive voice.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Millions of women deal with mental health issues when they transition into menopause. Insomnia and hormone fluctuations can cause anxiety, panic attacks, depression, isolation, and worry. It is very important to me that women are seen and heard by their doctors and nurse practitioners when they are experiencing menopause symptoms. According to a 2020 Female Founders Fund survey, 32% of women said that they feel their doctor isn’t comfortable talking about menopause, causing them to look elsewhere for support and help. Women in midlife need to have a safe and knowledgeable resource for support.

It is my goal to create a safe place for women to openly discuss, learn, encourage, and support midlife changes in their physical bodies along with their mental and emotional health.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

My website is: www.shawnarobins.com

Instagram: @kaiahealthcoach

Facebook: @kaiahealth

LinkedIn: Shawna McKinley Robins

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLnDmKafEjnFQBivP88wDA

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

Women In Wellness: Shawna Robins of Kaia Health and Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.