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Female Founders: Terri Vinson of Synergie Skin On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

…Trusting that little voice in your head — I have an ability, which I believe most women have, in trusting your gut instincts: when to choose that new active ingredient, when to buy that new mixing machine, when to buy my new premises, when to launch a new product. I always say to my team that I just ‘have a feeling’ I need to launch that new product now, and nine times out of ten the timing is right.

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

Terri Vinson is a biological scientist and cosmetic chemist who is on a mission to help people feel empowered, informed, and confident when it comes to the health and vitality of their skin. As a scientist and the Founder/Formulator of Australian skincare brand, Synergie Skin, she creates products with evidence-based actives, all in accordance with her trademarked ‘Clean Science’ philosophy of harnessing the best of laboratory-based science and nature, minus the dubious ingredients. Having built her business from the ground up, she has worked tirelessly to create safe and ethical products aimed to protect, change, and nurture the skin for long-term results and optimal dermal health.

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?

Growing up I always had a passion for science so naturally this led me to complete a science degree. I considered pursuing a career in immunology research, but I couldn’t shake my second passion: educating people! I decided to do a post-graduate diploma in teaching secondary school science.

I began my career in my twenties as a secondary science teacher but shortly after realized it wasn’t the right fit for me so moved on to continue my work in science within the skincare industry. I have always had a passion for the science behind beauty and felt the skincare industry was missing two key components:

  1. Empowering consumers with the scientific understanding of their products.
  2. Creating products that did what they said they’d do!

It wasn’t until my forties that I took a leap of faith, emptied my emergency savings, and opened a start-up skin clinic in Melbourne, Australia.

One day while waiting in a cafe for my daughter to come out of a movie theatre, I had a sudden urge to brainstorm, so I began writing out what I could uniquely offer within aesthetics industry. I am a cosmetic chemist, I understand ingredient technology, the skincare needs of women, I am an advocate for clean science (I know the benefits of using both clean and scientifically backed ingredients), and I can take a formulation from inception to shelf. This list gave me a dose of confidence and I became even more determined.

I also came to realize there was a significant gap in the aesthetics market for highly effective, evidence-based active products that were also free of ‘questionable’ ingredients. With my background in biological science and cosmetic chemistry, knowledge of formulating, and a passion for the effect of topical ingredients on the skin cells, Synergie Skin was born with a clean science philosophy at the heart of my business.

During the GFC around 2008, many of my clients could not afford to come to my clinic for treatments, but they always came back for the products I had formulated. This was a light bulb moment for me. I should focus on my ability to formulate and close the clinic. It was then that I gave away my data base to another local skin clinic (good karma I thought!), sold my laser machine, wished my beauty therapists well in their new endeavours and opened my formulating lab in Burwood Melbourne. I was now focused solely on creating products and doing what I was truly meant to do. Everything headed north from that point!

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

I never intended to take my business internationally so early in Synergie Skin’s growth. However, I was introduced to an amazing businesswoman in Hong Kong who shared my passions for science based, clean and effective products. She had just opened her own skin care shop in the Hong Kong CBD area and began with just a couple of my products. Erica is a real mover and shaker in Hong Kong and customers followed her opinions on what works in the aesthetics industry. She was really a pioneer influencer ahead of her time and I knew that she was going to be a leading force and a Synergie Skin advocate. Our businesses grew in parallel and so did our friendship. I am proud to say that she now has multiple outlets in Hong Kong, stocks almost every product I create, and is now Synergie Skin’s biggest single client. I learned to trust my instincts and nurture relationships with like-minded individuals. We are like sisters across the oceans!

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?

I decided in Synergie Skin’s third year that it would be a great idea to formulate a perfume that was free of artificial fragrance and phthalates. I had experience in formulating with essential oils and really wanted to create something special. I must have spent the best part of 6 months in the lab and thousands of dollars on raw ingredients (that was a lot back then). I created my fragrance and called it Keala and had a big launch in New South Wales. We used the same distribution channels as we did for our skin care products, skin clinic and salons. Whilst our stockists liked the sweet floral and woody base notes, their clients were seeing them for their skin and not to by perfume. Needless to say, Keala was a royal disaster and all I had to show for it was an overstock of empty perfume bottles in our warehouse.

Lesson learned… when entering a new sector, stick to what you know and a market you truly understand!

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?

One of my close friends asked if she could retail my small range from my Camberwell clinic when I first began Synergie Skin. I had no idea about wholesaling and only felt comfortable selling at my clinic, but something inside me said, ‘Let’s do it!’ It was one on the best decisions I ever made as it was the springboard to then take my range around Australia and later around the world. Incidentally, she is still my dear friend and is my biggest account in North Queensland to this day.

In terms of success along the way I really have to mention my amazing team at Synergie Skin.

It took a lot for me ‘let go’ of certain elements of the business and to purely manage them instead. I was so used to doing everything independently and from scratch. One of my greatest pieces of advice is hire people who are experts in what they do and have a higher skill level than you. A good leader knows when to delegate and how to best leverage their time.
The busier we became the more I knew that I had to invest my time where my strengths lay, in the big picture stuff and in formulating. I built a team around my weaknesses so that we could perfectly complement one another. It has been incredibly rewarding to let go, trust in my team, and observe how the business has evolved and thrived over time.

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 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?

There is great risk in starting your own business and the majority of time spent raising a family still often falls on women. The reasons for the entrepreneurial gap are complex and can range from the cultural stigma of work versus domestic roles, to lower appetite for risk-taking due to lack of support, lack of confidence, or challenges with financial viability.

I was a late bloomer as a business owner. I didn’t start my own business until my 40s after I’d had my two children. Fortunately, this was something I was able to do with my own money. It is so important for women to be financially independent.

I started Synergie Skin with only $40,000 in savings. I thought, “I’m going to start up my own skin clinic, conduct skin consultations and create products that actually work for my clients.” I knew there was a huge gap in the market for what I could offer, and I had the self-confidence and drive to really pursue my passion. With these savings (I used to call this my ‘running away money’), I rented space in Melbourne, did a budget fit out of the skin clinic, called Skinformation, and started my first business. This was the birthplace of Synergie Skin.

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?

  • Become an advocate for other women in business and really support each other through any channels you can: social media, networking or just word of mouth.
  • Join female-networking groups. I am a member of Business Chicks Australia (there is also a branch in the US). I have made great business connections and friends through this group.
  • Become an advocate or mentor of young women in your industry
  • I have personally been involved in giving presentations to college and university science students to inspire them to pursue careers like mine
  • Be aware of the gender gap and create a safe and nurturing working culture for all
  • Offer flexibility for team members especially for working mothers
  • Encourage your team members to challenge, grow and learn in their role and give them the confidence to fly.
  • Give back by supporting smaller female-founded businesses in your everyday shopping and lifestyle choices

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?

I need to be careful here, but here goes…

  • Female founders have so much to offer. Our brains really are wired differently, and I think we have a greater ability to walk in the shoes of others and negotiate the best outcomes for both parties.
  • Women are often more motivated by passion than dollars and this trait will, in my opinion, lead to true success in life.
  • So many products and services cater to the needs of women, so it just makes sense that the founders of these types of businesses are women. I can’t imagine Synergie Skin being formulated and founded by a man… sorry fellas ?

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

Myth 1/ Founders can sit back and watch the dollars roll in

It’s true that the ability to delegate means that you are less involved with the minutia of the business. Being your own boss offers far greater flexibility in working hours but my passion for my business means that I am ‘on’ 24/7. I have never resented my workload, but I am also mindful that I need to balance my love of business with my loved ones.

Myth 2/ Founders lead a glamourous life

It’s certainly not always glamorous. Almost every day I have to wear many hats being pulled in many directions to work on the best outcomes for my business, my team, and my customers. There are sacrifices to your social and family life, but also great rewards in the long run as your business grows.

Myth 3/ All founders on skincare brands are also the formulators

This myth really bothers me as so many founders ‘imply’ they are very involved in creating the formulas. I have done the hard yards of study science and cosmetic chemistry and I know how to create a product from inception to shelf. You not only need to understand how the active ingredients work but you also need to understand all the other supportive ingredients, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, and how they work in the final formula. Many skin care founders are not cometic chemists. They are concept developers who convey their ideas to cosmetic chemists. I have no problem with concept developers being founders, just be honest about the level of input you have on the final formula.

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?

  • Passion over money. The faster you chase money the faster it runs away from you.
  • Grit and a ‘never give up’ attitude. Problems should be seen as solutions waiting to be uncovered.
  • Tenacity and wanting to always find a way to solve the challenges you face.
  • Seeing the big picture and not getting too bogged down in detail.
  • Understanding that you bear all the responsibility, no matter what happens.
  • Ability to take financial risk.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are the “Five Things You Need to Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder?” (Please share a story or example for each.)

  1. Find your mark on this earth and calling in life and turn it into a business — When I was 12, I accidentally discovered that I was adopted and while I still had a wonderful relationship with my adoptive mum and dad, I felt a void in not having real roots and genetic links. This may not be the same for every adoptee, but I feel like being adopted can leave someone feeling a little misplaced in the world, and that was certainly true for me. This gave me a uniquely strong drive to ‘make my mark on this earth’
  2. Fight For Your Self-Confidence — I think it’s fair to say that as women we have this constant image of what ‘perfect’ should look like. Often, if we don’t feel like we fit that mold society has put on us, it can be deflating and impact our self-confidence. During my childhood I didn’t shed the ‘puppy pounds’ as quickly as the other kids and was often teased because of my chubby and dowdy appearance. Over a school Christmas break I picked up some basic skincare and nutritional info from an Australian teenage magazine called ‘Dolly’. There was a shift in my appearance but more importantly, I noticed a change in how I felt about myself. I made a concerted effort to feel good in my skin, for myself and not for the approval of others. It was funny how these small changes shifted how others treated me. The same girls who used to tease me suddenly no longer thought of me as a ‘misfit’. And while they may have seen a physical change in my appearance the real change was in my confidence. I truly felt so good in my own skin and better about myself. That’s one of the big drivers in developing Synergie Skin. It’s as much about unleashing inner confidence as the external changes that skincare can bring.
  3. Even in the darkest times, never give up on your calling — It takes true grit to navigate not only your entrepreneurial journey but personal as well. I am not alone in hitting rough patches in my life. During a particular trying time my son said to me “Mum, you’re a creator, and the greatest art comes from the darkest times.” I reframed my thinking and instead of giving up, I realized these challenging times have given me the jump start I needed to do a reset and get on with pursuing my dreams. That’s what you must do as an entrepreneur: pick yourself up and keep going.
  4. Trusting that little voice in your head — I have an ability, which I believe most women have, in trusting your gut instincts: when to choose that new active ingredient, when to buy that new mixing machine, when to buy my new premises, when to launch a new product. I always say to my team that I just ‘have a feeling’ I need to launch that new product now, and nine times out of ten the timing is right.
  5. Love your mistakes — my mistakes are my best friends and my best teachers. I never get upset with my team members for making a mistake. In fact, I encourage them to have the courage to make them and own them too. You need to challenge yourself to make more mistakes, or you’ll never learn and grow from them.

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

When I was a skincare start-up business almost 20 years ago, I vowed that if I ever became the leader of a team, I would encourage more young people to pursue careers in science. These days, I make sure I get involved with schools and universities to give talks on being a female founder, skincare expert, and a woman in science/ STEM.

I was once that awkward schoolgirl who spent hours a week pouring over chemistry and biology books but was often urged to focus on other subjects. I refused to wear the ‘women don’t do science’ badge of the 70s! Thankfully, my incredible dad and inspirational biology teacher encouraged and supported me in pursuing my passion for science.

This is why I am so passionate about educating young women and showing them that a career in science certainly isn’t boring! To any young person out there who wants to follow a path in science, I say unleash your inner nerd and go for it!

Within my business, I have always made a point of recruiting my team based on skills and personality fit within our work culture. I am fortunate that the beauty industry naturally attracts more females. This rings true across all departments of my business with over 80% of leadership roles in my business being driven by women.

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.

In terms of what I can directly impact with my ability to formulate, it would be to wear sunscreen daily. It’s never too early or too late to start wearing sunscreen and it’s the most important thing you can do for your skin health. I always say if you can only choose one skincare product, make sure it’s sunscreen. Wearing a good quality sunscreen, and my preference is physical sunscreen with Zinc oxide, is not only your insurance policy against ageing, but it can save so many from dangerous solar radiation damage and skin cancer.

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.

Oprah Winfrey

When a public sway of opinion is called ‘the Oprah effect’, you know the woman has high influential currency. What I love about Oprah is her open and giving spirit. Her respect from others has grown not from exertion of power, but from her integrity and vulnerability.

I used to watch ‘Oprah’ while I was breastfeeding my babies over twenty years ago. Being a stay-at-home mum for the first few years of my children’s lives was a wonderful experience but, after leaving a dynamic full-time career, it was a huge culture shock and challenged my perceived identity as a career woman. I remember Oprah’s inspirational gems reminding me each day of my influence and confidence as a woman and a mother.

A quote from her has always stuck with me: “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”

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

Female Founders: Terri Vinson of Synergie Skin 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.