The chief executive of Glamsquad, one of the largest appbased beauty providers, and Cofounder of Glit sat down to reveal how her past influenced her strive for success and how young women can get ahead in the business world.
THE EARLY SIGNS OF AN ENTREPRENEUR IN THE MAKING…
I always had an entrepreneurial nature. I ran a lemonade stand as a young girl, and if someone said they liked the bracelet I was wearing, I would try to sell it to them. I discovered at a young age that selling something was fun for me. After business school, I worked on the sales floor at Louis Vuitton, and that’s when I recognized that I could sell anything. I try not to take no for an answer. If someone says maybe, that’s a maybe, and if someone says no, that’s also a maybe.
THE WOMAN WHO INFLUENCED IT ALL…
My mother has always been very supportive and involved in my education and career path. I think it always begins with family. As a child, my mother made shopping like a treasure hunt to find luxury brands. I remember finding a Prada skirt for $50 at the original Boston Filene’s Basement when I was young and getting so excited. This became a foundation for both Gilt and GLAMSQUAD I thought if we could sell affordable luxury fashion and makeover services, that to me was success.
LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE A MISTAKE WITH GRACE…
Growing up, I was passionate about the piano and it was a huge part of my life. Through playing competitively at the Manhattan School of Music, I learned a fair share about handling mistakes. In a completely silent room filled with people, I learned how to rebound if I hit a wrong note, how to keep my composure, avoid distractions and how to finish the piece and take a bow. In the startup world, mistakes are bound to happen and you have to be able to think quickly to bounce back and recalibrate. You can’t lose momentum and allow your hesitations to distract you from the end goal.
“THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THE THRILL OF STARTUP, EVERY DAY IS HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT…”
I’ve become comfortable with unpredictability. In startups, it’s impossible to control all elements at all times and you never know what’s going to work for sure. Everyday is an adventure that challenges you in ways you could never expect. You need to be able to troubleshoot at a moment’s notice, be as innovative as possible and can never be complacent.
FOR ALL THE YOUNG FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS OUT THERE…
Keep on networking! Building and sustaining relationships helps your business infinitely. It is critically important to find those people that can help improve your chances of success. Keep in touch and do acts of kindness for other people without expecting something in return. There are going to be moments in your career where you’ll need to ask for help and if you’ve laid the groundwork, you’ll have those contacts to reach out to when you need them most.
GLOBAL INDUSTRIES TO KEEP AN EYE ON…
The tech industry continues to diversify and women are finding success, whether it’s on the coding and engineering side or something more like what I do, with coming up with innovative concepts that take advantage of technology.
