Advice

The Upsides of Self-Funding Your Biz, From Eadem Co-Founders Alice Lin Glover and Marie Kouadio Amouzame

For Eadem co-founders Alice Lin Glover and Marie Kouadio Amouzame, the path to getting their inclusive, clean skin-care brand off the ground started with their own pocket books. The duo, who met while working in marketing at Google, had discovered a blank space in the market for clean skin care formulated with melanin-rich skin in mind. It was a gap in the industry they knew intimately as women of color (Amouzame is West African and French, and Glover is Taiwanese-American) and years of searching for products that never quite suited their unique needs. Soon after, the idea for Eadem was born. Then came the daunting task of securing cash flow.

The pair decided early on that venture capitalists were off the table. “I’m not sure the venture community was ready for us and interested in our vision,” says Glover, who together with Amouzame, launched Eadem in 2021 with a dark-spot serum designed with its proprietary “Smart Melanin Beauty” formulas made by women of color, for women of color.  “We didn’t want to compromise what we were trying to build.”

Venture Capital, otherwise known as VC funding, is a private equity investor that provides capital for startups or small businesses in exchange for an equity stake in the company. The biggest benefit is undoubtedly having the financial anchor to boost your business, but it doesn’t come without compromise. In other words, there’s another cook in the kitchen when making business decisions that impact revenue. The reality is that less than one percent of startups raise venture capital, reports financial resource platform Fundera.

Most entrepreneurs end up financing through good old-fashioned bootstrapping. Nearly 70 percent of small businesses rely on personal savings to finance their business, according to a recent survey by the MetLife and U.S. Chamber Small Business Index. 

“I know VC funding is so sexy and everyone wants that headline and it’s so important to them, but how much of your company, or yourself, are you selling in exchange for that?” asks Glover. Self-funding grants you the opportunity to have more flexibility, control, focus on long-term growth, and more authenticity in your decisions. Since launch, Eadem has skyrocketed to success and is now on the shelves of Sephora.

However, bootstrapping does come with its own unique challenges (including not always seeing a paycheck right away). “It’s both a curse and a blessing,” admits Azouame. “You see all these other brands that launch the same day, if not the same week as you, and they have $2–$3 million, and can do all these things like get employees and run ads, and everything looks so beautiful. Then on our end, it’s just the two of us doing everything.” 

While it can be stressful, Azouame attests that self-funding forces you to be creative with your money, who you’re going to work with, how to convince people to take a chance on you, and in so many other ways. 

“I think that [bootstrapping] is one of the best ways to learn, even after having worked in tech,” she says. “We learned so much in the first two years by being self-funded.”

The pair acknowledges that self-funding may not be for everyone, but attest that sometimes it’s just about taking that blind leap of faith. 

Tune into the latest episode of WorkParty to uncover how the founders launched their business to success, what the beauty industry can do to be more inclusive, and why brand storytelling is so important.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2nyZrvLa1PyNYRkVEgfis6?si=6Q9cMOHATH6TB6Xvine1yw

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How to Build a Portfolio Career With CEO and Selling Sunset Star, Emma Hernan

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ABOUT THE EPISODE

Live from our 2022 Small Business Summit event, CEO and Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan joins Bunita Sawhney Executive Vice President of US Financial Institutions at Mastercard for a fireside chat about what it takes to build a portfolio career. While you may know her from the hit Netflix show, you may not realize that Emma Hernan is someone whose business savvy goes far beyond what's depicted on the silver screen. As a self-made multimillionaire, Emma is not only a realtor at one of Los Angeles' top agencies, The Oppenheim Group, but she's also an entrepreneur and CEO of Emma Leigh & Co, as well as an angel investor. In other words, her plate is very full.

It's clear that she loves the work she does, and her drive and passion to help other female entrepreneurs grow and succeed is evident from the moment you meet her. We're lucky that she's here today to share tips on how to vary the types of work that you're doing, what investors are looking for, and how to persist with founding a business even when you come up against obstacles. (Plus, she might even spill a little Selling Sunset tea!)

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE

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How One Woman Used TikTok To Land a Job Promotion 

This Black-Owned Company’s CEO Is Disrupting The Beauty Industry

Pietra COO, Tala Akhavan on Balancing Work, Motherhood, and Access to Female Entrepreneurship 

Using Technology to Drive Social Impact with AllVoices Founder, Claire Schmidt 

Live from Austin Pop-Up: How to Define Goals and Rise to Your Potential with Payal Kadakia, Founder of ClassPass and Author of LifePass

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How One PR Agency Founder Uses Mentorship Tactics To Get the Best Results for Her Clients

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Working in public relations has been one of the most fulfilling experiences for me. I started my career almost 11 years ago, and I have to say, I’m not the same person I was back then. Not only have I grown as an individual, but also as a business entrepreneur, picking up knowledge along the way.

In the first eight years of my career, I worked for a notable PR agency based out of New York City. It was there that I was inspired to launch my own agency, as my passion for helping and amplifying small businesses, specifically BIPOC-owned ones, grew. I saw the need for these businesses to get as much help and attention as big corporate brands, so I ventured out to start The Bonita Project and do that. 

As I slowly built my client roster, I had the pleasure to work with some of today's most popular Latinx- and Black-owned brands, such as Alamar Cosmetics, Second Wind, Pholk Beauty, Valdé Beauty, and many more. My role as a business entrepreneur and a PR consultant turned me into a mentor of sorts, and I now mentor clients and service their PR needs, while stimulating their growth as individuals and fellow business owners. Here are some of the tactics I used to help my clients achieve success in their own journey.

1. Set shared goals

Upon signing with a new client, set a list of business and personal goals. How do they want to grow their business exposure? How about their mission and image as a new business owner? Let them share their dreams (even if they may seem sky high). Let’s face it, we all have these ambitious dreams for ourselves. 

I always ask new clients what brands they aspire to be like. Who do they follow closely on social media, and what public figure do they see as a role model? We then work on a list of shared goals together, followed by a PR strategy! 

2. Listen and support 

Always lend an ear when they have a question or need advice on something, even if it's not entirely PR related. While we know "time is money," my relationship with my clients isn't always transactional. As a small business owner, I want to make sure they can confide in me and share their ups and downs, and even their work struggles. We usually come to a resolution together, while talking through their feelings.

3. Be their number one cheerleader 

Root for them and share words of encouragement, whether it’s a comment on their social media or a quick text after they’ve finished an interview. There have been many times when clients wrap up an interview, and tell me they did horribly or didn’t feel as confident. Boost their confidence by showing them that you care and plug in some tips for improvement if needed. There is always room for improvement, and our small business clients recognize that. 

4. Set them up for success 

This brings me to my next point. You always want to come prepared and ensure you’re setting your client up for success, while clearing their head of any doubts. You can boost their confidence with media training or practice sessions on how they should handle a press interview. Let the client take notes and you’ll see them improve each time.

5. Challenge them to step out of their comfort zone 

If there's something about me, I constantly challenge our clients with perspective. As the PR and marketing industry continues to evolve, so does today's consumer. And while some brands may be stuck on doing things the traditional way, I usually come in and challenge the client to stir things up a bit. 

My team and I introduce creative ideas, and new influencers and voices to partner with, but sometimes brands will think it's a bit too risky or "not on brand." I usually believe otherwise and give them more context as to why this idea would make sense. Apply the “it doesn't hurt if you don't try it" mentality, and they’ll see the growth. All it takes is being confident in your ideas. You're the expert and more tapped into the industry than the client. 

6. Keep it real 

There will be times when the client says or proposes an idea that doesn’t sit well with you, whether it goes against your values or you don’t think it’ll be well received. Keep it real and tell them what you are thinking. Keeping it real from the beginning will help the bond between you both go further, and grow stronger.

About the author: Danielle Alvarez launched The Bonita Project in 2018, and since its introduction to the industry - she infuses creative, nontraditional ideas while being unapologetically Latinx. The proud Peruvian-American is drawing from her bicultural experience to make sure she keeps breaking barriers between general & multicultural markets.

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How To Get A Culturally Driven Beauty Brand Into Stores With RANAVAT's Founder

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Starting a culturally driven beauty brand as an engineer and scientist is not the path that I thought my career would take me, but it’s the path that has given me so much fulfillment that I could not see my life any other way.

I started RANAVAT with no connections in the beauty industry, driven solely by my passion and mission to see Indian beauty on the most coveted retail shelves in the world. It took a lot of no’s before there was a yes. But with that first yes slowly came more, and I was determined not to stop there.

There are 3 values that I hold dear to my professional (and personal) journeys, and most important in helping me get my product into the beauty aisles. Staying true to these values has never steered me wrong, even in the hardest of times, and relying on them in those hard times is what brings me up time and time again.

1. Find Your Niche

Find what speaks to your strengths. One lesson I’ve learned in this journey is to stay true to yourself. I knew my background was unique for the beauty industry. Having a business acumen and pairing that with ingredient sourcing and formulation experience, mixed with my South Asian identity, gave me the foundation to create and build RANAVAT.

Your identity is your strength. Use all of your experiences to create your space in this world.

2. Set an Example

Growing up in a South Asian household, my parents served as constant inspiration of the hard work and perseverance it takes to build a business. It’s incredibly empowering to see someone like you doing something you want to do, and watching my dad build a business from the basement of our home taught me the value of determination, self-belief, and passion.

I always knew from a young age that I wanted to, someday, start my own company too. Seeing our brand today at top retailers like Sephora and Harrods makes me hopeful for the next generation to be empowered to take on any challenge.

3. Create Your Network

Create and find your own network. I found my first mentors and advisors early on in building RANAVAT. They are my sounding board, my dose of reality, my inspiration, and an ear to listen to my struggles and my wins. I would not be where I am today without their support.

I also have an accountability group of close friends. We share our vision boards with each other in our respective fields, and we hold each other to those ideals. Regular check-ins allow me to not only connect with my friends and help them stay accountable to their visions, but stay accountable to my own visions.

Surround yourself with people who will champion you, challenge you, and support you every step of the way. They will be the ones who bring you up on those struggling days, who champion your wins louder and who provide advice on those difficult decisions.


Today, we are seeing more and more Asian-founded brands breaking norms in the beauty industry. I believe this is just the beginning of this movement. While my generation didn’t have the breadth of representation growing up, we were able to break into industries and challenge the norms.

Consumers crave connection and familiarity and are finding this in culturally driven brands like my own. I see my values represented in our customers and in fellow Asian founders and that gives me confidence that we will continue to see culturally driven beauty brands make their own space in the beauty industry.

About the author: Michelle Ranavat leverages her expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and her background in engineering to create a line of beautiful skin and hair treatments that honor her South Asian heritage. Each formulation is composed of the highest caliber Ayurvedic ingredients for transformative skin and hair care results across all skin and hair types. Distinguished Ayurvedic and adaptogenic cutting-edge actives such as Saffron, Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Manjistha, Amla, and Bakuchi are hand selected for real results. The luxurious collection is proven by science, and rooted in ritual. Founded in 2017, RANAVAT recently launched into Sephora with 8 of their best-selling products. The brand proudly donates 1% of proceeds to Desai Foundation, a non-profit organization in India that empowers women and children through community programs to elevate health and livelihood in India and the U.S.

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3 Content Creators Share How To Land Partnerships With Brands You Love

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Whether you’re exploring the world of being a content creator or you’re already committed to the journey, you’re likely aiming for dream partnerships with brands you love. But it's not all that easy to land them. 

Sure some partnerships are handed out easily, but how much do you believe in those brands? Are you even passionate about what they have to offer? Those are some questions you should be asking yourself before taking on a brand partnership. And if there's a brand you love, a little hard work on your end may just get you the deal.

Here are three content creators from different fields sharing their take on how to land partnerships with brands you love. They know the ropes of creating paid brand deals and they’re dishing it out just for you.

1. Grace Atwood, Lifestyle Content Creator

Gone are the days when creating a perfectly curated grid is the expectation. Most of us want to discover people who feel relatable and real, like Grace Atwood, a lifestyle content creator that has amassed 182,000 followers on Instagram alone by sharing her life and the things that she loves.

Back when Grace started her blog in 2010, it took three years until she landed her first partnership: a campaign with Ugg. “They had me judge a contest (where my blog readers would design and upload their Ugg boots), go to their studio to film a video, and do a couple blog posts. I think I was paid $300. It was so much work but I was over the moon excited. I saved half for taxes and spent the other half on nice sunglasses.” Grace may be landing partnerships with much higher brand investments now, but it took years to get her pricing just right.

Here’s her advice for new content creators: “Start by joining an affiliate platform like LTK or Shopstyle and watch the data like a hawk. The numbers will tell you what your audience likes ... Do more of whatever it is that works. Data is everything in this industry; it's not just about creating pretty photos and videos, you have to be able to back it up with numbers. Use the numbers to build case studies and create a media kit.”

2. Martina Bartolozzi, Travel Content Creator

Meet Martina Bartolozzi, an Italian-American content creator who helps foodies spend their money and time wisely when visiting Italy. She does this by creating custom Thatch maps with chosen recommendations based on personal preferences. It took a while for her to gain traction as she was exploring her niche, but once she found her path, it was only a few months until she received her first paid partnership request.

Martina has a few pointers that she hopes will help you land your first partnership:

  • Focus on building and maintaining a trusting community by offering tons of free, useful content consistently.

  • Keep learning! Continuously invest in developing your skills to be able to provide your best products and services.

  • Only pitch to and only accept collabs with brands that you believe in, and those that offer products and services that you would also use.

  • When pitching, do your research, be concise, and focus on explaining what advantages you can offer to the brand and how your interests are aligned.

  • You don’t wait to have “x” number of followers to start pitching, practice with smaller brands, or better yet, with businesses that already follow you.

3. Cahner Olson, Hyper-Local Content Creator in Omaha

Being a content creator can happen in your own backyard, as Cahner Olson of Omaha Places has proven in a very short amount of time. Omaha Places niche is super informative, engaging content that encourages Omaha residents to go out and explore their own city. 

Reflecting on the timeline of getting local brand deals in Omaha, Cahner approached collaborations for free products or services in her early days of having just 500 followers. Though it was a slow increase in the beginning, she eventually hit it big time.

“The first 6 months I didn't make any income from it. My first paid collab came at month six and was for $60. In month seven I made $140. Month eight was $150, and then month nine it started blowing up and I made ~$2,000. It's been a pretty upward trajectory from there. I was constantly reaching out to brands and pitching myself in the beginning, but as the account has grown and become more well-known in the community, companies are now coming to me first which is pretty cool.”

About the author: Emily Steele is a creative entrepreneur who has built several successful companies and events with the intention of supporting small business owners. Her latest endeavor is supporting communities through hyper-local content creators with her company hummingbirds. Emily loves seeing women in business succeed; connect with her over at www.emilyasteele.com.

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3 Lessons I Learned Throughout Entrepreneurship That Made the Biggest Difference

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Like many things in life, being a business founder, business owner, business creator, whatever you want to call it, is hard. And I learned very quickly that the experience can be really hard on your mental health as well. I left the security and comfort of a consistent income, my potential career trajectory, and my 401(k) contributions to step out into the crazy world of business because I wanted to try to build something worthwhile. So many people questioned my decision to quit my job and thought that perhaps I was going through a phase, and honestly, sometimes so did I. Was I [sure I wanted to do this]?

In addition to dropping my job security, there was the burden and overwhelm of trying to figure out how to actually build my business, Clever Girl Finance, which sometimes felt like the burden of the entire world was on my shoulders. There were also the hideously depressing metrics about business startup failures, which were a constant reminder that I was most likely to fail even when I was making progress. And then there was my imposter syndrome that constantly had me questioning my abilities and doubting myself…

That being said, I’ve learned a few things on my journey that have allowed me to pursue my life as a business owner on my own terms. Things that in turn have helped me manage my mental and emotional health, as well as that annoying imposter syndrome. I want to share those things with you now.

1.  Don’t believe the work-life balance myth

Let’s start with the all-so-popular idea of work–life balance. Umm, yeah, that’s a lie. Work-life balance is a lie. There’s no balance. It’s called making it work, however you make it work. There’s no background music playing over my day showcasing me as the perfect wife, mom, entrepreneur, and Superwoman like you see in the movies. It’s simply me making my life work every day. And in order to make things work, I have learned to prioritize what matters most, put some things on the back burner, and let some things just fall off completely.

Yes, my business is important, but my family is non-negotiable. I delegate a lot (I will not be the bottleneck), and I rely on my amazing team to get work done for my business. Some days I don’t answer calls, reply to emails, check Instagram, or respond to text messages because I want to spend time with my family or because I don’t want to deal with anything or anyone else. Other days I utilize mobile productivity apps on my phone, like the Bank of America app,  to help me multitask when I’m not sitting directly at my desk. I no longer try to be Superwoman or chase the mythical idea of “work-life balance”. I give myself the grace to not be all the things, all the time. 

2. Embrace your emotions

Next up is my mental health. I’ve learned that fully embracing the emotions I’m feeling as opposed to trying to ignore them or push them aside really helps me manage my mental health. Sometimes that means I just need to take that deep sigh and have a good cry. It’s inevitable that you’ll get feedback you hate. Your customers will hate your product. Investors will tell you your business sucks. Friends will think you’re going through a phase. You’ll be too broke to buy that thing you really want, when if you had a “real job” it wouldn’t even be a question. So yes, sometimes, crying is necessary. However, just because it’s okay to cry doesn’t mean you let it become a crux. 

3. Don’t let imposter syndrome get the best of you

And finally: Let’s talk about that damn imposter syndrome, which pops up at the most inconvenient times, making you feel less than good enough, uncapable, and unworthy. It promotes that negative self-talk and self-judgment…I’ve experienced imposter syndrome a ton and let me tell you, it never goes away. It’s always right there, the annoying uninvited guest, rearing its ugly head just before every milestone and every accomplishment. However, I’ve come up with ways to tackle it and minimize its impact in my life. I’ve found that sharing my mindset challenges with my husband, my business advisors, my friends, and my business peers can be incredibly helpful, especially when it comes to reminding me that I’m being totally irrational with those thoughts of feeling less than who I am.

I also started keeping a list of all my business and life accomplishments (no matter how small) because they remind me how far I’ve come and what I’m capable of doing. I wrote down being at my kids’ Kindergarten graduation, and attending their class plays. I’ve written down every media opportunity I’ve had….I wrote down being featured in a dedicated [television] segments. [I wrote down being a] four-time published author. Yes. That was me. Take that, imposter syndrome! I don’t believe your lies. I’ve got the real facts!

The truth is, no amount of preparation can get you totally ready for the rollercoaster that is the business-building journey….It’s all about making it work in the way that works for you, giving yourself the grace to accept that doing your best is enough, and reminding yourself why you’re amazing and more than capable of achieving success.

Excerpted with permission from the publisher, Wiley, from Choosing to Prosper by Bola Sokunbi. Copyright © 2022 by Bola Sokunbi. All rights reserved. This book is available wherever books and eBooks are sold.

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This Career Coach Shares 4 Ways You Can Combat Work-Induced Stress

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Are you one of the 70% of Americans who say they experience work stress, and that work is your number one stressor over family or even financial issues? How to deal with work stress may seem stressful itself. As it is the harmful, physical, and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of your job do not match your capabilities, resources, or needs. In essence, stress sets in when there is a lack of fit between an employee and their work environment.

Work stress eventually results in physical and mental health issues if left unaddressed. In some extreme cases, toxic work stress can ultimately result in traumatic experiences. The most straightforward way to address it is often to find aligned work, but that isn’t always an option for everyone.

If this sounds a bit like what you are currently experiencing, here are four things you can do if you're currently unable (or not ready) to pivot into doing aligned work. 

1. Identify your triggers

Start by clarifying what stress feels like for you so that you're able to identify your triggers. How do you know when you’re stressed? What thoughts do you have? What happens in your body? 

Pay attention to how you feel at work for a week or two. How do you feel physically in your body, emotionally in your heart and mind, and mentally? Then, record any situations, events, and people that lead to you having a negative physical, mental, or emotional response.

During each entry in your records, answer these questions: 

  • Who was involved in the situation?

  • What was your reaction?

  • How did you feel before, during, and after?

After two weeks, evaluate. You might find obvious stressors or patterns, and notice subtle but persistent stress causes such as specific work tasks, interactions with particular people, or an uncomfortable workspace. 

2. Set non-negotiable work boundaries 

The fact is work never ends. There’s always something to do, and if you’re already experiencing stress at work, it’s important that you become very clear and strict about your boundaries. 

I know a lot of times, it can feel uncomfortable to set or establish boundaries. Still, it’s important to remember that you show up better for everybody when you are healthy, whole, and happy. And when you don’t have clear boundaries, you experience more work stress. So you show up as a lesser version of yourself. 

It’s also important to remember that it is your responsibility to hold your boundaries and not other people’s. People will always try to push your boundaries; your job is to ensure they are not successful. 

Whether it’s boundaries around work hours, communication, the tasks you take on, or whatever that looks like for you, identify where you are experiencing stress at work and set clear boundaries for yourself, and those around you.

3. Adopt strong conflict resolution practices

Another major cause of work stress is the relationships and interactions we have at work, with colleagues and managers. If after identifying your triggers, you notice that your work stress is mostly coming from relationships, then it might be time to evaluate your communication practices.  

Do you speak up when you feel like your values have been violated? Do you speak up when your boundaries have been violated? Lastly, do you advocate for yourself? If you’re not doing any of these things, they might lead to conflict and thus causing you to experience work stress. In this case, you’re going to want to develop clear conflict resolution and communication skills that allow you to advocate for yourself.

Here’s a simple process to follow to help you address workplace conflict:

  • Identify what exactly the conflict is.

  • Meet with the source of your conflict.

  • Communicate the situation (and remember, communication involves talking and listening).

  • Identify a solution.

  • Enforce the solution. (see no. 2 above)

4. Be proactive with your restoration practices.

When you’ve been in a work situation that has been stressful for an extended period, there’s a high chance that your stress response systems are overwhelmed. And when your stress response systems are overwhelmed, that’s when trauma sets in, along with your ability to cope goes out the window. 

If you’ve been experiencing chronic toxic stress that your body hasn’t been able to manage well, your brain changes on a fundamental level. It changes how you interact and see the world, and collapses the time between event and reaction in your life. You might find yourself “overreacting” to certain situations at work, or getting stressed quicker and more intensely than you’d expect.

Mindfulness can help you rewire your responses and interaction with the world. It can help you feel psychologically safe and perceive the world as is, and not through your stress lens. Note that mindfulness is not a treatment for clinical trauma but simply a coping strategy you can use to navigate work stress. If you’ve been experiencing chronic work stress for years, an important component of your healing is going to be therapy.

On a final note, at some point, it’s no longer about stress management, or about coping strategies and preventing stress. If you’re doing unaligned work, you will experience stress and there’s nothing you can do about it. It might be time for you to start making your exit plan and finding something else to do. 

If you're looking for a sign, here's four to look out for that say it might be time for you to find a new job.

  • You dread the work you do.

  • Your energy is drained.

  • Your physical and mental health is being impacted.

  • You’re not growing professionally.

  • You make “enough” money and are still unhappy at work.

About the author:

Dr. Tega Edwin (pronounced tay-gah) is an award-winning career development educator, researcher, and speaker. She is the owner of Her Career Doctor, where she coaches women who are unhappy at work to exit soul-sucking jobs and find a fulfilling career that allows them to thrive in their zone of genius, live on purpose, and get paid a value-aligned salary. She developed the VISA Career Clarity Framework that has helped women across four continents in over 20 industries clarify their aligned career paths.

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Former Harvard Meditation Advisor Shares Steps On How Entrepreneurs Can Overcome Doubt

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Doubt: It’s one of those one-syllable feelings that can feel catastrophic as an entrepreneur. About four in ten newbies and business owners experience this all-too-common emotion, but its ubiquity doesn’t make it any less challenging. According to former Harvard Meditation Advisor Kassi Underwood, the present moment has a lot to offer uncertain entrepreneurs—even if, in this very moment, it’s hard for you to believe that sitting with your doubt is the way to go. 

An author, podcaster, and entrepreneur, who holds a Masters of Divinity from Harvard, has come against her fair share of self-questioning. Below, she offers her perspective on what doubt actually is, why it may manifest more often for women and non-binary entrepreneurs, and what to do when you find yourself in the grips of this emotion. 

So, what is doubt? And why does it run more rampant among women entrepreneurs

Underwood has a simple definition: “Doubt is fear. It’s that simple,” she says. “A lot of things that we label with more complex terms are just fear. Guilt is fear. Doubt is fear. Doubt is, 'I don't know if I can do that,' which is another way of saying, 'I'm afraid I can't do this. I'm afraid.'” Mic drop, right? 

Understandably, this doubt (aka fear) doesn’t target all people equally. Women and non-binary entrepreneurs—and particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) —are up against discrimination that makes the fear more readily available. Since women-founded startups receive just 2.3 percent of venture funding and the funding gap is even bleaker for founders of color, it makes sense that you may constantly be asking yourself questions like, “Can I do this?” and “Are the steps I’m taking leading me toward success?”

What’s more, as women, we may be more likely to question our leadership skills in the C-suite. “Those of us who grew up as girls are programmed with the beliefs that we should be quiet, or we're going to come across as bossy or rude or demanding,” Underwood says. “We're taught that we're not supposed to care about money, or that if we do that, we're a gold digger or we're too masculine. There are so many insults that come with being a female entrepreneur.” If any of this sounds familiar, know that your experience is normal (which is not to say it’s acceptable or fair that you have to deal with it.) 

Over time, systematic change like more funding going to women entrepreneurs will hopefully take the burden of doubt off all of our shoulders (or, okay, at least lighten the load). In the meantime, however, Underwood has five steps to help you approach doubt with mindfulness. So go ahead: Plug into the present moment. 

1. Meditate (for one minute!) in the morning to reduce your overall quantity of fear triggers

No surprise here! Diffusing doubt doesn’t start the moment you begin to feel uncertain; it starts the second you open your eyes. If meditating for 20 minutes feels daunting to you, never fear. Underwood has designed a one-minute, daily meditation that you can do in the morning to head off doubt before the day has even begun, so you have less “Ahhh!” moments later in the day. 

2. Identify and put words to your fear

“If a fear comes up, first of all, identify what you’re afraid of in the moment. Like, ‘I'm afraid that I'm going to send this email, and they're going to say no,’” Underwood shares. Once you’ve taken a pulse on what it is that has your heart racing, you can start working through it, which leads us to…

3. Identify the “lie you’re telling yourself”

“In fear, there's always a lie that I'm telling myself,” Underwood says. “One of the most prominent lies that women tell ourselves is, 'I can't handle that. If this goes to shit, I won't know what to do next.' And, of course, that's not true. You're gonna figure it out like you're a badass woman and you're gonna know in the moment, what to do next, but you can't solve a problem that's not even happening.”

Find your lie. 

4. Write out the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario

Now that you’re holding your fear in one hand and your lie in the other, you’re ready to plan. “The next thing to write down is, 'how would I handle the worst case scenario with courage? What's that look like?' And then what's the best case scenario? What news do I want to create for myself, my life, and life in general?”, says Underwood. 

For example, if the worst-case scenario is that you lose a client, the best-case scenario may be that you now have an open slot for a cool new client that aligns with your values. Bam. 

5. Keep the fruits of this exercise nearby

“You can put some of those lines up on your fridge or in your office,” Underwood advices. “They will start inspiring you and help you cut through those moments of doubt. So you'll be in doubt, but you have already done the exercise. You're like, ‘Oh, right. I don't believe that anymore. Like I actually can handle this. Even if the bad sh*t happens, I can handle it.” You absolutely can!

Written by Kells McPhillips

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4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start a Business

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Last year, a record-breaking 5.4 million people filed to form new businesses in the United States. The entrepreneurial spirit is clearly in the air, and that’s never been more evident than when we gathered creators, CEOS, and entre-precurious folks from all different backgrounds together at our LA conference last month.

In one chat, aptly named “So You Want To Start a Business,” four powerhouse business women served up their best advice for starting, funding, and growing a new business. Those panelists were…ready? Roll call: 

•Bola Sokunbi | Founder & CEO, Clever Girl Finance
•Chelsea Clarke | Founder, HerPaperRoute
•Kayla Gonzalez | SVP, West Merchant Region Executive, Bank of America
•Natalie Cofield | Assistant Administrator, SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership
As well as our moderator, Ginger Seigel | North American Small Business Lead, Mastercard

As you can probably imagine, the four of them had plenty of wisdom to share with anyone who’s in the “Should I?” stage of launching a business endeavor. And luckily, we’ve collected that knowledge and put it into a checklist below to help you decide whether your idea is ready for take-off. 

1. Does my business have the qualities of a great (and lucrative) business idea? 

Once the initial jolt of “OMG, I have an idea!” passes, you’ll need to determine whether or not your business holds water. In her role at Bank of America, Gonzalez has done her fair share of mentoring founders—something that you can tell is incredibly rewarding for her.

“Small businesses are so exciting!” she shared on stage. “There’s so much passion that comes from small business owners. Every time I get the opportunity to go in and visit a small business at their place of business, it’s exciting. The pride is coming off those small business owners and there’s nothing more rewarding.” 

The most important thing to consider before you start, says Gonzalez, is ambition. “We talk about COVID-19 and what just happened there, and it was hard for a lot of our business owners,” she says. “You really have to have that ambition, that excitement for what you do each and every day regardless of what’s going on around you.”

The other key ingredient? A plan! Gonzalez explains you need to do your research on your business: Who is your competition? What is the scope of business? Where are you going to be most successful? What is your plan for success? While so much goes into a great idea, if you can lock in your ambition and know your business like the back of your hand, you’re off to a great start.

2. Am I owning and evolving my relationship with money?  

Sokunbi, whose business Clever Girl Finance provides resources and support for financial freedom, has made her fair share of money mistakes. While she’s been super transparent about her own personal experience, she notes one common financial gaffe she sees tons of new founders make. 

“We let our mistakes push us into a corner where we start to feel embarrassed or disappointed, but we want to own those mistakes because these mistakes are opportunities for us to assess what went wrong, what we didn’t like, and how to position ourselves next time,” she says. After that, you're ready to toss that mistake in the trash and keep the lessons close to you. 

3. Does my business story stand out? 

As a business owner, you’re going to tell your story a lot. Just think about how many times you’ve heard the origin story of Steve Jobs working out of his parents’ garage. Developing a narrative for yourself and a business takes some workshopping, but don’t worry: Gonzalez shares the secret sauce.

“Your passion needs to radiate so everyone feels it,” she says. “It’s not just what you’re doing, but it’s how you’re going to make it different. Everyone can have the exact same idea, but it’s you that will make the difference about whether that idea can be successful.” In case you’re looking for a recipe, personal passion plus a killer business idea equals a compelling business story.  

4. Do I have my banking in check?

Getting your finances in order is an essential step towards feeling confident and competent, while you bring your idea to fruition. That’s why it’s important to get all your financial ducks in a row, and Bank of America’s small business platform can help you set up the tools you need—like checking accounts and company credit cards. Book an appointment with a banker to discuss your unique needs and your specialist can provide advice and guidance that you need to make a plan for your business.

Sokunbi recommends checking out the Small Business Administration (SBA) website for resources on funding, licensing, and learning as your business begins to germinate. And remember: The team at Create & Cultivate is here for you too!

Grab a glass of vino and watch the full playback of the panel here.