The Sparkle of Success

Image Source: Forbes

Her first business failed. She was pregnant and on doctor’s ordered bedrest. The circumstances did not hint at the success that was to come if only approached with passion, grit and determination. Kendra Scott refused to let past failures or current obstacles shape her future. Instead, she gleaned the lessons she could from any trials and used them as seeds of knowledge in her new venture. 

Image Source: Thrive Global

Confined to her bed during her first pregnancy, Kendra used the time to act on a long held passion of jewelry making. After having her first child in 2002, Kendra hit the pavement with her toddler in tow to convince local Austin, TX boutiques to carry her handmade jewelry. Business thrived, that is until the financial crisis hit in 2009. 

As sales plummeted by 40% and the boutiques carrying her jewelry closed their doors, Kendra had a choice. She could have either accepted the downfall as the end of her dream, or as an opportunity to evolve and continue pressing forward. Thankfully, she chose to continue moving forward. 

Kendra Scott flagship store exterior and interior. Image Source: Kendrascott.com

Girls Who Run the World

Who runs the world? GIRLS. 

Beyonce confirmed this fact in her 2011 song and author Diana Kapp proves this again in her recent book, “31 CEOs Who Mean Business: Girls Who Run the World.” With colorful illustrations from Bijou Karman and insightful writing from Diana, the book introduces readers to 31 women changing the face of business. 

Jenn Hyman from Rent the Runway

With women from industries that include fashion, food, science, technology and companies like Stitch Fix, Spanx and Farmgirl Flowers, the profiles are presented in a relatable and insightful story format. Readers get to know more about these amazing women through a question and answer section, before diving into stories of starting up, floundering and find their way to success. 

Power Moves

Taylor Swift and Stella McCartney working on the 2019 Taylor Swift x Stella McCartney fashion collaboration via Hollywood Reporter 

For generations, women have worked hard to lay the foundation for life as we know it today. They fought for the right to vote, drive cars, get an education and take on powerful roles in the workplace. 

However, even as the year 2020 kicks off, gender inequality still exists. American women earn $0.79 to every man’s $1 according to CNBC. But the issue is not just in the numbers and paychecks, it’s often in our words and mindsets. 

Image via Pop Crave
Taylor Swift takes on the topic in her song, “The Man.” In it, she imagines how she would be treated and what people would say about her if she was a man instead of a woman.

“They’d say I hustled

Put in the work

They wouldn’t shake their heads 

and question how much of this I deserve”