New York + New Friends

Over the past 7 months of developing Habelo, I’m constantly BOTH learning (new challenge in a rapidly evolving industry) AND leveraging my career experiences from leading and partnering with great companies to build brands.

So far, my journey with Habelo has included (in this relative order):

1. Identifying a meaningful problem or challenge that exists, and an opportunity to help solve and create value;
2. Empathizing with the others and understanding the market opportunity (how broadly felt is that problem… and what “size of the prize”) for that shared challenge;
3. Developing a business case, and defining the risks and requirements for success;
4. Defining the brand/brand strategy (purpose, mission, identity, story, etc.) and the impact that I hope to have on the “greater good” and in peoples’ lives;
5. Distilling “what needs to be true” to create the impact and address the challenge;
6. Designing the solution(s) and creating the product (or products/services);
7. Beginning to develop deep, authentic relationships with an audience — empathizing, listening, and committing to help them;
8. Building a powerful story… planning a launch strategy… etc., etc. (more to come)

I’m making strong progress + loving the process of creating this brand and learning along the way.

Related, last week, I spent a day in New York at an event hosted by Consensus Advisors for start-up founders at different stages of their respective journeys and leaders in the investment community. My friend, Tara Foley, a friend and accomplished leader in beauty, invited me, as an early-stage founder.

The event was great. There are plenty of quotes and sayings about the power of “surrounding yourself” with inspiring, smart, good, kind people to shape and lift life’s journey. So true. And last week was a chance to do that. I was able to (1) meet incredibly talented creators and founders, and (2) learn what’s worked, not worked, what they’ve learned and what they wish they’d known.

I’m so grateful for the time, advice, and insights shared so far + the wonderful founders and leaders that I met (and friends that I saw again) in New York.

Some of the leaders (and some friends) that I met and the brands that they’ve founded:

Jana Blankenship, Founder, and Bernadette Hitt, COO, of Captain Blankenship (try Sea Salt Spray!) 

Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, Founder of Rose Ingleton MD (try SuperFruit Brightening Cleanser!)

Nyakio Grieco, Founder of Relevant and Thirteen Lune (try 13 Stems!)

Kate Foster, CEO and Co-Founder of The Outset (try Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum!

Diarrha Ndiaya, Founder of Ami Cole (try Lip Treatment Oil!)

Courtney Somer, Founder of Lake & Skye (try 11:11 – amazing!)

Liz Whitman, Founder of Exponent (try Brightening Boost Vitamin C Serum!)

Stephanie Zheng, Founder of Mount Lai (try The Vitality Qi LED Gua Sha Device!)

And amazing long-time friends that I got to see again:

Will Willis and Dave Willis, Founders of Bully Boy Distillers (and my life-long friends), who have incredible bottles across the the board and an amazing tasting room in Boston

Matt Jacobs, Co-Founder of Pedestrian Project (try Cracked Heel Repair!)

Cheers.