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WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
The Surprising Secret of Success
Conventional wisdom warns not to mix business with pleasure. But these BFFs ignored that advice, and their companies—and friendships!—are stronger because of it. Here, what you can learn about blurring the lines.
Female entrepreneurs, it seems, are taking over the business world. And perhaps the key to their ascent is that many of them are doing it in tandem with another ambitious chick: their closest friend.
There can be major benefits to working with someone you're bonded with, but this intimacy can also lead to heightened (read: not totally professional) emotions. The real-life cofounders and pals here have thrived as pairs. Emulate their wins—and sidestep their mistakes.
BIRCHBOX
A subscription-sampling and discovery service of beauty products, currently with 400,000 users
A subscription-sampling and discovery service of beauty products, currently with 400,000 users
CLAY PATRICK MCBRIDE
THE PAIR: Hayley Barna, 30, and Katia Beauchamp, 31, who originally bonded at Harvard Business School
What's the best thing about working together?
KATIA: It can be trying to start a business, and it can be lonely. Having somebody who is as into it as you are makes you feel more self-assured.
KATIA: It can be trying to start a business, and it can be lonely. Having somebody who is as into it as you are makes you feel more self-assured.
Are you able to make decisions without your partner if needed?
HAYLEY: We feel really comfortable that we can represent each other. It definitely takes time, as you l earn more about each other and see how you both handle situations. We are sensitive to the fact that we can't slow down each other or the company.
HAYLEY: We feel really comfortable that we can represent each other. It definitely takes time, as you l earn more about each other and see how you both handle situations. We are sensitive to the fact that we can't slow down each other or the company.
Do you always talk about work?
KATIA: A lot, but we make a concerted effort not to. I'm married and Hayley is getting married, so we've been talking about wedding planning.
KATIA: A lot, but we make a concerted effort not to. I'm married and Hayley is getting married, so we've been talking about wedding planning.
Advice for someone considering starting a biz with a friend?
KATIA: Don't start a company with just any friend. That is a recipe for disaster. If your communication is really strong and you have the ability to help each other grow in an honest way, you can work together.
KATIA: Don't start a company with just any friend. That is a recipe for disaster. If your communication is really strong and you have the ability to help each other grow in an honest way, you can work together.
What do you wish you had known before starting a company?
HAYLEY: We are actually very grateful for what we didn't know. Not knowing helps make you fearless and naive enough to break "rules" and problem-solve based on common sense, learning as you go.
HAYLEY: We are actually very grateful for what we didn't know. Not knowing helps make you fearless and naive enough to break "rules" and problem-solve based on common sense, learning as you go.
REVELRY HOUSE
A party-supply company that helps people throw stellar fetes by sending everything that's needed, from invites to decorations
A party-supply company that helps people throw stellar fetes by sending everything that's needed, from invites to decorations
COURTESY OF SASCHA ISRAEL (REVELRY HOUSE)
THE PAIR: Christianne Amodio, 29, and Lauren "Lo" Bosworth, 27, who previously worked together at a sports-marketing agency in L.A.
When did you think, We can definitely have a business relationship?
CHRISTIANNE: The fact that we started out as colleagues is the most important aspect of our business relationship. Before our friendship developed, we already had a deep mutual respect for each other in the workplace. That kind of trust and respect forms the foundation of a great business partnership.
CHRISTIANNE: The fact that we started out as colleagues is the most important aspect of our business relationship. Before our friendship developed, we already had a deep mutual respect for each other in the workplace. That kind of trust and respect forms the foundation of a great business partnership.
How do you deal with disagreements?
LO: It's so important to work with someone whose skills are different from yours. Christianne and I have complementary skill sets, and we trust each other's decisions. It's all about knowing the person that you're working with well enough to say "OK, I defer to you here."
LO: It's so important to work with someone whose skills are different from yours. Christianne and I have complementary skill sets, and we trust each other's decisions. It's all about knowing the person that you're working with well enough to say "OK, I defer to you here."
How do you get some distance from work—and each other?
CHRISTIANNE: Taking personal time—reading a book, spending time with other friends—gives me the perspective I need to make my best decisions.
CHRISTIANNE: Taking personal time—reading a book, spending time with other friends—gives me the perspective I need to make my best decisions.
FOOD52
An online marketplace with chef-vetted recipes, how-to chat boards for cooks, and curated kitchen goods for sale
An online marketplace with chef-vetted recipes, how-to chat boards for cooks, and curated kitchen goods for sale
COURTESY OF FOOD52
THE PAIR: Amanda Hesser (a former food editor), 42, and Merrill Stubbs (a Boston private chef), 37, who met when working on a cookbook together
Can you communicate without talking?
MERRILL: We worked together for so long testing our recipes in her kitchen, so we learned all about each other's styles of working. Cooking is such a good way to reveal someone's personality. How you are in the kitchen is often how you are in life! So we had that time to figure out where one of us had a strength and the other was not as strong and how to fill in those gaps.
MERRILL: We worked together for so long testing our recipes in her kitchen, so we learned all about each other's styles of working. Cooking is such a good way to reveal someone's personality. How you are in the kitchen is often how you are in life! So we had that time to figure out where one of us had a strength and the other was not as strong and how to fill in those gaps.
Your careers were well established when you came together for this company. Any power struggles?
AMANDA: We often joke about how often we agree—we even have some of the same clothes!—but of course there are moments when we have a difference of opinion. We try and work through any tensions as quickly as possible.
AMANDA: We often joke about how often we agree—we even have some of the same clothes!—but of course there are moments when we have a difference of opinion. We try and work through any tensions as quickly as possible.
How honest are you with each other?
MERRILL: We made an effort to be more transparent about the way the business affects our personal lives and about the stresses each of us is having. It is tempting to hold these in, but if you can share it with a partner, it is invaluable. The more transparent we are, the better the business runs.
MERRILL: We made an effort to be more transparent about the way the business affects our personal lives and about the stresses each of us is having. It is tempting to hold these in, but if you can share it with a partner, it is invaluable. The more transparent we are, the better the business runs.
What traits should friends going into business share?
AMANDA: A compatible sense of humor. For everything from frustrating conversations to projects that require a lot of effort, that sense of humor has had a huge effect on getting through hard things and making good things better.
AMANDA: A compatible sense of humor. For everything from frustrating conversations to projects that require a lot of effort, that sense of humor has had a huge effect on getting through hard things and making good things better.
GROW MARKETING
A marketing firm that creates advertising people connect with emotionally (for clients including Google, Glenlivet, and Gap)
A marketing firm that creates advertising people connect with emotionally (for clients including Google, Glenlivet, and Gap)
COURTESY OF AUBRIE PICK (GROW MARKETING)
THE PAIR: Cassie Hughes, 47, and Gabrey Means, 43, who used to be marketing rivals at Levi's and Gap, respectively
Best thing about working together?
GABREY: When you are an entrepreneur, there isn't a boundary between your personal life and your professional life. We wanted to be kick-ass businesswomen, but we are also moms. Today my kids, my dog, and my husband are in the office. I think only if you were a good friend could you have your lives so deeply intertwined.
GABREY: When you are an entrepreneur, there isn't a boundary between your personal life and your professional life. We wanted to be kick-ass businesswomen, but we are also moms. Today my kids, my dog, and my husband are in the office. I think only if you were a good friend could you have your lives so deeply intertwined.
What's the key to knowing if you and your friend will work well together?
CASSIE: Gabrey and I were competitors, and then suddenly we were in a room and it was like love at first sight. It was like, "Whoa! So interesting! So cool!" I think the key to our success is that there has never been a day when we didn't want to champion the other person. That idea that we want to build this company and our lives together. When you have that type of perseverance and commitment, you are helping each other create the lives that you both want.
CASSIE: Gabrey and I were competitors, and then suddenly we were in a room and it was like love at first sight. It was like, "Whoa! So interesting! So cool!" I think the key to our success is that there has never been a day when we didn't want to champion the other person. That idea that we want to build this company and our lives together. When you have that type of perseverance and commitment, you are helping each other create the lives that you both want.
How do you take breaks from each other?
CASSIE: Sometimes we know there needs to be boundaries, like, "Hey, I'm checking out this weekend; unless there is an emergency, I am not responding to e-mail."
CASSIE: Sometimes we know there needs to be boundaries, like, "Hey, I'm checking out this weekend; unless there is an emergency, I am not responding to e-mail."
How do you learn to run a business together?
GABREY: I had more of an interest in the numbers, and Cass was more into building the culture, so we've kind of played to our strengths. We were also both able to recognize where we didn't have expertise and then bring in people who did.
GABREY: I had more of an interest in the numbers, and Cass was more into building the culture, so we've kind of played to our strengths. We were also both able to recognize where we didn't have expertise and then bring in people who did.
How honest are you with each other?
GABREY: I can go, "Honey, you seem tired. Get a massage." And Cass is awesome at this—she reminds me to take care of myself. We also don't make each other feel bad if the other leaves early to go get that massage.
GABREY: I can go, "Honey, you seem tired. Get a massage." And Cass is awesome at this—she reminds me to take care of myself. We also don't make each other feel bad if the other leaves early to go get that massage.
What do you wish you had known before starting a company?
CASSIE: I wish someone had told me not to wait so long to listen to and lead from my gut versus my experience. Wisdom and age have helped me to now lead from intuition.
CASSIE: I wish someone had told me not to wait so long to listen to and lead from my gut versus my experience. Wisdom and age have helped me to now lead from intuition.
THESKIMM
A cleverly written daily e-mail that summarizes the news of the day for women on the go
A cleverly written daily e-mail that summarizes the news of the day for women on the go
SOPHIE ELGORT (THESKIMM)
THE PAIR: Carly Zakin, 28, and Danielle Weisberg, 27, who met in college while studying in Rome
Do you know what the other's thinking?
DANIELLE: In order to be successful, you have to be on the same page, and if you are, this trait comes pretty naturally. We actually had a scary point when we were accidentally editing each other's to-do lists--they were linked on our phones.
DANIELLE: In order to be successful, you have to be on the same page, and if you are, this trait comes pretty naturally. We actually had a scary point when we were accidentally editing each other's to-do lists--they were linked on our phones.
When things go wrong, you _____:
DANIELLE: We have a minute of frustration, and then we usually make a joke. What can you do? It's a start-up. We make a lot of mistakes and try to handle them as professionally as possible.
DANIELLE: We have a minute of frustration, and then we usually make a joke. What can you do? It's a start-up. We make a lot of mistakes and try to handle them as professionally as possible.
Biggest piece of advice you'd give to other BFFs going into biz together?
CARLY: Have a very honest conversation before you start about your finances, ownership in the company, and what you want to get out of the business.
CARLY: Have a very honest conversation before you start about your finances, ownership in the company, and what you want to get out of the business.
You two also live together. How do you spend so much time in the same space?
DANIELLE: We definitely have a sense of what pushes the other's buttons and don't go there.
DANIELLE: We definitely have a sense of what pushes the other's buttons and don't go there.
Source: http://www.womenshealthmag.com
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