Podcast Summary
Nancy Twine's Journey: Perseverance and the Power of One Step at a Time: Despite challenges, Twine's journey teaches us to stay determined, find inspiration in others, and tackle obstacles head-on, showing that success is possible regardless of circumstances.
Nancy Twine's journey to building her natural haircare line, Briogeo, teaches us the importance of perseverance and taking problems one at a time. Despite facing numerous challenges in the beauty industry, Twine was determined to create a line of products without synthetic ingredients and cater to all hair types. She tackled each obstacle head-on, from finding a chemist who believed in her vision to getting her products on the shelves of Sephora. Twine's inspiration came from her mother, a successful physician and entrepreneur, and her upbringing in a small and impoverished town in West Virginia. Her story demonstrates that regardless of our circumstances, seeing others who have achieved success can ignite our own dreams and goals.
The Power of Self-Belief and Embracing Diversity: Having faith in oneself and building connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds can lead to personal and professional growth.
Having faith and belief in yourself can be incredibly powerful, even in the face of challenges. Nancy Twine's story highlights the importance of seeing possibilities, even when they may not be immediately visible. Her grandmother's resourcefulness and ability to make the most of limited resources inspired Nancy's own path in chemistry and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Nancy's college experience taught her the value of building a diverse community, even in an environment where self-segregation was prevalent. This takeaway reminds us that embracing diversity and forming connections with individuals from different backgrounds can be enriching and beneficial. Ultimately, believing in oneself and embracing diversity can lead to personal and professional growth.
Balancing Passion and Adaptability in a Changing World: Discovering passion in unexpected places and maintaining work-life balance are essential for pursuing one's dreams and achieving success amidst challenges.
Nancy Twine's journey from aspiring pop star to successful entrepreneur and finance professional highlights the importance of adaptability and finding passion in unexpected places. While her dreams of a music career were dashed, Twine discovered her entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, creating and selling products. This drive eventually led her to pursue a career in finance, where she found excitement and opportunity on the sales and trading floor. Despite facing the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis, Twine navigated through layoffs by making herself invaluable to her team. However, her dedication to her career also resulted in her being taken advantage of. This story underscores the need to balance work and personal well-being while pursuing one's passion.
Embracing life's fragility to find happiness and fulfillment: Cherish loved ones, pursue passions, prioritize happiness, and build strong support systems to navigate through life's uncertainties and find fulfillment.
Life is fragile and unpredictable. Nancy Twine's experience of losing her mother suddenly made her realize that we should never take our loved ones or our own lives for granted. It served as a reminder that we owe it to ourselves to find our happiness, pursue our passions, and make the most of each day. Nancy's journey also highlighted the importance of having strong relationships and support systems in times of tragedy. Her bond with her brother grew stronger, and she valued the time she took off to grieve and reflect on her own life. This experience prompted her to prioritize her own happiness and find fulfillment in her career.
Nancy Twine's Journey to Creating Her Own Beauty Product Line: Nancy Twine's personal struggles with finding suitable haircare products and her passion for creating her own brand led her to identify a gap in the market for natural haircare products, inspiring her to create her own line.
Nancy Twine's journey to creating her own beauty product line was inspired by her mother's project and their shared childhood memories of making their own beauty products. Nancy's struggle with finding suitable haircare products for her curly hair and her realization that the market for textured hair was not well-established at the time further fueled her desire to create her own line of natural haircare products. Despite facing setbacks and feeling stuck in her finance career, Nancy's passion for creating her own brand led her to extensively research the natural personal care market and identify a gap in the market for natural haircare products. This research became a turning point and helped Nancy carve her niche in the industry.
Nancy Twine's Journey in the Natural Haircare Industry: Identifying unmet consumer needs, defining product standards, and taking proactive steps can pave the way for success in a new and emerging market.
Nancy Twine recognized the white space potential in the natural haircare industry. She realized that there were very few players in this market and saw it as a budding space with great opportunities. She understood that the term "natural" was not regulated like "organic," so she defined it as utilizing a high percentage of naturally derived ingredients. Rather than using synthetic polymers like silicones, she chose real natural oils for their benefits and nutrients. Nancy also took proactive steps in creating her business plan, consulting Google and partnering with a service to understand her vision and forecast financial statements. Additionally, she held herself accountable by telling her friends about her plans. Ultimately, Nancy's key takeaway is that taking action and recognizing and fulfilling unmet consumer needs can lead to success in a new industry.
The Power of Networking and Persistence: By networking, sharing ideas, and seeking guidance, you can discover unexpected opportunities and resources, leading to fruitful partnerships and success in pursuing your vision.
Networking and sharing ideas with others can lead to unexpected opportunities and valuable resources. Nancy Twine's idea for her beauty product company, Briogeo, evolved through connections and conversations with friends and industry professionals. By opening up about her ideas and seeking guidance, she discovered the possibility of utilizing a contract manufacturer to bring her products to life. Despite working a demanding job at Goldman Sachs, Nancy dedicated her evenings, lunch breaks, and vacation days to research and develop her business plan. While many manufacturers initially dismissed her idea as impossible, one company saw her passion and willingness to collaborate, leading to a fruitful partnership. This story demonstrates the power of networking, persistence, and finding advocates who believe in your vision.
Achieving Success in Haircare Products Through Determination and Adaptation: Nancy Twine's journey teaches us the importance of determination, learning, seeking guidance, and adapting plans to optimize chances of success in any project or business venture, regardless of background or limitations.
Nancy Twine was able to successfully develop her haircare products without a background in chemistry by leveraging her determination and willingness to learn. She studied haircare terminology to effectively communicate her vision to the lab chemist and create the desired luxurious texture and concentration for her treatment mask. Despite being mindful of costs and funding the project through her salary, Twine was ambitious in envisioning a 15-product line to cater to all hair textures. However, she received valuable advice from a contract manufacturer, leading her to start with just four SKUs, which allowed her to reach a diverse client base. This journey highlights the importance of seeking guidance and adapting plans to optimize chances of success.
Nancy Twine: Perseverance and Resourcefulness in Entrepreneurial Success: Nancy Twine's journey teaches us the importance of dedication, determination, and relentless work ethic in building a successful business, even in the face of challenges and personal loss.
Nancy Twine's dedication and determination were key factors in building her business, Briogeo. Despite the challenges of working a demanding job and dealing with personal loss, she poured her energy into her project as a form of therapy. Her relentless work ethic, even while facing minimal sleep and exhaustion, allowed her to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward. Additionally, she recognized the importance of financial stability and sought out opportunities to raise money for her business. Through investor meetups and pitching sessions, she demonstrated her commitment to scaling her business and ensuring her focus remained on growth rather than survival. Nancy's journey showcases the power of perseverance and resourcefulness in entrepreneurial success.
Overcoming Challenges in the Beauty Industry: Nancy Twine's journey shows the importance of perseverance and seizing the right opportunities, even in a male-dominated industry, to achieve success and make a difference.
Nancy Twine's journey to build her brand, Briogeo, was filled with challenges and discouragement. As a black woman in a predominantly male and tech-oriented industry, she struggled to gain support and funding for her haircare products. Networking events were particularly disheartening, as she felt that the people in the room didn't understand or care about her specific hair needs. However, despite the setbacks, Nancy persisted and eventually found support from an investor who believed in her vision. This highlights the importance of perseverance and finding the right opportunities, even in the face of adversity. Nancy's story reminds us that success often comes after overcoming obstacles and staying true to our goals.
The Power of Networking and Investing in Relationships: Building meaningful connections and taking initiative can lead to unexpected opportunities and success in business, regardless of initial rejection or limited resources.
Networking and investing in relationships can be more valuable than simply investing in products or services. Nancy Twine's encounter with Phil Palmetto, who saw potential in her despite her lack of experience in haircare, highlights the importance of people and connections. Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to her, Twine actively sought out mentors and attended trade shows, investing both time and money to get her products in front of retailers. This demonstrates the significance of taking initiative and putting oneself out there, even when faced with initial rejection or limited resources. Building relationships and seizing opportunities can lead to unexpected opportunities and success in business.
Embracing Unexpected Moments and Seizing Opportunities: Success can be found in unexpected encounters, so it's important to be present and ready for opportunities. Don't judge appearances, as potential connections and collaborations can come from unlikely sources.
Success often comes from unexpected moments and encounters. Nancy Twine, the founder of Briogeo, shared how she missed a crucial meeting at a trade show because she stepped away to the bathroom. However, she was fortunate that the buyer came back and showed interest in her products. This highlights the importance of being present and seizing opportunities, even in seemingly inconvenient times. Additionally, Nancy's experience with the Sephora team shows that appearances can be deceiving, as she didn't realize they were the Sephora team until after they left. This teaches us not to judge a book by its cover and to always be prepared for potential connections and collaborations, regardless of how they may initially appear.
Strategic Investments, Relationship Building, and Taking Initiative: Keys to Business Success: Making strategic investments, building relationships, and taking initiative are crucial for achieving business goals.
Nancy Twine understood the importance of strategic investments in order to scale her business. When she secured her first major deal with Urban Outfitters, she used the initial investment to expand her production and inventory capabilities. She recognized that she needed to get her brand and story out there, so she hired a PR agency and personally engaged with editors through face-to-face meetings. This approach allowed her to establish relationships and generate press coverage from renowned publications. Additionally, Nancy's determination to be in Sephora led her to do thorough research and reach out to the right person directly, showcasing her brand book and press coverage to make a compelling case. This example highlights the importance of making calculated investments, building relationships, and taking initiative to achieve business goals.
The Power of Perseverance: Nancy Twine's Entrepreneurial Journey: Nancy Twine's determination and persistence in proving the value of her haircare brand, Briogeo, paid off when Sephora expressed interest in testing the brand online, leading her to dedicate herself fully to her business.
Nancy Twine's perseverance and willingness to take risks paid off in her entrepreneurial journey. Despite facing setbacks and doubts from buyers, she remained determined to prove the value of her haircare brand, Briogeo. Her decision to personally meet with a potential buyer in San Francisco, even though it seemed impractical, ultimately led to a connection with someone who appreciated the brand's representation of diversity. Although the initial response was not as promising as she had hoped, Nancy continued to stay in touch and showcase the demand for Briogeo. Eventually, her persistence paid off when Sephora expressed interest in testing the brand online. This opportunity prompted Nancy to leave her full-time job and dedicate herself fully to Briogeo, recognizing the once-in-a-lifetime chance before her.
The Power of Perseverance and Taking Calculated Risks: Taking risks, following your passion, and persevering through challenges can lead to fulfilling your dreams.
Taking risks and following your passion can lead to great success. Nancy Twine, despite being a vice president at Goldman and earning a good income, had the courage to leave her job and pursue her own business. She was surprised by the support she received from her friends and family, who believed in her abilities. Nancy put everything on the line, resigning and living with no income to fund her business. She made smart decisions, like partnering with a beauty sampling box to gain exposure and funding the inventory for the program. This paid off, as it led to incredible conversions at Sephora. Eventually, Briogeo products ended up on Sephora shelves, fulfilling Nancy's dream. This story teaches us that perseverance and calculated risks can ultimately lead to fulfilling our dreams.
From Challenges to Success: The Inspiring Journey of Briogeo's Nancy Twine: Nancy Twine's resilience and resourcefulness, combined with strategic partnerships and diverse representation, have enabled Briogeo to overcome obstacles, achieve sustainable growth, and inspire others in the business world.
Nancy Twine's business, Briogeo, has experienced significant growth and success despite facing initial challenges in securing funding and investor interest. With the support of Sephora and a synthetic but eco-cert preservative system, the brand has achieved a 24 to 30 month shelf life for its products. Twine's resourcefulness and determination led her to secure additional funding from her initial investor, Phil, and eventually attract a private equity firm that took ownership in her business. The brand's success has also continued amidst the current retail downturn, with the company revising up its pre-COVID budget and experiencing strong sales. Twine's identity as a black entrepreneur has also brought attention and inspiration, highlighting the importance of diverse representation in the business world.
The Importance of Black Representation and Focusing on Impactful Initiatives: Black people should not shoulder the burden alone, but their presence in decision-making is crucial. Focus on impactful initiatives, work hard, believe in oneself, and appreciate the guiding force of loved ones.
It is not the responsibility of black people to fix the problem of racial inequality, but it is vital for them to have a seat at the table when decisions about progress are being made. This balance is crucial in order to make a meaningful impact without overwhelming oneself. Nancy Twine emphasizes the importance of allocating time to initiatives that she believes she can be most impactful in, rather than saying yes to everything. Furthermore, success in any endeavor requires hard work, skills, and a strong belief in oneself. Nancy's story demonstrates that luck may play a small part, but it is the mindset and determination that truly lead to success. Finally, Nancy attributes a significant portion of her confidence and success to her mother, who served as a guiding force throughout her journey.
