women entrepreneur
Inspiration really can come from everywhere.
Movies.
A walk outside.
Dance.
Sketching on a whiteboard.
A conversation.
Taking a nap.
A quote.
Books.
A little boredom.
It's funny how seemingly unrelated things like these actually influence business processes...
Spark creativity...
Generate new ideas...
Sharpen vision...
Carve out solutions...
And ultimately re-ignite vision.
Image by Heartbox Photography
One of the things I enjoyed most about launching a series in 2021 that celebrated women who are part of the 50+ demographic was hearing their personal perspectives about what this season of life looked like for them, their careers, and their overall journey.
Being in this demographic means different things to different women and as such, I have asked a few women who participated in the series to share their stories - and today, I am honored to highlight Melanie Gill, Bay Area-based Marketing and Branding Expert, of Melanie Gill Consulting.
***
Aging is really a gift if you think about it.
Not everyone is blessed with this opportunity to journey “over the hill” and experience life at a slower pace.
Embracing my age has been a very freeing experience. A major step toward acceptance was ending the perpetual hair dye sessions and embracing my grey in all its glory. The year long journey from black to grey was slow. During that time, I really processed what it meant to be over 50. As I would look in the mirror and watch my hair changing, I too was able to shift internally as I would digest what the next chapter of my life could look like.
For me, it became clear that I was ready to work on my own terms as a marketing consultant and live more in the moment personally.
The tech space can be fast moving requiring more than a typical full time routine, often including extensive international travel. While I very much enjoyed that part of my life and seeing the world, it also became clear as I got older that I wanted to engage at a pace that supported my personal life here at home.
This is what inspired me to leave the corporate world and start my marketing consulting practice.
It was a bit of a dance back and forth for a few years between consulting, then returning full time, then back to consulting. And now I love being a consultant and supporting a variety of small and mid size companies while learning about new endeavors beyond technology.
With over 20 years in leadership roles in Silicon Valley, I bring extensive marketing and sales expertise to the clients I serve today. I am passionate about helping small to mid size businesses get the word out about who they are, what they are offering, and why it matters. I am gifted at being able to step into an organization and bring to light what is needed to achieve that next level of success.
Being a consultant has allowed me to create a balanced personal routine enabling me to focus on exercise, eating well, and keeping my garden beautiful. Right now, I am writing a cookbook and so far the recipes seem to all be vegan as I have been focused on bringing more vegetables into my daily diet. One thing is for sure, I don’t miss the commute or the long trips over seas for business.
When I have a bit of down time between clients, you will find me getting certified in something interesting like interior design or essential oils. Or taking on a big project at home like landscaping my garden myself.
And while I tend to be a driven, focused, and deliberate person, I also enjoy deep connection with people.
There is nothing I like more than having a meal with a handful of amazing, witty, and interesting women!
-Deborah Meier
It is my honor to share with you all this month more about the CEO, Founder, and woman behind the Bay Area-based company, Spirit Sox USA.
Phenomenal women are everywhere and Lisa Riggs is no exception. She comes from a long line of entrepreneurs (her grandfather started his own jam and jelly company!) and is the first in her family to move from food-industry based entrepreneurship to socks! Spirit Sox USA helps fuel fundraisers for organizations in various industries and non-profits, both locally and nationally.
She has also been featured as a podcast guest on Blue Roads Education Group, School Zone Podcast, and Enterprise Podcast Network. In addition to being affectionately known as the “Sock Queen”, Lisa is also a proud mother, wife, and loyal Bay Area fan of both the 49ers and Giants!
Image | Heartbox Photography
Hair & Makeup | Daisy Gonzalez-Duarte of Beautiful One Makeup Artistry
***
“I founded Spirit Sox USA about 5 years ago. We are a certified woman owned company that customizes socks uniquely for each customer. My true goal is to make the world a better place 1 sock at a time and that's why I do what I do and donate 5% of my profits to helping underserved communities.
On a personal note, I've been married almost 25 years and am enjoying empty nest more than I expected with my husband! My son, Mitchell, is 20 and attends UCI, majoring in Chemistry with a goal of saving the planet with chemistry. My daughter, Kayla, is 19 and will be a sophomore at Cornell, studying communications and already an editor for the Cornell Sun and blog writer for the Women's Network. We love our animals! Our 2 rescue dogs, Tucker and Callie, our 30 year old box turtle, Henry, and our 5 fantail goldfish! In my spare time I love to exercise, enjoy the outdoors, go to the beach and read. My happy place is swimming with the sea turtles in Maui!”
What has your journey looked like personally/professionally to get to where you are now?
“I had to grow a lot personally in order to grow professionally. I'm a perfectionist and perfectionists do not like to fail. Do you know the % of startups that fail? 90%. So my personal growth which included confidence in myself and my abiilites as well as overcoming, or even embracing, the fear of failure. I have to admit Google search is my friend - it's amazing what I have been able to teach myself from full Photoshop skills to how to build a business!”
What do you enjoy about what you do? What are some of the challenges?
“Honestly, my favorite part of my job is helping my customers improve their community or area of the world. Who would think a pair of socks can make the world a better place?!
But time after time, I've seen my customers raise money with their sock fundraisers to fight teen suicide, support Down Syndrome, raise awareness for mental health, fund cancer reasearch on so on."
My main challenge is being a one woman show, not because I'm a woman, but because I wear so many hats. I did get funding to start this company so I truly have built it from the ground up. As we've grown, I've been able to hire contractors to take on roles in the company but I just never seem to have enough time to get it all done.”
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your 18 year old self?
“My 18 year old self always focused on the negatives about myself rather than the positives. Thankfully I when I went to college I found both my indepence and the start of my self confidence. So if I could talk to her now I'd say: Be kinder to yourself. Enjoy the moment. Have confidence in YOU.”
What do you appreciate most about your life now/what are you most proud of?
“My family 100%. I am so proud of my kids for their intelligence, their accomplishments and most importantly for the genuinely good humans that they are. I'm also very proud of my husband and I who have our 25th anniversary approaching and worked our tails off to create a loving and happy household for our family. As we all know it's not always easy, but it sure is worth it.”
Who inspires you and why?
“My dad has always been my biggest inspiration. He's so smart and confident but also one of the kindest, most thoughtful people you will ever meet. He's run and sold multiple companies so he is tough in the boardroom but a softy with babies and dogs and his grandchildren, too! I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My grandfather started his own jam and jelly company. My dad started a strawberry company. And as the 1st female entrepreneur I took us out of food and into socks!”
A fun or surprising fact about yourself?
“Fun fact: I have a 30 year old box turtle named Henry. He is my sidekick and I love him dearly! Also, I am a sports nut! Die hard 49er and Giants fan. We've had season tickets to the Niners for 31 years and I rarely miss a game!”
If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?
“Honestly, I think I'd like to meet Oprah. She has overcome so many barriers and failures to be the household name that she is while always retaining her class and her authenticity. She is someone women of all ages and colors can look to as a role model.”
It is always a wonderful surprise when situations that seem to be happy accidents end up yielding the most pleasant of results.
After baking brownies as a thank you gift for a friend many years ago, Aundrea later realized she had transposed the brownie recipe without knowing she was dyslexic at the time. These results, in addition to hard work, perseverance, and limitless vision over the years is what catapulted Aundrea Lacy, owner/founder of Bay Area-based company Luv’s Brownies, into the inspirational success she is today. (You can read more about her story here) Not only has her company’s desserts become an award-winning Bay Area favorite, but Luv’s Brownies has also earned national recognition from shows that include Good Morning America, The Montell Williams Show, CBS New York, just to name a few!
Aundrea is a firm believer in generously giving back to her community and in addition to being a successful entrepreneur, she has also established The Andrea R. Lacy Grit Award Scholarship, which is awarded to student applicants on the path to pursuing higher education or vocational training.
It is my honor to share with you all the latest feature in the Celebration of Black Excellence Series, Aundrea Lacy!
Tell us a bit more about your background - where are you from, what inspired you to choose your specific area of education and eventual career?
“I was born in San Franciso. My family moved to the peninsula when I was elementary school and I went to Mills High School in Millbrae.”
What are you most proud of in your life and why?
“I am most proud of my son Mateo-Sebastian. His youthfulness and zest for life gives me hope for the next generation.”
What is something most people might now know about you?
“I’m frugal. I know how to stretch a dollar.”
Can you tell me about someone who has had a huge influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
“My son has had a huge influence over my life. He has taught me to have patience.”
What is the best advice you've ever received?
“Best advice I received was from my father. Hard work always pays off.”
Who/what inspires you and why?
“My inspiration comes from watching other Black Americans thrive.”
If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be and why?
“I would like to meet Oprah, Marcus Lemonis, Tyler Perry. All of them show tenacity and are willing to always give back. They have used their platforms to enlighten and educate others.”
What does it "honoring and celebrating black excellence" mean to you personally?
“Black Excellence means bringing more voices to the table. The richness of our culture is unmatched. Most people don’t know the slave trade was huge. Brazil got more slaves than the United States. The African diaspora should be discussed more in school. Our Black history month shouldn’t be just a month.”