How I Built This with Guy Raz The Lip Bar (TLB): Melissa Butler (2020)
Jul 3, 2023
In this engaging conversation, Melissa Butler, Founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, shares her inspiring journey from Wall Street analyst to beauty entrepreneur. She discusses her passion for creating inclusive makeup products and the challenges of launching bold lipstick colors that cater to diverse complexions. Melissa reveals the lessons learned from her tough Shark Tank experience and the innovative marketing strategies that propelled her brand, like using a retrofitted bus for promotion. Today, The Lip Bar stands as a beacon of diversity in beauty, sold in Target stores nationwide.
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Crane Operator Mom
- Melissa Butler's mother worked as a crane operator, a male-dominated job, in Detroit's automotive industry.
- This upbringing taught Butler self-reliance and instilled a strong work ethic, influencing her entrepreneurial journey.
HBCU and Beijing
- Butler chose to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for a supportive community and to embrace her Black identity.
- Her six-month Mandarin language program in Beijing broadened her worldview and emphasized shared humanity.
Wall Street Disillusionment
- Working on Wall Street at Barclays, Butler felt the environment was disheartening and unfulfilling.
- She found herself constantly answering for her race, feeling like a representative rather than an individual.