#8 On Failing Fast w/ Whitney Hawkings, Founder & CEO, FLOWERBX

Whitney Hawkings is determined, head strong and laser focused.  After spending 18 years working with Tom Ford at Gucci, Whitney took the plunge and founded FLOWERBX, growing it to become the first global flower brand.  

Working with (and shopping from) luxury brands online she observed that everything was branded except for flowers and this became her mission: to deliver fresh, quality flowers with the same consistent service as any top luxury brand.   

With Whitney’s Pink Avalanche Roses as the backdrop, we talk about her lacking confidence but discovering that he is the best CEO of her company, what it’s like to be a woman in business, her role models and what she learnt from Tom Ford.   

WE DISCUSS:

04:43 - What is leadership?

06:38 - Doubting yourself as a leader

10:18 - Growing up in Dallas, Texas, drive to succeed

13:12 - Working with Tom Ford

14:36 - Why Whitney founded FLOWERBX

17:45 - Hard work, drive, not being able to stop

19:02 - Switching off, family time

21:39 - Having a great partner and people that have your back

22:44 - What she is most proud of

23:47 - 2 most important things Whitney wished she knew, which would have saved her a lot of hassle

25:53 - Hiring great people

28:12 - Hardest thing about being a CEO

30:33 - Biggest failures

31:56 - Covid giving a clean slate

33:00 - What’s next for FLOWERBX, closing series A funding

34:16 - 3 pieces of advice to younger self

WHITNEY HAWKINGS:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-hawkings-643a3317/

FLOWERBX Instagram: @TheFLOWERBX - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbx/?hl=en

Whitney on Instagram: @TheFlowerBMB - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbmb/?hl=en

Pink Sweet Avalanche Roses: https://bit.ly/3imwd2E

EPISODE #8:

You can also WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw

MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/

Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en

Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo

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