Kendra Scott, a celebrated fashion designer and businesswoman, shares her journey of building her company from $500. She discusses her book 'Born to Shine' and the upcoming 'Live to Lead' event. Topics include entrepreneurship, women in leadership, toxic positivity vs optimism, and the power of leadership and core values.
Embrace challenges and learn from them to achieve incredible growth.
Maintaining a positive organizational culture by hiring based on warmth and support.
Deep dives
Kendra Scott: From $500 Startup to Global Brand
Kendra Scott, a celebrated fashion designer and businesswoman, founded the Kendra Scott jewelry and lifestyle brand with just $500. She shares her inspiring journey and the lessons she learned along the way in her book 'Born to Shine.' Despite facing challenges such as closing all her stores during the pandemic, Kendra emphasizes the importance of resilience and optimism. She believes that every valley in life holds valuable lessons and leads to incredible growth. Kendra also discusses the significance of leadership in building her successful brand and how her core values of family, fashion, and philanthropy guide her business decisions. Kendra Scott's commitment to philanthropy is evident in her support for women's and children's charities, having donated over $60 million since 2010. Overall, Kendra encourages people to embrace their uniqueness and tap into their inner light to make a positive impact.
The Power of Optimism and Overcoming Rejection
Kendra Scott shares her perspective on toxic positivity versus true optimism. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and sitting with the reality of challenging situations, rather than trying to force positivity. True optimism recognizes that difficult moments are temporary and that a brighter future awaits. Kendra also opens up about facing rejection throughout her entrepreneurial journey, especially in the early days of her business. She highlights the value of turning rejection into an opportunity for growth and learning. By listening to feedback, adapting, and persistently pursuing her goals, Kendra was able to turn many 'no' into 'yes.'
Building a Strong and Supportive Culture
Maintaining a consistent and positive culture has been a priority for Kendra Scott as her brand expands globally. She believes that hiring based on warmth and the ability to make others feel good is key. Kendra values each employee and ensures that they feel supported and valued, whether they are part of the leadership team or working in a retail store. By fostering a culture that emphasizes warmth, joy, and support, Kendra Scott has created a strong and united team dedicated to providing excellent customer service and making a positive impact in their communities.
Embracing Vulnerability and Empowering Others
Kendra Scott emphasizes the power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership. She encourages everyone, both men and women, to embrace their unique stories and to be proud of their journey, even if it veers from societal norms or expectations. Kendra believes in finding the good in everyone and empowering them to let their light shine. By lifting each other up and supporting one another, individuals can overcome obstacles and make a positive impact on the world. Kendra's message is to lead with love, to respect and support one another, and to remember that everyone is born to shine.
We are thrilled to introduce you to our guest this week, Kendra Scott. Kendra is a celebrated fashion designer and businesswoman known for founding the Kendra Scott jewelry and lifestyle brand. She started her company which is now a global fashion brand with just $500. That does not happen without incredible leadership skills, tenacity, and resilience. In this episode, Kendra shares the idea behind her book, Born to Shine, and the lessons she’s learned along her journey that you can apply to your own life and leadership.
We are also ecstatic that Kendra will join us as a featured speaker on Oct 6th for Live2Lead! Time is closing in, so be sure to get your tickets at Live2Lead.com* and see Kendra live!
Our BONUS resource for this episode is the “Born to Shine Worksheet,” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from Mark and Kendra’s discussion. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/Shine and clicking “Download the Bonus Resource.”
*Use code MLPODCAST for 10% off ANY ticket tier (General Admission, VIP, or Platinum)! Groups of 10+ who purchase General Admission tickets will receive 10% OFF their ticket price in addition to the 10% they receive using the code MLPODCAST! (This excludes VIP and Platinum tickets for groups of 10+).
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