Adri Miller-Heckman | Transformational Women of the Year | Exeleon Magazine

Embracing Excellence www.exeleonmagazine.com

I N - F O C US

Frisky Whiskey: Bringing Flavor to Whiskey I N - F O C US

Ashley Epperson: Committed Towards Quality

ADRI MILLER-Heckman EMBRACING THE FEMININE APPROACH

Tori Atwell E X H I B IT I N G A R I C H L E G AC Y O F 3 5 Y E AR S

Transf o rmational WOMEN LEADERS

Embracing Excellence 600 N Broad St 5 Middletown, DE 19709, United States +1 (302) – 569 – 9387

Editor-in-Chief – Daryl Yeung (Story-Tailor) Art Director – Naomi Lam (Design Ninja) Managing Editor - Matt Reis (Wordster) Creative Director – Adam Waring (Grafista) Contributing Editors – Ian O'Shea, Matt Hale, & John Riggs (Three Musketeers) Content Curator – Cathy G. (Explorer)

Sales Project Manager – Josh Wilder (Cultivator) Marketing Manager – Mike Jackson (Marketeer) Senior BDM – Katherine Price (Sustainer) BDM – Richard Dann (Facilitator)

For any advertising related information, please contact info@exeleonmagazine.com.

Submissions as well as contributions to the magazine are welcome.

Take a moment and let us know about our magazine; whether it be about the design or a possible mistake, we would appreciate any feedback from your end. You can reach out to daryl@exeleonmagazine.com.

Copyright © Exeleon Media LLC. All rights reserved. The design, images, and content in this issue should not be reproduced in any manner or by any means, i.e. mechanical, electronic, recording, photocopying, or otherwise, without any permission from Exeleon Media.

CONTENTS

12 ADRI MILLER-HECKMAN

CONTENTS

30 CARRIE COLBERT

CONTENTS

46 RIYA MEHTA

Exeleon Magazine Presents

#MyJo

urney

Coming Soon...

C O V E R S T O R Y

Emb e c g F e Approa 12

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

ADRI MILLER-HECKMAN FOU N DE R , F E M X A DV I S OR

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

13

C O V E R S T O R Y

At its core, successful leadership is one that stems from the roots of failures and forges through the lames of adversity. It is about translating a vision into reality and ideas into action. It is about turning mistakes into experience and experiences into knowledge. It is about survival!

Adri Miller-Heckman is an example of one such successful leader. As a leading expert and coach for female inancial advisors, Adri stands out for her empowering mindset and survival instincts.

Since leaving the inancial industry in 2004, Adri has dedicated herself to the growth and development of female inancial advisors across the globe. She mentions that her desire to help women succeed on business supersedes any social protocol or business boundaries.

Through her femXadvisor platform, Adri offers the requisite tools, solutions, and proven business framework to help women grow and market their inancial practice.

14

Fittingly, Adri Miller-Heckman features as the Cover of Exeleon's Most Transformational Women Leaders to Follow. In this Cover Feature, we look into the journey of this powerful entrepreneur and how she is encouraging women to embrace their feminine side to attain success.

Inner Belief

A big part of Adri's growing up years was her mother's in luence and support. Her mother instilled belief within her and encouraged her to achieve her dreams.

Moreover, Adri recalls that her mother's constant motivation gave her the necessary courage to face any setbacks.

Perhaps it's this upbringing that made Adri a leader from a very young age. At the age of 12, Adri started a party-serving business. “I distributed liers in our neighborhood promoting my business to help provide serving and clean up services at parties.”

Her irst gig was a western party, wherein she hired a group of girls to help her. She remembers “We all showed up at the requested time wearing cowboy costumes only to learn that they cancelled the party and forgot to tell us. That was the end of that business.”

The next year saw Adri being part of the youngest team to participate in the Volleyball Nationals. This experience impacted her life and shaped her ability to become a leader. “I found greater satisfaction inspiring my teammates to perform their best which only enhanced my career. I went to UNC on a full

volleyball scholarship, was MVP of the ACC and eventually represented the Navy and the Armed forces in volleyball.”

Today, leveraging her mother's teachings and her experiences, Adri has molded herself into a leader who is fearless and innovative. She explains that in order for one to become a transformational woman, it is imperative to think out of the box and leverage the unique strengths as a woman.

Survival Instincts

Adri entered the inance space in a rather unconventional manner. She mentions, “I needed a job, and my roommate was moving up. I hated math but loved sales, so I became a sales assistant to a top commodities & stockbroker.”

Although the role was primarily administrative, Adri soon gravitated towards the client and sales side of the business. Over the course of the next 10 years, she worked with various leading inancial advisors in the industry.

With the industry becoming more and more toxic, and people inclining towards unethical practices, Adri decided to move forward from the industry. She soon joined the Navy as an electrician stationed on a ship in Holy Loch Scotland.

3 years later, with renewed perspective and ierce determination, Adri MillerHeckman rejoined the inance industry. This was the start of a unique journey.

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

“ F E A R L E S S LY E M B R AC E YO U R AU T H E N T I C S E L F, YO U D O N ’ T H AV E TO BE ANYTHING B U T YO U R S E L F. “

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

15

FEMXADVISOR For Adri, building her own coaching practice was exactly where she imagined herself to be – no limits and no boundaries. This newfound freedom enabled her to teach women advisors a more feminine approach to growing a inancial practice.

She penned down her ideas and knowledge in her book - “Keys to the Ladies Room; A new business model for inancial advisors.” Over the years, this book has had a positive impact on both female as well as male advisors and continues to garner positive reviews across the industry. Moreover, this book established the foundation of Adri's femXadvisor model.

Adri's high-yielding coaching program has attracted women advisors through 16

the years to learn more about her coaching practice. The program's unique women-centered approach made it extremely popular and allowed Adri to empower them with her years of industry knowledge.

She points out, “These women always knew there was a better way to build a thriving practice but trying to carve it out on your own while going against the tide of the industry was challenging. The greatest impact I have on my advisors is the con idence these women gain as they are encouraged to lead from their hearts.”

She continues, “As a femXadvisor they are not only given permission to follow their instincts and leverage their strengths as a woman, but we have created the path, the model, the process, and the tools to make it easy.

They LOVE it.”

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

C O V E R S T O R Y

Building Blocks

Adri listened to her feminine genius and focused her practice on serving women. She explains, “I wanted women like my mother to feel more con ident in making smart inancial decisions for their life.” She simultaneously also made sure that her business model and schedule supported her need to be a good mother. “My kids were always my priority and I always led with my heart.”

Owing to the added demands of her time (and energy), Adri worked less than all her male counterparts. Yet, she was able to consistently outperform them. “Due to my unexpected success, I was asked to become a National Training Of icer for Smith Barney (a role I coveted) so I packed up my three kids and moved from Newport Beach California to Hartford CT.”

Adri spent the next 3 years training thousands of inancial advisors on how to build a successful practice.

Following this, she was asked to become the Director of National Sales for Women & Co. a division of Citigroup.

However, in 2004, a realization

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

“ I WA N T E D T O P ROV I D E WO M E N A DV I S O R S THE COMPLETE M O D E L , P RO C E S S TOOLS, AND S T R AT E G I E S T O T R A N S FO R M T H E I R P R AC T I C E T O O N E T H AT T O TA L LY REFLECTS WHO THEY A R E A N D W H AT T H E Y WA N T T O AC C O M P L I S H W I T H THEIR BUSINESS. “

Following a huge discrimination case, Adri was asked by her then employers to become a inancial advisor. The lawsuit faced by the company became a huge opportunity for Adri. “As a inancial advisor and single mother with three young kids I knew I couldn't build a business the way they asked me to, I didn't have that many hours and quite frankly cold calling would have bored me to death.”

dawned upon Adri, and she decided to leave the corporate environment.

“I realized working within the corporate structure I couldn't have the impact I wanted. In 2004 I left the “mothership” and struck out on my own building a successful coaching practice focused on women.”

Flaunt your Feathers.

When talking to a room full of female inancial advisors, Adri always makes sure to share the Peacock and the Penguin story.

According to her, this story perfectly encapsulates everything she and her team want to accomplish at femXadvisor.

She shares, “As women we are these beautiful peacocks, we low into a room with a long, graceful neck followed by a stream of colorful feathers, we are smart, con ident and capable.”

“We are hired into the land of penguins, attend penguin training, and try and apply everything we are taught by the penguins.” These penguins remind us to tuck our feathers, to pull our necks down, to stop lowing into the room, to become a part of the crowd – to become just another penguin.

“And we end up wearing 5 pairs of spanx to hold in our feathers, squishing our neck down which makes our voices gravely, and work

17

C O V E R S T O R Y

“

18

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

“ I BELIEVE IN MANAGING NOT TIME. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

“

ENERGY

19

20

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

C O V E R S T O R Y

on waddling instead of our natural low. We then wonder why women ind it more challenging to succeed.

Penguins only know how to be a penguin.”

At femXadvisor, Adri encourages every woman to be the peacock that they are; to luff their feathers, articulate their thoughts, and embrace their natural low.

She further mentions that her program is not a band aid or a quick ix to this male-dominated industry.

Rather, it's a paradigm shift from the traditional model designed around the strengths of only men.

“I wanted to provide women advisors the complete model, process tools, and strategies to transform their practice to one that totally re lects who they are and what they want to accomplish with their business.”

In her incredible journey, Adri re lects that every step she has taken has been of utmost necessity.

She irmly believes that these experiences, the good ones and the bad, have given her a depth of understanding as well as an appreciation for what women were consistently experiencing.

Energy not Time

Talking about how she ensures work-life balance, Adri mentions that she is a believer in managing energy, not time. She lives her life focusing on her unique brilliance, activities that inspires and energizes her. “My unique brilliance is speaking, coaching, training, that is where I put 80% of my work time. When I am not working, I am always competing in golf, tennis, pickle ball and inspiring other women to be their best self.”

Moving forward, Adri is determined to expand her brand and empower more women advisors. “We are inally getting regional irms to embrace our femXmodel allowing us to train management, leadership as well as the advisors.”

She believes as more and more irms start to embrace a more feminine approach to wealth management, it will position the industry to accelerate growth while creating new opportunities within the world of women.

EXELEON SHORTS One Book Entrepreneurs Must Read – Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters

One Productivity Tool / App that Everyone Should Use – Stephen Cover Time Management Quadrants One Movie / Show that you would Recommend – Rudy - It shows the

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

power of passion and desire.

One Quote that Motivates you the Most – “She believed she could, so she did.”

One Investment Advice that you Follow – Know what and why you are investing.

21

We Embrace Excellence!

Exeleon Magazine features some of the leading players in business and shares their journey of excellence to inspire aspiring leaders across the globe.

SUBSCRIBE

www.exeleonmagazine.com

24

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

bringing interview with nicole young

What according to you makes one an empowering woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

I believe an empowering woman is someone who not only shines naturally but inspires those around her to tap into their inner spark and to use that spark to do big things. I make it my business to surround myself with individuals that I can inspire but who also inspire me. I think that combination is one the most important keys to operating and growing a business.

Talk to us about your growing up years.

What is your earliest memory as a leader / Entrepreneur?

By age 5 I was the cousin that would convince all the other kids to put on a performance (that I of course wrote, choreographed, styled, and designated the roles to) for the grownups at our family

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

parties. And the "shows" were pretty epic!

I also remember my dance teacher Miss Francine telling me that I had leadership skills somewhere around that same age.

She would often place me in the front row or have me face the class and use me as an example to the rest of the class. That memory in particular is a constant reminder to lead by example.

What prompted your interest in whiskey? How did you go on to form your own lavored whiskey brand?

My interest in Whiskey was really sparked by my love of creating lavor. As a recipe developer in the food space, I'd always used lavor to transform and expand people's views as well as their palates, so creating a whiskey with the intent to transform pre-conceived notions about whiskey and expand the whiskey audience was something I jumped at the chance to do.

25

EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

Talk to us about the research and crafting process that has gone into making Frisky Whiskey?

After extensive market research, we determined that there was a void that could be illed in the whiskey space, speci ically where lavored whiskey was concerned. In stark contrast to what lavored whiskey meant before Frisky, we created a premium whiskey with natural lavor. No fruity taste, no arti icial lavoring and no dessert-like after taste.

As a black female entrepreneur, what have been some of the biggest challenges and learnings in your journey?

One of my key takeaways as a Black female entrepreneur is that virtually everyone will doubt you and your ability to succeed (including many of the people who smile, congratulate you, and tell you how proud they are of what you're doing) but if your work and your product speak for themselves, the only pat on the back you need is from you own hand and the only people you need to impress are the people in your target audience.

Having received multiple awards and emerging as one of the fastest growing brands in the spirits industry, how do you plan on scaling the Frisky Whiskey brand?

start Frisky Whiskey has gotten off to.

In under a year, we've opened distribution in 7 states and have secured shelf space with major retail chains like Walmart, Costco, and Total wine.

With plans underway to launch in another 5 markets and a new distribution deal in the works (details coming soon!) we are eyeing national expansion. The goal is a strong presence for Frisky Whiskey in large chain retailers as well as smaller liquor stores across the country.

Finally, what would be your advice for women entrepreneurs when it comes to maintaining work-life balance?

Work-life balance advice is tricky because every woman's situation is unique but the one thing, I would recommend women in business prioritize is their health. It's very important to take diet and exercise seriously!

Entrepreneurship can take its toll on your mind, body, and soul and there is a deep connection between feeling healthy and strong and performing that way both at work and at home.

I am extremely thankful to my femalelead team and truly humbled by their hard work with ensuring the great

26

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

27

IN – FOCUS

A S T O R Y O F

COLORS &MORE –CARRIE COLBERT

I

n a world where creativity and business often seem to be at odds, Carrie Colbert stands out as a shining example of how the two can seamlessly intersect. A digital in luencer, Carrie has made a name for herself by empowering women to succeed in business and entrepreneurship.

As the founding and general partner at Curate Capital, she is on a mission to provide capital, mentorship, and strategic planning advice to female entrepreneurs and female-driven companies.

Additionally, through her work as a fashion and lifestyle in luencer, Carrie has become known for her bold and vibrant use of color, and she has made it her mission to help other women embrace color and

30

express themselves boldly.

With a proven track record of driving results, it's no wonder that Carrie is a sought after speaker, panelist, mentor, and advisor. In this interview, we to learn more about her journey, her passion for empowering women, and how she is using the power of color to inspire and uplift others.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

To me, power begins with a deeply rooted sense of self-awareness.

Knowing who you are and playing to your strengths are two keys to embracing your power.

Beyond that, I may be biased as an investor, but I think being in charge of and knowledgeable about one's inances makes a woman powerful.

I grew up in a very small Texas town where it was impolite to talk about money, which I think is a similar story to many women's upbringings.

When I began working for a rapidly growing energy company, that changed quickly. Hilcorp embraced a very entrepreneurial culture. Two key components of that culture were an open book management style and an ownership mentality.

All employees knew how their actions could impact the bottom line - and thus our own inancial success, because we all had equity in the company. I quickly realized the power of ownership.

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

Founding & General Partner Curate Capital

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

31

IN – FOCUS

Though I now work in a completely different industry, I've carried many of those lessons forward in how I run Curate Capital, wherein I share all inancial updates, both good and (heaven forbid) not so good with our internal team and investors.

Transparency is so critical for women to feel more invested, both iguratively and literally, in the outcomes.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader?

One of my irst jobs growing up was at the small-town golf course where of course it was predominately men that played day in and day out. Very quickly I learned to speak con idently, upsell at the Pro Shop, and hold my own even when surrounded by those with much more life experience than myself. I think that was one of the irst opportunities for me to learn how to get comfortable with failure, which is an absolutely vital skill as an entrepreneur.

Beyond that, I was always a high performer. I was my high school class valedictorian, the top of my engineering class, an of icer in organizations many times over, and so on and so forth. For me, performance was a way to rise above my meager beginnings.

Your branding uses a lot of vibrant and expressive colors.

What is your association with colors and what it represents?

Yes! I have always loved color! Early on in my career, I succumbed to the

32

workplace norms to wear (in my mind) boring neutrals. But soon thereafter, I learned to embrace my individuality and express my personality via my style selections.

On Instagram I coined the hashtag #MoreColorPlease because I truly believe surrounding yourself with vibrancy and positive energy is the only way to live your life. It sounds corny, but something as simple as slipping on a bright pink dress or rainbow sweater can totally turn my day around.

From a business perspective, it was super important to me when launching Curate Capital to use color and bold branding as a way to stand out from the crowd. At the time, just a few short years ago, the sea of venture capital irms was pretty monochromatic. VC websites all had very conservative, traditional colors and branding.

Navy blue was everywhere! So, my branding was an opportunity to set ourselves apart from the very irst impression!

From spending almost two decades in the corporate sector to starting a venture capital fund that supports and empowers women entrepreneurs. What has been the journey like for you?

It's been a rollercoaster, that's for sure. Up until the point that I started Curate Capital, I had really been very blessed to see a steady positive progression in my career. I rose in the ranks at an oil and gas company, I “retired” and grew an Instagram following and in luencer status, and then as more and more female founders were approaching

me on social media with their incredible investment opportunities, I realized I had to do more.

Little did I know that I would hear more “no's” in my irst fundraise with Curate than ever before in my life. There were tears of frustration and joy, moments of fear and triumph, and in the end, we were just ecstatic to surpass our initial goal of $10 Million by 50%! Our portfolio companies are each thriving as they grow at their own paces, and we believe so strongly in the women behind them.

While my professional experience may seem really disjointed, it's actually not. Experience teaches us lessons all the time if we are open to learning. In hindsight, I can look back and connect all the dots. No experience is lost or wasted. It has all contributed to what I'm doing now - which I consider to be my professional sweet spot, the culmination of many years of hard work.

Looking at this journey, if you were to start again, what would you do differently?

Technically speaking there are a few details of structuring a venture capital fund that I would probably do differently, but those were lessons I had to learn the hard way.

Overall, I can honestly look back and say that every moment in my life has led me to where I am today.

My husband and I are raising two phenomenal children while I grow Curate Capital, and while it's wildly busy and chaotic at times, I

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

Finally, talk to us about the impact of Curate Capital, not only in terms of supporting womenowned businesses but also how it is increasing awareness about the untapped potential of this market.

We're extremely unique in the sense that 80% of our investors are women, and the vast majority are individual investors, not giant private equity irms or inancial institutions. We've also seen that our investors are primarily from Texas and the Midwest, whereas most venture capital dollars are coming from the East or West Coast, as you might imagine. I think all that data supports our gut feeling that Curate Capital is opening the eyes of a whole new demographic and generation of women who want to put their money where their mission is, so to speak.

wouldn't change a thing. I'm grateful for the chance to craft a life I love.

As an entrepreneur, speaker, in luencer, and mother, what does a day in the life of Carrie Colbert look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

Well, while there are certainly times of chaos, I'd say age has taught me to iercely ilter through opportunities. I don't try to be all

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

things to all people. I'm very clear on my priorities during this season of life. My priorities are (1) taking care of myself, (2) taking care of my children, and (3) building my business. Any invitations or opportunities that come my way have to bene it one of these three priorities - or it's a no for me. A different season of life may look differently. But for now, my focus on these three things is of utmost importance to me.

If no one else is going to invest in female founders, of course it's going to be our fellow women! We know for a fact that companies led by women outperform their male counterparts, so we're not only creating a movement, but we're also making excellent business decisions as well. And the best part is, the sky's the limit!

33

IN – FOCUS

Ashley Epperson Committed Towards Quality

S

ometimes we forget to put a value on things that are most readily available to us. We forget the natural bond we share.

We forget the urge to get the best of it for us. Just a safety limit becomes a parameter using which we decide what to buy and what not to.

This also applies for the water we drink. We are often satis ied to get our hands on a bottle and do not bother about the brand or the value they provide. In fact, most of us do not even know the difference in taste or properties that various brands bring to the table. But for Ashley Epperson and her partner, this was an insight that triggered a business idea of launching a brand called Salacious Drinks.

Ashley's steps are an intense fusion of a practice of delivering the best and the best possible medium of delivering it to end 36

users. The source they explore is nature, hence no tap waters or puri ied means are involved. They have also set up an online presence to sail along with the tide of time.

Exeleon Magazine proudly interviews this Dynamic Entrepreneur to learn more about her journey, the challenges she faced, and her vision for the business.

Q. What according to you makes for a dynamic entrepreneur?

How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

For me, it's a human's ability to pivot when the situation does not go the way they are expected to.

But they remain steadfast that the decision made was the right one. I have always been told that I am an extreme optimist; I will pour until the cup is over lowing! I am learning when to turn while keeping that outlook of positivity.

Q. What prompted the inception of Salacious Drinks? What was the idea behind the name of the company?

I met my partner at work (we were both in the grocery industry), and the moment we met he confronted me about my beverage of choice (store brand water). He was drinking a name brand and swore his was better. We tried both and I could taste the difference in brands. We started to get to know each other and made a game out of trying all the brands we could get our hands on. Eventually, we started to travel and learned that certain areas had brands which we couldn't ind where we lived. An idea was thus forming. One day on his drive home, he expressed this idea of opening a water store, and I loved it! He told me it was 2016 and we should open it online. So we jumped in.

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

hard in the beginning to get brands to even understand that we wanted to create this thing online; most would not even give us the time of day! We saw so many avenues and tried to chase them all at once.

Q. What has been the biggest driving factor for you as a leader and entrepreneur?

My greatest motivating factor is the love for what I do. We turned what my partner and I enjoyed as a connection between friends into a business. The curiosity of building the reality of what was once a common interest is what keeps me going.

Q. What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs?

What's in a name? Well ours is simple, salacious is provocative, alluring. We wanted people to associate water with that idea.

Patrons have forever been offered unique bottles of wine/spirits and then given just a glass of water.

That is terrible! There is so much more to water and we wanted that to be conveyed in our name irst.

Q. What has the journey been like for Ashley Epperson over the years?

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

My journey has been one of learning, trusting, and determination. The idea that we could shake up the water industry and create a subcategory for premium brands has been long and hard but de initely worth it.

Q. Looking back, what would you have done different when starting out?

I would have stuck to the premise of my online store. We fought so

My advice is a bit off kilter for most. I believe you have to be sel ish to start. You cannot have it all in the beginning. It's not an easy path to take, but if you are willing to be uncomfortable for a few years to have what most will never, then go for it.

Q. What makes Salacious Drinks a premier bottled water company?

Salacious Drinks specializes in only naturally sourced waters - so no tap water or puri ied brands. We want the best that nature has to offer. There are so many sources and stories that go along with each brand and we want to showcase it for our customers. We make sure we have a connection to the source so we can verify each brand we sell/promote is authentic.

37

IN – FOCUS

Q. What has been the biggest roadblock during your journey?

The biggest roadblock for me has been myself! If I get sidetracked or start to question the process then it will show, the sales will slow down, the customer engagement will dry up. When you realize that the only thing that matters is succeeding, then everything else really does become trivial.

Q. What is the future like for Salacious Drinks and you personally?

The future is truly becoming the number one place to go for imported and domestic bottled waters. We want to help grow brands and bring new experiences to people. Personally, I see myself reshaping how the beverage industry views water. I want them to come to us as the experts on all things water.

Q. Finally, what do you think is the most important trait for an entrepreneur and why?

The most important trait for any entrepreneur is honesty.

Can you honestly put up with all the perceived loneliness? The late nights? The seemingly endless failures? Take a long hard look in 38

that mirror and be honest with yourself. Once you can do that then you have nothing in your way but success.

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

Christina Flach President & CEO | Pretty Girl Makeup

40

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

g n i c a Embr . . . y t u Bea C

hristina forayed into the beauty and fashion industry because she wanted to witness all the fun, excitement and glamour that comes with it, while overcoming her own challenges and struggles. Christina Flach is the President and CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup — her celebratory shoutout to all the girls to make them feel beautiful.

With more than 20 years of experience in the business, Christina uses her knowledge to create stylish and trendy lip, eye, and face products. She is passionate to deliver one-of-a-kind high-end beauty products that are mixed and matched with natural ingredients, and other essential oils.

Besides creating luxurious beauty experiences, Christina dons' multiple hats gracefully. She is a Sepsis Awareness Advocate, grief expert and shares her experience across various platforms like magazines, podcasts, blogs. She also successfully runs her own blog — Love, Life, Laugh and Lipgloss and is thrilled to start a new skincare and makeup line with her partner, Jordan.

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

In this Exclusive Interview, Christina Flach shares about her journey, her beliefs, and Pretty Girl Makeup.

What according to you makes one a transformational leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

I think a transformational leader selects a team of experts that can come together and work as a highly functioning team. I try to integrate that thought process into my leadership, by having open dialogue with my team, respect for what they do, and most importantly letting them have the creative freedom to excel in their speci ic area of expertise.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader that you can remember?

My childhood was interrupted by my mother being diagnosed with brain cancer when I was eight years old. As the oldest child, I had to step up, to help around my home with cooking and cleaning. Not having a mom that was physically and emotionally available because of her disease, was challenging as I was going through my teenage years and wanted a mothers' guidance.

I think that as the oldest child of a terminally ill parent, it forced me to take charge to support my dad and my sister and my mother as best I could, which I think helped me later in my life. I have not let these tragedies make my life tragic, rather it made me stronger and resilient when faced with bumps in life's road.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the beauty and fashion industry?

I have always had a love of fashion and beauty products. Looking forward to the latest magazines to see what the latest trend was.

Watching celebrities on television and looking at all the beautiful faces at the award shows de initely trained my eye for beauty.

I'm a very visual person so I think I wanted a life that was full of beauty, not just with clothes and makeup, but also my home being decorated, clean, organized but at the same time cozy and inviting for my family and friends.

What led to the formation of Pretty Girl Makeup? What was the idea behind its name?

As a mother of 5 that was constantly in a battle of drinking water and putting lip gloss on while I drove my kids to school and all their activities. I could not ind a lip gloss that lasted long enough that was not matte or drying out my lips.

I decided to contact a beauty chemist to formulate my own lip gloss that was long lasting, hydrating, and good for my skin.

41

IN – FOCUS

The name Pretty Girl came about when I was in Hawaii with my family and friends sitting by the pool. My kids had inally gotten to an age where I didn't need to be in the pool with them, my friend Claudia made the funniest comment," Honey, we're just sitting here looking at magazines, lying in the sun acting like Pretty Girls!"

That made me laugh so hard, but I also thought every mother that is working and trying to get everything done in her day, is a Pretty Girl and deserves to be made to feel like one. I thought that was the perfect name for my company and being inspired by the creators of Bene it cosmetics. They had fabulous packaging and very whimsical names. I remember making lists and lists of funny names like Private Jet, Let's Go Shopping, Soulmates, Love of my Life, Day at the Spa, that I wanted to name my products.

Being the CEO and Founder, what role do you play in the day-to-day proceedings of the company?

The irst thing I do when I wake up is check in with my amazing assistant Mayah, who keeps my calendar organized with meetings, documents to look over, interviews I may have. Next comes checking in with my partner Jordan, followed by checking in with the marketing team and sales. I want everyone on my team to feel like they have access to me when they need it. But I also want them to have the freedom to do their job. I know what's going on with everyone and get inal approval, but I always think it's best to let the experts on my team do what they do best.

42

What is the approach followed by you and your team in order to ensure optimal client satisfaction?

We are constantly watching industry trends and listening to our clients via email and social media.

My agents still book me on photo shoots, which helps to keep me in a creative mode and not just being a CEO. I love having my artistic outlet, working on these shoots and being able to work with my team at Pretty Girl to run at the highest level possible, being pro itable and we are very proud of the products that we sent out into the world.

What has the journey been like for Christina Flach over the years?

Looking back, what would you have done differently if you were to start again?

My journey over the years has de initely had its ups and downs.

My son Beau passing away on Christmas day when he was 4 1/2 months old 15 years ago de initely affected my career professionally but also personally. I went through a divorce and learning to grieve my child while still being a mother and trying to run my business was really tough. Then my husband Ken Flach passing away in 2018 from Sepsis, and dealing with the pandemic, have been more obstacles that I have learned to ride the waves of. If I look back on what I would do differently, I would be a lot gentler on myself. Looking back, I know I did the best I could with the situations I was dealt with. I beat myself up emotionally, not feeling I did enough each day and feeling like a failure when in reality I was still just going through emotional turmoil and grief.

What would be your advice for emerging women leaders in the beauty space?

The best advice that I could give anyone in the beauty industry or in any other space is that if you love what you're doing so much, you won't mind working the long hours, seven days a week and not earning a ton of money at the beginning. But if you love what you're doing and are passionate about your goals, I know that hard work pays off and you will be successful. Loving what you're doing is contagious and people can feel your positive energy.

What has been the biggest roadblock during your journey?

What has been your biggest learning?

I think the biggest roadblock I've had was not getting a business plan sooner and getting investors to expand. I have learned that being uncomfortable is actually part of the process, will only make you stronger and more con ident in the end.

Finally, what does the future look like for you, both personally and professionally?

My future is looking very exciting, my partner Jordan and I are going to be partnering with two other investors to create a new line skincare and make up line. I am open and excited about all new adventures in my business and personal life. Having balance in my life is key for me being successful in my professional life. My heart is full, and I am very happy!

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

43

IN – FOCUS

INTERVIEW WITH

Global Health Innovator Riya Mehta

W

hat according to you makes one a dynamic leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

Willing to be inclusive of other people's differences and opinions are a lot to handle as a leader, but it makes for a thoughtful, empathetic, and strong igurehead. I realized this over time, when I started to be the team lead in consulting projects and hire interns--I learned the value of mentoring young people that have different niches, and voices to add. For example, when launching my startup project Futureshot Factory, I chose to hire 2 interns to assist in our collaborations, and I stayed active in training them by opening up a slack channel, private coaching sessions as well as weekly meetings. I furthermore offered my network to them and nominated my interns for awards, jobs, and other internships that would accelerate their careers after they left the company.

Talk to us about your growing-up years.

What led you to be involved with the

46

idea of changing the world at such a young age?

There's so much continuous pressure on young high school students to rigorously focus on academics and school extracurriculars, that there is no time left for them to branch out and apply themselves to adventurous situations, or practice real-life skills in companies through internships. It's quite disheartening, and I really felt that I was lucky enough to escape that. I started becoming a medical researcher at 16, which snowballed into opportunities of me being part of accelerator programs, and soon, traveling around the world to represent organizations at conferences, by keynoting at them.

I noticed the growing need for young women of color in the ields of stem and social advocacy, to bridge the gender disparity gap and make women speaking up the new norm. I feel blessed that I was able to continue school online for the remainder of my high school career, as I'm aware

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

47

IN – FOCUS

others don't have the same luxury. My family, guidance counselors and mentors got me to where I am.

How are you empowering developing countries to utilize AR and VR in genome research?

During my time at SickKids, I joined the AI & genomics lab network to develop creative approaches to using AI algorithms for human genome mapping; or detecting faulty genes in the body before they developed into other worse diseases. Before then, I never really took the time to really process how arti icial intelligence can intersect with genomic data and access parts of our bodies or make future predictions in a way humans cannot. In addition to that learning curve, I also got to apply my skills speci ically with virtual/augmented reality to make 3D heart models that better detail what's going on in the human body with heart defects or cardiac diseases. The Heart Research department I was working in was studying the effects of a disease called Pulmonary Vein Stenosis, a rare disease in young children & newborns associated with high mortality that results in the narrowing of pulmonary veins.

I thought about how 3D bioprinting would play a role in this, as many labs have been printing live human heart models that can replace damaged ones in the body. This research is still in its theory phase, as there are many complications such as not having personalized hearts to it the human body, ethical questions, etc. However, bioprinting offers a permanent, safer solution that can re-establish blood low in the body long term, by replacing the constrained heart with an arti icial, one constructed by using a patient's own stem cells to limit rejection.

What has the journey been like for Riya Mehta over the years? Looking back, what would you have done differently when starting out?

To give some back history on my journey in STEM and social justice, I've been a research associate at The Institute for Economics and Peace think tank for the past 2 years, conducting research into the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and what it means for the economy in the Middle East, with a focus on ethnic con lict. As a Canadian representative for the UNITAR council, I work with UN of icials to help rebuild communities af licted by civil wars. I also serve as a 48

commitment maker for UN Women, to educate the general public on con licts such as the Ukrainian war.

I would shadow my superiors, as I interacted with the parents of patients to provide comfort and give them hope as they continued their journey in the hospital.

The more time I spent there, the more I became grateful for my privilege in life, and instead of looking at world problems in a negative way, I started channeling my energy toward co-creating solutions. If I could go back, I would attempt to make my voice more heard in both smaller and bigger environments, as I could've played a more active role in providing recommendations to better-known people in the industry. I believe being shy at irst and not making my thoughts known cost me certain connections and a stronger network, which is why I urge everyone to be comfortable with getting uncomfortable and take pride in uncertain situations.

What would be your advice for young and aspiring women leaders or entrepreneurs?

Ensure you start building cultural capital for yourselves, especially in our current climate with more young people getting involved in huge companies such as Google or Tesla, many career-advancing programs are built upon the network and connections you make with mentors, women leaders, and industry giants that are willing to help you along on your journey. There is so much opportunity for young girls to take advantage of and make a real change, a tangible one which is all due to adult donors, supporters, and those who constantly stand up for women-led organizations, in an effort to be a pillar of strength for the next generation of girls.

Continue to believe in strong-minded young women, and show your support, because there are more chances now than ever for girls to be involved in areas of research, social activism, and change that can not only bene it them but others as well. If we want to see real impact, see others make an actual difference, we have to actively support the next generation who can bring that about, and that are the young women leaders, those who constantly work to provide a better future for all.

What has been the biggest roadblock during your journey? What has been your biggest learning?

One of the most signi icant problems I've faced is the

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

best way to be heard in industry meetings, projects and how to be bold when presenting keynotes. As a young woman of color, I appreciate the challenges associated with others much older than me, taking my opinions seriously as over time I became more articulate in discussing my wants with others, rather than sitting idly. I see myself as a moonshot thinker, with many people resisting my dreams at the beginning of my journey, which evidently did not stop me from wanting to pursue them.

Moving forward, what does the future look like for you? What is your long-term vision?

I envision our planet utilizing carbon capture systems to not only rid mass amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere but also convert carbon dioxide into other resources such as graphene, diesel fuel, or concrete. I believe that direct air capture can be a shift towards megatonne-sized solutions. We require new, innovative ways of thinking if we hope to sustain our planet and continue to witness its beauty.

Personally, I see my pathway heading in the direction of social justice advocacy and creating more impact with my initiatives in political journalism, continuing with submitting articles for magazines and newspapers. I hope to become a greater igurehead, so other young girls can look up to me and hopefully pick up some advice on getting started in the STEM and social justice space as a student in high school.

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

49

IN – FOCUS

50

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

EXHIBITING A RICH LEGACY OF 35 YEARS

I

t is widely believed that our parents are our irst and our best teachers.

They are the ones who teach us to talk, walk, behave, and nurture us before we are ready to face the real world. And most of the time, our parents show us the very thing that will go on to de ine who we are; becoming the very reason behind our existence.

For Tori Atwell, it was her father's persistent efforts of taking her to Real Estate seminars as a teenager and young adult that went on to de ine her entire life.

Today, Tori stands tall amongst the most renowned real estate brokers to have served in Silicon Valley since 1986. With over three decades of industry-wide experience, Tori Atwell has been navigating the industry through her arduous work and her mission of delivering a human touch through her services.

A HUMBLE BEGINNING

Tori was born in Redwood City and raised in the Bay area, where she obtained her

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

Business Administration Degree in the 80s.

While initially she worked in the banking industry, she turned to real estate after starting her own family.

She remembered how his father used to take her to real estate seminars and always encouraged her to work hard.

“Real Estate is the one constant in everyone's life: We all need a place to live.

For those lucky enough to be able to invest, Real Estate is the way to go as part of a healthy portfolio,” mentions Tori.

Listening to her father and perceiving real estate as the foundation, Tori commenced her professional journey in Palo Alto and then later moved her business to the Mountain View, Los Altos area.

A WIDE BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE

Working in the real estate sector for over 35 years, Tori has seen her fair share of transformation and changes in the industry. She still remembers the simpler times when demands and work were less,

51

IN – FOCUS

and the entire process ran with people patiently trusting each other.

“No cell phones, a receptionist who rarely took a message correctly, short contracts and minimal paperwork, no computers. Our basic tools were minimal, but with those minimal tools, folks were less demanding.”

She further highlights how people had more patience and did not have a constant need for immediate grati ication.

Tori notes that markets and the economy may have come and gone, but the evolution of innovative technology has signi icantly impacted the industry. “35 years ago, we did not write brochures, no one used a professional photographer, stagers were not even a thing. Today, you can do it all without any hassles.”

However, amongst all the developments, the one thing that stands out for Tori is the human touch which can never be removed entirely from the industry.

Even after witnessing so much change over the years, she believes that hard work and being kind to others is what makes you a powerful leader.

While some may think that being tough and stern are the right way to lead, she takes the opposite approach of exhibiting kindness and respect. “Folks know I mean business but working together for mutual goals and admiration goes 52

much further. It is often harder to be kind in a poor situation rather than hurtful and aggressive.”

This is primarily the reason why Tori prefers to still have one-onone communication directly with all her clients in order to deliver a satisfactory experience. According to her, real estate agents are often busy chasing one deal after another and ignoring the clients they already have.

Instead, she mentions, it is imperative for them to understand that when someone hires an agent, the person trusts you with the most crucial decision of their life.

Thereby, they deserve the best of attention and be informed on all levels of the transaction.

Ful illing individuals' needs for these many years and sustaining the human essence have brought much success to Tori. She pays

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

IN – FOCUS

t’s a Continuous Journey It's been over three decades since Tori has been helping individuals and families sell and move into new homes. Her attention to detail, providing one-on-one consultation, and adding a personal touch to real estate have led her to attain the unmatched success and a hard-earned reputation within the community.

For the future, Tori would like to continue to serve thousands of families selling or moving into their dream homes.

“We have a saying in real estate; realtors don't really retire, we just slow down as our age goes up,” she concludes.

EVOLVING WITH PARENTHOOD Amidst the hustle and bustle in her profession, Tori raised two beautiful kids. She recalls how after school time, they would often go look at a house, meet an inspection, and drive-by properties. “My son, Kyle, at age 5, could look at a house/property and tell if it would sell or not,” recalls Tori.

gratitude to the industry she has served. “I have been blessed enough to start in the business when you had to do everything yourself, including qualifying buyers before they began looking at property. My business roots and experiences are constant sources of inside knowledge and understanding of the industry.”

E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

With her kids growing up, a lot has changed in terms of her lifestyle and approach to real estate. She now practices a new lifestyle, paying undivided one-on-one attention to her clients and going out with clients or co-workers on her off time. “Real Estate is different from most industries; it's not just a job, it is an entire social structure that facilitates getting to know a wide array of people from many different cultures and walks of life.”

And when Tori is not with her clients or working, she could be found enjoying quality time with her six dogs, four cats, and two mini-pigs.

GET THE BEST TEACHER

Tori feels grateful to have the best teacher in the form of her father who paved the way for her interest and subsequently her successful career.

Taking a cue from her own life, she advises new young and aspiring entrepreneurs in the real estate space to ind a good realtor. She mentions, “Trust and respect and shadow their every move. If you spend some free time learning from the best, you will get an invaluable education and foundation for a successful career.”

53

w w w. e x e l e o n m a g a z i n e . c o m