The gift that gives back. The Tory Burch Foundation Seed Box features a curated selection of seven products made by women entrepreneurs: herbal tea from Teaspressa’s Allison DeVane, rose geranium vegan soap from Mullein & Sparrow’s Anit Hora, orange and basil lip balm from Cocovít’s Rikita Kapadia, a mask facial treatment from Skinesque’s Susie Yoon and an illustrated floral notepad from Pen+Pillar’s Taylor Mahlke, plus Tory Sport performance socks and a cosmetic case designed by Tory Burch — all packaged in a graphic keepsake sliding box. 100% of net proceeds will benefit the Tory Burch Foundation. Get to know the participating entrepreneurs and read all about their climb up the startup ladder in our exclusive interviews here.

TEASPRESSA’S ALLISON DEVANE

Teaspressa is…
Coffee-inspired tea. We make our tea like coffee, which creates this beautiful hybrid beverage featuring the best of both worlds: consistency and caffeine-like coffee as well as the health benefits and enhanced flavors of tea.

And I was inspired to launch it when…
I just knew it was time to start something of my own and make a positive impact. I originally wanted to have a coffee bar but wanted to really stand out so I decided to focus on the tea. From the beginning, I just knew I wanted to do good, something meaningful, and build a global company.

The story behind the name…
Tea + espresso + female impact = Teaspressa. I wanted the name to have a feminine touch as this is a 100% female-owned business. At the end of the day I was hoping to share and inspire other women who are considering starting their own businesses or take further initiative in their careers.

Best advice I received when starting the business…
Go with your gut, don’t be afraid to take the risk, don’t ever doubt yourself and make sure to be extremely ambitious.

Challenges I faced early on, and how I navigated them…
In the beginning I felt a lot of indecisiveness and doubt. The truth was after working these problems out, it turns out you know more than you think you let yourself know. I feel as though most of my problems emerged from me not feeling confident in myself to make such big decisions and ultimately being afraid of being judged by them when/if presented. As quickly as the business grew I had to learn how to own my decisions, own being my own best professional in my business, and really trust myself. One of my favorite quotes I recently heard that resonated so much is “the only thing worse than a bad decision is not making a decision at all.”

I embrace ambition by…
Trusting myself and going with what my gut tells me to do first before overthinking it. I also embrace my ambition by confidently representing my business, whether it be my demeanor through casual conversation or thoroughly defending my wants and needs in negotiations.

Ways I stay motivated to achieve my goals…
I like to set myself mini weekly goals, monthly goals and big picture goals. Above all, my most favorite goals to set are the big picture ones; they are so fun and I have to admit that I am a dreamer. In being a dreamer in business, however, I’ve realized that in order to make these dreams happen, I have to build that ladder up. There were several times when I got lost in the mix, felt incomplete or that no movement was happening — now, if I set mini goals, I can see the small steps I’m taking to get to the big goal. I’ve realized that I could keep myself accountable in attaining these goals by celebrating the smaller accomplishments that lead to huge successes in the business. It is the most incredible feeling to see those dream goals done, in action, and to then really appreciate the journey it took to get there.

MULLEIN & SPARROW’S ANIT HORA

Mullein & Sparrow is…
The tangible culmination of who I am as a person. It’s not only the final result of my more recent background as an esthetician, herbalist and ex-fashion designer but also the outcome of my deeper background: my Indian/Ayurvedic background, my inner drive to create and forge my own path, my being the daughter of immigrant parents who worked very hard and were also entrepreneurs. Mullein & Sparrow is all of this and then the final ribbon on top, tying it all together, is my labor of love.

And I was inspired to launch it because…
I always had an inherent sense that I would 1.) do something creative professionally and 2.) be an entrepreneur. These things don’t always go hand in hand in people’s minds because, generally speaking, people either consider themselves to be creatives or else they enjoy the more business side of things. But I truly enjoyed both aspects and I learned this early on because I would always help my parents with their shop even as a child. It excited me — the open-ended potential that exists when you are running your own ship. And I’ve also always enjoyed art and music and yoga. When I found myself in my mid twenties sort of burnt out from fashion, I realized it wasn’t the fashion industry itself, which I love to this day, it was that I was ready to start something of my very own and I knew it time to step into that journey, that exploration.

The story behind the name…
Mullein is the first herb that I learned about when I embarked on the path to study herbalism. I will never forget those first days because it was coming back to life in a way — a fresh start of sorts. I was immersing myself in this new subject, which was endlessly and effortlessly captivating me and my full attention. So those days and my first lessons were very special to me and so Mullein symbolizes that for me. Sparrow because it’s what my mother calls me: her little sparrow.

Best advice I received when starting the business…
No risk, no reward.

Challenges I faced early on, and how I navigated them…
Mullein & Sparrow is my baby and it has its humble beginnings in my apartment in Brooklyn. So as it slowly grew I had to let go of some control and learn to delegate. This was not easy as when something is so close to you, you are naturally very particular about how it should be and how things should be done. But you can’t do everything and if you try, you burn out and your entire team suffers because they are looking to you to lead, and to have answers. So stepping back and trusting that everything will be fine was a challenge. Having a good team is paramount.

I embrace ambition by…
Deeply knowing that it is very much my nature — it’s simply how I’m wired. And it’s not about money or possessing things (though things are nice); it’s about wanting to excel at my chosen craft and wanting to lead a good, deliberate life.

Ways I stay motivated to achieve my goals…
Unhealthy, unbalanced, obsessive-compulsive tireless behavior of reading this article, listening to that podcast, finding out what’s the latest and the greatest in skin care, beauty and in business. Networking with other entrepreneurs who reassure you that they too are in the same crazy boat of exhaustion and excitement all at the very same time.

COCOVÍT’S RIKITA KAPADIA

Cocovít is…
A coconut-oil-based beauty and skin-care line. At Cocovít we harvest fresh organic coconuts from an eco-reserve in South India, producing an exquisitely pure and exceptionally potent form of coconut oil. Using a heatless extraction process, we are able to maximize nutrient and enzyme potency by leaving the oil raw and untouched — as nature intended. The Cocovít collection currently includes a multi-purpose raw coconut oil, coconut-charcoal face mask, coconut-water hydro-mist (toner), orange and basil lip balm, mint lip polish, coconut and rose bath salts and besan and turmeric polishing grains (face exfoliant/face mask).

And I was inspired to launch it because…
The tradition of using coconut oil originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Inspired by my Indian heritage and my family’s belief in coconut oil, I wanted to create a multipurpose beauty and skin solution.
The coconut oil I used prior to Cocovít was also from India and, while results were good, I knew it was not 100% raw, nor was it the purest or most potent oil I could have been using. Knowing this, I began my search to develop a process that would allow the nutrients and enzymes to stay intact during the extraction process and in the final product. And this is how Cocovít was born.
In addition to seeking out a process that allowed us to create the purest and most potent form of coconut oil, I also wanted to find a way to give back to India, where my family originated from. During a visit about three years ago we purchased a farm in a village located in South India. This is the farm from which our coconut oil and other ingredients are now sourced. The purchase of this farm has allowed us to provide employment opportunities to over 150 of the local villagers, who were previously living in poverty. It has also allowed their children — over 65 — attend school.

The story behind the name…
Cocovít was actually named by my husband. It means the “life of coconut.”

Best advice I received when starting the business…
There is no such thing as an overnight success and building a successful brand takes time, hard work and dedication.
Many young entrepreneurs look at brands and immediately see only their success and don’t necessarily recognize that it took years for these brands to get where they are. Brand building is essential and, unfortunately, there are not blueprints or instructions to doing so; therefore, they often take time. I truly believe the time and energy you put into building your brand wisely and consistently will ultimately pay off. The end result will be a long-lasting brand, one which people will recognize and remember for the years to come. 

Challenges I faced early on, and how I navigated them…
The most challenging part of launching Cocovít was not really having experience on the business side of the beauty/natural beauty industry. However, every challenge I have faced along the way has only helped me learn and grow, to build a better, stronger brand.

I embrace ambition by…
Continuing to find ways of helping others, especially women in Third World countries who have had limited to almost no opportunities.

Ways I stay motivated to achieve my goals…
Always remembering that what I do and can do impacts so many more people than just myself.

SKINESQUE’S SUSIE YOON

Skinesque is…
Skinesque brings Korean skin-care innovation to the U.S. with travel-friendly products for both Korean beauty enthusiasts and skin-care fans alike. Skinesque creates luxurious, yet simple skin-care products by fusing Korean skin-care innovation with portability and multi-functional formulas. Skinesque products are made in Korea, and designed in California. Featuring thoughtful formulations, Skinesque products are formulated without parabens, sulfates, mineral oil and synthetic dyes, tested by dermatologists and is cruelty free.

And I was inspired to launch it because…
I have always been dedicated to caring for my skin at a very young age, at the advice of my Korean mother, aunts and a dermatologist uncle. During my days as an attorney, I was based in Asia, and during this time, I experienced the effectiveness of Korean skin-care innovation. And more importantly, I was inspired by the Korean woman’s commitment to achieving beautiful skin and appreciation for taking care of oneself, despite busy schedules. Taking care of one’s skin was not a burden, but a pleasure; and it was more about preventing, rather than treating once the damage had already occurred.
The two things I took away from my personal experience with Korean beauty is: the importance of cleansing and intense hydration. Our multi-functional exfoliating cleanser, Enzyme Washing Powder, and our 3step face masks provide an accessible but luxurious addition to anyone’s regimen to provide deep cleansing and extra hydration.

The story behind the name…
I am so grateful to the many women in my life who supported me when I first started Skinesque. My mom helped me with childcare, which was critical for me, especially in the beginning. My childhood friends helped with my branding and graphic design, which helped with my budget. And my best friends and I spent a week brainstorming names that would fit our brand and products.

Best advice I received when starting the business…
Starting a business and a brand is a marathon, and not a sprint. The right message, design, products create a cohesive brand, and it needs to be cohesive and continuous for the audience to truly feel connected and engaged. At the same time, I need to know when to pivot and make a change, based on the nature of our customer’s needs.
This leads me to another great piece of advice I received when starting Skinesque — truly understand your customer base and provide them with something they need and enjoy.

Challenges I faced early on, and how I navigated them…
I was fortunate to work with well respected and quality manufacturers in Korea. However, the secondary challenge had to do with the MOQ requirements that were very high for a new entrepreneur with a limited budget. I decided that I did not want to compromise on the quality of the manufacturers and stayed with them despite their requirements. Instead, I decided to start with a fewer number of products, and worked out a plan where I could meet my MOQ commitment via several installments.
Because I was a bootstrapped startup, I had to be very mindful of how I spent my money. I did not want to compromise on the quality of my products — my number one priority. And because were an e-commerce-based business, my budget also had room for website development and digital marketing. After these two, I was very lean on what and how I spent.

I embrace ambition by…
Showing my six-year-old daughter, Juliet, and three-year-old son, Ethan, that they could have, work towards, stumble but ultimately achieve their dreams!

Ways I stay motivated to achieve my goals…
Every Sunday, I go over what I need to get done by the next week’s end. Tackling mini goals on a weekly basis helps me to be productive and not get bogged down by the overwhelming long-term goals. I also meet with my mentor, who is a seasoned female entrepreneur/mother on a bimonthly basis to touch base about my accomplishments, road blocks and future goals. Advice, both personal and professional from her, helps me to have perspective on how I am doing.

PEN+PILLAR’S TAYLOR MAHLKE

Pen+Pillar is…
An illustrated paper-goods brand that believes in using art for good. I create cards, art prints, notepads, and journals that are hand-painted and printed in the USA. Ten percent of all our proceeds are donated to local refugee resettlement in our community.

And I was inspired to launch it because…
Art has been a part of me for a long time and when it came time ​for me​ to decide on a career, I knew that art needed to be a part of my future somehow. I didn’t have a clear vision for what I wanted that to look like, and I was never sure that college was the avenue I needed to take. In 2011 I left college and taught art in the Middle East. While I was overseas I had the opportunity to work with Palestinian refugees. It was an eye-opening experience for me to see injustice on that scale, and it changed me. I started Pen+Pillar with the goal to leverage my talents to empower and aid the refugees in my community.

The story behind the name…
I wanted the name to marry the artistic and philanthropic sides of my brand. “Pillar” was the word I came up with first, thinking about how support for our refugee community needs to be the pillar of everything this business does. “Pen” represents the artistic, creative business side to the brand.

Best advice I received when starting the business…
Work hard, and stay committed to learning your craft. Don’t say no to opportunities — find a way to make it work.

Challenges I faced early on, and how I navigated them…
Looking back, everything about the way I started was “wrong” by any good business standards. My husband and I were newlyweds living in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on just his income. He was an amazing support, and encouraged me to start Pen+Pillar, even though I had never finished college, had no connections in the industry, and knew absolutely nothing about a creative business. I started Pen+Pillar with the leftover money each month from his income, which was about $50 to $75 ​per ​month, so challenges abounded. I started by printing all my own products on a home printer, and that was probably the hardest thing. But you do what you need to do to make it work. ​Just learning how to get an online business up and running felt like this giant, impossible feat. I spent hours upon hours reading about marketing, the best website platforms, taxes and all these other things I never realized I needed to know. With all challenges then and now, I have found that if you accept the challenge, work hard, and utilize the resources available to you, you can overcome anything. It’s all about your mindset.

I embrace ambition by…
Just going for it. I really believe that hard work and persistence can get you where you want to go.

Ways I stay motivated to achieve my goals…
I remember why I started Pen+Pillar. The goals I have for Pen+Pillar are much bigger than myself, and ​having this opportunity to spend my life dedicated to serving and empowering others is my greatest motivation.
I also have an amazing support group in my husband, my friends, and my family. Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely road, so having their ​support is a much needed boost when it gets hard. Pen+Pillar ​couldn’t exist without them.

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