Diary of a Founder: The Importance of Education and Mentorship

Professional development has become a common buzzword within the last decade. There is an expectation that those entering a career path will continue their career training, seek out formal and informal learning opportunities, and network exchanges that enhance the quality of their skills and crafts.? This applies to Founders as well as we are consistently innovating and pivoting. This is why we adopted “education” as one of the pillars of the BrainTrust Founders Studio.? Dionne Phillips, Founder of the cutting edge D’Lashes brand, spoke to us about the role of education and professional development in her journey.? Within her long business career, Dionne lept from creating her first lash sets to obtaining her aesthetician license, providing luxury studio spa service with her signature technique, product differentiation, and becoming a lead educator throughout the industry.? In our conversation on the Business of the Beat podcast, Dionne talked about her continuing education from the early stages of building her brand to the present.? As a true artisan and creator, her education was both informal and formal: she attended trade shows, classes, solicited feedback from women along her path, researched online, collaborated with other field experts, and learned from trial and error.?

“I went to a lot of trade shows. I said ‘yes’ to everything. I did a lot of research online. I met people at these shows and other beauty events. I met one woman who introduced me to a manufacturer for my boxes. I researched a box designer and brand designer. I wanted my lash box to be a bit different, and to incorporate my fashion background from being a model in New York City [to producing] something super clean.”

Dionne is fluent in the different styles and trends that the industry has seen in the last 20 years. When asked about her continuing professional development, she shared without hesitation:

“The market! The market tells you. I see what people need right now and solve that problem. I listen to my clients and that helps me create my lash line and stay aware of trending needs in the market.”?

As a businesswoman who has had to educate herself on the multiple steps in between identifying and creating her product, operations, and luxury service provision, Dionne champions the significance of using her experience to teach others. She considers this as part of her own continued growth and give-back.??

“Before COVID, I had a mentorship program on my site for young girls in beauty academies. [Even] if they didn’t want to do brows or lashes, I still extended the education to them…there are other aspects to the business beyond putting on eyelashes.? You have to be your own bookkeeper, own marketing person, etc.”

When COVID-19 prevented in-person meetings, Dionne continued her virtual teaching to both young professionals learning the beauty business and extended the virtual teachings to her clientele who were eager to learn how to apply their lashes.?

Besides education, mentorship also plays an anchoring and motivational role in the success of Founders.? At the Founders Studio, we have a core of advisors and other experts from our corporate partners who will contribute to the advisory and mentorship of Founders.? In my own journey, I have found the gift of advisors and mentors who believed in my vision and respected my expertise and lived experience.? In my conversation with Alisia Ford, Founder of Glory Skincare– specifically created to provide personalized skincare with a focus on melanated skin–we dove into the importance of aligned advisors. Alisia shared:

“We have an advisory board of dermatologists. They understand the nuances of melanin-rich skin. Actually, one of our advisors, Dr. Mckinley-Grant is the President of the skin of color society. And so I was very intentional about the people we work with…the contract manufacturers, the chemists because they all have life experiences that can also add so much richness to what we are building at Glory.”

As a seasoned lawyer, Alisia discussed how her legal background set her up with the research skills she used to select individuals who would make up the right advisory team for Glory skincare.? Through social media and online research, she sought out skin and nutrition experts with whom she solidified relationships for the long term.

“It’s not only about making sure that this person [advisor] has the knowledge, but do they even believe in you as the Founder? Do they believe in your vision for the company? They are going to be investing their time and helping to further your mission.”

In the journey of brand creation and business building,? education and mentorship go beyond structured and packaged constructs. They can be fluid exchanges that are rich in value, integrity, expertise, and respect.? We have created several platforms for organic exchange as part of the Founders Studio.? As an integral bonus, I expect that participating Founders will also be willing to step up to educate and act as mentors and advisors. As Creators, Founders, Artisans, and Business Leaders, we thrive best in a community of collaboration rather than competition.