Introducing Ja-Naé Duane, Author of, “How to Start Your Business with $100″

We are pleased to introduce another mover and shaker, Ja-Naé Duane. Creating a business practically from scratch, she is now sharing her wisdom and tips in her new book, “How to Start Your Business with $100″. Multi-talented, perservering and defeating the odds, Ja-Naé has reached for the stars and has made her dreams a reality. Connect with Ja-Naé on twitter or on her site. Enjoy the interview!

Hometown: West Haven, CT

Current Residence: Boston, MA

Education: BA, Northeastern University and New England Conservatory; MA, Carnegie Mellon University; AD Boston University

Professional Background: Entrepreneurial and Social Media Strategist, Creative Economist, CEO of Wild Women Entrepreneurs; CEO of Ja-Nae Duane Ventures; Professor of Music at Northeastern University; Professional Opera Singer

What you wanted to be when you grew up: Actress

What you are: A Renaissance Woman.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: I noticed that men and women networked differently; That women needed to build trust before doing business with someone. I also noticed that women didn’t know where to find the resources that they need both professionally and personally. So, I approached three other women and asked them to help me. With that, Wild Women Entrepreneurs was started with $100. It is now the largest community of entrepreneurial women in the world with 55 chapters in 7 countries.

That is what my book, “How to Start Your Business with $100” is about. How to take a dream and turn it into a reality with little or no money.

Company Website? http://www.Ja-Nae.net

What inspired you? Creativity and Positivity

How long have you been in business? Which one?

How did you fund it? Less than $100

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I make it a point to learn something from everyone I meet on a daily basis.

Current Business Challenge? The same challenge I have always had and will always have: Finding more innovative ways to help people be free to live the life they’ve always wanted.

What are you doing about it? Thinking outside of the box and doing a ton of social advocacy (If you know of more partnering organizations and businesses, please let me know).

Favorite motivational quote: “Be the Change You Wish to See in the World”-Ghandi

Family? No. Not yet. Because of my mother’s alcoholism and drug abuse, I had to raise my siblings from the age of 13. So, for today, I am enjoying my childhood now.

Favorite book? The Alchemist.

What do you do to relax? Go into nature.

What do you want to change most about your world? My location. I feel a change coming on and am excited to see where life is about to take me.

What are you most proud of? The fact that people were afraid that I would never amount to anything because of my home life growing up. I’m now here to show people that you do not have to be trapped or be a product of your environment. You can overcome any obstacle that comes your way.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Stop trying to do everything yourself. Figure out what you do well and then delegate everything else out. Once I learned this lesson, I started making the money I deserved to make and had the freedom to do other things that I had been dying to spend time on.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? My team.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Hmmm…..Too bad I couldn’t make a tiara of stars. Think of the amount I would save on my electricity bill.

Introducing Ros Guerrero, Owner and Founder of Ficklets

We are pleased to introduce Ros Guerrero, owner and founder of Ficklets, an interchangable eyewear charm hugger! Ros created her adorable company through the inspiration of her special needs daughter who has worn glasses since the age of six. Ficklets (which is derived from the word, Fickle- to change frequently) is making it fun and fashionable for kids to wear glasses. One mother wrote to Ros saying, “My daughter has matched her entire outfit to her ficklets today. She can’t wait to show them off to all the girls at school!”

We hope you enjoy the interview! Browse online at Ficklets.com or stay updated with Ficklet news on Twitter!

Hometown: Originally from Guam.

Current Residence (City, State): Gilbert, AZ

Education: Attended college for two years, then decided to go full-time with sales/marketing career to pursue advancement opportunity.

Professional Background: I worked in both the retail and wholesale industry for a total of ten years, marketing high-end European luxury products as a brand manager.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: I dreamed of traveling the world, so I wanted to become a flight attendant. I actually completed in-flight training, but decided to pursue my career in sales and marketing, which provided opportunities to travel.

What you are: First, I am mom to Gem, a mentally handicapped 14 year old, wife of 16 and half years to Roy, and owner/inventor of Ficklets, LLC.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Inspired by my daughter Gem, I created Ficklets – a patented interchangeable charm hugger for eyeglass frames, the first of its kind in the marketplace. Ficklets are designed to adorn kid’s eyeglasses in a fresh, fun way to help them feel more comfortable in their glasses. It’s also a great way to jazz up tired, old frames by giving them a quick, affordable update.

Company Website? http://Ficklets.com

What inspired you? My daughter Gem was the direct inspiration for creating Ficklets. She’s worn eyeglasses since she the age of six. Gem, mentally handicapped, is also the reason for my entrepreneurial spirit. My mission is to build a business that will provide her to live a quality life long after I’m gone.  It’s fulfilling to live a life where I am creative and productive with a purpose, and I’m grateful to Gem for inspiring me to grow as a mom and entrepreneur.

How long have you been in business? I’ve been actively building Ficklets now for 2 years. I say actively because I took hiatus for the most part of 2008 to care for my sister who had terminal cancer.

How did you fund it? Personal savings.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I have both online and offline mentors and each have specific gifts and talents. I’m especially drawn to women who “serve” and “support” with deep passion, ego-free.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? I am a member of a local networking group – Mompreneurs’ Live AZ.

Current Business Challenge? Capital to expand.

What are you doing about it?

• Increase wholesale accounts

• Develop formal business plan

• Ramp up brand awareness/exposure via social media

Favorite motivational quote:

• You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. ~Zig Ziglar

• Dream, Believe, Discover ~unknown

Family? Married for 16 and half years to Roy and we have one child, Gem, 14 years old with special needs.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I focus more on how I can juggle both the best way I can. My husband and I understood early on that for the first several years of business that it was going to be intensely intertwined in every aspect of our lives. With that said, my husband has been instrumental in helping create a healthy environment so I can do both. He picks up where I leave off in both our home life and in business. We each draw from our strengths and work as a team to keep both entities moving forward.

Favorite book? The Five People You Meet In Heaven ~Mitch Albom

What do you do to relax? My daughter enjoys going to the movies, so we try to take her once a week. It’s also important we keep her physically active and go for walks in the park. For “me” time, I’m involved in my local networking group and volunteer actively in many of the planned events.

What do you want to change most about your world? I would like to see more social acceptance for the mentally handicapped and the disabled.

What are you most proud of? My daughter’s ability to formulate words, thus able to speak in sentences.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses?

• DREAM then take ACTION!! The first step is always the hardest.

• Believe & stay focus.

• Be a perpetual inspirational seeker to keep you in forward movement – Tenacity is key!

• Be a student of life – continue to learn, grow, & evolve. Reach out to other women entrepreneurs.

• Have an attitude of gratitude – always be grateful & humble for your blessings.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Social media – blogs & twitter.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds – birthstone for the month of April, when my daughter was born.

Introducing Maria D’Anza and Deborah Munies of Vivique

We are pleased to introduce Maria D’Anza and Deborah Munies of Vivique! These ladies have combined their talents in creating a clothing line especially for pregnant women. Their aim: To help the soon-to-be-mother feel as beautiful as she is by offering comfortable, classy and stylish fashions. Shop at their website or connect with them on Twitter. We hope you enjoy the interview!

Name:

Maria D’Anza (right) – CEO/Co-Founder

Deborah Munies (left) – COO/Co-Founder

Hometown:

Maria D’Anza – Rahway, New Jersey

Deborah Munies – Bridgewater, New Jersey

Current Residence:

Maria D’Anza – Chester, New Jersey

Deborah Munies – New Providence, New Jersey

Education:

Maria D’Anza – Seton Hall University

Deborah Munies – Ithaca College

Professional Background:

Maria D’Anza – has a successful track record of identifying new product niches, positioning them in the market place and driving sales through aggressive and detailed planning. Maria has spent the last 15+ years fine tuning her product development and implementation, sales leadership, and operations skills in the finance industry, with the most recent part of her career at Lehman Brothers.

Deborah Munies – Deborah has 20 years of experience in marketing, promotions and sales for a broad array of companies spanning commercial, entertainment and financial industries. Deborah has worked at companies such as CBS-TV, New World Entertainment, Nickelodeon, American Institute of CPAs. (Deborah did her college internship with “Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee.”)

What you wanted to be when you grew up:

Maria D’Anza – Veterinarian

Deborah Munies – Entertainment Reporter, lawyer or Philanthropy Volunteer

What you are:

Maria D’Anza – Product Development and Sales Executive and new business owner!

Deborah Munies – Marketing and Promotion Executive and new business owner!

Brief Summary of your Start Up:

• We met 7 years ago while working together.

• We bonded further in 2005 when we ran into each other at 5:30am pursing our quest to become pregnant at our fertility doctor’s office. (We subsequently had our daughters via IVF).

• In the Spring 2008 Maria was pregnant with her second daughter. She was riding home on the bus from her job at Lehman Brothers and the 5’9” slim mom-to-be sat uncomfortably in her standard, expensive maternity clothes. If she was uncomfortable, other women were too!

• Maria, with her product development and finance background, and Deborah, with her marketing and promotions background, joined forces in July 2008.

• While we started out developing a better maternity clothing line, along the way we developed our patent pending waistband technology that allows women to wear our bottom garments before, during and after pregnancy.

• Vivique is the first maternity clothing line dedicated to providing clothes that fit women before, during and after pregnancy, resulting in a long term fit and investment.

• Vivique is comprised of wardrobe basics in classic styles – pants, suit jackets, suits, dresses, skirts, jeans, chinos, shorts, cargos, shirts and sweaters.

• The signature bottom garments feature a patent pending waistband technology, allowing women to wear them comfortably throughout their entire pregnancy – and after.

• Vivique is focused on making the pregnant woman look and feel like her non-pregnant selves – or better!

Example of “standard maternity clothing” purchasing process when pregnant:

• Months 1-3 – Can’t fit in your clothes comfortably, buy bigger size regular clothes (also buy maternity clothes because so excited even though they are too big – you figure they will last through entire pregnancy)
• Months 4-7 – Wearing maternity clothes. Starting to get tight around month 7.
• Months 8-10 – Standard maternity clothes don’t fit. Need to buy new ones but don’t because you have already spent your “budget”– just wear uncomfortable clothes or sweat pants and feel gross.

Clothing cycle with Vivique:

• Purchase Vivique clothing in your non-pregnant size
• Wear months 1-10 comfortably with average recommended pregnancy weight gain.
• Haven’t lost the weight post baby? Wear clothes back to work and they shrink as you do.

Company Website?

www.ViviqueApparel.com

What inspired you?

• In the Spring 2008 Maria was pregnant with her second daughter. She was riding home on the bus from her job at Lehman Brothers and the 5’9” slim mom-to-be sat uncomfortably in her standard, expensive maternity clothes. If she was uncomfortable, other women were too!

• Maria, with her product development and finance background, and Deborah, with her marketing and promotions background, joined forces in July 2008.

Why?

• Maria and Deborah were the unsatisfied customer
• They knew there was a better way
• Market need (of course!)
• They had the passion and commitment to change their lives and do something they believed in.

How long have you been in business?

We started in July 2008 with the idea but the clothing started to be sold via wholesale in September 2009.

We debuted the line to our family and friends at a fashion show/focus group in mid June 2009. We videotaped a 3rd party moderator asking the women what they thought of the line and the concept. Rave reviews resulted!

How did you fund it?

We have a couple of investors who provided a formal first round of funding. We have also personally invested in the business and its day-to-day operations.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)?

We don’t have one Fairy Godmother. We are so fortunate to have many people who have mentored us and we are incredibly grateful for them. We wouldn’t be where we are without them. There are days when we just look at each other speechless as we think about the generosity and support we have had.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups?

Not formally. We attended a great entrepreneur workshop in the fall – Entrepreneural Expose. It was for just women and from that event we made a number of relationships that have helped us move forward in many ways. It also was a great day with women supporting each other with immense encouragement. Women have such power, compassion, strength and willpower. We really are sisters that can help each other no matter how small or large the task. When women put their mind to something, they are a strong force!

Current Business Challenge?

Financing – this affects everything

Second to that would be marketing and branding our waistband technology

What are you doing about it?

Pitching, pitching, pitching ! Trying to grow the business on what we have now so we are more appealing to investors.

Favorite motivational quote:

Everything happens for a reason.

Family?

Maria D’Anza – husband, 2 daughters, 2 dogs, 2 horses

Deborah Munies – husband and 1 daughter

If so, how do you balance family and business?

No matter how well you think you are balancing, something is losing out. We are our own worst critics, and perfectionists as well, so we want to do everything well all at once, which is impossible. We remember a speech Andrea Jung (CEO/Chairman Avon) gave. She said you can’t be all things at all times to your company and your children, but choose at that time and be there 100%. We remember that and it helps.

We have become great time managers and ubber-multitaskers and just take one day at a time. We also carve out our work time and family time and try not to overlap the two because both deserve our undivided attention. Additionally, we support each other so if one of us needs a weekday with our kids, the other one picks up and runs with anything that is urgent that day. We divide and conquer and support each other so we can attempt to do it all!

Favorite book?

Maria D’Anza – The Burning Within the story of RaNelle Wallace’s near death experience

Deborah Munies – Anything by Martha Beck and Laura Day

What do you do to relax?

Maria D’Anza – Ride horses – ride and ride and ride

Deborah Munies – Yoga, Bar Method, turn on some music and dance it out, freestyle shopping (when no lists are involved and you can just roam!)

What do you want to change most about your world?

Maria D’Anza – My world has changed dramatically over the last 2 years and I am learning to embrace the unknown and be thankful for the really important things in life. So I don’t really have anything that I want to change other than I want to continue to work on my skills of only focusing on the things that are within my control.

Deborah Munies – I would like to change the number of hours my husband and I work in order to make a living. He works a lot of hours and so do I. Right now we are in this mode where we know there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel so we just keep working, hoping to see that light soon.

What are you most proud of?

Our daughters – they are miracles and blessings for which we are grateful every day. We are especially proud on the days where we know we were exceptional moms, moms making a difference in the lives of our children, shaping them into little people we can be proud of. Remembering those days or moments is what gets you through all of the times you might fall short.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses?

Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it, even if others are pushing.

Also, no matter how long you think it is going to take to see light at the end of the tunnel, double it maybe even triple it!

Lastly, it is harder than you can ever, ever imagine.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)?

Maria D’Anza – My laptop, blackberry and Quickbooks

Deborah Munies – My laptop (blackberry a close second!)

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use?

Maria D’Anza – I am leaving the tiaras to Deb; I would settle for a clean baseball hat!

Deborah Munies – Diamonds (my birthstone), Sapphires (love blue!) and Perodots (my daughter’s birthstone)

Introducing Kara Herron, Author of “Incredible Women” Blog

We are pleased to introduce Kara Herron for this week’s interview. She is an individual who knows that life’s greatest joys are called family and good friends, especially during hard times.  Being an “Incredible Woman” herself as a breast cancer survivor, Kara is sharing other women’s stories on her new blog, Incredible Women. We hope you enjoy getting to know this fabulous lady!

Current Residence: Highland, Utah

Professional Background:  I’ve worked for some great companies – Dream Dinners, Cherish Bound, and others, that are smaller companies, started by the most amazing women.  It’s been fun helping grow those companies, and it’s given me the desire to have my own business.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: Hmmm… well, for the most part, I just pictured myself married, with kids.  I wanted to be a stay at home mom.  But, the desire to be the owner of a business was buried deep within me – my parents both owned several businesses, and I love being a part of those.  So, I really wanted to stay home with my kids, AND own a business.  That’s a hard thing to do, right?

What you are: I’m a happy wife and mom, who wants to make a difference in the world.  I want people to watch me and know that I have great kids, passions that I’m willing to work for, and that I spend time helping others, if I can.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Well, I’ve got two things I’m working on at the moment.  One of them is fueling the other.  My first passion is my Cherish Bound business.  I am a national leader in this company that helps people find their stories, and share them with others.  I love helping people gather their memories and photos and make beautiful, heirloom-quality books for their families.  And I’m very good at making those books, too!!!  This business is helping me to pull in money, so that I can take the time to build my other passion…  Incredible Women!  After going through a horrible year and a half of battling breast cancer, I wanted to show my gratitude to the amazing women who helped me so much.  I started a blog called Incredible Women, where I feature a different woman each week.  I’d love to be able to not only heap praise on wonderful women, but help my family out financially with this blog.

Company Website? My Cherish Bound business blog is www.boundtobecherished.blogspot.com and my Incredible Women blog is www.reallyincrediblewomen.blogspot.com.

What inspires you? Helping others to be happy, and to realize that they are special is what inspires me.  Both my Cherish Bound business, and my Incredible Woman blog help me do that.  Also, the people I surrounded myself with inspire me tremendously!

How long have you been in business? I worked for the corporate office of Cherish Bound for about a year and a half before my cancer diagnosis.  I took time off to take care of myself, and then decided to work from home.  So, I became a consultant, and I’ve been doing that for about 7 months.  My Incredible Women blog was started about the same time – 6 months ago.  I’ve featured 27 women so far.  It’s been a wonderful highlight of my life.

How did you fund it? When I decided to become a Cherish Bound consultant, I actually took $500 from our savings and put it into my own business account.  I decided that I’d use that money to set everything up.  I bought business cards, office supplies, and made a few sample books with that.  Before long, it was gone, gone, gone.  Luckily, my time and effort paid off, and it wasn’t long before my account filled back up.  I used some of that money to pay for a special blog design for Incredible Women.  That’s the only thing I’ve had to pay for with the blog, but I think it was a BIG thing.  I wanted it to look professional and to catch peoples’ attention, and I think my designer did a great job.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Oh, wow.  I’ve got a few, I think.  Carol Rice, the owner of Cherish Bound, has been a mentor for awhile.  She believes I can do anything.  My sister, Kris, has also been someone who I can bounce ideas off of anytime.  She supports me in whatever I desire to do.  Kelly Anderson, Founder of Startup Princess has been a great help in pushing me towards understanding that Incredible Women can really become a business someday.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Not currently, but I’ve got a whole list of groups I’d love to associate with.  One of my goals this year is to find the groups that will be most helpful to me, and make the effort to join and participate.  I believe that groups of people can make a huge difference in the world.

Current Business Challenge? With the Cherish Bound business, my constant challenge (it never goes away) is to find customers.  Owning your own business, especially a sales business, means you have to generate your own income.  If I don’t make money one month, it’s my own darn fault.  I do love it when customers come to me.  That’s happened with about 4 people this week – these are people that I know I can help, because they found me!  With Incredible Women, my biggest challenge is finding women to feature.  I’ve got a long list of my own, but I really want to feature other women, too – those who I don’t know.  So, my challenge is to get my readers to nominate women they know.

What are you doing about it? Well, with a business like Cherish Bound, I have to constantly be contacting people.  I email, send cards through the mail, talk to people wherever I go, etc.  I also think that following up with current customers is a must.  I’m always contacting customers who have already made books – I talk to them about their experience, make sure they are happy with the process and their book, and then make suggestions for new projects.  I also have a business blog, where I offer ideas for books.  As far as Incredible Women, I’m a little stumped on ways to get people to nominate women.  I’ve got a place on my blog that makes it easy to nominate someone.  I mention it every once in a while on the blog.  And I talk to people about it.  It’s slowly starting to work.  I also follow up in this area, too.  I emailed people who have nominated women, and try to keep in touch through the whole process.

Favorite motivational quote: I’ve got a few.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: “If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”   I believe this can be applied to our businesses, and also our families – I don’t force my kids to do anything, and I don’t just give them a list.  I show them, by example, what a good life is – what happens when you are a good person – and they want that.

I love Winnie-the-Pooh, and I’ve got a card hanging in my office that says, “I’ll never not remember you… ever.”  This is an important quote, because it helps me remember why I’m trying to help people share their memories and photos.  No one ever wants to be forgotten.  It is also a quote that helps me remember why I started the Incredible Women blog – I want those important women in my life to know what an impact they have on my life, and that I’ll never forget the things they do for me.

Family? Yes, I’ve got a wonderful husband, Rick, who works very hard to give our family the things we need and want – and just happens to really love his job!  I have 4 sons…

Grant, who is 22, is a student at the University of Utah.  He is studying Architecture and Business and Japanese.  He served an LDS mission for two years in Fukuoka, Japan – something I admire him greatly for.

Michael, who is 19, finished up his first year of college at Utah State University, and has been living at home for the last 8 months, working full time to save money for his LDS mission.  He will find out where he’s going to serve in 2-3 months. I’m really excited for him – leaving your family to serve other people for two years is an incredibly hard thing to do.

Alex, who is 15, is in high school, and is working hard to get good grades (he has some very hard classes), and in his “off” time, he is trying to get his drivers’ license.  Yikes!  He is also close to getting his Eagle Scout.  He plays a mean guitar. He’s a great kid – one of the funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Matthew, who is almost 13, is my youngest.  He is in Jr. High.  He plays the saxophone.  With 3 older brothers, you can imagine how he’s had to stick up for himself!  He works hard at school (hardly ever needs help), and scouts.  He is a great kid.

If so, how do you balance family and business? It’s a little easier for me to do this, now that I’m a stay-at-home mom again.  I worked outside of the home for about 6 years, and it was tough.  My husband helped out a lot.  He still does.  The last year or so, while I was so sick with chemo treatments, and had so many surgeries, my kids have helped out so much.  I don’t think any mom can do it all by herself.  That’s why we teach our children to help out, and cope without us a little bit. All of my kids know how to cook, and do their own laundry. Which is good – someday their wives will thank me!

Favorite book? Oh, why did you ask me this question?!  There is NO WAY I can give you just one.  I’m a big reader.  If I could, I would read all day! Ok, I’ll just tell you my most recent favorite… A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Unbelievably good book!  If you want a list of good books (I don’t read bad books), go to my personal blog…www.mystorymoments.blogspot.com.  You can find a link to my favorite books on the left sidebar.

What do you do to relax? Not much. I’m happier if I’m busy.  But, when I do relax, I mostly sit under a fluffy, down comforter, and read, read, read.  I also love to sit and listen to my little family of comedians – they are all so funny, and laughing is very relaxing!

What do you want to change most about your world? I definitely what to be an advocate of early detection in breast cancer.  I want to help women who can’t afford mammograms to get them.  I would love to be a public speaker – to share my story, and help women understand the importance of staying current on tests, and knowing their bodies.  And also help them understand how important it is to focus on taking care of yourself, not just your family.  That’s my focus right now.  I have a breast cancer blog, where I’ve recorded my story – I want it to be a place where others can go to understand what is happening to them and to get information.  So, that’s something that I’m working on right now.www.foobbabe.blogspot.com

I’m also on the board of a foundation – The Four of Hearts.  This foundation was started by 4 of my nephews, to give back to the people of Guatemala – the country where their baby sister is from.  We do lots of different fundraisers.  We are trying to get the funding necessary right now, to take a group of teenagers to Guatemala this summer, to help at an orphanage. It’s a wonderful opportunity that I’ve been given – working with these teenagers, who would rather go door, to door raising money, than play video games!  Our website, if anyone is interested, is:  http://www.four-of-hearts.com/

What are you most proud of? Hands down…. My children.

What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses? Be persistent.  If you have a dream – make it come true.  Work hard.  Don’t let others tell you it can’t be done.  And, when you’ve become a success – help others.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? My laptop and the internet – it’s my key to the world.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds, of course.  Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.  No really – they are! (I’ve been trying to convince my husband of this for… forever!)

Introducing Dana Zaloom, Privacy and Safety Director at Facechipz.com

We are pleased to introduce Dana Zaloom, who is making the world of social networking safer for pre-teens, and along the way giving their parents some peace of mind. We hope you enjoy connecting on twitter and facebook with Dana and getting to know her (we certainly have). Thanks Dana!  

Hometown: Piedmont, CA

Current Residence: Pacific Palisades, CA

Education: BA from Georgetown University, Masters of Psychology from Pepperdine University

Professional Background: Project manager for MCI Telecommunications from 1985-1988. Married 1987, had 4 children and earned my Masters in Psychology.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: I always knew I wanted to be a mother, but I was also very interested in psychology.

What you are: Privacy and Safety Director at Facechipz.com and a mother to 4 wonderful girls.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Facechipz.com is an online social network for tweens who are too grown-up for Webkinz and Club Penguin and not grown-up enough for Facebook or MySpace.  Realizing that social networking was here to stay, we tried to create a “prep” school for it.  Teaching kids how to use this type of network in safe and appropriate ways became our major goal.  To ensure our users safety, kids can only connect with other kids they have exchanged a facechipz token with.  The “giver” enters the code on the back of the chip and gives it to a friend they want to be connected to.  That friend enters the same code and the 2 friends are linked.  The facechipz token cannot be used again, except for collecting purposes.  There are no fringe friends, no search engines or advertising. The only link is between the 2 users.  It’s the social networking site that kids can collect but that doesn’t collect them! Safety is also ensured by the requirement of parents actually signing their kids up to use Facechipz.  Parental involvement and awareness are still the best tools out there to keep kids safe.  The site is fun and cool too.  Kids can talk to each other, send messages, choose their own background, upload photos, list their top 11 favorite things and write a secret message. Soon, Facechipz will offer a virtual gift store, games and it’s own version of i-chat.

Company Website? www.facechipz.com

What inspired you? We have four daughters of our own. We found that there really weren’t any online social networks that had enough safety features that allowed us to feel comfortable with the girls communicating with friends online.  We were also hyper-sensitive to the dangers of “fringe friends”.  We started thinking about how a 10 year old could be connected to a friend but not to that friend’s sister, brother and all of their friends. It did not seem appropriate that a 10 year old could view pictures of high school and college kids, let alone talk to them or vice versa.

How long have you been in business? Facechipz.com launched in the fall of 2009.

How did you fund it? Out of our hard earned savings.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? You know, I look around and see so many women who are doing such amazing things and their strength and determination gave me courage to step out and take a chance on this project!!

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? I’m very active with my family and children in their school groups.

Current Business Challenge? The biggest challenge with Facechipz is getting the chips in the kids hands, and getting parents to understand that a dollar registration fee ensures their child’s safety.   We are trying to educate parents; to let them know that we have created a safer alternative to social networking as they know it. Convincing this group is our biggest challenge, especially with those parents who have been adamantly opposed to social networking in any form.  Once they are convinced however, these same people have become our best evangelists. Facechipz teaches kids how to be safe and appropriate on-line. We have parent and child versions of a safety resource and how-to guide.  The site also features a swear-word filter and a safety notification system which allows kids to easily report potentially offensive, or inappropriate content as well as cyber-bullying.

What are you doing about it? We are trying to bring parents to that ah-ha moment where they realize that Facechipz is different!  Facechipz is a smart, and safer altenative to traditional social networking.  It also helps teach the kids about acceptable forms of on-line social behavior.

Favorite motivational quote: “You must do the thing you think you cannot do” Eleanor Roosevelt.  She was brilliant!

Family? Yes, my husband who is my partner here at Facechipz, and our four amazing girls.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I am a mother first, then a business partner. When the kids are in school, I put on my Facechipz hat and go to work.  When they come home though, I am all theirs.  I love to cook so we eat dinner most nights together as a family and discuss the events of the day.  It’s after the dishes are done however that we go upstairs and look at new concepts, talk about ideas or answer FAQ’s for Facechipz.  We definitely ask for the girl’s opinions and input.  They have been a constant source of imagination, advice and inspiration.  They have been involved in the design and usability of the site since the very beginning. The whole venture is one, big collaboration!

Favorite book? This changes frequently, but at the moment I would say, Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.  It is an inspiring story about Greg, the author, bringing hope and help to the children, especially the young girls, of impoverished Pakistan.  His heartfelt promise to come to their aid, and his subsequent journey made this book both awe-inspiring and adventurous.

What do you do to relax? I love cooking, taking walks with our dogs Leo and Lily, and I love to read.  I also enjoy making wreaths and mirrors from shells I collect while summering in Nantucket.

What do you want to change most about your world? Right now my world is the internet.  What I hope to change is to make it a safer place for kids!

What are you most proud of? My family. The girls are evolving into their fantastic selves in front of my eyes at warp speed.  I want to savor all the moments I have with them now, both good and bad!  I know they are learning from me but they have no idea how much I am learning from them!  They are the air in my lungs. My husband George is a saint, pure and simple.  He completes our family circle with his enthusiasm, kindness, love and amazing work ethic.  He has more energy than all of us put together and a positive attitude which is contagious. His confidence in doing the right thing has always led us down the best paths in life.  Individually, we are all just fine but as a family we are really something else!

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? As Winston Churchill once said “Never, Never, Never give up”. When we first started talking about the idea for Facechipz almost 2 years ago we knew nothing about manufacturing or building a website/social network, let alone marketing and selling it. When the whole concept became overwhelming, we broke it down into small, doable segments.  First we got the chip into our hands just the way we wanted it to look and feel.  Then we found the right people to build the site etc…  It is a process that you take one step at a time.  You can’t let fear of failing stop you.  You must forge ahead and always try your best. How can you succeed if you don’t try? So, here I sit, writing about something that was a darn good idea which became a reality through hard work, perserverance and great people.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? I would have to say my iphone. It keeps me organized!

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Well this one is easy: Diamonds!! It is my birthstone and it is one of the best stones out there! (But I also love blue sapphires!)

Introducing Deepika Bajaj, Founder and President of Invincibelle

We are pleased to introduce Deepika Bajaj, a woman of exceptional character and drive. She has the mind and the heart to dream big and help women who live and work in a multicultural world to accelerate their professional growth. Deepika is also the author of, Diversity/Tweet: Embracing the Growing Diversity in our World. I’m sure you’ll love connecting with Deepika on Twitter and reading her interview here. Enjoy!

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Current Residence: San Jose, CA

Education: Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics & Communication) and Masters of Business Administration (Marketing)

Professional Background: Engineering, Marketing, Business Development, Sales, Entrepreneurship, Author, Blogger, Social Media, Speaker, Diversity Expert and Consultant.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: When I was little, I always wanted to be an air-pilot or movie producer. Funny, I still haven’t given up on becoming both.

What you are: I am founder and president of Invincibelle, a company empowering diverse, multi generational workforce and women to thrive in a multicultural world.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Invincibelle brings trusted and relevant content to accelerate personal and professional growth of women worldwide. We provide service like Workshops, consulting, Event programming, Research to help clients enable women in their companies, institutions and communities to succeed in their specific professional domains. I also do many speaking engagements. Currently, I am building Personalized Leadership Optimization Programs to help women in mid-management roles optimize their leadership effectiveness.

Company Website? www.invincibelle.com

What inspired you?  As far as I remember, I always wanted to start my own company. Growing up, I was in awe of my grandfather who ran three successful businesses. His father (my great grandfather) died when he was six and his mother raised him along with his elder brother. Early in his life, responsibility of taking care of his family fell on his shoulders. With very little formal education, he built businesses and was able to raise his children, take care of his family and employees.

When I was little, my father was always busy running the business and so I got to spend a lot of time with my dada ji (my grandfather). He always kept me in conversations of how planning, autonomous employees and trust with customers were critical for the success of any business.

Secondly, I always wanted to make a difference in the world. A career on the fast track was very lucrative but I always had an inner calling to do something that solved a significant pain in people’s lives. The drive to do something bigger than myself and meaningful helped me take the plunge to start my own company.

Finally, I was always passionate about helping ambitious and aspiring women. When I came to the U.S. ten years ago, I realized how hard it was to find role models, trusted resources for information, experts on different domains who could help propel your career. There was a need for a platform to learn from crème de la crème, find trusted and relevant information, get training and showcase your talent to prosper in your career. In hindsight, all of this was motivation for me to start my company, Invincibelle.

How long have you been in business?

We have been in business since Feb, 2007. So, it is three years since we have been in business.

How did you fund it?

The two things that come to my mind are:

Firstly, way before I started my company, I started saving money to start one. I believe that one has to put money in one’s own venture. It brings in a different level of commitment.

Secondly, I invested heavily in my education and continue to do so even today. I was hungry for knowledge. I was fortunate to learn from the best teachers.

Initially, I bootstrapped the company along with some strategic investments. I built the company by developing partnerships. This helped me keep the monthly burn rate low and brought in help from partners for the execution of the initial concept.

With the release of Invincibelle Personalized Leadership Optimized programs in 2010, we are now in a high growth mode and gearing for raising more funds in the next three-six months.

In the dot-com era, fundraising was considered the normal route for building a company. An entrepreneur needed an in-house development team, servers and marketing campaigns to start a company.

Today, I believe that a first-time entrepreneur needs to prove a concept to a level before he can reach out to potential investors. The costs associated with starting an Internet company have significantly reduced. An entrepreneur needs to consider tools like skype for communication, google analytics for tracking web traffic and blogs, squidoos, wikis, email campaigns for marketing.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? YES!!! I have Fairy Godmothers and Godfathers who are my mentors.

Self- belief is a priceless asset. Without self-belief nothing can be accomplished. With it, nothing is impossible.

With that said, mentors enable you to execute on an idea. Their belief and confidence in you keeps you focused on getting results and developing yourself. The fact that you have access to them and their mindshare is priceless. Sometimes, you cannot comprehend what their vision is for your company and you. It is miraculous to have them in this committed and passionate endeavor of your life. In ups and downs, they are constantly championing you and you find yourself creating opportunities you had not imagined.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Yes!!! I am formal and informal member to many business organization and networking groups.Women 2.0, Working Mother Media, LinkedIn, Twitter, Active Garage to name a few.

Current Business Challenge? Cash flow and Revenue. Cash is a serious matter. Its management is utterly vital in any venture. Facing up to cash-flow demands is paramount concern in any start-up. Monitoring and forecasting cash flow is a huge responsibility. You can delegate any task but this is YOURS.

What are you doing about it? Creating offers that are relevant to the marketplace. Diversify! You need to be focused to get your idea off the ground and to start making money. You can expand maybe grow internationally. But, in reality, it is still in the same industry. To protect your investment, you need to create new offers and leverage.

Favorite motivational quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi.

Family? A BIG, FAT Indian family, many relatives and relatives of relatives. My husband and immediate family are my biggest support which includes my mom, my father in law and mother in law and great cousins and sisters. And friends who are like my family. Since I stay away from home, India, my friends have become my family. And mentors, who are now part of my extended family.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I have never tried to reach work-life balance. Quite frankly, I don’t believe in it.  I don’t see work and life as two separate pieces of my life. I see them as ONE. I believe in work-life integration. Some things I do to be able to live a full life is:

1. Prioritize – Prioritize AND PRIORITIZE
2. AVOID Interruptions – To stay focused on what I am working on.
3. Make time for myself – I love to work out and spend time with friends, travel and indulge in my hobbies. So, I ask for a lot of help from my family, friends and even hire help.
4. Goal Setting – I focus on what I can accomplish in a DAY.
5. Committed AND Not Attached – I remind myself everyday that I am playing a GAME bigger than myself. I am committed to making a difference in the world and other people’s lives. And if this is a game I designed, I am going to play it all out. I am committed to creating a change and I surround myself with people who give me energy to overcome obstacles.

Favorite book? This is a tough question since I have more than one book which is my favorite book.

Here are a few:

1. Leader’s Legacy – Kouzes & Posner
2. Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
3. Monk who sold his Ferrari – Robin Sharma
4. The speed of TRUST – Stephen M. R. Covey
5. The Art of the start – Guy Kawasaki
6. Screw it, let’s do it – Richard Branson
7. The brand you 50 – Tom Peters
8. The Dip – Seth Godin
9. On Becoming Fearless – Arianna Huffington
10. The E Myth – Michael E. Gerber

The list goes ON…but I will STOP here.

What do you do to relax? I love to work-out and it allows me to rejuvenate myself. I truly believe there is some truth to the “Endorphin RUSH”. I love painting, reading, watching movies, traveling and spending time with friends and family. I am BIG on listening to music and reading books. Most importantly, I really love meeting people who are DREAMERS – who dream to make a difference AND then DO it.

What do you want to change most about your world? I can’t wait to see a world where people are empowered and enabled to make a difference in the world. I dream of a world without passports.

I believe in the concept of “Global citizenship”. I believe Global citizens draw from their home culture but they also absorb experiences from many cultures and backgrounds. They are not cultural tourists who just travel the world and go shopping. They embrace discomfort and immerse themselves in different cultures. The journey to become a global citizen often includes personal sacrifice and pain. They look beyond stereotypes, and they don’t talk about diversity. Instead, they manifest the change they want to appear within the world. They take responsibility of communities beyond people who they grew up with and are change catalyst.

How do you explain to people are concerned about Tsunami or Haiti disaster who have never traveled there or encountered a similar situation?

What are you most proud of? When I told my dad I was quitting my job and using all of my savings for this company he was less than pleased. He wanted to protect me. He said that it was too risky and that I shouldn’t do it. But I knew I was ready for it, so I did it anyway. Later on, I was a guest on a radio talk show, speaking about startups and entrepreneurs. Four days before he died he called me and said, “I heard your radio show, and I’m very proud of you. I finally get what you’re doing.” That was the proudest moment of my life.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Take bold risks and never look back.  I believe, “When you get off an island, burn the boats”, meaning that when you make a decision, stick to it and never look back.

“Luck is a dividend of sweat” – Ray Kroc, McDonald’s Founder.

Fortune fovors not just the brave but the bold. It is possible that boldness can result in complete failure – that is what the conventional wisdom proves. But if it succeeds, then success will be yours.

Chances come to everyone in life often they will be risky and have potential humiliation. Be prepared to take a calculated risk and tolerate potential humiliation and to act with passion – you will see luck favor YOU.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? I believe Stamina is crucial. This is important as it is the capacity to work so hard that your friends make fun of you, your family wonders what is wrong with you, your lover despises your commitment and everyone wonders if you are on drugs, half in wonder and half in despair. This is the recipe to seek LUCK.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds – They are girl’s best friend.

Introducing Cindy W. Morrison, Author, Consultant and Speaker

Some people say you can’t have everything, but obviously those people haven’t met Cindy W. Morrison. With an amazing career as a former journalist and now as an author and consultant, Cindy is sharing her wisdom in her new book Girlfriends 2.0. How do women upgrade their life personally and professionally? The answer is simple: surround yourself with positive girlfriends and watch yourself soar!

We are pleased to present Cindy W. Morrison, our newest Fairy Godmother at StartupPrincess. Enjoy!

Hometown: Lubbock, Texas

Current Residence: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Education: Graduate of the University of Oklahoma

Professional Background: Emmy award winning journalist spent 20 years as a mainline TV news anchor and investigative reporter. She worked in Oklahoma City and Tulsa earning an Emmy, Peabody and Gracie Allen award. After a layoff because of the economy in 2009, Cindy successfully reinvented herself by hitting a speaking circuit, writing a book and creating her own consulting business. She now teaches people to reboot and upgrade through networking, social media and branding so they can make more money and live a better life.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: TV news anchor/Journalist

What you are: Former anchor who’s using those talents to help others.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Helping people reboot and upgrade their personal lives (Girlfriends 2.0) and their professional lives (Reinvention 2.0)

Company Website: www.CindyWMorrison.com

What inspired you: Not letting the economy be the end of a career, but instead the start of an awesome adventure.

How long have you been in business: Since July 1^st, 2009

How did you fund it: Stopped spending and started believing.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? That’s what my book “Girlfriends 2.0” is all about – how you MUST surround  yourself by the best Girlfriends possible to not only survive but thrive our changing times. Fairy Godmothers are everywhere, you just have to open your heart.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups: Absolutely! I belong to my local Chamber of Commerce as well as the National Speakers Association, but of course social networking is king!

Current Business Challenge: Finding time to get to everything. The emails, meetings and demands can be overwhelming, but I’ve found it helps to prioritize and take a deep breath.

Favorite motivational quote: “Winners, I am convinced, imagine their dreams first. They want it with all their heart and expect it to come true. There is, I believe, no other way to live.” -Joe Montana

Family? I’ve been married since 1991 to a wonderfully supportive man. We have two young kids – a boy and a girl.

If so, how do you balance family and business? Ha! My kids remind me there’s a balance every day! Honestly, I didn’t have much balance when I was working at a TV station 60 hours a week and often at night. Now I work my schedule around my kids. I work like a maniac until 3:30 then take a break when they come home. Then I usually go back to work when they go to bed.

Favorite book? “Girlfriends 2.0”, of course!

What do you do to relax? Sleep! I wish I didn’t love sleeping, but I’m someone who definitely needs to recharge her batteries.

What do you want to change most about your world? I want to empower women to upgrade their lives personally and professionally. We truly can have it all, it just takes a village to do it and working smarter, not harder.

What are you most proud of? I’m the most proud that I didn’t curl up in a ball when I found out my TV station could no longer afford me. Being a news anchor was all I ever wanted to be and assumed I would do that through at least two face lifts. Lol! But I’ve learned change isn’t a bad thing. Suddenly taking charge of my life has shown me a strength I never knew I had and talents I’d never tapped.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Believe in yourself because many people are more than happy to tell you why you can’t succeed. In my book “Girlfriends 2.0”, I tell women to dump Suzie Sabotage, Helen Hater and Negative Nancy and instead make sure they surround themselves with people who will pick you up when you fall and help you keep the faith.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource): Social media! This is a great way to become an “expert” in your field and even set you up for TV interviews and build customer loyalty.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds! They go with EVERYTHING!

Introducing Carla Reeves, Founder and Designer of Sanity Journals

In such a busy and fast paced world, Carla Reeves knows that each woman needs some “sanity” to life. It was while she was writing in her journal that inspiration came to her to start Sanity Journals- a business to help others have the peace and clarity that so often comes from journaling. Carla’s motto is simple, “unwind…connect…grow.” Enjoy getting to know Carla Reeves, Founder and Designer of Sanity Journals.

Hometown: Carpinteria, CA

Current Residence: Buckeye, AZ

Education: BA Business Administration

Professional Background:  Banking, Property Management, IT, Web Design, Email Administration, HR

What you wanted to be when you grew up:  When I was a little girl I wanted to grow up and be a Mom and a Monkey Trainer at one time.  Funny how I get to do both having two energetic little boys who love to climb.  Later in life, I dreamed of being a teacher.

What you are:  A Mom and Founder and Designer of Sanity Journals – teaching people the powerful tool of journaling!

Brief Summary of your Start Up:  Sanity Journals is a company inspiring people to take daily life from surviving to thriving using the power of writing/journaling!

Company Website? www.sanityjournals.com

What inspired you? My own experience of writing and the impact it had in my life.  In realizing the impact, I absolutely knew I was here to share it with others!

How long have you been in business? Officially, since 2007.  Unofficially, since 2002.

How did you fund it? Personal Investment

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? My husband acts as amazing coach, mentor and cheerleader!  And I am blessed with many other Fairy Godmothers!

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Yes

Current Business Challenge? My current business challenge is expanding reach and revenue.

What are you doing about it? I am growing myself, building relationships, implementing new ways of doing business such as teleseminars, online journaling, and e-courses that go beyond the local market.

Favorite motivational quote: “Whether you say you can or say you can’t, your right.” – Unknown

Family? Yes!  Married with 2 boys 5 & 7

If so, how do you balance family and business? With lots of intention, creative planning, structures that ensure quality time together, alone time, time as a couple, FUN time and work time.

Favorite book? Many favs, but Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach comes to mind!

What do you do to relax? I write, read, get outdoors, garden, do Pilates, and listen to music.

What do you want to change most about your world? I want to see more happy people living life on purpose.

What are you most proud of? I am most proud of the Mom that I am, my family and the loving environment of our home.  I am proud of following the passion inside of me, and continuing to follow it even in the face of others not getting it.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Persevere.  Believe in yourself.  Stay in action.  Plan.  Write your way.  Set up structures and support for your success.  Learn to give yourself pep talks.  Step into fear and self-doubt for the sake of something greater.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Writing/journaling

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds! Pure and simple.

Introducing Tamara Mickelson, Founder and CEO of Nannies Galore

We are pleased to feature Tamara Mickelson for this week’s interview. Founder and CEO of Nannies Galore, she has a vision and knows what it takes to “make it happen.” Characterized by perseverance, faith and a love for her 4-year-old daughter, Tamara is set to impact the childcare world by making it that much easier to find good nannies. Thank you Tamara!

Hometown: Rancho Cordova, CA

Current Residence: Rocklin, CA

Education: Bachelors in Business Management and Masters in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling (MFT)

What you wanted to be when you grew up: I wanted to become a Veterinarian.

What you are: I am the founder and CEO of Nannies Galore, a single mother of one daughter, and a deputy sheriff for a local sheriff’s department – currently working in the Crime Scene Investigations Unit.

Brief Summary of your Start Up:  I researched my business for one full year before I officially started it. Once I decided on the company for my website design, it all fell into place.

Company Website? Nannies Galore at www.nanniesgalore.com

What inspired you? I am a single mother raising my daughter alone and I have been hiring live-in nannies for three years. In late 2008, I developed a strong desire to begin my own nanny website to help families find quality live-in and live-out childcare.

How long have you been in business? I officially started in August of 2009 and the website has been live since November of 2009.

How did you fund it? I made monthly payments to pay for the development of the site.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? My faith in God and trust in him has kept me sane and on track in my website business as well as being a single parent.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? I am a member of the National Association for Moms in Business. I am also active on Twitter Moms, Twitter, and Facebook.

Current Business Challenge? Advertising is my main challenge as it is very expensive to advertise nationally.

What are you doing about it? I recently began to concentrate on local advertising since I live here and landed an article in the January issue of Sacramento Magazine.  I am actively networking with other mommy websites and mommy blogs to gain free advertising in exchange of advertising their business.  

Favorite motivational quote: “You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”.

Family? I have a 4 year old daughter who attends preschool.

If so, how do you balance family and business? I work full time away from home so my daughter attends preschool which doubles as a daycare after the curriculum is complete for the day.  When we are home together, we spend quality time with each other.

Favorite book? I really do not have a favorite book.  I read everything from romance novels to self help books.  I am currently writing my own book which will be a quick and easy read for busy mothers.

What do you do to relax? My favorite thing to do on my day off (when my daughter is in school) is go see a movie.  With popcorn and soda in hand, it is my chance to escape from the world for 2 hours.  It is very relaxing to me. I am currently looking for a great yoga class.

What do you want to change most about your world? (I read this two ways….THE world and MY world).  What I would like to change most about MY world is my money situation.  It can be very stressful at times making ends meet when I have to pay for preschool and daycare.

What are you most proud of? I am proud to be the only one in my family to have served in the military.  I joined the Air Force at age 17.  I am also very proud of attaining my bachelors and masters degrees.

What I am most proud of is my daughter: I tried having children for years and after four miscarriages, I adopted a beautiful baby girl from Kazakhstan.  Due to unfortunate circumstances, I have been raising her alone since she was one year old.  She is truly amazing and has changed my life.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Before you begin your business, research it for a long time and research everything there is to know about it.  Begin only when you are comfortable doing so and have the energy for it. It will take a lot of your time!

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? The internet (of course).  What would I do without it?  I can find anything I need on the internet! If it exists, it is on the internet!

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? I would use pure diamonds and my birthstone, the beautiful blue sapphire.

Introducing Debbie Svay Savage, Founder of Baby Emi Jewelry

I first met Debbie Savage from our mutual friend, Heather Ledeboer of Mom4Life.com about
3 1/2 years ago.  Debbie was just starting her jewelry business and was excited to network and learn everything about business and how to distribute her product.  Debbie’s been a constant friend and supporter of Startup Princess.  I’ll never forget how she helped us get our Orange County Chapter off the ground in 2009 with some other top notch ladies I adore. And above all it’s been a pleasure to watch Debbie soar with Baby Emi Jewelry and share her love for her Cambodian culture.  Just 3 years ago she was struggling to get her first boutique and now she’s sharing her jewelry with Celebrities galore, been featured in dozens of magazines, and is being featured this month in the Sundance Film Festival gift baskets.

I love hearing what celeb baby is wearing her Cambodian ankle bracelets and how that has translated into massive sales for her company. Way to go Debbie! Enjoy her story here… she is truly a Startup Princess who understands what it means to “Make a Wish, Make it Happen.”

Hometown: Sandy, UT

Current Residence: Laguna Niguel, CA

Education: B.S. Brigham Young University, M.S. Utah State University

Professional Background: Cancer Control Specialist for the American Cancer Society, Sherman Oaks, CA.  I loved this job because everyday I went into schools to teach children how to live a life being cancer free through sound nutrition, regular exercise and staying smoke-free.

What you wanted to be when you grew up:  Miss USA

What you are: A happy mommy, blessed wife and successful entrepreneur.

Brief Summary of your Start Up: Baby Emi Jewelry launched in 2006 just a few weeks before my second daughter was born.  Thank goodness!  My online home business is named after my first daughter Emi.  Baby Emi Jewelry celebrates the love of motherhood and family through our Jingle Bells Jewelry.

Company Website? www.babyemijewelry.com

What inspired you? The birth of my daughter Emi and my Cambodian culture of jewelry gifting inspired me to start a business that honors a tradition that has been passed on for generations within my family.

How long have you been in business? 3 years.

How did you fund it? We funded our business with personal money.  Thanks honey!

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Yes, so many and I wish I could name them all!  The two that stand out to me and that I admire greatly and know will be there for me at any given moment are Kelly Anderson and Heather Ledeboer at www.mom4life.com

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Yes, Startup Princess Orange County Chapter.  I do enjoy networking and wished I had time for me.  Networking within Facebook and Twitter has proved to be beneficial as well (especially for stay at home moms like me who are often in their PJs!).

Current Business Challenge? Wow, I could go on forever!  My two are finances and lack of time.

What are you doing about it? I am praying!  This is what I do in times of challenge and blessing.  I am praying to be inspired to get new ideas, contacts, and leads to increase my sales.  In addition, I am praying and actively searching for a virtual assistant to help me with social media/marketing.  I have fantastic things happening with Baby Emi Jewelry (celeb/press for example) but lack the time and skill set to adequately promote and share the sweet successes.

Favorite motivational quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson

Family? Husband, Albert of 7 years and going strong, Emi who just turned 6 on Christmas day and Chloe who is 3 ½ years old.

If so, how do you balance family and business? It is not really balancing for me.  I look at it a different way and it works for me.  I have tried to “balance” that and failed miserably.  When I evaluated my role as mother, wife and business woman, and started to frame my life around those priorities coupled with prayer, I find that I am much happier and at peace.  It’s a good thing!

Favorite book? Umm…It is the Twilight series!

What do you do to relax? Exercise and watch kids shows with the girls snuggling on our couch.

What do you want to change most about your world? Honestly, it is me.  Don’t misunderstand me this is not a self-hate thing but an empowering proactive realization that my world becomes a better place through me first.  I want to be a more loving, patient, easy going mother to my girls and a more cheerful, helpful, kind wife.  I find that if I want to see change in the world – I need to start with me.

What are you most proud of? Just recently, we have been invited to participate in Park City TV’s Celebrity Swag Bag for the Sundance Film Festival 2010 and we are so excited!  It was stressful to figure out how Baby Emi Jewelry would gift 300 celebrities but we figured out a method and I’m so proud of the result. Thank you Start Up Princess for the connection! Also, my relationship with my sweet husband and our beautiful daughters are the things I am so proud of.  I am so blessed!

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Believe in Yourself.  Never Give Up. Surround Yourself with exceptional people.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? My mentors and my support network.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Lots and lots of diamonds!

Visit Baby Emi Jewelry and use coupon code SUP15 to save 15% on your purchases when you checkout!

Thank you Debbie for the wonderful interview!

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