Women who are creating, supporting and empowering authentic brand

Imagine being thrust up into the spotlight -- vulnerable, naked, authentic. That's what building a business feels like. Bootstrapping your brand from the ground up means you're immediately stepping into a leadership role, and you have two choices: shield up or own it!

It took me a really long time to embrace the leadership role I created in Oak + Pine. I've been denied leadership roles one after another, so I was conditioned to believe that I'm not a leader.

But entrepreneurship taught me that we're all leaders when we find our purpose.

Our kickoff panel discussion for this Gather Series was hosted at Allison Izu's storefront. Our conversation reminded me why human connection is so important. This conversation was so real, raw, and unedited. Humanizing what it means to design life on our own terms.

"Share a time you had to say no," I asked.

"I have to say no to protect the space and community that I have," said Aria Leighty, founder of The MOB Nation. Elizabeth Sneed followed, "We're not just representing ourselves. We're representing a community that's put faith and trust in us." Elizabeth is a public figure and mastermind behind Curvy Surfer Girl.

Being a leader means staying true to your core beliefs. Because when you attract your tribe, it's your responsibility to protect your community. But it comes with its fair share of doubt and insecurities.

Being in the spotlight means choosing to believe that people are cheering you on because they relate to you. Mal shared her perspective so elegantly during our discussion.

"If they're there, then they genuinely like you for who you are. It's a nice balance between creating beautiful things and being who you are complete," said Mal Holcomb-Botts, public figure and creative.

Authenticity is what makes your brand unique. It's how your community knows this is where they belong. But fashion designer, Allison Izu shared her insight into the product space.

"In fashion, protecting your brand is a little hard," shared Allison Izu. "We're all going to create similar products. And I'm not going to stop doing what I do… it is authentically what I wanted to create."

Our Gather Panel Discussion happens every other Sunday at 10:30am HST. These conversations are designed to empower you as a woman who's designing life on her own terms. If you'd like to join us this Sunday at Keiki and Plow, we're discussing:

How these women bootstrapped 6-figure businesses.

Click the button below to join us. All profits go towards the construction of Gather - Oahu's first coworking space dedicated to female entrepreneurs. Otherwise, if you’d like a digital copy of this panel discussion, then click here.