At the beginning of the year we knew we wanted use this space to highlight some of the many incredible women in business that are disrupting the status quo and making change in their industries. We’re are excited to continue to introduce you to new founders and companies through our series: the Sustainable Business Spotlight. We hope that you find these stories insightful and inspiring—no matter what your career path. Know of a woman-owned business that’s breaking the mold? Please let us know who you would like to see featured in the comments!
One of our favorite hair care brands, we both use and love Briogeo’s scalp and hair products (even with our different hair textures), so it was a pleasure to highlight Nancy’s story and her advice for other entrepreneurs.
Who: Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo
Where: Worldwide
What: All natural hair, scalp, and body care products made from plant-based ingredients.
Sustainable Business Spotlight: Briogeo
What excites you most about creating clean and sustainable beauty products?
From day one, I wanted Briogeo to be a clean, natural brand that offered solutions for every hair type, hair texture, hair need, ethnicity, background, and person. I struggled with my hair growing up because the products on the market were just not right for my hair texture. At a young age, I learned that it was possible to take simple, pure, clean, fruit and plant based ingredients and transform them into something truly transformational for my hair, skin, and body. I want Briogeo to inspire, foster passion, and spread positive energy. The brand name Briogeo is derived from Brio meaning “full of life” and Geo representing “earth and nature.”
What do you consider to be your greatest success since launching Briogeo?
Briogeo was founded on the celebration of diversity and inclusivity. I want Briogeo to not be about me. I want Briogeo to be about everyone. We’re focused on giving our client the best and most innovative hair care formulas and creating great relationships with our clients and retailers. When I launched Briogeo at Sephora in 2014, I was the youngest African American woman to launch a collection with the mega-beauty retailer. The success that I’ve achieved over the years is a constant reminder that the sky’s the limit and any dream is possible with hard work, discipline, and the right mindset.
What do you wish more people knew about starting a beauty/hair care brand?
While starting a beauty or hair care brand is an extremely exciting venture, a level of discipline and balance is needed to prevent rushing or impulsive decision making. Take the time to be thoughtful and smart about your approach. Often we can get so excited by our own ideas that we feel an immediate need to rush them through. Slow and steady wins the race!
Also, challenges don’t mean you should stop doing what you’re doing. It just means you need to get creative and figure out another way. I wouldn’t be where I am without embracing and accepting failure, learning to be resilient, and leaning on my network. Find something you REALLY believe in and that you won’t quit until you’ve succeeded.
What advice would you give someone who’s feeling unfulfilled in their current job?
One of the hardest choices you will make is deciding to take action to pursue your dreams. Don’t be afraid to take risks and be different. Seek out mentors and create your own personal board of directors. And make sure to pay it forward! I keep a daily gratitude list and every night before I go to bed, I jot down four things I’m grateful for so I can end each day on an uplifting note.
What’s your beauty philosophy?
Well, beauty is something different for everyone. Beauty is confidence. Beauty is learning to love yourself. It’s acceptance. It’s embracing your differences, uniqueness, and what makes you… YOU. I think beauty is an ongoing process. It’s personal. Everyone is on their own path and timeline to discovering their own beauty.
What are some of your favorite clean beauty brands/products?
It’s been exciting to see the evolution of how consumers shop for beauty, with a greater priority on clean and non-toxic formulas than ever before. I use skincare products from clean brands like Hyper Skin, Lauren Napier, Youth to the People, and Indie Lee. Some of my non-toxic makeup brands include Mented Cosmetics, Thrive Causemetics, and Kosas.
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