In this episode of the Inspire Podcast Bart interviews the CEO and Founder of Cheekbone Beauty, an Indigenous-owend and founded cosmetics brand. Despite having no background in the beauty industry, Jenn had a vision to create a brand that gave representation to Indigenous youth and started the business from scratch in 2016. As she built her business she worked hard to invest in and give back to her community, and today has donated more than $150,000 to a variety of organizations support Indigenous youth and the environment. Jenn tells Bart about how her own personal journey to overcome substance abuse and to authentically represent her Indigenous identity fuelled and shaped her entrepreneurial spirit. Her story has lessons for anyone with the dream to start something from scratch, and anyone who wants to support voices who are underrepresented in the world today.
01.13 Teaser
26.28 Series intro
01:04 Welcoming Jenn
01:18 What is cheekbone
04:12 Bart talks intersectionality
05:04 20 years in hospitality
06:09 The importance of detail in customer relationships
06:27 Food industry
07:02 Creating solutions and solving problems
07:17 Not just another lipstick brand
07:30 Lack of representation in the beauty industry
08:21 Healing and shame
08:50 Authenticity
10:05 Life after the epiphany
10:53 Challenges for mixed race identities
11:23 The beginning of Cheekbone
12:07 The dream that inspired the business
13:08 Crash course in entrepreneurship
14:03 Truth and Reconciliation Commission
14:45 Cheekbone - part of generational healing
15:17 Beauty industry highly competitive
16:17 Feeling a true connection to the product and the mission
17:39 The power of relatable marketing
18:16 Bart - representation at the top matters
19:00 How did you start the business?
20:03 The indie brand space
21:01 Developing their own formulations and packaging etc...
21:55 Life cycling thinking
22:14 Being more responsible to consumers and the planet
23:51 Not here to greenwash
24:08 Successes and trials
24:28 Letters from customers
25:57 Feedback from the indigenous communities?
26:55 Success about giving back to community
27:54 Throwing money at things isn't the answer
28:12 Show what is possible by way of entrepreneurship
29:00. Biggest setback along the way...?
29:11 Death of her brother
31:55 The principles that help
32:07 Remove ego as much as possible
32:29 Consistency
33:55 Tenacity
34:20 Toughest rejection
34:44 Tenacity comes from purpose
35:40 Where to follow Cheekbone + find products
36:27 Many supporters from non-indigenous people
37:04 Thank you
