Building Your Business Idea One Brick at a Time with Jihan Thompson, co-founder of Swivel Beauty

10/26/22 • 42 min

The Texture Lounge

It has been quite some time since Jihan Thompson (co-founder of Swivel Beauty) and I connected.

In this episode, Jihan and I chat it up and talk about what it takes to take your idea from a concept to a business.

Here's what else we talk about:

Transitioning from journalism to launch a beauty tech business
Where did the idea of Swivel come from
Pivotal moment when Jihan realized she had to launch the platform
Her experience in the Sephora Accelerate program and its benefits
How procrastination showed up for her and how she overcame them
Biggest learn in the entrepreneurship journey
Leveraging her network to bring Swivel to life
Introvert or extrovert and how it plays in her she runs her business
Tips for emerging entrepreneurs out there
Beauty rituals Jihan maintains today
Her upcoming scheduled beauty appts
Her fave hair/beauty products
Trendwatch: Thoughts on the flurry of celebrities launching beauty brands
Where to find her/Swivel Beauty: @swivelbeauty and swivelbeauty.com

Rate, review & subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Follow The Texture Lounge on Instagram here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It has been quite some time since Jihan Thompson (co-founder of Swivel Beauty) and I connected.

In this episode, Jihan and I chat it up and talk about what it takes to take your idea from a concept to a business.

Here's what else we talk about:

Transitioning from journalism to launch a beauty tech business
Where did the idea of Swivel come from
Pivotal moment when Jihan realized she had to launch the platform
Her experience in the Sephora Accelerate program and its benefits
How procrastination showed up for her and how she overcame them
Biggest learn in the entrepreneurship journey
Leveraging her network to bring Swivel to life
Introvert or extrovert and how it plays in her she runs her business
Tips for emerging entrepreneurs out there
Beauty rituals Jihan maintains today
Her upcoming scheduled beauty appts
Her fave hair/beauty products
Trendwatch: Thoughts on the flurry of celebrities launching beauty brands
Where to find her/Swivel Beauty: @swivelbeauty and swivelbeauty.com

Rate, review & subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Follow The Texture Lounge on Instagram here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Yes is Expensive, No is a Complete Sentence, with Naeemah LaFond

In this episode of The Texture Lounge, I get to chat it up with Naeemah LaFond.

Haitian-American, Brooklyn-based, Queen of statement hair and Global Artistic Director at Amika haircare brand.

Here's what we are talking about:

The meaning behind her name (tip: John Coltrane is involved)
Her zone of genius
What book she is reading: "Say More About That...and other ways to speak up, push back and advocate for yourself and others" by Amber Carrall.
An insecurity she had growing up
Her multiple career-shifts: From a tax account, biomedical pharmacology, sociology, court clerk to hairstylist.
What sparks her creative process for her phenomenally extra, signature looks
Most satisfying career moment
Trendwatch: Why black models are not being serviced backstage at fashion shows & who's fault it is
Importance of boundaries and the signs that tell her she needs to disconnect from everything
Her ultimate dream for her life
Earliest beauty moments
Her favourite self-care moment & upcoming beauty appointments
Where to find her: @naeemahlafond

Rate, review & subscribe on Apple Podcasts.

Follow The Texture Lounge on Instagram here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Ugly Before it's Pretty: The Evolution of Black Women's Love for Hair Texture and Ourselves, with Pekela Riley

Joining me in this episode, is Pekela Riley.

Artistpreneur, founder of True & Pure Textures natural hair extension line and salon owner of Salon PK (Jacksonville, Florida).

Pekela's artistic aesthetic is supremely creative, edgy & elevated; I would define it as 'texture-futurism'.

She founded the phenomenal True + Pure Texture haircare extension line out of the frustration of women of colour damaging their own natural hair to blend with silky mainstream extensions prevalent in the market.

Through the years of knowing her and her work, I am truly enjoying watching PK have a lifelong, unapologetic love affair with the magic she makes with textured hair.

Here's what we talk about:

Meaning behind her name, Pekela
Her zone of genius
What makes her great at what she does
Her insecurities growing up
Her personal beauty & fashion style
The overlap of being an artist and an entrepreneur
Viewing pivots in business as a "style-shift
How she gets into the zone when creating her artistry
Introvert or extrovert and how it plays in her creations
Managing expectations: "It's ugly before it gets pretty"
Her view on mentorship and the mentors in her head
The reason why she felt bringing True + Pure Texture to the market was necessary
The evolution of Black women's expectations on hair texture: "It's too silky, it's too shiny. We want more of who we are"
What makes True + Pure Texture special: the quality of microtextures
What ethical sourcing looks like for hair extensions
Reversing the taboo of wig-wearing: an extension of our expression
The importance of boundaries & self-care
Got 15 mins: Makeup vs hair
Where to find Pekela @pekalariley and @trueandpuretexture