How would you describe yourself at, say, age 10?

I was definitely a theatrical kid – I loved to sing and make people laugh and would always put on performances for my family and friends (most of them were really bad).
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So, did your parents encourage this, uh, “theatricality?”

My parents always encouraged my siblings and me to believe in and stand up for ourselves. I think this was one huge lesson I took with me out into the working world. But even as I speak up, my parents also taught the importance of being a team player-- which is what I am most grateful for today.
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You swim in the entrepreneurial waters all day. Did you ever try your hand at entrepreneurship yourself?

Funny you should mention it. When I was 12 I tried to make my own lip gloss brand by putting peppermint and vanilla extract in Vaseline. My mom and dad were big, big customers. Very loyal. But, let’s just say I was never able to grow that solid consumer base.
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Ah, so you learned to pivot at an early age.

Yes, I moved on to baking. I love to bake and cook! This is my first time living on the West Coast and I love being so close to the freshest and best ingredients. I also spend half of my free time looking for new recipes or reworking old ones to make them better. Which is also something I have in common with the entrepreneurs we work with.
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Speaking of them… when you look at your entrepreneurial partners as a group, what traits do you think they have in common?

Everyone is incredibly driven and passionate about what they do. Every founder has a story that drives the brand they’ve created. I also love seeing how founders are able to pivot when some things are or are not working for them.
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Everyone has their lip gloss moment.

Exactly. And I love how at VMG our culture is all about standing by them and being their partners during these moments of transition. I love feeling as if I’m a teammate as we help build brands.
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You’re a team player from way back, I guess. How does that trait help you fit into the VMG culture?

VMG has such a strong culture of speaking up and voicing your opinions, which is something that really excites me, as you know. They really value each team member and collaboration is just such a huge part of their belief system. Plus they share my passion for new and innovative consumer products.
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Have you shared your lip gloss idea yet?

Not yet. Just waiting for the right moment, you know?

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