Ep 139 | Lisa Sequino
Co-Founder of JLo Beauty on Leaving Corporate, Finding Meaning & Helping Women Step Into Confidence
Listen on
Lisa Sequino is the co-founder and CEO of JLo Beauty & Lifestyle, a brand she founded alongside Jennifer Lopez that is focused on making self-care more simple with high-performance products that deliver incredible results for an inner and outer glow - at any age.
Although Lisa is a beauty veteran, her path was anything but straightforward. She always had a love for beauty but never realized how to make it a career. She had plans to be an attorney, ended up dropping out of law school, and found a sales job that introduced her to the world of business. She spent eight years at Proctor & Gable, then ultimately got her dream job at Estee Lauder as an executive at Tom Ford Beauty. After spending nearly a decade at Estee Lauder, and running the Estee Lauder Brands in North America, Lisa started questioning everything in life and was feeling unfulfilled despite having an incredible career.
We talk to Lisa about how she garnered the courage to leave her corporate career, the questions she asked herself along the way, and how turning 40 was a huge wake-up call for her both personally and professionally. We also discuss what nobody tells you about the transition from leaving corporate to starting your own business, and what skills you should hold onto and let go of.
Lisa also shares a behind-the-scenes look at her serendipitous meeting with JLo, their relationship as co-founders, and how they came together to create a business that makes women feel confident, empowered, and beautiful both inside and out, and so much more.
Show Notes:
A warm welcome and introduction to today’s guest, Lisa Sequino. [00:48]
The role of ‘grit’ in Lisa’s career and her opinions on whether it is innate or can be taught. [03:00]
Lisa’s childhood desire for making money and setting her own path. [03:50]
How Lisa teaches her son the value of hard work. [05:13]
Why Lisa started and dropped out of law school. [07:12]
Lisa’s ‘lightbulb’ beauty moment. [10:42]
Why beauty is a more difficult industry than the media portrays. [11:50]
Lisa’s experiences working in healthcare, specifically with digestible products. [13:25]
Why hard work is a necessity in a successful career. [20:56]
The questions Lisa started asking after she turned 40. [22:40]
What Lisa wanted after quitting her job: creating a space for women over 40 in beauty. [0:28:05]
How, when, and why Lisa and J-Lo connected so well. [29:15]
Ways J-Lo is pushing and challenging Lisa in her career. [34:35]
The entrepreneurial mindset shifts and changes Lisa experiences. [36:23]
Examples of how Lisa and J-Lo work together as co-founders. [37:54]
The reality and challenges of partnering with J-Lo. [41:00]
How JLo Beauty and Lifestyle has been mindful of broader economic changes. [43:49]
Why understanding your customer is the most important aspect of your business. [46:50]
Why you need to know the community of your brand and how to support them. [51:00]
What Lisa let go of while transitioning from the corporate to entrepreneurial world. [52:59]
It is time to incorporate fun into your life! [57:30]
How Lisa manages her time and finds joy. [1:01:53]
Lisa’s closing words of wisdom. [1:05:10]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Lisa:
JLo Beauty & Lifestyle’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partakefoods/
JLo Beauty & Lifestyle’s Website: https://www.jlobeauty.com/
