Ep 29 | Shalini Vadhera

Written By Yasmin Nouri
Shalini

When to Double Down & When to Quit

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Shalini Vadhera is a beauty entrepreneur, celebrity make-up artist, bestselling author, and founder of a multi-million dollar global cosmetics company that started from her garage.

Shalini’s journey was far from easy. Although her business scaled and found instant success in large retailers like Sephora and QVC, Shalini lacked mentorship and faced a whole host of challenges growing her business. She is passionate about sharing her story to help women entrepreneurs and creating environments for women and girls to strive in life and business, as seen in her ventures, Power Beauty Living, Ready Set Jet, and Ready Set Jet Academy, a social initiative to help lift women out of poverty by creating job opportunities and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Shalini has worked with representatives from the United Nations to bring the art of living powerfully and beautifully to emerging women leaders and has also been recognized with the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award. 

As a social activist and innovator involved with many different businesses and initiatives, we’ll chat with Shalini about her learnings building & scaling multiple businesses, why women empowerment is so important to her, and tips she recommends for anyone who is looking to live a meaningful & fearless life.

Show Notes

  • Why being bullied in school shaped Shalini's love for makeup and beauty. [3:52]

  • What it was like to be sent to India at 19 with $2,500 to start her own company. [5:40]

  • Dealing with rejection or negative comments – Shalini has learned to tune them out. [9:07]

  • Shalini's purpose versus the expectations of others – discover how her career has been a constant struggle between the two [12:37]

  • Shalini shares what it was like building her company in the early days & managing everything from her garage in San Diego [20:23]

  • The lack of support networks and resources for women in business back then. [23:20]

  • Shalini describes her fundraising experience and the importance of doing your own due diligence with investors [24:14]

  • What actually prompted her to exit the $20 million+ global beauty brand she'd built. [30:21]

  • How Shalini felt, having to leave her brand behind, and how she views it now – as a valuable life lesson in empowerment. [32:14]

  • How a Korean Master and getting struck by lightning inspired a spiritual awakening. [33:30]

  • Instead of seeing the worst case scenario, realize that you’re in control of your story. [45:55]

  • Key mistakes Shalini that sees women entrepreneurs making in their businesses. [46:37]

  • Advice for women who want to create a like minded community or find a mentor. [49:06]

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Yasmin Nouri
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