Kara Ross of Unleashed – Entertain, Educate, Inspire
February 11, 2019
When you’ve built a very successful business as a jewelry designer for more than 20 years, the natural move is to leave it all behind and start making documentary films celebrating and supporting female artisans and entrepreneurs through authentic storytelling, right? Kara Ross, renowned entrepreneur and award-winning fine jewelry designer and founder of Unleashed (a non profit media organization founded which celebrates and supports female artisans and entrepreneurs) joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and Unleashed and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm. In this episode:
- How Kara needed to start a business to take care of kids after divorce as a single mom
- Kara’s first employee–her sister
- The entrepreneurial reality of never feeling like you made it—ail it’s always about the next thing
- Why Kara doesn’t miss her jewelry business even after 25 years
- How Kara is focusing now on other female entrepreneurs and artisans
- Why Kara felt guilty about closing her store
- When you’re not on the treadmill and running, it is difficult to stop and choose to spend your life and resources another way
- Why Kara wishes she had talked with someone about leaving her business—it was emotionally and mentally tough
- Creating Unleashed, a short film series telling the stories of female entrepreneurs around the world.
- Shooting the pilot with the Bella Twins
- Why Kara won’t be featured in the show
- Creating a content library that highlights multiple industries and career fields
- How Kara’s daughter is helping after graduating from film school
- What Kara learned from her jewelry business that could be applied to Unleashed
- How Kara is more relaxed now enjoying herself more, and more in control of her time
- The power of leading by example
- Trying to challenge yourself and constantly make yourself better
Share it!
Posted in Entreprenista
Tags
How Janvi Shah is Shaping the Future of Inclusive Beauty Commerce through Technology
“Being an entrepreneur means owning your power as an entrepreneur. You don’t have to be ashamed, you don’t have to hold back.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Janvi Shah, the co-founder and CEO of Hue, an e-commerce technology company transforming the online beauty shopping experience. Hue has helped shoppers find the…
Ash Grewal on Her Community That Amplifies Women Changemakers
Hi, Ash! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Ash Grewal, a former tech executive turned founder. After scaling numerous startups in the retail tech scene and generating over $100M in revenue, I launched The OverachieveHers, a community dedicated to amplifying the voices, visibility, and influence of female changemakers. Our…
Cindy Shuster Provides Support to Parents Raising Children
Hi, Cindy! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Cindy. I provide private and group coaching to parents who are struggling in some aspect of raising their children. In addition, I speak to groups of parents and Parent ERGs in the corporate setting on a multitude of topics related to…
Ivonna Young Helps Apparel & Accessories Brands Reach Their Marketing Goals
Hi, Ivonna! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Ivonna Young, Founder and Fractional CMO at The Lavender Agency. With over a decade of fashion marketing leadership, I maximize apparel brands’ sales with dynamic and strategic marketing. As a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer for apparel, accessories, and footwear brands, I craft…
Demystifying the Health Insurance Industry with Dr. Noor Ali
“Show up dressed as your next level self. So, whoever that ‘her’ is that you’re projecting—whether that’s five years or 10 years—show up as her. Embodying her, not just dressed as her… Proving to yourself like, ‘Hey, I just did it 10 years before I thought that I could do it.’” When Dr. Noor Ali…
How Junea Rocha took Brazi Bites from Shark Tank to Supermarket Success
“What we’re trying to do as entrepreneurs is move from that band of the starving entrepreneur that’s knocking on doors and stumbling, to be like, ‘I know my business, I’m gonna get shelf space, this is how I’m gonna drive, this is how I’m gonna compete, and let’s hold hands and grow.’” In this episode…
Emily Esposito Helps Couples Stay Confident on the Dancefloor
Hi, Emily! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Emily. I am the Owner of Anyone Can Dance. I’ve always wanted to be an actress and have been working professionally for 10 years, but the business is extremely inconsistent. I’ve always taught dance and theater when I wasn’t working in…
Quiana Evans Provides Coaching and Empowerment Services to Women Leaders
Hi, Quiana! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Quiana Evans is CEO & Founder of Infinite Life Group, LLC which embodies an Empowerment Group of Leaders who together are on a mission to inspire, equip, and empower ambitious women. Those who are striving but not thriving in life and are looking…
Victoria Gaston’s Doula Business Combines Traditional Techniques With Modern Approaches
Hi, Victoria! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Victoria. I am a 29-year-old NYC native, mama of five beautiful daughters, wife, and your BEST match postpartum doula. NewEra Doula was built on the belief that everyone deserves the best companion to help transition them into the fourth trimester. My…
How Lindsey Breitwieser Uses Strategic Marketing to Drive Revenue Growth for Startups
“We don’t have to do a million things, we just have to do the right things. We often feel like ‘I don’t have a big budget to spend on ads and that’s why I’m not successful.’ We’re chasing all of these different marketing tactics… In truth, we don’t actually need to be doing that much.”…
Mika Mooney Makes Legal Counsel Approachable and Accessible for Founders
Hi, Mika! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Mika, a New York based business, trademark, and employment attorney and fellow entrepreneur. Mika Mooney Law was born out of a desire to support female founders in all things legal in a straight-forward, caring and sound way; all with a goal of…
How Marissa Shipman Built Resilient Beauty Businesses with theBalm and Pretty Smart
“I’m a glass half full kind of person. I really like to think of things like, “Okay, why did this happen?” And, you know, it’s like, if life gives you lemons, add vodka.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Marissa Shipman, the founder and CEO of theBalm Cosmetics and Pretty Smart Cosmetics.…
Sylvia “Ivy” Pacquing Blends Passion and Purpose With Her Soap and Candle Products
Hi, Ivy! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi! I’m Ivy, and along with my sister Vanessa, we founded Ives and Bees. We’re a small business dedicated to creating handmade products that are both sustainable and accessible. We started with handmade soaps and candles, and have since expanded our range to…
Caroline Crawford Supports Business Leaders With Marketing Expertise
Hi, Caroline! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Caroline. I’m a brand-driven growth marketing expert helping business leaders with aligning marketing initiatives effectively to achieve overarching business goals. I have a 13-year successful track record of blending the visionary with the integrator. After seeing first-hand how the marketing industry…
How Jackie Hutson Turned Postpartum Night Sweats into Piper & Mint’s Sleepwear Success
“I never once thought about these other markets because it wasn’t my experience yet. So you just never know where your business may lead you, even four months into it—it’s all from listening.” When Jackie Hutson gave birth to her son a little over a decade ago, she thought she had prepared for everything. However,…