“I became hyper detailed on the processes and how the business should run. Any good business, this should be the baseline. Nothing else, like this is it. How does your business run without you? My team understands that everyone's on board, so they just move through the system systematically. And so if they have any questions, they pop their head up, ‘Hey, I wasn't able to find this,’ someone can redirect them.”
When Leslie Roberson decided to found a new business, she never set out to change the landscape of Black beauty supply stores. However, after mulling the idea over, she realized she might just be the perfect person to help fill that gap. Today, Leslie is the CEO and founder of B.B.C.—formerly the Black Beauty Collective—a premier beauty retail store and online marketplace for inclusive clean beauty. Leslie has leveraged her corporate recruiting experience at organizations like Meta and Wayfair and has championed over 50 diverse beauty brands that cater to the unique needs of women. Her efforts have led to B.B.C.’s expansion and highlighted her commitment to diversity and community support. Leslie's work transcends retail, fostering a movement towards greater inclusivity and representation in the beauty industry. Tune in and hear our conversation with Leslie about creating a business based on the lack of representation she saw in the beauty industry, finding employees that align with the company culture, and the criteria she uses when selecting brands for her marketplace.
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Hosts
Carlyn Bushman is a seasoned business consultant, entrepreneur, and advocate for female founders. She founded POP Business Academy to empower women entrepreneurs with tools for building sustainable, profitable businesses. As CEO of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, she specializes in helping product- and service-based business owners navigate financials, marketing, and growth strategies. With extensive corporate experience, Carlyn, a mom in a blended family and lifelong learner, has been featured on Good Morning America and in Times Square. She's here to help you make money and stay in business.
Richelle is a pharmacist with extensive management and corporate experience at Target Corporation, specializing in recruitment, acquisitions, leadership, and operations. She is the Co-Founder and Former Director of Corporate Development at American Pediatric Dental Group, which she exited for eight figures, and Co-Founder of HealthBiz Mastery, an online health business course for healthcare providers, and the HealthBiz Connect community. A recognized business expert and NBC contributor, she’s been featured on GMA, CNN, Pix 11, Good Day Washington, to name a few. Richelle is also the co-author of The Power Couple.
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Highlights
- The risks and rewards of opening a brick and mortar shop 07:25
- The most challenging part of opening two stores within a year 11:42
- Why it’s so important to be able to trust your team 15:54
- B.B.C. founders are expected to do their own marketing while Leslie is there to drive customers to the store 23:40