JASMINE NAZIRI | BusinessWoman | CPMagazine

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you? Entrepreneurship is intellectual freedom. Being an entrepreneur gives you the ability to develop and establish something you truly love and believe in, while understanding there will be trial and error along the journey. Being an entrepreneur is understanding how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace and to be your authentic self.

What was your motivation to become an entrepreneur? Pursuing my vision and being a leader, having flexibility within my schedule, one of the biggest motivations is the potential of unlimited income. It is not an easy road, however, knowing (unlike a traditional corporate career) there is the ability to build enormous wealth around your brand.

What is the function of your company? FlexupUSA is an online fitness apparel and accessory brand. Our designs are all pieces with quality material made for comfort, which cater to women of all shapes and sizes. FlexupUSA’s online channels provide biweekly tips on healthy living through exercise and meditation guides. What have been the biggest difficulties as a woman that you encountered in this job? I must say being a woman in a room filled with men for example, to pitch my ideas or my brand only makes me feel more empowered. I have always had great confidence and know being confident will take you a long way as an entrepreneur, whether you are a man or woman. I have never been scared of rejection in my life.

There will be those who think that you are very lucky, so tell us also about the difficult times you have lived until you get here. It’s a lot of hard work and persistence. Working tireless hours is just a part of the recipe. Starting from scratch in search to raise capital is always a challenge along with building a team of people to support your brand that you feel are strong representatives and will help it grow.

One question: what did you want to be "when you grew up"? Does a princess ballerina count? I’m only joking, but I was always a very creative child. I also loved business, which makes sense. One side of my family is heavily involved in entrepreneurship and law, while the other side of my family are all artists. As a young girl I’d come up with ideas of what to create and get excited about the idea of selling it to neighbors and friends. Being an entrepreneur is simply just in my DNA.

ENTREPRENEUR

You have opened many doors, but have others closed for you? Of course. Not every opportunity is a good one. The saying “when one door closes, another opens” is true beyond words. There were times where others didn’t believe in my vision or wanted to change what I was trying to proceed with. I feel constructive criticism is valuable; however, if someone rejects your ideas all together or does not believe in you or your vision, never settle. The right moment will come for you, you just need to be persistent.

How do you define your fashion style, who do you draw inspiration from? I would define myself as a GLAM GAL, all the way! Of course, I love seasonal trends. Some of my favorite fashion publications are Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and L’Officiel. Staying up to date with top designers and styles is something I have done since I can remember. I do however, always try to incorporate a little bit of bling in my daily wardrobe, I just can’t resist the sparkle. What have you learned from your previous successes? Strategies that work, that I can implement in the future. Taking the time to understand what the main factors were when analyzing the success and learning how to bring that to the forefront. That success truly takes a team, so, create an amazing team of people that are ambitious, visionaries, innovative and ethical.

What advice would you give to women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs or those who want to become one? Stay focused, do what you love most, and understand that failures are the most powerful tool that you learn from. Never get discouraged, the strong and brave are the ones that are able to be vulnerable and put their passions out in front of the world. If you want to add any more questions with pleasure.

Do you consider that recognition has a real value when you receive it? If you use your recognition for good, by promoting positive values and motivating others, then absolutely, yes! Recognition can allow you the opportunity to make phenomenal connections. Networking is critical, especially when starting your business.