PORTIA P.

Miss Portia Peden is a mother of three from the south suburbs of Chicago currently residing outside of Atlanta, GA Portia graduated from medical school as a patient care tech in 2010 and has worked in administration, medical insurance, and billing for several states She enjoys helping others and staying current in health care awareness. Healthcare has always been a backbone for Portia She believes in having the upper hand in healthcare due to personal challenges that she had to face Having experienced a mother that battled cancer and a sister with autism, Portia has gained the knowledge to master patients’ concerns and their well-being It impacted Portia to personally understand the feeling of what patients go through Having the opportunity to work from home, Portia is a full-time single mother looking to leap into the fashion world Working as a single mom and building her brand, remote work is perfect for Portia She is striving to grow her business by owning her hair accessories line, Hair Candy Bows, for children

Portia started Hair Candy Bows in 2014 while styling children’s hair in her own home As a PreK teacher prior to attending medical school, Portia would create fun educational projects with various materials that would encourage her students imagination While teaching her students, she would often sneak and style their hair during quiet time or nap time to help them sleep or just for personal comfort for her students She did it so often that her students then became her clients

After completing the hairstyle, she’d add the finishing touch, applying her handmade hairbows with unique attachments Kids loved things that were full of excitement and fascinating Portia would create fun hair pieces and pass them out She loves working with children and prays to open her own 24hr activity center for childcare.

Portia is also a big proponent of fashion She aims to coordinate each outfit she wears to show her individuality She identifies fashion to one ’ s personality as it sets the tone of how people perceive you Portia’s goal is to provide beauty and flavor worldwide with plans of having her own brand in fashion, school supplies, home goods, accessories, and clothing line For Portia, medical employment is a stepping stone for her dreams and ambitions “I believe your fashion statement says a lot about who you are and what you stand for It’s like you ’ re a walking billboard”

If you could use four words to describe yourself outside of entrepreneurship and business, what would it be? Four words that describe me outside of entrepreneurship are ambitious, determined, loving, and optimistic

You grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago Can you share how your surroundings and upbringing impacted who you are today as an entrepreneur and leader?

Growing up in the south suburbs of Chicago was great I enjoyed my childhood Though we traveled a lot, we lived in several different places We traveled often because my mother lost my grandmother when she was only 17 My mother had me at 20, so we traveled a lot once she had me and my siblings. We often traveled from other areas outside of Chicago because my mom stated everything reminded her of her mother, and it was hard to function around the area Being able to adapt to any environment had more pros than cons at the time I didn’t understand it; however, it helped mold me into who I am There was always something new to learn and see, and I met a lot of people And to this day, Im not afraid of change or opportunity to grow anywhere

You have spent many years in the healthcare industry. How has your time in the workforce prepared you for entrepreneurship?

Learning different procedures and policies helped me evolve in entrepreneurship because it allowed me to provide an experience in customer service skills

You are a mother Can you share what your day-to-day looks like as a mother and entrepreneur? How do you balance the demands of both roles in your life?

Balancing business and parenting is definitely a task I have three children and three different personalities Their needs override everything, but over the years, Ive stuck to a schedule and enforced it Our mornings typically start at 6am to prepare for school, so working from home allows me to prepare for my work schedule and day around their school hours, and I’m always home in case of emergency I work on my business after my home is quiet and my children are in bed It allows me peace of mind and a great time for concentration

What is the message behind your brand, Hair Candy Bows ?

The message behind Hair Candy Bows is our company motto: To provide beauty and flavor to young girls worldwide I believe its important to have something that reflects your style, personality, and creativity in any way My love for fashion and children runs deep. Hair Candy Bows is my introduction to getting attention from young girls, providing them with extraordinary hair accessories

What can supporters expect from your brand next?

My goal is to have my product in stores worldwide I’m praying that God allows me to have the PORTIA PEDEN BRAND, which will include various products, school supplies, fashion lines, home décor education books, and more I often visualize myself in the category with Kimora Lee, Lisa Frank, Betsy Johnson, and Kate Spade, all designers that I admire

What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles?

An ambitious woman who is determined to make a difference in her life and isn’t afraid to fail or be different, a courageous woman with pretty features but not just physical inside out Pretty habits, pretty intentions, pretty personality A pretty woman who hustles is a form of a lifestyle that’s within beauty