What are some exciting or weird previous ventures and how have you applied them to current work?

I wouldn’t say anything too weird. What does feel a bit strange is that everything I’ve worked on in the past has led to BURST, in a way that just fits.

Prior to this, I was part of a startup called FinditParts.com and operated as the COO and CFO. It was here that I learned a lot about e-commerce and how important it is from day one - learning the things to do and not to do and avoiding past mistakes and being able to use some past wisdoms to succeed.

I had also become involved with an organization called ThursdayNights - a nonprofit in LA that brings together founders and funders of tech companies. The intimate dinners I’ve had over the years with other founders gave me some amazing knowledge to share. It also meant I had a network to ask for help or referrals, and in fact, one of the investors who regularly attended introduced me to Hamish, the second half of BURST Oral Care.

So much of what I’ve been able to build has been based on past experience and community, which has been fundamental to my success.

What advice would you give, specifically to fast growth challenger brands?

Get your core squad immediately. You can’t get anywhere without having people on your team that you can rely on and run the ball with.

Do not do things just because everyone else does it that way - most businesses fail. Using someone else's strategy when it doesn't make sense for your business is just silly.

Say no to capital. That’s right you heard me. If someone wants to offer you capital and they don’t feel right, have the courage to walk away. Our investor team is the best on earth (I really do believe that). We’re winning because we’re well capitalized and have folks who help us make good decisions on that capital.

You mentioned your dad was a key factor in determining your approach to life, how have you applied it to business?

Really, I think it’s my entire family. If there’s a theme that I was to point out, it’s that no one is too good to do something, and everyone is good enough to achieve anything.

I have a hugely supportive family - my dad genuinely believes I can do anything, a can do attitude (even run again Usain Bolt and win if I chose to do so). It's largely irrational, but having people in your corner every day who are behind you gives you a lot of confidence. I can’t recall a time in my life anyone asked me, ‘Are you sure you can do that? It’s really hard - you might fail.” These things aren’t said in my house.

Then there’s my husband, who is emotionally quite my opposite, but my biggest cheerleader. We have these huge BURST events, where people come out to see Hamish and I, and there’s never been this moment of feeling like I need to turn down my sunshine because the rays make him feel uncomfortable. He’s good enough in his own skin to let me shine as bright as I need to.

When people say language doesn’t matter, that confidence doesn’t matter, I think they’re wrong. I believe a lot of my success comes from the fact that it was never planted in my brain to doubt myself. No one made me afraid to fail - and if I did, no one was going to love me less for trying.

Why did self care become your passion point?

I like to feel good about myself - it’s this chain reaction. I do better work, I’m a better friend, I’m a better wife and I’m a better colleague. So much of what’s going on in your own insides are reflecting what your outcome in life is. It's like a recipe for a meal - if you’re missing an ingredient it's just off. I went through a phase where my only ingredient was work and that doesn’t sustain.

You’ve got to do the physical health, mental health, career, happiness and fun “balance” for yourself if you’re going to thrive instead of just exist.

Any challenges you’ve encountered along the way and how you overcame them?

I think the normal, young person existential stuff for me - I wouldn’t compare my challenges or hardships to what other people are facing. When you’re in college and just out, you have a lot of angst about who and what you’ll be - I think the only answer worth giving is, you just keep going, you’ll figure it out, but don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

What do you personally believe needs to be done to help support the democratisation of self care?

I believe information needs to be easier to understand and more accessible. There’s a lot of conflicting information out there. And then how does one access it? Finding affordable options for good self care is important. So educating and providing affordable solutions is the job of entrepreneurs like us!