In this episode, Sara talks with Adora Drake
about her journey from working in corporate marketing to
founding a beauty business. Adora shares how beauty products have
helped her feel more empowered in her life, the ins and outs of
working with her closest friends, and how trial-and-error in her
mother's kitchen led to the creation of the much-loved products
that her company sells today. Adora is founder of HighSpirits
Essentials, a beauty brand specializing in
natural, cruelty-free skincare and cosmetic solutions that
empower women of every shade to look and feel their best.
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How they got connected
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Adora starting out in college as a journalism major
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Switching to marketing
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Working in corporate marketing
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Realizing she wasn't happy
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Noticing her passion for beauty
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How she uses marketing in her current business
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Working two jobs at the same time
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How she knows she's doing the "right thing" now
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Researching before jumping into a new industry
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Asking her friends for feedback
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What beauty means to Adora
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How taking care of oneself helps build confidence
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The lack of cosmetics options out there for women of
color
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Her choice to work with organic, non-toxic ingredients
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Adora experimenting in her mom's kitchen
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Working with local farmers
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Learning about chemistry to create body products
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Her typical day at work
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Hiring employees
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What it's like to work with her best friends
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Being the "oddball" entrepreneur in her family
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The importance of self-trust
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Believing in the value of what you're selling
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Being the first in her family to go to college
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The benefits of networking
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Getting energy from positive interactions with others
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Collaborating with fellow entrepreneurs
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Balancing the skeptics with those who are supporting and
encouraging you
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How she prepared, financially
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Her experience after not getting her "dream job" in
marketing
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The power of "self-help" books
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Taking the time to figure out what makes you happy
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How being yourself sets you apart from other brands
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Choosing to focus on empowering women vs. pointing out their
flaws
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Her biggest tip for taking good care of one's skin on a daily
basis
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The advice she'd give her teenage self, who struggled with
confidence
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The advice she has for budding entrepreneurs
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...and more!
Adora Drake, founder of HighSpirits Essentials, traded her
full-time corporate marketing career to pursue her dream of
creating cruelty-free skincare and cosmetic solutions that empower
women of every shade to look and feel their best. Adora had
previously worked in several industries with many different teams
before realizing that sitting in a cubicle was not the life she
wanted. So, after four years, she decided to take the leap and
create her own company and brand. In the beginning, she worked full
time while building her business on the side, and eventually left
to pursue her dream, full time. Adora has had to learn so much
about the beauty industry, but it has been well worth it. She's
been in business for about a year in a half at the time of this
recording, and HighSpirits Essentials is growing!