Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Vincent.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, neither one of my parents were entrepreneurs. I didn’t grow up knowing that it was possible to own your own business or cultivate the future of your dreams. I was always told you go to college, get a job, work 40 hours a week, and continue on that path until retirement. So, what did I do? I did just that. I received my Masters in Nutrition and set out to find a job in that field. When that returned with no results, I entered the workforce in oil and gas. Long story short, I ended up as Director of Operations of a brokerage firm here in Houston, which quickly turned into a remote work position.
Working from home can be very isolating and a huge possibility of decreased productivity. Every time I went to work, there was a pile of laundry or household chores that would distract me. It was definitely a learning experience for me to have to be able to motivate yourself to sit down and get work done! So, I started working from coffee shops throughout Houston. I so desperately needed a place to be able to work around other people to give me some motivation and get me out of the house.
As you can guess, coffee shops became expensive, the internet wasn’t always reliable, and you were still technically alone working. When I discovered co-working spaces, I realized the white space in Houston for a female-focused space. We have plenty of co-ed spaces, but they are just missing those extra amenities that most women need! Not only that, the events aren’t created for the average woman in mind. There is a completely different vibe and comfort when it is a space made for women by women. I set out to do just that!
I love building other women up and helping them discover their dreams. I wanted to create a space for them to meet like-minded women, get some work done, find a little motivation, and craft that future that they are in need of!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! Nothing in life that is truly worth it will ever be easy or handed to you. You have to work for it. To start, I had no clue what I was doing when I set out on this path. I didn’t go to school for business to even have a road map or basic foundation set in place. Everything has been a learn as you go process. Google has been my best friend if I am being honest. How do you start a company? Google. How do taxes work? Google. How do you create a website? Google. You get the picture!
I had to overcome HUGE mental roadblocks to get this business off the ground. Imposter syndrome was so real for me. Why would people listen to me? Why would people join my community? What do I have to bring to the table? I had to do a lot of self-work to get past those to be able to get to where I am with the community I have built. It has been a scary but satisfying journey always wondering if I am missing a key step or not knowing what to do next but pushing forward anyway. One small step forward each day has been what has helped me. I have truly learned as I go, but the action was the catalyst. Just starting. Once I did one small thing, it gave me the confidence for the next one and so on and so forth.
So far, everything has been done by myself. I created my own website, sourced all product, registered my company myself, taken all my photos, ran my social media, etc. Most people start out this way though when beginning a business because you don’t have the resources and income yet to hire a team.
My real struggles with this endeavor are happening as we speak. We are in the stages of funding for our permanent space, and this is a task I have never dealt with. Only 2% of female founders receive venture capital funding, so we are beginning an uphill battle. Learning the process and how to cater each pitch to who is hearing it has been a process that has been a difficult one. Thank goodness for my network and the community I have been cultivating over the last year. I have learned to ask for help and be open to receiving it. For advice. For resources. For introductions and connections. All of the above and so much more. Also, learning to stand up for myself in meetings even when I am not sure what I am talking about. Not letting people intimidate me because maybe they know more about a subject than I do, which is such a hard thing for most women to overcome.
My advice to young women starting out on their journey is to embrace the NO’s. No is not a bad thing. A rejection should be appreciated because it is pointing you on the path you are supposed to be on. There are a million ways to get to your destination. Everyone’s story is different. Maybe trying it one way, you get a no, and that just means you need to adjust your course and try a different path to the end result. You will get there. Don’t give up. It is when you feel as though you are not moving forward and you run into an obstacle that you need to keep pushing. That will be when that beautiful breakthrough happens and someone will remind you why what you are doing is so important.
Always remember your why! That will help you when you have those bad days or when motivation is low. Write your why everywhere you can see it, on your whiteboard in your bedroom, so it’s the first thing you see in the morning. On a post it on your computer. On the bathroom mirror. Everywhere! Trust me, it is inevitable that those days will come where you are forgetting why you started and struggling and that will help you to keep going.
Also, find a community that inspires you and pushes you to be better! We would love to have you and there’s always a seat for you at our table, but really any community and a good support system are key!
We’d love to hear more about Audacious Her.
Audacious Her is a female-focused work and social club here in Houston to help drive the female community forward! We are a community of badass women from all walks of life and career paths. While we have bloggers, influencers, full-time entrepreneurs, and side hustlers, we also cater to the 9-5ers that want to be surrounded by inspiring women and make real connections. You can be guaranteed to find someone in our community that you click with, can discuss business ideas, get advice from, or just have a good time with! We truly have it all!
Our community is built upon our core values:
*Collaboration
*Diversity
*Inclusion
Audacious Her was started as a way to give back to women and show them that anything is possible! You can cultivate the future that you have been daydreaming about from your cubicle. Part of our long term growth plan includes a program for the women and young girls of Houston to be able to apply for Business Grants and Scholarships. We will also have an investor network to increase the accessibility for women to receive funding for their businesses and startups. It is time to put the power and money to the female founders that are being overlooked.
While our permanent location will not be open until the end of 2019, we are still catering to our local female community! Each month, we host programming & events ranging from co-working sessions to educational workshops to social gatherings and everything in between! You can find more information on our website! We look forward to seeing you at one of our events!
Just because our permanent space isn’t open yet doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of Audacious Her. Launching at the end of May is our Insiders Online Membership! As an Insiders Member, you receive early notification of the space opening, as well as an opportunity for discounted membership if you choose to upgrade. Early insider members will also have access to the build-out through hard hat tours. This space is being built for you, so we want to make sure you feel as though you are part of the process with your feedback directly shaping the direction of the design. You will also have access to the online business directory, business resources to help propel you forward, discounted event tickets, exclusive deals with local businesses throughout Houston, and the list continues!
Which women have inspired you in your life?
All the women in my community here continue to inspire me each and every day. Their ambitions and ability to push the boundaries makes me extremely excited to be on this journey with them. I feel blessed to be able to help them in any way I can and will continue to do so because this truly is my life’s work. I have witnessed women start businesses, leave their corporate jobs to pursue their passions, as well as grow and scale current ones. It blows my mind every time! At almost every event I host, a business or personal connection is made right before my eyes and it reminds me why I love what I do. It helps me to keep going!
In my industry, there are three people that I can think of that inspired me to create this space here in Houston, and they are Amy Nelson of the Riveter and Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan of the Wing. All three of those women show me that anything you can dream up in your head is possible. They continue to fight for women and champion women to be better each day. They don’t just create spaces for women to come to work, they make spaces to change the narrative for women as a whole.
Pricing:
- Insiders Online Membership (Launching end of May)- $29.95/month or $329 annual (1 month free!)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.audaciousher.com
- Email: hi@audaciousher.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/audaciousher
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theaudaciousher
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/AudaciousHer
Image Credit:
Rachel Vincent
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
