Sarah Benken is passionate about supporting women, specifically high-achieving businesswomen that are overworked and lacking community with like-minded women. Why? Because she has been there – in the wrong rooms, stretched thin, and feeling like she was alone on the journey.
As an accomplished CEO of 12 years, Sarah has built and scaled her own brands internationally. She is an award-winning entrepreneur that knows first hand what it is like to feel the need to connect with ‘her people’ and have trouble finding them.
She is on a mission to provide space for dynamic female leaders to gather, collaborate, and be celebrated for their successes and hard work. KNOW is a high-achieving culture that elevates and connects all women and their businesses, professions, and communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, socioeconomic status, or physical appearance. KNOW is united by differences.
Over the last three years, KNOW has helped thousands of dynamic women quickly find their community and experience sisterhood.
What inspired you to start The KNOW Women?
I started the KNOW Women to bring more dynamic women to the table, to help them be known for their hard work and achievements. Too often women are behind-the-scenes working hard and go undiscovered. My mission is to change that. I believe women should be celebrated, heard, and seen. We do that through publishing them in the KNOW Book and building a collaborative community around them.
Tell us more about The KNOW Women, who are your clients, what are they looking for?
The KNOW Women is a community-focused media company, which seeks to elevate the voices of the female leader, creator, and businesswoman. We do that by giving them the mic and the pen to share their stories and expertise. We are community-focused, which means we also host events (in-person and virtual), have global membership, a summit, and a non-profit, which empowers women to reach their next level of achievement.
We meet every professional woman where she is and help her get where she is going by creating opportunities for her to be promoted and published, supported through a community of like-minded women, educated through classes and fire-side chats, and much more.
The KNOW Women’s membership is filled with high-performing businesswomen who know they need a posse of like-minded women to help them get to the next level.
How did you start with The KNOW Women?
I started the KNOW Women as a Founder of Lifestyle Management Co, a personal assisting firm I started in 2009 and scaled through licensing. In the first year, KNOW was actually my fun passion project.
Being a CEO of a large brand, I knew first hand what it was like being in the wrong room and was tired of wasting time trying to find my people. I also believed community and access to elevate was important. So, I created the KNOW Book, a who’s who guide of women to KNOW and do business with, for my city of Phoenix. I wanted to showcase amazing women doing big things – disrupting their industries, growing the community and changing the world. The Book featured 130 women and was released 4 months from conception.
As we shaped our mission to support women to their next level, I added an event series for our women featured in KNOW. The mix and mingles allowed a safe space for the building of relationships, collaborations, and partnerships. The women in our first Book have grown their businesses, become best friends, and found balance with one another
How has The KNOW Women grown so big?
Over the last three years, KNOW has expanded beyond our birthplace of Phoenix, Arizona to 15 chapters across North America and 6700 women connected. Our growth has come by way of referrals and nominations from our current KNOW Women. They have shared our mission with their female friends, colleagues, and counterparts, who have also chosen to link arms with KNOW. We are truly a network of dynamic women who pay it forward.
Now, we are proud to offer a global opportunity for any woman to engage. Our Global Membership and Elite Status open access to women anywhere in the world.
What are the do’s and don’t when starting a business?
Do be flexible. Allow intution to take control.
Do know your numbers. Data is sexy.
Do take social media breaks.
Don’t compare yourself to others. You are you for a reason!
Don’t be afraid to leap. You have to leap to propel forward.
Don’t ever be the smartest person in the room.
What have you learned most from entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is not easy. Everyday brings big challenges, but if you take a step forward every single day, regardless of how big or small each step is, you will keep going. Some days are filled with leaps, others are inches – being a business owner is about staying buckled in and not stopping. Simply keep moving forward.
What is a skill you think all women should learn and why?
Women must learn to ASK! This means asking for help, asking to be connected, asking for advice – ALL OF IT. We have to ask for what we want and need. It is the only way to truly move the needle in your life and career. If you are waiting for it to come, it won’t happen. You have to go out and get it.
Share two pieces of advice for female entrepreneurs
I have learned that I am me…and only I can do what I do. I believe that we are given a purpose in life and that our unique characteristics are gifts that will help us reach our purpose. Rather than trying to be like everyone else, if you can lean into your uniqueness, or what I like to call, your unfair advantage, you’ll be able to reach your goals faster. Stop comparing yourself with others – you are not them, they are not you. It is meant to be that way.
If it isn’t a 100% yes, it is an absolute NO – or at least a not right now. It is very easy to get distracted with all of the noise out there. Staying in tune with your intuition is critical. When you are making choices that will impact your business, ask yourself if it brings passion, fills you with joy, makes sense, and creates impact. It doesn’t have to always be sexy, but it should fit easily.
What is the one piece of advice that has impacted you the most?
What got you here today, will not get you there tomorrow. You have to keep evolving and leveling up.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
My proudest moment was seeing my son, who is now 23, cross the stage at his college graduation. As a young teen mom, life could have gone differently for us, but it didn’t. We both worked hard, stayed focused, and it paid off. He will never have to endure the sacrifices and struggles that come with being a teen parent. There is no award or write-up that could compare; he is my biggest success.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
Join the discussion!