Meet Jemma Roedel, working in the beauty trade by day with semi-permanent makeup and throughout lockdown she has been working hard to create online courses to help other new beauty business owners start their social media accounts.
Jemma has seen a lot of girls stumble finding clients so she was setting out to help them get seen. Also throughout lockdown, Jemma has been working on bringing out a book, a book focused on helping business/career-driven women. This is set to be a series of books all curated around the problems we face with business. The first book is on leadership.
Tell us more about your book, who are your readers, what are they looking for?
My book She Thinks Like a Boss: Leadership is the first book in the series so far (I am currently working on a whole range) this book highlights the essentials skills needed for great leadership for any women bosses out there. Whether it be in the workplace or their own business. As women, we face different challenges to men when it comes to business so my book is designed to empower the modern-day working woman into becoming the best boss.
Can you share something from your book?
Why is confidence important? According to a Pew Research Study,1 in both business as well as in politics, female leaders with confidence are more likely to be viewed as “stronger” than those without confidence by male counterparts. The same study discusses differences in what the general public believes about men and women when it comes to leadership traits in both business and politics. Traits like “ambition, decisiveness, and assertiveness” are believed to help men in both politics and business, whereas being emotional in the office can be seen as a liability for women.
The study states that even with acknowledged differences between men and women, most people tend to have “more confidence [in] women’s abilities.” Women have a “stronger ability to create a respectful and safe working environment (43%) compared to men (5%). Women are also more likely to value people from different backgrounds (35%) compared to men (3%), consider the impact business decisions have on society (33% vs. 8%), provide guidance and mentorship to young employees (33% vs. 9%), and providing fair pay and good benefits (28% vs. 5%).”
Do you have any special advice for other ‘digital divas’ out there?
If you are an online entrepreneur you may know that sitting at home behind a screen all day can be lonely! My advice to anyone who is self-employed, or runs an online business is to get friendly with those who also work online! It is amazing what a great mastermind of people in a similar working experience can be. After all most brick-and-mortar offices, you would have co-workers right? Get busy on Instagram, and Facebook groups and create a network of some online friends, or accountably partners. This way you can keep each other motivated in business. I have a great mastermind of around 6 people who we met online were all in the online business. 6 minds are better than one! Family and friends don’t always share the same mindset when it comes to business, so find people with matched passion. We do bi-weekly zoom calls to catch up on our progress too which is so valuable to see face to face, and try to meet up every few months in person now the restrictions have eased.
How has covid-19 affected your own business so far?
So the pandemic really hit my current beauty business! I then was closed for over half the year in total across 3 national lockdowns. This is where I found the time to start other projects, I just didn’t expect it to expand as quickly as it did! I am very grateful for the success on my book. It has been launched 12 weeks today as of writing this! Its growing bigger every day! This is where I now want to focus on and grow this business and create more content due to huge demand and the feedback received.
What’s your favorite social network – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? Why?
Instagram Is my go-to for my beauty biz, but Facebook is where the magic happens for networking in the Facebook groups etc, if you get a good group and a really engaged audience it’s great for staying connected, I am friendly with other authors, and we share tips and tricks for online marketing or what software to use etc all day long, it’s amazing having an online network.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
I feel like my greatest accomplishment so far is balancing two very active businesses at the moment, and maintaining life. Albeit I would love a holiday right now! The greatest accomplishment is also being reaching the Number 1 New Release on Amazon for my book in the USA and surpassing the goal I had for the launch sales, I’m so excited to see where this goes next. I have currently had 3 books live on audible.com with 2 more in the works for this month, I have a great team supporting our progress now!
Tell me about what you’re working on now.
I am working on a range of books, smaller in length than my ‘main’ book but these will be designed as quick reads but on specific topics to help anyone (not just women) in business. They will be all the same branding so they will be easily identifiable we may tweak the title slightly, they will be a series on Amazon, and a soon-to-be audiobook! Audiobooks for me personally are the best thing since I can work and listen on the go! I will release 10 in the next few months! Keep an eye out 3 are live at time of writing this, with 2 more around September. I also have a range of merchandise launching very soon.
Can you share some marketing tips on how to launch a new product?
Have a plan! Talk to others who have also marketed a product like yours before get some tips and tricks, every product is different. When it comes to book launches you want to get your book in front of as many eyes as you can and as many sales/reviews in the first 6 weeks and of course the more money you have the better. It’s all about building your audience before you even launch. Cover all platforms. Get busy in the Facebook groups/Instagram. Tell people what you are about and who you are! I’ve been asked to do numerous podcasts and Facebook lives for my topic from being active in Facebook groups. Start on the podcasts that have the lesser views to start with to build your confidence if you’re shy speaking live.
When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?
Thankfully I have a strong mindset that is not often phased by setbacks, and to be honest I never really see them as setbacks it’s just a matter of adapting and trying the next thing. Eventually, something will click if it hasn’t worked before! Business is trial and error most of the time. What also may work for one, may not work for someone else but it’s all worth a try, at worst you have learned a new lesson.
What has been your key (or keys) to success?
I get asked all the time “How do you get so much done?” And in my eyes I really don’t think I do somedays! But I would say the most important thing to success is consistency.
I will have a list of tasks to do, and some days I want to dive deep into the bigger tasks, some days Im not as motivated so then I have a list of smaller tasks that take barely any effort to complete. So as long as I am moving forward in some way or another I feel I’m always working towards the end goal. All these little steps add up! The rule I live by is the Compound effect, defined as “The strategy of reaping huge rewards from small, seemingly insignificant actions” I would say that defines my day-to-day life to a T. Consistently making small actions towards my businesses. If you look back on yourself a few months ago after making small constant actions you will be amazed at what you have achieved. Just don’t give up if things get tough! Surround yourself with strong mindsets, I thankfully have a strong mindset, I’m not often phased by setbacks and to be honest I never really see them as setbacks it’s just a matter of adapting and trying the next thing. Eventually, something will click if it hasn’t worked before! Business is trial and error most of the time. What also may work for one, may not work for someone else but it’s all worth a try, at worst you have learned a new lesson.
What have you learned most from entrepreneurship?
There is a lot of things that it teaches you, as in the beginning, you do have to juggle every task till you start to work out what your strengths are, eventually outsourcing your weaknesses. What I have learned most impotently so far is discipline. Until you are in a position to which it’s more beneficial that you outsource the jobs you dislike or are weak In, it’s important to keep going at the ‘boring’ jobs that essentially can demotivate you from the end goal.
Another way to look at discipline is, It’s easy to get distracted along the way with what everyone else is doing. That’s the thing with entrepreneurs being friendly with other entrepreneurs, you have so many ideas bouncing around all the time. If your mind is like mine, you want to do it all, and all at once! So what I have learned most is to stay disciplined to the end goal for that moment, do not lose focus, stay on track till you then can think about the next step.
![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)
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