- 172. Running a Sephora-Approved Brand with Desiree Verdejo (Hyper Skin) and Karen Young (Oui The People)
In celebration of Black Business Month, we collaborated with Lydia from the Boardroom Beauty podcast to spotlight two incredible beauty founders. Join us for a chat with Desiree Verdejo of Hyper Skin and Karen Young of Oui the People as they share the realities of managing a growing businesses that’s expanded into international retailers like Sephora, while balancing healthy personal lives, motherhood and self-care beyond beauty and skincare.
Listen to the first part of this conversation over on the Boardroom Beauty podcast:
https://youtu.be/IHNrsfSEI0U?si=eiD9oA48rX7GeoaH
Learn more about these founders and their businesses in the links below:
Desiree Verdejo:
https://www.instagram.com/desiree.ver...
Hyper Skin:
https://www.instagram.com/hyperskin/?...
Karen Young:
/ karen-young-2a166622
Oui the People:
/ ouithepeople
Follow Too Collective on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=en
Too Collective Website
https://toocollective.com/
Too Collective Affirmation Texts
http://toocollective.norby.live/
Follow Alexis on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=en
Follow Alexis on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_?lang=en
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy25m - Aug 15, 2024 - 171. Life updates: they want to expel me from Wharton, burnout recovery, and my trip to the Paris Olympics
Let's sit and gossip for a sec. I have some updates to share regarding Wharton, my trip to Paris, and I've also been implementing some new productivity systems to help with my burnout.
Listen to my conversation with Temi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0w5G0IXOF2MPq3VyNhxvue?si=3db3868e9fd94700
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy20m - Aug 8, 2024 - 170. Hate to admit it, but I’m burnt out - here’s what I’m doing about it
I’m not super excited to admit that I feel burnt out, but here we are. In this episode, I’m sharing my real-time journey through burnout, from recognizing the signs to taking actionable steps to recover.
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy20m - Jul 25, 2024 - 169. Choosing yourself and making the changes you’ve been avoiding
It can feel VERY unsettling when you've been gripping to a vision of yourself for so long, only to realize you no longer want that. In this episode, I’m exploring the concept that has helped me make some tough decisions—like knowing when it’s time to move on from dreams, jobs, people, situations, etc. Letting go can often feel shameful, uncertain, and scary, but I hope you leave this episode feeling empowered to transition toward a path that truly fulfills you.
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy26m - Jul 18, 2024 - 168. (Q&A) What no one talks about: resenting family, dating, early career, personal finance, and more!
I’m answering all your questions regarding family resentment, jobs you don’t want to be in, personal finance, dating, and more!
4:47 - How do you not resent family for having opposite life choices?
11:04 - How to get the most out of a job you settled for?
13:59 - Can you share a hot take about being an entrepreneur or having a side hustle?
17:11 - What’s something you used to believe in that you’ve changed your mind on?
19:27 - Book recs for personal finance?
24:04 - Dating life updates?
27:12 - What are your current health routines?
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy28m - Jul 12, 2024 - 167. Q2 recap and everything I’m doing to look and feel my best (clothing, skin, health)
As we wrap up the second quarter of the year I wanted to share all my biggest lessons, takeaways, and favorites from Q2. We’re talking clothing, food, body care, skin care, workouts, and other essentials that have me looking and feeling my best.
Clothing favorites
Food favorites
Body care
- L'occitane almond shower oil
- Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion
- Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter
- Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mist
For glowy skin
- Supergoop glow screen
- Loreal Lumi Glotion
- Nars Light Reflecting Foundation
- Biossance squalane body oil
- Patrik Ta body oil
Skin care
- Bioderma Micellar Water
- Summer Fridays serum
- Skinfix collagen perfecting serum
- Clinique Moisture Surge
- Innesfree sunscreen
- Clarins Anti Pollution Face Sunscreen
Other healthy stuff
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy30m - Jun 27, 2024 - 166. motivation is fake: how to get through the hard days
Let’s talk about how to work with the natural ebb and flow of our energy as women. In this episode I share my experience working through days where motivation is hard to find and what I’ve learned about setting realistic priorities and understanding my minimum and maximum capacity.
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy15m - Jun 21, 2024 - 165. Forbes 30 Under 30 (in finance!) recipient Temi Butler on charting your own path, fusing your creative and career interests, and self love as a Black woman in finance
This week, I'm chatting with my dear friend and fellow Wharton MBA student, Temi Butler. Temi walks us through her impressive career journey, from navigating the high-stakes world of finance at top institutions to landing on Forbes 30 Under 30, and ultimately pivoting from a stable job to embrace her creative passions.
From big corporate to being a DJ, Temi has been there and done that, and she offers invaluable insights for anyone looking to build a highly ambitious and fulfilling professional path.
She shares:
- The pressure to prove yourself, especially as a black woman
- How she hustled her way into top institutions early in her career
- Advice for those looking to break into finance
- The challenge of holding back her authentic self at work
- Her unique upbringing by parents who are dedicated artists
- How she landed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list
- Her pivot from investment banking to working for a startup
- Why she chose to pursue an MBA
- Her biggest takeaways from business school
Follow Temi on Instagram: @temiautomatic
Too Collective:
- Shop our Rare Beauty collab
- Too Collective Website
- Too Collective Affirmation Texts
- Follow Too Collective on Instagram
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy56m - Jun 13, 2024 - 164. Hot girl summer glow-up
Summer is meant to be ENJOYED! In this episode, I'm sharing my plans for making the most out of the next three months by being super intentional in key areas of my life such as: health, career, finances and relationships and more.
Time stamps:
2:22 Plot girl shit
3:36 Confidence
4:14 Pinterest boards
4:54 Shopping for summer
5:59 Setting an intention
7:09 Setting goals
9:24 Having fun requires planning
11:41 Dating
13:42 Morning and evening routines
16:32 Booking health appointments
17:54 Healthy habits for hot girl summer
20:00 Beauty tips
22:35 Being present
Resources/Mentioned
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy24m - Jun 6, 2024 - 163. Chasing dreams, dealing with failure, and trusting your timing
In this episode, I'm celebrating a huge milestone in my business and want to share how I reached this place of feeling secure and at peace with following my dreams. I'll reflect on the setbacks I've faced over the years and share what I've learned about trusting your timing.
If you've been feeling defeated, rejected, or behind, this episode is for you.
Too Collective:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy29m - Jun 3, 2024 - 162. Recap of my first year as a Wharton MBA student
In this episode, I'm recapping my first year at Wharton, sharing everything I wish I'd known before diving into my MBA journey, as well as my honest opinion on academics, social life, and the lessons I've learned during this time.
I’m also answering your questions on time management, juggling relationships, how to prep for business school, and what's on my radar for year two.
Timestamps:
02:23 Academics
09:16 My study routine
12:00 My major
13:53 Clubs
16:34 Travel
22:00 Social life
24:41 Entrepreneurship
27:38 Time management
30:52 Average week in the life
34:04 Plans for second year
36:54 How to prep for grad school
40:55 Product recommendations
Too Collective:
- Shop our Limited Edition Patches!
- Too Collective Website
- Too Collective Affirmation Texts
- Follow Too Collective on Instagram
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy44m - Apr 26, 2024 - 161. Entreprenuership, perfectionism, and the realities of growing a business
In this episode, we’re getting real about the struggles I've been facing as an entrepreneur. And how despite being overqualified in many aspects I still don’t feel ready to do a lot of things in my business. We’re talking perfectionism, money, and how I’m planning to scale my business with the resources and insights I've gotten from being a Wharton MBA student.
Too Collective:
- Shop our Limited Edition Patches!
- Too Collective Website
- Too Collective Affirmation Texts
- Follow Too Collective on Instagram
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy17m - Apr 11, 2024 - 160. Life lessons and material girl favorites (wellness, beauty, fashion)
As we close off the first quarter of 2024, I’m recapping my biggest takeaways and must-have items in wellness, beauty, and fashion from the past three months.
Timestamps:
1:40 self-worth is the key to everything
6:40 difference between capacity and capability
8:49 not letting other people make you feel small
12:17 wellness faves
17:24 beauty faves
20:45 fashion faves
Products mentioned
Wellness:
Armra Colostrum https://amzn.to/3JbNkC1
Super gut prebiotic https://amzn.to/3vHNMVJ
Owala water bottle https://amzn.to/3PNwPQu
Skincare:
Amazon sheet masks https://amzn.to/4cMOX75
Supergoop glow screen https://howl.me/clYvyj5brHO
Summer Fridays cushion cream https://howl.me/clYvEXcQ3To
Topicals faded https://howl.me/clYvEX4sEnK
Hero Cosmetics patches: https://amzn.to/3vHPnuH
Beauty:
Westman Atelier Stick Foundation https://howl.me/clYvEXDwUBu
Nars liquid foundation https://howl.me/clYvEXUWo8T
It cosmetics dual-ended foundation and concealer brush https://howl.me/clYvEXRw1mz
Kosas concealer https://howl.me/clYvEYcjyMQ
Giorgio armani conceler https://howl.me/clYvEX9qbKy
Ole Henrikson lip peptide balm https://howl.me/clYvEXTK1vb
Sol de janeiro delicio body balm https://howl.me/clYvEXsOjkO
Clothing:
Agolde low-rise baggy jeans https://howl.me/clYvEXtY0XE
Skims boyfriend pant https://bit.ly/4al2AbX
Sporty and rich sweat sets: https://www.sportyandrich.com/collections/sets
Boys Lie sweat sets: https://boyslieofficial.com/collections/sweats
Too Collective:
- Shop our Limited Edition Patches!
- Too Collective Website
- Too Collective Affirmation Texts
- Follow Too Collective on Instagram
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy24m - Mar 28, 2024 - 159. 8 non-negotiable health and wellness habits
We’re all busy but that shouldn’t be reason to leave your health at the bottom of your priorities. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing 8 health and wellness habits that have helped me feel my best and live a healthier life overall. From daily practices to supplements and workout routines. I hope these habits inspire and motivate you to establish a healthy routine that works for you.
Resources mentioned:
Pilates workouts:
Protein:
My electrolyte colostrum water:
For sleep:
Too Collective:
- Shop our Limited Edition Patches!
- Too Collective Website
- Too Collective Affirmation Texts
- Follow Too Collective on Instagram
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy18m - Mar 21, 2024 - 158. Spring glow up guide
As spring brings fresh new energy, this episode dives into everything I'm doing to glow up for the season. I hope this episode inspires you to hit the refresh button in your life and step into this new season feeling your absolute best.
Resources mentioned:
Style archetypes: @asias.jpg
Too Collective:
Follow Too Collective on Social Media:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy19m - Mar 14, 2024 - 157. How I manage my money being self employed, career failure, and breakup tips (Q&A)
A breakdown of my expenses and how I budget as a grad student and business owner. I also answer your questions regarding career, failure, breakups and ADHD. You asked, I ANSWERED!
5:24 Q1: How do you manage money as a grad student and business owner?
9:37 Q2: How to navigate failure and career pivots
12:25 Q3: What is bringing you joy right now?
14:06 Q4: Breakup tips?
17:17 Q5: How do you manage ADHD among all the boss girl sh*t you do?
Don’t forget to DM me on IG to have your questions answered on a future episode.
Too Collective:
Follow Too Collective on Social Media:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy21m - Mar 8, 2024 - 156. I’m self sabotaging and here’s what I’m doing about it
I’ve been putting off this topic for a while… but let’s unpack how I’ve been completely neglecting my mental and physical health through this crazy period of my life. This episode is about getting back on track. I'll share how I'm resetting my priorities, what I'm doing to climb out of this funk, and a daily habit that has been super helpful throughout this time.
Show Notes
1:20 Navigating the stress of recent events
2:35 How to deal with too much on your plate
6:39 Realizing when you’re engaging in unhealthy habits
8:06 Getting my priorities straight!
9:44 Being strategic vs trying to accomplish everything
12:45 Dealing with the algorithm as a content creator
14:02 Examining your priorities
16:10 Ask yourself, are you self-sabotaging?
17:01 The sacrifice to do the things you love is worth it
18:11 Ways I’m prioritizing my health
19:43 Orienting yourself with intention
20:16 What are five things you’re proud of doing?
Too Collective:
Follow Too Collective on Social Media:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy21m - Feb 29, 2024 - 155. Dating life, my new job, and current favorites (Q&A)
I'm so excited to sit and chat with you guys! Today I'm answering a bunch of questions regarding dating, health, current favorites, classes at Wharton, and everything in between. So let's get cozy and start talking sh*t.
Show Notes
0:58 Second semester chat
1:51 How am I liking Wharton?
3:19 Falling back on priorities
3:40 Group life reset
4:21 Starting as a leadership fellow
7:03 What I dislike about Wharton
7:19 Favorite class I’ve taken
9:45 Switching management companies
12:20 Adjusting to the single life
14:19 What I’m loving
16:15 Travel favorites
19:29 Red light therapy
20:30 Supplement update!
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Shop Too Collective:
Follow Too Collective on Social Media:
Shop Alexis's Picks:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy21m - Feb 22, 2024 - 154. From corporate burnout to a multi-passionate career with Madison Utendahl
From corporate burnout to building her own creative agency, this week's guest, Madison Utendahl, walks us through her inspiring and multi-hyphenate career journey. We'll delve into her time at HBO, Refinery29, and her experience leading social media at the Museum of Ice Cream, and finally, how she founded her creative agency - Utendahl Creative, which has earned her recognition by Adweek's Creative 100 and Forbes' 30 Under 30.
Madison shares her candid story: navigating an identity crisis, finding creative fulfillment, planning a strategic job exit, setting business standards that prioritize work-life balance, and finding a supportive life partner. You will definitely walk away with so many tangible insights to create a life and career you love.
Show Notes
0:57 Welcome Madison Utendahl!
3:28 Recognizing and embracing your multi-hyphen life
5:12 Madison’s career trajectory
7:12 You are not above the early stages of your job
8:01 Life after HBO
8:49 Understanding the nuances of things you dislike
10:21 Holding space for people and their differing creative ideas
12:24 You’re sabotaging your privilege by accepting an unhealthy way of life
14:31 Stop taking on unnecessary burdens
16:22 Importance of peer accountability in the workplace
18:27 Know your basic needs and accept the sacrifices
20:02 Money can’t buy you happiness
21:07 Realizing the corporate grind doesn’t work for you
22:29 Nothing you see on social is real
24:46 Advice for when you’re burnt out
28:01 When you have strong boundaries, you don’t let your job/people push you to burn out
30:43 You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you can just emulate other successful companies/societies you look up to
31:56 Questioning systemic/archaic constructs
35:47 Having to be “twice as good”
39:00 Discussing the engagement party
41:40 Finding someone who supports your ambition
42:52 Finding the right one once you accept your ambition
43:48 Instrumental resources for personal and professional development
46:08 Rapid fire questions!
Keep up with Madison!
@madison.utendahl on Instagram
Resources/Mentioned
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Shop our Limited Edition Patches!
Too Collective Affirmation Texts
Follow Too Collective on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=en
Follow Alexis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=en
Follow Alexis on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_?lang=en
Subscribe to Alexis on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-YnRrflV9g6nLMWUkwDtA
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy49m - Feb 14, 2024 - 153. What no-one admits about self-love
Discover four key elements that will reshape your self-image and strengthen your relationship with yourself. Tune in for practical inner work insights to help you build a more fulfilling and loving life.
Show Notes
1:24 How I’ve *really* been doing
2:18 Why I love Valentine’s Day
3:24 Self-love and what it means
4:01 The categories of self-love
5:27 Navigating the pressure/anxiety around not being in a relationship
6:47 Putting yourself first regardless of your relationship status
7:27 Three things that make up self-love
8:36 How to build your inherit self-worth
10:15 Try to see the nuance in things
12:58 Self-esteem as a crucial component in building confidence
15:00 If you’re swayed by other people’s opinions, you’’ never feel a true sense of self
15:22 Let’s talk about self-discipline
17:18 Redefining self-discipline
18:11 Realizing you deserve more and acting accordingly
Resources/Mentioned
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler
Featured Links:
Follow Too Collective on Social Media:
Follow Alexis on Social Media:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy19m - Feb 8, 2024