Perimenopause & Beyond - Jacquie Court
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in content creation but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jacquie Court, co-founder of She2.0, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business is 2-pronged. We are creating a platform to grow our community of women going through perimenopause and beyond. While menopause is more commonly known, perimenopause can be a mystery and not one that we should ignore. Not understanding the changes during this time can lead to health issues; however, understanding this change can help optimize our bodies for a more positive experience during menopause. We also create and produce content for brands who want to reach our audience. Women in this space are trepidatious since this topic has been ignored and stigmatized for years. We help brands understand that women should be approached with solutions, not key messages. We bring experts to our podcast to guide women through this critical period of their health.
Tell us about yourself
I start every day with Wordle. It's out of my control! I wake up excited about the day ahead. I have worked in advertising, PR, and digital media for almost 20 years, and it all really came together for me when I reconnected with a former colleague on how women's health is so grossly overlooked and the problems that has caused for ourselves and so many other women. We both felt passionate about helping women to have a more positive and productive experience. We want them to feel good and feel confident, not aged out of the game or ashamed of a perfectly natural transition in their lives. Together, Ramona Gornik-Lee and I co-founded She2.0, and our business is growing so fast, we have to run to keep up!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Positive feedback! So many business owners feel that monetization is the key to success (and it is definitely a necessity) however hearing from women who thank us and engage with us and tell us to keep going, is mind-blowing. It is a huge KPI for us now. We'd love to work with brands to co-create even more content, but hearing 'you have helped me so much' or 'I had no idea'' is the sweet spot for us. It is such a rewarding experience and tells us we've hit the nail on the head. We are needed here.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Time. We launched right before a pandemic that saw both of us working full time, launching She2.0, and having our kids in virtual school. Our passion has kept us going, but there have definitely been moments where we are so exhausted and time-starved that we wonder if we can keep going. But we do because we love it, and we know we're doing something that will really help women. We are going to change the way we talk and feel about women's health and, specifically, perimenopause and beyond.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Before you do anything, ask yourself the one reason WHY you are doing it. That will be your guiding star.
- Figure out how you will monetize so you can keep going. Or figure out how to get a grant or loan. There is nothing worse than being held back by a lack of resources.
- Talk to us! There are so many great tools out there to help provide start-ups with the resources (tools, people, tech, etc.) to help them scale up.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I think women should look at business differently. We were asked who are main competitors are. That's such an old (and obviously needed in many industries) question, but for us - our goal is to shine the light on the gaps in women's health and peri/menopause. So the more women out there podcasting, blogging, and helping women, the more successful we all are. We don't have to look at our business model the same way every time. With digital platforms, influencers, and new media emerging all the time, there are so many different ways to get your message out and achieve your goals.
My last thing to share is that building a business is about building relationships. Connecting is one thing but treat those contacts with respect. Don't just connect because they have something you want; connect because you have something to give in return. Don't just say #womensupportingwomen. Do it! There are so many seats at the table, and there's plenty of room for all of us. Great leaders don't walk ahead; they walk beside.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.she2-0.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/she2dot0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she2dot0/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/she2dot0
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiecourt/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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