Never Be Afraid To Fly

NEVER BE AFRAID TO FLY

Black Glass started three years ago, today. Or so the legal contracts say. The reality is, it actually started long before that. A journey, a business, a career path that failed to fly. 

You can see my face from the founding day photo: the fear, determination and sheer exhaustion managing a new business, shut down, homeschooling 2 children and wow, I just left Deloitte to do this on my own.

I share this story on the heels of three amazing years. Amazing success. Amazing teams. Amazing life with my family. Because I hope this inspires the next dreamer, doer, executive and entrepreneur to run towards failure as part of a successful journey. 

While this journey started with fear in my eyes, it did not end that way.

It all started with an ambition to build a social club, a modern family-based community that supported busy executives who were yearning for like-minded people that sat between the demographic of a traditional country club and the urban club houses. 

A place that could help families like me really unwind, connect and make an impact in their community. Where childcare, dinosaur nuggets, cooking classes and beautiful bars could co-exist.

I had an 8,000 sq ft location in Hoboken, NJ, beautiful branding by Deb Maltzman & Angela Denise , financial model by Godfrey M. Bakuli , support from Cate Luzio , The Wonder and members of Chief to help me chart the path with modern communities and proven TAM. 

The plan was tight. Really tight. I pitched 20 different VC firms. 20 individual meetings that I spent months networking into. 20 times I wedged into heels for 20 moments of hope.

If there were music to this story, it would be: dun dunn dunnn. 

“No, no, no, not now, you don’t have experience, cute but no, not right for us, not right for the market, full stop NO. “ But why? The issue was never with the plan, but instead my experience. I had not run, built or led a social club. 

20 meetings and the stats of 2% VC capital going to women. It was time to pivot. 

Que inspirational music here. 

I picked up the pencil and rewrote the plan; this time for Black Glass.

A modern consultancy built for CMOs, to help drive their personal and professional success. With more consumers trusting brands than the government, perhaps this was a chance to do good at a larger scale, larger stage in social good through the companies I loved. This was the path

Thanks to Philippe Krakowsky , Mat Baxter , Amy Armstrong who without question saw the possibilities in this business. And have supported me every day in this journey. 

Black Glass has grown bigger than I could have ever imagined. It has allowed me to work with the MOST FANTASTIC people – Clay Parker Jones , Christine Cifra , McKenna Robenalt , Stephanie Eaddy , Jessica Germain and Maureen Link and have climbed the rock in building one of Fast Companies Most Innovative Company in 2023. A badge of total, utter and complete business validation. 

Let’s just say that again for the people in the back. 

We built one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2023 in three years.

My failures, this just being one of them, have pushed me to build better, stronger and faster growing companies. 

Here is my learning to all leaders three years in. I learned it on day one, and learn it every day. And three years later, I am truly, utterly, happy. I even have the photo to prove it.

Never be afraid to fly.

Much of this world will drive the same windy roads, taking the same path every single day out of comfort, safety and fear of what is down the path to the left. 

Always go left.

Always go on the adventure.

You will fail.

Success does not happen without failure as a companion. 

Do not carry fear. 

I have failed. Many times. Out loud. For all to see.

But that is the best part, as that failure has propelled me to where I am now.

A place I have a family, love and true joy.

This is what has defined me. How I see the world.

The life that I have built. 

I hope my children carry this in their heart.

Never be afraid to fly. 

It will take you to the most wonderful places.