Three Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s: Matana LePlae

Full name?:  Matana LePlae

Position / Job title?:  CEO, HiLovely & Lashfully

Why did you seek out this particular job / start your company?  I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit in working at advertising agencies and finally took the plunge (almost 5 years ago) to start a beauty company that was more in-tune to how women live today.  I was searching for an opportunity where I could build a brand and experience from scratch.

How has life changed (hopefully for the better 😉 since you landed this job / launched this company?  My life has changed because I am really close with our customers.  We are small and nimble and can change, adapt and be intuitive in building experiences that resonate with women.  I will say that requires a tremendous amount of work, but at the same time it doesn’t feel like work.  My personal/leisure time is not really separate from what I do as my “job.”

And now: WHAT 3 THINGS DID YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN IN YOUR 20’S?

I always have had a strong work ethic and ambition so that was there in my 20’s as well, but I think I had this voice saying I couldn’t experiment and had to be disciplined in picking a path and staying with it. I also felt like there was a ticking job clock and I had to rise through the ranks by self-imposed deadlines. We live in such an amazing time and you should take the time to explore your passions and the things that interest you.  You might not know what speaks to you until you try things and take some risks. Don’t worry too much about how you rank amongst your peers.  Now that I am older and more experienced and hiring younger people, I look for those who have a wide amount of experiences.  It’s not a straight line to a happy and successful future!