BELLA Boss: May Beauty Issue Edition
Success in business demands ambition, resolve, determination, and a relentless pursuit of goals. Here, we highlight successful entrepreneurs whose remarkable accomplishments demonstrate the importance of self-belief and daring leaps of faith. If you’re looking to reshape your career journey, let their achievements inspire you to carve your path to success.
Nikki Haskell
Bi-Costal Beverly Hills, California, + Manhattan, New York
The Nikki Haskell Show,
StarCaps
StarCruncher
NikkiBars
StarSuckers
NikkiHaskell.com
MY BUSINESS
I’m young at heart. I was always fearless. I had several companies, I worked as one of the first female stockbrokers on Wall Street. Once I left after the years, I started the Nikki Haskell Show, which led me to roles as a film producer, artist, and inventor. I invented StarCaps, StarCruncher, NikkiBars, and StarSuckers, and I was a great party hostess. Most recently, I reemerged as a social media star, known as a “Grandfluencer,” I’m an OG influencer which is fun! I make positive videos where I share words of wisdom, stories of my travels, and advice about knowing your worth. I’ve been fearless from a young age, and that’s been the key to me evolving and having success with my career.
MOST REWARDING
Being me has helped pave the way for another generation of women. I wasn’t intentionally paving the way, but in effect, that’s what it was because I did things nobody else did. I’ve done a lot of innovative things, you know.
I was a broker. I did my cable show. Then, I invented StarCaps and ran that business for 20 years. I had billboards all over Sunset Boulevard in LA. I created the concept of the Hollywood Boulevard sign. You must understand, I was just going to grow up, get married, and live happily ever after. As you’re doing something, you don’t fully understand the full impact of what you’re doing. You must make every moment count and do whatever you want.
SECRET TO MY SUCCESS
I always have a good attitude. I get up every morning and I thank God I’m alive and that I’m here and everything’s functioning, so I’m thrilled to be here. You must be thankful for the fact that you’re here. Forget about money, clothes, jewelry, and everything. I find it very rewarding that because of the limitless company that is doing my media, they’ve allowed me the luxury of really expressing who I am. Once again, I’m given the opportunity of being out there hopefully, to give somebody some positive input.
Everything is so negative…the bullying, all these things going on in the world. I couldn’t even imagine growing up now. The trick is not to think about what you’re doing—don’t overthink things. You can always find a reason not to do something. I like to be fashionable and current and do things that make sense, and if someone doesn’t like it, that's too bad. What do I care what they have to say? I don’t feel like I must conform to what everybody else thinks.
The only important thing is that you are happy and that you live your life to please yourself. Don’t live your life to please other people because they don’t appreciate it at all. Who gives a S#&* what they have to say?
Karissa Bodnar
Los Angeles, CA
Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare
Founder + CEO
ThriveCausemetics.com
MY BUSINESS
I’m the Founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare, a high-performance makeup and skincare company with a mission to change the world through the power of beauty. From the beginning, every Thrive Causemetics or Bigger Than Beauty Skincare purchase results in a donation. Thanks to our community, we now donate to eight causes: cancer, domestic abuse, veterans + their families, under-resourced youth, racial and social justice, education, and LGBTQ+ communities. Our products are formulated from scratch and are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens and sulfates. Since 2015, Thrive Causemetics has donated over $135 million in funds and products to over 500 Giving Partners.
MOST REWARDING
I am most proud of our community at Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare. We wouldn’t be here without them, and everything we do is to support them in return. We are constantly engaging with our online and social communities, whether it’s helping us discover new nonprofits (Giving Partners) to support, getting honest feedback on a product in development, asking for recommendations for inspiring women we can use as Namesakes for new products, or as simple as what kinds of products they would like to see us make, we always go to our community first.
SECRET TO MY SUCCESS
Any success you see in me reflects an incredible team of individuals who work at Thrive Causemetics and Bigger Than Beauty Skincare, as well as a community of millions of customers who show up for us every single day, plus our Giving Partners that power our purpose. Those people, plus my heroes like Madam C.J. Walker, Estee Lauder, Leslie Blodgett, and Carol Hamilton who paved the way for me, are why I can do what I do today.
My favorite quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived is to have succeeded.” As a businessperson and in life, it’s really easy to tie our “success” to numbers. Truthfully, I wouldn't have made it if I had only focused on that in the beginning, after having virtually no revenue for the first three years. What drove me then still fuels me: our cause and community. You don't have to go to Harvard to be able to build a large company or to do anything in life.
Joanna Kornea
Doylestown, PA
LBK Design Build
Operations Manager
LBKDesignbuild.com
MY BUSINESS
LBK Design Build is an award-winning design-build firm located in the heart of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. As a family-owned business, my husband and I greatly value our employees and their dedication to our mission and core values. We tend to focus on building relationships as well as enhancing the client experience throughout the entire design and construction process. My role as operations manager involves everything from overseeing the different departments including estimating, design, and production to scheduling projects and managing project budgets. As the company grows, my main responsibility is to make sure we never lose our "secret sauce" and to ensure every client feels like they are our only client.
MOST REWARDING
Aside from getting to be a part of amazing home transformations, the most rewarding part of my job is the people I get to work with every day. Most of our employees have been with us for many years and they are just as invested in the success of the company as I am. To know I have that kind of support system in coworkers turned friends is an incredible feeling.
SECRET TO MY SUCCESS
The secret to success is 7Ps....people, processes, perseverance, patience, persistence, passion, and purpose.
Piper Harlow
South Plainfield, NJ
The Piper Harlow Show, News12+ Sundays at 11 am, and
Harlow Publicity
Talk Show Host, Executive Producer, and Founder of PR Boutique
Piperharlow.com, ThePiperHarlowShow.com
MY BUSINESS
My business helps people and companies brand their fearless, authentic selves. Many people find that they feel a certain way on the inside that they are afraid to express on the outside. My talk show centers on entrepreneurs and entertainers. I wanted to create a space for people to show their brands in the media who might otherwise have a hard time getting exposure. Of course, we also have celebrities and other fun entertainment, including ballet dancers that are highlighted almost every week. When I was conceptualizing the show, I was adamant that I didn’t want it to be another boring talk show. I wanted it to be fun and lively and let artists and entrepreneurs thrive.
MOST REWARDING
I think the most rewarding aspect of what I do is when people tell me how happy they are, especially during my show. As a publicist, it’s very hard to place people in the media who have never done an interview before so it’s my goal to help those who may be starting to feel comfortable in front of the camera and have the most fun experience, they can promote themselves or their brand.
SECRET TO MY SUCCESS
The secret to my success is being fearless. That’s the one word I have tattooed on my wrist where I can always see it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have fear in my life, but it means that I need to push past that fear and fight for what I want to do in my life and with my life because nobody is going to do it for you.
Megan Murphy
Miami, Florida
LOUMI Skincare
Founder
LoumiSkincare.com
MY BUSINESS
As the founder of LOUMI Skincare, I'm Megan Murphy, a passionate entrepreneur driven by a vision of beauty that's both natural and sustainable. Leveraging my expertise in skincare ingredients and fueled by my personal journey with sensitive skin and chronic hives, I've carefully designed a line of skincare products tailored to address these unique needs. With a steadfast commitment to holistic wellness, I prioritize clean, effective formulations, empowering individuals to nurture their skin and embrace their natural beauty with confidence.
MOST REWARDING
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work at LOUMI Skincare is providing an affordable solution for individuals facing similar skincare challenges. With all our products priced under $25, I take pride in offering quality skincare solutions that are accessible to everyone. Bringing joy and fulfillment into the lives of others by offering effective yet affordable skincare solutions is incredibly rewarding to me. It's incredibly gratifying to empower individuals to care for their skin safely, without breaking the bank, fostering confidence and well-being in the process.
SECRET TO MY SUCCESS
My success stems from my genuine love for skincare and my ability to connect with people from various walks of life who share similar struggles.