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#8 On Failing Fast w/ Whitney Hawkings, Founder & CEO, FLOWERBX
Description
Whitney Hawkings is determined, head strong and laser focused. After spending 18 years working with Tom Ford at Gucci, Whitney took the plunge and founded FLOWERBX, growing it to become the first global flower brand.
Working with (and shopping from) luxury brands online she observed that everything was branded except for flowers and this became her mission: to deliver fresh, quality flowers with the same consistent service as any top luxury brand.
With Whitney’s Pink Avalanche Roses as the backdrop, we talk about her lacking confidence but discovering that he is the best CEO of her company, what it’s like to be a woman in business, her role models and what she learnt from Tom Ford.
WE DISCUSS:
04:43 - What is leadership?
06:38 - Doubting yourself as a leader
10:18 - Growing up in Dallas, Texas, drive to succeed
13:12 - Working with Tom Ford
14:36 - Why Whitney founded FLOWERBX
17:45 - Hard work, drive, not being able to stop
19:02 - Switching off, family time
21:39 - Having a great partner and people that have your back
22:44 - What she is most proud of
23:47 - 2 most important things Whitney wished she knew, which would have saved her a lot of hassle
25:53 - Hiring great people
28:12 - Hardest thing about being a CEO
30:33 - Biggest failures
31:56 - Covid giving a clean slate
33:00 - What’s next for FLOWERBX, closing series A funding
34:16 - 3 pieces of advice to younger self
WHITNEY HAWKINGS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-hawkings-643a3317/
FLOWERBX Instagram: @TheFLOWERBX - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbx/?hl=en
Whitney on Instagram: @TheFlowerBMB - https://www.instagram.com/theflowerbmb/?hl=en
Pink Sweet Avalanche Roses: https://bit.ly/3imwd2E
EPISODE #8:
You can also WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
MARIA HVOROSTOVSKY:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/?hl=en
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
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