"I didn't let what happened to me lead me down a different road." On this episode we chat with Tiffini Gatlin - a former corporate bank executive turned entrepreneur and digital influencer. Tiffini takes us on her #dreamdriving journey which includes overcoming being abused as a child, losing her grandmother during a pivotal moment in her life, climbing the corporate ladder, and finally taking the leap into entrepreneurship - a decision that came with many unforeseen hurdles and challenges.
However, one common theme Tiffini experienced was this: Sometimes life doesn't always pan out how you may think it will or how you want it to. In 2015, she became a pioneer in the beauty industry after turning her side hustle into the first patent-pending process of pre-curled and looped synthetic hair. Within one year, she built a million-dollar ecommerce brand - Curlkalon. Due to problems with her business partner, she never imagined that she would end up deciding to part ways with a brand that she founded.
Motivated more than ever, Tiffini expanded her vision for creating safe and affordable synthetic hair extensions and launched Latched and Hooked - a lifestyle and beauty brand that offers synthetic hair extensions and hair care products.
Tiffini shares the lessons she's learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey that have helped her realized no matter what life serves you, it's up to YOU to make the most and keep moving towards success.
WE DISCUSS:
- What inspired Tiffini growing up
- Dealing with physical & emotional abuse as a child
- The power of forgiveness
- Tiffini's college days & how she veered away from her original law school dreams
- Loss
- How working at Kroger's led Tiffini to a decade-long career at Bank of America
- Lessons learned in corporate America
- Why Tiffini decided to leave Bank of America
- Learning how to be resourceful
- What launched Tiffini into hair entrepreneurship
- Creating a business based on a consumer need
- How to find manufacturers and establish a presence in your niche
- Protecting your patents & designs
- Challenges growing Latched and Hooked
- How to rebuild what you once built before
- The power of forgiveness
- The importance of lasting relationships & advisors
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