The Savvy Boss is a new column in partnership with BossTalks where we sit down for a morning coffee chat with some of the savviest lady bosses from around the globe.
We could not have picked a better person to feature as our first Savvy Boss! Terri Bryant founder of GUIDE Beauty is redefining the beauty industry with award-winning, uniquely designed and simply beautiful products that bring joy to a broad universe of makeup users.
At the height of her career as a celebrity makeup artist and beauty educator, Terri started to experience a loss of dexterity in her hand which led to challenges applying makeup. Eventually she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Empowered by knowledge and a life-long love of makeup, Terri set out to create a better and easier way.
Now alongside Chief Creative Officer Selma Blair, who revealed her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2018, GUIDE Beauty is changing the game in the beauty industry and developing a culture of broader inclusion through Universal Design.
What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome at the beginning of your journey?
We’re often taught to fear mistakes. Developing and launching GUIDE BEAUTY has been so refreshing as I now find myself developing through a design process that values and celebrates them. It’s a key element in our Universal Design approach to Product Development. We continually strive for better based on the “mistakes” and “roadblocks” identified while watching people use existing products and prototypes.
Our prototypes went through so many tweaks and adjustments along the way. There were times we thought we had gotten it just right to find a test user pick it, and for whatever reason, it failed the test. Those moments are gold, and the ones you celebrate most as every design process helps inform the next.
Innovation doesn’t come with a clear road map. It’s an incredibly hands on, iterative process that requires extensive exploration and countless reworks. Getting around setbacks takes time, and you must be open to learning, tweaking and adjusting as you test internally and across a broad range of users.
While this can be a much longer and more difficult path, if you can learn just one thing from each iteration, you’ve made progress.
Did you have any mentors? Do you believe they are important when starting a business or in the business world?
I had a tremendous mentor when I was first starting out. A Senior VP for a large, and well known, beauty brand at a time when it was rare to see women in a corporate position at that level. She was brilliant, confident, and made her voice heard without apology.
Her impact on the company, education in the beauty industry as a whole, and on me in my own career path is undeniable. It’s hard to be what you don’t see and with her mentorship and her example, she ignited possibilities I had not realized were possible.
I am fortunate that she was the first of what would be a long line of supportive, powerhouse, trailblazing women I have encountered throughout my career.
What entrepreneurial hacks have you developed to stay focused and productive in your day-to-day life?
I start every morning with a moment of gratitude. It’s part of several mindful moments I incorporate throughout my day. A few moments to breathe, take a quick “retreat” on the patio, and reconnect mind & body. It’s self-care, it’s important and just a few moments can be so impactful.
What’s one thing you’ve done (good or bad) in your life where you look back and say, “I can’t believe I actually did that?
I launched a makeup company.
What are three tips you can give to someone who wants to get into the beauty industry/start a business?
Focus on the mission and what brought you there. There will be bumps and bruises along the way. Surrounding yourself with a group of caring and passionate individuals with diverse mindsets will help you weather the storms.
There is never enough time so always build more into the schedule.
As we do in our design process, lean into the roadblocks and mistakes. They are often your greatest opportunity.
How do you define success?
My Father-in-law always said, “Do what you love, success will follow”.
What do you want to leave as a legacy?
I am grateful every day that the beauty community has embraced our products and our mission of inclusivity. To receive accolades like Allure’s Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award and Elle’s Future of Beauty Award have been absolute standout moments for which we’re beyond grateful.
Most importantly, I believe these are signs of a perspective shift across our industry, and as awareness builds the lens of inclusion widens. As more and more brands integrate Inclusive and Universal Design methods into their product development, we will see a much-needed shift in the narrative.
You don’t design for “us” you don’t design for “them” you design for “we”. I would be thrilled for GUIDE Beauty to have a hand in moving that needle forward.
What is your definition of a Savvy Boss?
Using one of my early mentors as an example, a Savvy Boss is authentic to themselves and those around them. They share their assets with others to elevate those around them.
