Ep 347 | Nancy Twine

Written By Yasmin Nouri

Mindset Over Experience: How to Keep Going When the Path Isn’t Clear

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Nancy Twine is the founder of Briogeo, one of the first clean haircare brands to land in Sephora, and eventually one of the fastest-growing in the category.

But her story didn’t start in beauty. Nancy began her career in finance, landing a role at Goldman Sachs in 2007, right as the global financial crisis hit. By her mid-twenties, she was a VP on Wall Street. Then, everything changed in 2010 when she lost her mother unexpectedly. That moment reshaped her sense of purpose and gave her the clarity to build something of her own. With no background in chemistry or beauty, Nancy started Briogeo in her tiny New York apartment. She self-funded the business for six years, pouring her salary into the idea, doing research at the public library, and pitching investors with just drawings all while working full-time. Briogeo officially launched in 2013 with just four products. Within a year, Nancy cold-emailed her way into her dream retail partner, Sephora, and became the youngest Black woman to launch a line with the retailer. In 2022, Briogeo was acquired by Wella Company.

In today’s episode, Nancy talks about the mindset and grit it took to keep going when the path ahead wasn’t clear, and how learning to trust her instincts changed everything for her. We talk about how she taught herself the beauty industry from scratch, and why believing in herself, even when the odds were stacked against her, became her greatest strength. She takes us into the early days of Briogeo, building the brand at night while working on Wall Street, pitching investors and getting many rejections, and navigating the challenges of growth. She also reflects on the pivotal moment with Sephora, the decision to finally walk away from her corporate job, and how she grew into the role of CEO as the company scaled.

Nancy opens up about selling Briogeo, what it meant to let go of something she built from scratch, and why she’s now focused on mentoring other women founders through her new platform, Makers Mindset. If you’ve ever questioned your timing, doubted your path, or needed a reminder of what’s possible when you bet on yourself, you’re going to love this episode. 

Show Notes:

  • The mindset needed to overcome entrepreneurial challenges. [02:57]

  • Cultivating confidence and shutting down self-doubt. [05:18]

  • How her mother and grandmother shaped her upbringing. [07:46]

  • Channeling creativity from music into business. [10:40]

  • Navigating the 2008 financial crisis. [13:12]

  • How personal loss sparked a life and career reevaluation. [17:04]

  • Nancy’s first steps in starting Briogeo. [18:47]

  • The origin of her first product idea. [21:16]

  • A pivotal & serendipitous moment: meeting Sephora buyers. [23:59]

  • Lessons from Nancy’s fundraising journey. [25:44]

  • The power of self-belief in entrepreneurship. [28:41]

  • Setting small and achievable milestones. [29:56]

  • Competing in a saturated startup landscape. [32:17]

  • The role of confidence in building a brand. [33:52]

  • Why persistence and networking matter. [35:32]

  • Leaving a secure job to pursue a passion. [38:36]

  • Learning to evolve as a leader and delegate responsibilities effectively. [42:40]

  • Raising capital to support expansion. [44:39]

  • Why selling the business was as emotional as it was strategic. [46:19]

  • Transforming Nancy’s passion into new ventures. [49:33]

  • Nancy’s philosophy on resilience and mindset. [52:42]

This episode is brought to you by Beeya:

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