Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherrell Leslie.
Hi Sherrell, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had style and a love for fashion… As a little girl growing up in East Point, GA, I would spend hours in my room sketching or picking out clothes for my paper dolls. I decided at a young age that I wanted to be a buyer for Macy’s Dept Store. Of course, life took me in a different direction and I aborted the idea of becoming a buyer. The idea to start my boutique was conceived in 2010. At the time I was in leadership in Corporate America, married with two children and really didn’t believe that I had time to devote to a side business. Although I decided to defer my dream, I did not forget it. For years I had a nagging feeling that I was supposed to be doing more in the world than climbing up the Corporate Ladder. In four separate instances, religious leaders pointed me out to tell me that I had a calling on my life to inspire the world and that I was not living my purpose. Fast forward to 2019, I was unfulfilled in my career and tired of corporate bureaucracy. I asked God to reveal to me if entrepreneurship was the path that I should take. God revealed to me through 4 people, 2 of which were random that I needed to take a leap of faith and launch my boutique. I launched Être Chic Boutique on June 1, 2019. I was still in leadership in Corporate America and operating my boutique as a solopreneur.
As we all know, COVID hit the following year and I began to question my impact on the world. Being at home during the lockdown allowed me to slow down and focus on my values. I began practicing mindfulness and going to therapy. I assessed the impact that my presence had on my children and the tone of my household. It was such a peaceful time in my life. I decided then that the dream and measure of success that I had been pursuing in Corporate America was no longer my goal in life. I wanted to inspire women and have a greater impact on the world. However, I was apprehensive about going all in as an entrepreneur without an exit plan from my career. I was also listening to that little voice that we all have in our head highlighting all of the reasons why I needed to stay in Corporate. For me, those reasons were: my BBA in Logistics, MBA, Licensed Customs Broker and the first Black Female in management in several roles. I had made a name for myself and I associated some of my worth to my professional identity.
I also wanted to accomplish a goal that I had been led to believe that I would never reach in my career. In June 2021, I was promoted to my dream role. The role demanded so much from me that I put my boutique on the back burner for over a year. Through a series of events, it was finally revealed to me that my fulfillment was never going to come from my career in Corporate America, which resulted in me walking away from a 16 years career that I had I worked so hard for. During the first two months of unemployment, I literally had to detox from the pressure and stress that had been on my body for 16 years. During this time, I questioned if I wanted to return to Corporate. I prayed and decided that I would pursue entrepreneurship 100%. I relaunched my boutique on Nov. 1, 2022 and I am determined to never forego my dreams for someone else’s.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty – Theodore Roosevelt. The road to entrepreneurship has not been an easy one. I tell people often that it has been an emotional rollercoaster for me because I am not a patient person. I expect results when I work hard and when they weren’t immediate, I let negative thoughts consume me which in turn led to a loss of passion for my boutique. Oftentimes, people say you should work your 9-5 then come home and work on your business if you want to be successful and those that don’t aren’t taking it seriously.
Well, I am here to tell you not to believe that. It works for some people, but not everyone. It’s all about what you are willing to sacrifice. I would wake up at 3:00am to work out, arrive to work by 7:30am and would leave sometimes after 7:00pm or later. We all know how the traffic is in ATL, so my commute was almost an hour one way. Sometimes I brought work home and I still had to parent 2 children and be an attentive wife. A person can only operate at maximum capacity for so long before they burn out. So balancing work, life, and my business was somewhat of an issue for me. There was not enough time in the day to do everything that I needed or wanted to do at the level that I thought that I should do it. Feeling overwhelmed, I focused more on my career than my boutique.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Être Chic Boutique is an online women’s fashion and lifestyle boutique that offers timeless, classy and unique fashion pieces for women with an appreciation for quality and classic design. Established in June 2019, I’ve built a reputation for providing quality fashion and a superb customer experience. I believe that when women feel confident and empowered, they can accomplish anything. My customers aren’t just customers; they become a part of a community of women striving to live their most confident life. I share insight and tips on self-care, mental health, physical health and self-love. My focus is on cultivating the “total woman”. Yes, I want women to look good in Être Chic, but I also want them to be “good” emotionally, mentally, and physically. ECB’s mantra is Classy but Never Boring style. I want my customers to focus on style rather than fashion. The focus on style allows women to be authentic instead of trendy. Trends come and go but style lasts forever. My pieces are multifunctional and most can be worn year-round therefore you are getting the most bang for your buck.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Mindset is everything. Whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur, you must have the right mindset to be successful. If you can’t envision where you want to be, how are you going to take the steps to get there? Did I always have the right mindset? Yes, in Corporate America I did because I felt like I had a point to prove. As an entrepreneur, I struggled in this area. I let self-doubt creep in. I also allowed my frustrations to diminish the drive that I had to persevere in my business which resulted in all of my energy and focus being directed to my career and building someone else’s dream. In order to refocus, I had to correct my thoughts and cultivate a positive mindset. I had to focus on my “why” during the ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship. I had to remember that I was placed on this earth to positively impact women’s lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etrechicboutique.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/etrechicboutique
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/etrechicboutique
Image Credits
Dez Blossomgame Noah Watt
