Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernadette Brown.
Hi Bernadette, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Born, bred, grown, and raised all over the world… I was born in North Carolina, grew up in Germany as an army brat, and was raised in Houston before becoming an Atlien. I grew up around people from all over the world. Being a military kid allowed me to meet others who came from places near and far. My experiences in life have been about diversity of culture, thought, background and experience.
After playing competitive sports in high school, basketball and track, I sought out a degree in kinesiology, thinking I would be a basketball coach when I “grew up”. After one semester, I realized that the “ology” part wasn’t going to work to feed my creative spirit so I switched gears. I still had a love of sports, so I slid over to work on sports journalism. That grew into a passion for news, storytelling, and journalism.
I was able to create a career behind the scenes as a journalist, leading newsrooms in the south and Midwest, dispatching broadcast crews, supporting storytellers, producing engaging stories, and advocating for voices. My journalism career has let me see the world taking shape from the front row. I get to witness history being made and help shape how people consume news. It is an adrenaline rush, but it is daunting and it can be triggering.
In 2016 I made a conscious decision to let my creativity shine to balance the impacts of the news business. I always loved candles, loved the warmth, the glow, the ambiance candles created but every time I burned a candle, it would give me a headache so the joy would be short-lived. I had a conversation with a friend who is a holistic health coach and she informed me that manufactured candles have ingredients that may be causing an allergic reaction and causing the headache. So, I sought to make my own candles free of toxic chemicals that may cause an allergic reaction. I ordered a candle-making kit from Amazon, did a ton of research and started pouring candles. I told friends of my creative outlet and they were intrigued. I showed them my works and they wanted to buy them, and a business was born.
I started with candles and added creating soaps, body scrubs, and lotions to my offering. I found joy in taking raw materials and forming them into something practical and useful. I felt even closer to my roots too because my grandmother shared with me her stories of how she and her mother used to make their own soap out of necessity. I knew I was on the right path.
Baubles & Beeswax was born. The business has evolved to focus on using our quality products as a tool in your self-care toolbox. There are lots of companies out there making beautiful candles that smell great. There are successful skincare brands that offer products to soothe and nourish your skin. I wanted a company to give you more than just great products. I want to give our customers a road map to finding themselves through the practice of self-care. I want to elevate the conversation around how women, black women, and women of color don’t believe that we can or should take time for ourselves. I want to create a community of people that discuss the realities of their lives and celebrate unique ways to support each other. I want to start a self-care revolution. I want to empower my customers to be intentional about caring for their body, mind and soul. I want to be part of the narrative shift around what it means to a strong woman. I want Baubles & Beeswax to be a place to help you discover who you are. I believe that how you love yourself is how others learn how to love you.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I didn’t have a road map, so it was a lot of trial and error. My first candles didn’t even smell good. I struggled to find balance between entrepreneurship and my “day job”. I am a doer, creative, producer so learning technical back-end website and e-commerce was daunting. Creating a business from scratch is hard work. It takes grit, skill and resources. I didn’t even know where to begin at first but I let my passion for creating great products propel me to the right tools to support me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would describe myself as a professional creative entrepreneur. I am a certified news junkie, I watch a lot of news. I am a coach, mentor, and leader. In my professional corporate life, I lead teams and manage people and processes. I get the most satisfaction from helping employees become their very best, helping them grow into what they want to become. I get energy from my team. I am fueled by their success. I do not like being called the B-word. Boss. Can’t stand it. The work that I do is less about title and more about people development. The role I play in the progression of my staff as leader, guide, champion, and educator is more important to me than being called the B-word. I think that sets me apart from other leaders. My title doesn’t come with the ability to influence. I influence people more than boss them. I work with my team, not in front of them. I am most proud when I see someone I have mentored or coached take a risk, try new things, overcome an obstacle, get a promotion, and be their authentic self. That makes me proud.
People often describe me as a connector because of my large professional network and ability to collaborate. I think I am a great connector because of how I help people connect to themselves. I am known for being an open book. I share a lot about my experiences with my circles to show them that vulnerability breeds progress.
What matters most to you? Why?
Being a kind, thoughtful, vulnerable, authentic champion of creativity. I want to be known for how I contributed just as much as what I contributed. How my daughter describes me matters to me. How she sees me move through the world matters to me. The legacy I leave behind to my daughter and nieces matters to me. Living a life full of passion, creativity, and thoughtfulness while experiencing my journey matters to me.
Contact Info:
- Email: bb@baublesandbeeswax.com
- Website: www.baublesandbeeswax.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/baublesandbeeswax
- Facebook: facebook.com/bernadettepbrown
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/bernadettecnn www.twitter.com/baublesbeeswax
- Other: www.instagram.com/bernadettepbrown
Image Credits:
Source: Garland Nealy Photography
