We were lucky to catch up with Veena Krishnan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Veena, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
As a female founder of color and previously as a chemical engineer, I have often found myself to be the only person in the room that looks like me. I do have moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, which often make me feel like I have to work harder to justify my approach or POV. To overcome these feelings, especially when they creep up before an important meeting, I try to dedicate sufficient time to prepare in advance so that I can walk into the room with confidence, knowing I belong and add value to the conversation. Jotting down key words or talking points helps me stay focused, and I also love to leverage data when possible.
All this being said, it can feel discouraging feeling like the “only one in the room.” In these moments, I keep in mind my family, friends, and mentors that are in my corner and support me daily. I also try to give myself the time I need — whether that’s a few minutes or a few hours — to feel discouraged or frustrated before regrouping and finding a way to move forward. At the end of the day, I can’t change who I am, but I can reframe these challenges as opportunities to learn and improve.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Daybird is an anti-beauty beauty club that creates clean, vegan makeup and skincare hybrids for a one-step routine, giving you back your time and mental space to do what matters most with your morning.
My co-founder, Whitney, and I met while in grad school and connected over our shared emotional frustration with beauty standards. Both of us had worked in historically male-dominated fields — myself as a chemical engineer, and Whitney in sports marketing — where we were often the only ones in the room that were expected to spend extra time and money to put products on our face in order to look professional and feel confident. We talked to over a thousand people about their morning routines and heard that many folks had products sitting on their shelves that they hadn’t used in years, and no longer wanted to spend time in the mornings on a multistep makeup and skincare routine. Instead, they were looking to simplify with fewer products that benefit more.
Daybird was born from these conversations, to help people take back ownership of what beauty means to them and looks like in their lives. Tinted Skincare, our first product, combines two skincare serums, moisturizer, mineral SPF 50 (without the whitecast!) and a stretchy, sheer tint all into one multitasking product. It’s a true one-step morning routine. You can also think of it as a “BB Cream 2.0”, in that we dial up the good-for-you skincare ingredients you might see in a BB cream up to active levels that have been clinically proven to deliver the benefits of that ingredient.
As a South Asian with eczema and sensitive skin, I’m so excited that Tinted Skincare offers mineral SPF 50 without the whitecast, along with a flexible, sheer tint that stretches across an inclusive shade range. It’s been especially rewarding to hear that people are wearing sunscreen daily thanks to our product.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’m still very much learning and on my own professional journey, but I would say that effective time management, routinely resting and recharging, and prioritizing time with family, friends, and community are three things that have been impactful to me thus far.
1. As a small team of two, we often say that our day-to-day jobs are managing trade-offs and prioritization. The reality is, there’s probably always going to be something left on my to-do list at the end of each workday. So, I try to alleviate any self-induced pressure to finish everything on my list by 5 pm. On a given day, I can be found doing anything from managing our supply chain, to testing new products, or answering customer service emails and DMs. To work through very different tasks and stay organized, I create a prioritized daily and weekly to-do list, and timebox my calendar to ensure I dedicate the time necessary to finish important tasks.
2. Early in my career, a former boss of mine would often remind me to prioritize having “gas in the tank” and minimize the times that I’m “running on empty.” This advice has stuck with me as a reminder to take time to rest and recharge in a way that feels good, especially after a busy time or season. At times we may have to push ourselves to tap into our “reserve” energy. But, we can’t run on empty forever, or we’ll run out of gas and burn out. Replenishing your personal energy stash looks different to everyone, and my advice is to stay in tune with your mind and body and take rest when you start to pick up on those signals. For me, recharging includes making time to go for a run or workout each day, and closing out the day with a long walk with my husband and dog.
3. Finally, prioritize your support system! I’ve found that starting a business can feel lonely at times, but spending quality time with friends and family truly helps to refresh my mindset. Over the past couple of years, I’ve also worked to cultivate friendships with other founders, which has been another incredibly helpful source of support. If I’m trying to navigate an unforeseen challenge — personal or professional– chatting with a friend, my husband, or my parents usually helps me work through the issue and brainstorm a solution.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
First, I take a screen break from my phone or laptop and get some fresh air. I love to go for a walk with my dog and either unplug and listen to the city sounds around me, or turn on my favorite playlist or a podcast (bonus points if it has nothing to do with what I’m working on!). If my schedule allows, I’ll also put my phone on do not disturb and go for a quick run.
However, at the end of the day, usually the thing that’s overwhelming me won’t go away if I avoid it. I’ll break down the larger challenge into smaller tasks that feel more doable. Ranking these mini action items in terms of priority or deadline then gives me a place to start. Personally, I often find myself feeling overwhelmed at the end of the day or at the end of the workweek. To manage this, I’ll put my to-do list together before logging off for the day, and while everything’s fresh on my mind. Then, I can jump into action quickly the next day or week, knowing I’ve already set myself up for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daybird.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daybird.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daybirdco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@daybird
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daybird.co
