We recently connected with Helen Marray-Finlay and have shared our conversation below.
Helen, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
In numerous ways, I see resilience as an acquired skill that evolves. Personally, my journey towards building resilience spans four decades. It certainly didn’t happen overnight.
Learning from others has been crucial for my development. I observe how others handle situations, take those aspects that I believe work, and use them to build my resilience.
Life, with its unpredictable twists, presents challenges in both our professional and personal lives, and it’s our response to these challenges that mold the skills necessary to move forward and prosper. Quickly learning from mistakes and being able to leverage setbacks are pivotal to this growth.
Establishing robust personal relationships has been equally crucial to me. Surrounding myself with trustworthy individuals to exchange ideas and knowledge have all fostered resilience. Recognizing one’s strength and understanding when to seek assistance are integral components of navigating life’s complexities.
A steadfast commitment to persistence is a recurring theme in my resilience journey. Tomorrow always brings new opportunities, and this optimism is deeply rooted in the strong work ethic instilled by my parents and grandparents. Having weathered the hardships of World War II, my grandparents’ endurance became a source of inspiration. My parents’ encouragement to venture into uncharted territories instilled in me the courage to attempt new things. Even if success eludes, the pride in daring to pursue dreams remains; a sentiment my upbringing has consistently reinforced.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I created Finlay+Green, a clean skincare brand for women transitioning menopause (from perimenopause to menopause to postmenopause), which we launched direct-to-consumer in August 2023.
It’s a really exciting time not just for me, but for the subject of menopause in general. Finally, the subject is getting a light shone on it, and rightly so. There are 75M women in the US experiencing either perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause. It’s certainly not a niche market!
We’ve found that a lot of women want information and products for menopause. In fact, 79% want skincare products specifically tailored to their needs. So that’s what we are doing!
Finlay+Green is the result of my personal menopausal journey. Menopause, like a lot of women can attest to, is not an easy trip. It can be quite upsetting and disconcerting, especially since you might not know what is happening to you (but that’s another story!). There are a lot of skin issues during menopause, so it’s exciting to offer products that can really make a difference. We want women to feel good in their skin.
During menopause my old favorite skincare products no longer worked, and I couldn’t find ones that did. Once I realized my skin issues were menopause-related it spiraled, and I spent the next almost three years researching and developing products. I wanted my products to specifically address the unique needs of menopausal skin. I also wanted to create a really targeted, streamlined skincare system. I believe less is more, after all the skin can only absorb so much, plus skin at this stage can become much more sensitive. The products are multitasking and can be personalized. We will be bringing out additional products shortly which will complement what we currently offer.
Creating a skincare line felt like a natural progression for me. Having been a Hollywood makeup artist for 20+ years, one thing I do know very well is skin, and what women want and need in a skincare line.
Our moisturizer is what I call a “super hydrator” and has proved very popular. The response has been beyond amazing with lots of repeat customers and our current capital raise is getting a great deal of attention. 2024 is already turning out to be a big year for the brand.
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 four that matter most, which four skills or qualities would you focus on?
I would say:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions (lots of them!) or ask for help
You’ll be surprised by how many people are going to help. Embrace your naïveté at this stage; I did. Naïveté can be a good thing as it doesn’t stifle innovation. Often when people have worked in an industry and then go on to create a similar product or service, they are constrained by that working system and the thought process that they came from. But often entrepreneurs are pioneers, creating products that have not been seen before, so this is a great asset to have. An openness and willingness to learn from others is key.
2.Organization and Planning
Be organized. If you don’t have them already, learn project management skills. Implementing systems early on can be a game-changer as your business grows.
3. Team Building / Mentors
It’s so important to build a strong team that you trust and that shares the same vision. Carefully consider the different skills you need to propel your business forward. Get rid of the nay-sayers and negativity as this will not only destroy you, it will also infect the rest of your team and it can destroy a business. Toxic/negative people are distracting; they take up too much headspace and you need all your brain cells to get the business where it needs to be!
Having mentors is immensely important. Often, they have been in your shoes or similar, so they know exactly what you are going through. On some of your toughest days, they can help put things into perspective. As well as being great sources of support and advice, lots of mentors have connections that can really help you develop the skills and network that you need.
Develop your network. Relationships are important. The majority of my best relationships have stemmed from introductions. And talk to people. I met one of my investors sitting at the bar having dinner with my business partner! You just never know who you are going to meet and when. Your relationships, whether business or personal, are what is going to sustain you.
4. A Non-Work Outlet
This may be one of the hardest things to do because you have so much work to get done, but it will always be this way. Make sure you find an outlet/a stress release. Maybe it’s working out for an hour every day or taking a complete weekend off from time to time. My boyfriend and I discovered the “Van Life” and will go out into the middle of nowhere for 12-24 hours every few months. You have to have an outlet because your business relies on you. If you burn out there will be no business.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We are actively seeking to expand our team and advisory board, aiming to strengthen our business and position the brand for optimal growth. We are dedicated to growing the business in the right way, and welcome discussions with individuals experienced in start-ups, consumer goods, beauty, health and wellness. Investor, partnership, and collaboration inquiries are welcomed. Contact hi@finlayandgreen.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://finlayandgreen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finlayandgreen/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/finlayandgreen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-marray-finlay-a6784819b/
Image Credits
Bettina Niedermann shot Helen’s headshot
