Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leslie Short. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Leslie, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I played around with many names and I knew I wanted it to be unique but have meaning to the industry I would I would be building the business. Cavu is an aviation term and means Visibility Ultd. Pilots use the term once they are at a level they are clear to see ahead of them. When I think about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Culture I think the work never ends but there comes a point where you begin to understand others and your visibility becomes unlimited to continue to learn and understand beyond your current culture.
The Cavu Group was born and I knew I wanted to also partner with other experts and agencies and they would be part of The Cavu Group.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My first career was as a ballet dancer I lived out of the US for over 13 years. My first business was in Tokoyo, Japan. Talk about jumping into the culture business pool! Having lived in Europe for over 10 years I was used to being the “only one” and the one who challenged the status quo. That status quo could be the thought that dancers were not smart or why is the Black here and why is she in charge of all the dancers.
When I moved back to the States ( I retired from dancing in Japan) I made a promise to myself that I would not be quiet when I saw injustice for any human being but would focus on those who may not have a voice due to circumstance, status, or title. Each job I took I would make sure there were decisions on culture and equity in the workplace.
I’ve had the opportunity to own and run other businesses for myself and others and I always found it strange that I would hear Wow I can’t find senior-level Black employees, I can’t find the right person of Color or why would I hire someone with a disability? My question is why not? I did accept the responses and I finally said I’m tired of hearing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion being tossed around as buzzwords with no context or reasoning yet understanding behind them. I decided to change that with The Cavu Group.
I break down the meaning of words. I add context to the words but better yet I review companies and organizations from the mailroom to the boardroom. The conversation isn’t about diversity it’s about culture and how you build a company culture into your foundation. If you build culture into your foundation diversity, equity and inclusion are part of that. Once it’s built in then let’s break it down so it’s understandable not only to leadership but to everyone who walks through the door.
Don’t tell me we are family or I belong. I get to decide where I belong as a company/organization your job is to build the foundation with a culture that already has diversity, equity, and inclusion built-in with leadership and managers that are aware of what those words sound like and feel like.
Clients that work with me know I am honest. I may say no but I always have options to my no. I’ve also written a book for Leadership and CEO’s called Expand Beyond Your Current Culture. I think this is important for everyone if we have hope to understand each other even if we may not agree with each other.
Can you talk to us about your experience with selling businesses?
The business I sold was in Japan when I moved back to the US. The main thing you can not skip on is a good business lawyer for me it had to be one that also understood International law. Lucky for me a close friend in Japan was and American Lawyer doing business in Japan and he helped me with the exit contract.
Step 1. Why are selling the business?
2. What do you want from the business?
I could not keep the name as that was part of the original deal. Be clear about what’s important to you and have all your legal papers in order. If you continue on in any type of capacity be clear how that will work. Do you report to someone else, what is the compensation? Who owns the name and how the name is transferred along with any other paperwork? Is there debt who will be responsible?
The biggest lesson is to take time alone and write down what’s important to you so you know when you speak to a lawyer what are deal breakers for you.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The business pivot in my life and I’ve had a few was when I retired from dancing and became a businesswoman almost overnight. I went from performing on stage to shaking hands to opening up a theater. Friends who attended the dinner where I blurted out I wanted a theater and had it all worked in my head said they saw me go from one of them to an owner and I haven’t stopped since that evening.
I needed to not know what was happening on stage but pivot to being in charge of every aspect of building, designing, hiring choreography, music, pricing, branding public relations. I pivoted again when I came back to the States and began producing for TV, again when I started producing celebrity fashion shows and appearances for a corporate retail store, again when I became President of Marketing, advertising, and PR for a fashion brand again when I opened up my second business K.I.M. Media LLC and designed and produced luxury branded events and weddings. all while consulting for brands and celebrities and working as a culture strategist. To opening The Cavu Group while still keeping other businesses open.
Needless to say with every career pivot came a life pivot and I knew I had transferable skills and that I was focused on what would make me happy and how I could contribute to making something better be it a business or someone’s life at work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecavugroup.com
- Instagram: @thecavugroup
- Facebook: The Cavu Group & Leslie Short
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/LeslieShort
- Twitter: @thecavugroup
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBtGZ7_ZEAH1LKNRK34EtAA/videos
- Other: Podcast: Visibility Ultd. : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/visibility-ultd/id1515377295 Book: Expand Beyond Your Current Culture: Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947540130/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_f.60FbTEM3YMW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Image Credits
Stanley Debase, Tony Rahsaan