We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lynn Brishae a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Lynn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 2018, I attended the Womanaire Reciprocity Retreat created by fashion mogul, Milan from Milano Di Rouge. That is where I started to play with the idea of owning my own business. At the retreat I fell in love with the idea of owning my own business.
I struggled starting my business. No mentors, no help, no one to give me advice. After pushing through, I started to brainstorming ways to help other women who were new to entrepreneurship.
I wanted to provide solutions to the obstacles and struggles that we faced.
I wanted to create a sisterhood of like-minded, supportive business women. That’s when my very first Women’s Business Retreat, Boss Summit®️ was born. I wanted to tap into something much BIGGER than myself, and with Boss Summit®️, I am doing just that.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Absolutely. Where I currently am has a lot to do with where I come from. As a native New Yorker, I was born with a different kind of hustle and fire inside. If you know anything about New Yorkers, you know where all about getting things done by any means necessary, and as a child, I can remember being driven and focused. I was known for taking charge, being an organizer, and being the first to do many things.
Fast forward to my college days. After graduating from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, and from Morgan State University with a Masters degree in Business Administration, I became more of a leader. Attending HBCU’s will do that to you.
Over the next 20+ years, I served in several management roles in corporate America, never once considering entrepreneurship. Once I attended my first women’s retreat that changed.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In February 2020, when we planned to have the first Boss Summit ®️, we hit the biggest roadblock of them all: the global pandemic. Out of fear of the unknown, my three person team dissolved, leaving me to reschedule, regroup and recalibrate by myself. I was faced with the difficult decision whether to continue with the plans.
Nervous, yet confident, l kept planning and kept pushing because I knew in my soul that this was God’s plan and a purpose for me. I believed. I had faith. I never waivered. I understood the assignment, and most importantly, I knew wholeheartedly that this was something we needed as women and as female entrepreneurs. We need each other, and we need a sisterhood so I kept going. Well, in September 2020, it finally came together. After pushing the dates back several times my very first Boss Summit ®️ was SOLD OUT, and all attendees had the experience of a lifetime. Since then, we have held Boss Summit ®️ every six months and they all have been sold out. Wont he do it?
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
My advice to managing my team and maintaining a high morale is networking and developing a genuine sisterhood. Our impact set us apart. We truly provide the ultimate connection, sisterhood and network and business friends. This is how we stay in touch.
Since we’ve started, the Boss Summit®️ has birthed countless partnerships, collaborations, and connections between attendees. We’ve also seen women get hired by other women they’ve met at the Summit and we’ve even had the pleasure of seeing two attendees discover that they were related.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bosssummit.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bosssummit
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bosssummit
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/thebosssummit
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/bosssummit
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/bosssummit
- Other: www.threads.com/bosssummit
Image Credits
Shirita Boone, @dopeshotsbyprecious