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Meet Allie Brenner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Brenner.

Allie, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well to start, my name is Allie Brenner. I am a wife, mom, entrepreneur, economics geek, former NFL Cheerleader and pageant aficionado. Sometimes I feel like I have lived several different lives but I believe it’s so important to follow ALL your passions and keep recreating yourself as an individual, whatever that looks like for you. I think we can uncover a vast array of untapped strengths as we get older.

From a very young age, I always knew that I wanted to be a stay at home mom. That’s an aspect of my own childhood that I really valued and wanted to replicate. When my daughter started school full-time for Kindergarten, I was looking to get involved with something work-related to bring me another level of personal fulfillment. Pre-baby, I had been a financial analyst for nearly a decade. I am also a former athlete and pageant girl, so I really started to miss the tight-knit feel of a fierce girl gang. The tricky part was that I wanted to be my own boss and do something on my own time. I had no interest in a job that took precedence over my family. And that’s a big ask these days.

Nearly three years ago, my dear friend Susan Chicone approached me about becoming a consultant for the #1 skincare brand in North America. I was hesitant at first because I am not a “salesperson.” But, boy did I love the products. I had also been courted by every direct sales company under the sun over the years, so to me, “direct sales” was always kind of a dirty word, Not to mention, I was terrified to sell things. Luckily, it turns out I am really good at sharing great products thanks to social media. I feel like I am a trustworthy consumer that wouldn’t steer shoppers wrong. Susan, who holds two Masters degrees and works in private wealth banking, assured me that all I had to do was wash my face with products I loved then talk about it. She was right. From there, I did what I do best. I grew a seriously fierce girl gang.

Since becoming my own boss, I now have a robust client list and manage a team of over 75 consultants across the U.S. We are so excited to also operate in Canada and Australia with plans to launch in Japan during 2020. There is something insanely fulfilling about being able to be on the clock for my daughter and also being able to harvest the fulfillment I need from “work” in my spare pockets of time.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think there can often be a stigma surrounding the direct sales industry, and in many cases, rightfully so. Any company that makes you think you can get rich quick or requires you to stock (and pay for) a ton of inventory should be a glaring red flag. At the end of the day, if you treat your clients and colleagues like family and are willing to put your name behind a product that you believe in, by all means. Just make sure you do your homework. Research the executive team, the founders, the business model, the compensation.

Another challenging part of my chosen industry is figuring out what motivates other people to succeed. How can I light a fire under someone who has incredible potential but maybe doesn’t see it or believe in themselves? I have really grown as a leader in this respect. Watching this type of situation unfold is immensely rewarding. The confidence women acquire when they create something that didn’t exist before is insane.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I work for a direct sales company in the skincare industry. We focus on helping men and women of many ages and ethnicities achieve the best skin of their lives through a product set that is based on clinical testing and multi-med therapy. Across the U.S. there are only a handful of dermatologists concerning the entire population. Our company has democratized access to dermatology-inspired products. With a few clicks, a new client can take an online consultation and be matched with a variety of products to suit their needs and concerns. Quite frankly, all I need to run my business is wi-fi.

What I am most proud of is the company culture we have cultivated. You will not find a more supportive environment. We all seem to agree that a rising tide lifts all ships, so you’ll often find consultants collaborating with each other. There is little to no drama. It’s actually mind-boggling.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a military family. My dad was in the Navy for 26 years and my mom stayed home with her three children. We moved quite a bit but in retrospect that probably attributes to some of my success. I seem to adapt well to all kinds of new people and situations. One of my favorite pastimes as a kid was choreographing dances in the front yard with all the girls on the street. Sometimes I feel like I’m still doing that only with a different medium.

In school, I was always an overachiever. My SAT scores yielded a hearty scholarship to college. I attended Loyola in Maryland and got my degree in Economics and French.

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