Kimberly Lexow is an entrepreneur and full-time adventurer. After working in the tech space for a decade, Lexow co-founded Sifted, an experiential lunch provider for startups. Lexow expedites the sales process by identifying destination workplaces like Lyft, Salesloft and Eventbrite that see chef-made lunches as a universal perk. When she's not growing the business or networking at the Atlanta Tech Village, the full-time hustler is centering her work and personal life by backpacking Big Sur or Yosemite.
When Jess Legge co-founded Sifted, she led branding and design. Today, she drives growth by doubling everyone's goals and building models that have allowed the company to hit $1.5M in ARR in under two years. She manages the cash as a bootstrapped company, positioning Sifted to add 20+ employees and enter two markets in 16 months, all while remaining profitable. She's most proud of the team her and partner have created and the tech communities they support.
Mission: The idea for Sifted was still a work-in-progress when Kimberly and Jess began taking it to prospective clients. Listen as they share the story of how one client’s feedback provided the clarity needed to solidify the business model they have today.
Mindset: I was in shock when I heard that Sifted when from concept to first sale in ONE WEEK. It’s obvious that these women are action takers and have a mindset of focused effort to execute on ideas.
Marketing: As you can imagine, food prep and catering can be much more complex than a simple, service-based business. Hear about the early days of Sifted and how they create an M.V.P. model (Minimum Viable Product) in order to deliver an amazing product without a huge upfront investment.
Momentum: Often times the key to getting momentum comes from having the right idea from the beginning. Kimberly and Jess knew just how much startups value company culture. It was the connection to this core focus that made them the obvious choice for companies like Lyft, Salesloft, and Eventbrite.
Mastermind Challenge: Take the fast track. I loved the story of how Sifted went from concept to first sale in one week. Today, they’ve reached $1.5M in less than 2 years. It’s obvious that Kimberly and Jess are ready to roll up their sleeves and make things happen quickly. If you’ve got an idea that’s been rolling around, or a to-do list that never seems to move the needle, take a cue from these incredible women and find the fast track. Get in front of clients and investors, build the systems, and make yourself known. Time is money, so don’t waste one day not giving your business your 100% best.
Brittni Adams is the founder and designer of Whitby Handbags, a socially conscious luxury handbag line dedicated to preventing the exploitation of girls around the world through education, namely: Haiti, Iraq, Peru and Thailand.
Brittni founded Whitby in 2014 after two years of extensive research on the topic of modern-day slavery and its correlation to the widespread problem of girls not having access to educational opportunities due to gender discrimination, religion, or poverty.
Brittni has B.A. in mass communication, public relations from Georgia College and State University, and a master’s certificate in nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina. Brittni lives in Brookhaven (Atlanta) with her husband Jeremy and golden retriever puppy Magnolia. Apart from Whitby she is the co-founder of Atlanta Women Entrepreneurs and mentors high school girls at Passion City Church.
Mission: It’s no small task that Brittni has taken on… I loved her statement about always having the “capacity to dream”. This is so often what holds people back - not being able to visualize the possibilities right in front of them.
Mindset: Can you imagine someone launching a fashion company with no fashion experience? With so many firsts and lessons learned along the way, Brittni shares how she was able to keep moving forward putting one foot in front of the other.
Marketing: “Throw a party”. That was the advice that Brittni implemented during her launch and it turned out to be a great success. Listen as she shares the story of the launch party and why it made all the difference.
Masterminds: Community makes all the difference… Brittni shares the impact that Atlanta’s Plywood People community has made along her journey.
Mastermind Challenge: I love Brittni’s story about the launch party for Whitby and how it really changed the momentum of her business. Having hosted many events for MYL, I know that there’s nothing like the energy of bringing people together. How can you create an event around your business that allows people to enjoy an experience that forever reminds them of you and your mission?