Name: Modjossorica “Rica” Elysee
Age: 32
Job Title & Description: Founder & CEO of BeautyLynk
College Name & Major: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Political Science and Women Studies
Website: www.beautylynk.com
Twitter Handle(s): @ricaelysee + @beautylynk
Instagram Handle: @beautylynk
We all love a little primping. Though feeling our best has many different definitions for many different women, no one can deny that it feels good to feel good. Whether you find confidence through a fully contoured, “beat” face or you feel your best when just wearing your favorite mascara, everyone should have the ability to make themselves feel confident. However, for some women, this can be a challenge. Make-up companies have long lacked inclusive products for women of color, and even promote products that white-wash rather than promote the beauty of diversity. Beyond this, there are some women who are simply unable to primp and polish, due to circumstances out of their control. That’s where Rica Elysee steps in.
Noticing there was a lack of “spaces and opportunities” for women of color to “learn about their unique hair and beauty needs,” Elysee sought a way to fix that. Wanting to provide that space for them, she founded BeautyLynk, a company devoted to bringing professional makeup artists and hair stylists to people in the comfort of their own homes. Additionally, Elysee was inspired by her own family member — as a woman with a disability, Elysee’s relative was not always able to make a regular appointment with a hair and skin care professional. Elysee also wanted to advocate for beauty professionals and give them a supplementary income, as they are often underpaid.
Today, Her Campus chats with Elysee about making women feel confident, finding answers in unexpected places, and the importance of delegating responsibilities when life gets to be too hectic.
Her Campus: What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Her Campus: No day is ever typical. I get the opportunity to work with my team on tech, marketing, and operations. Every day is a learning and creative process.
HC: What is the best part of your job?
RE: Being part of the solution and the process of what makes people feel better about themselves.
HC: What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
RE: My first job out of college was a Development Assistant for a non-profit. I learned the ins and outs of fundraising from grants, reporting, and annual appeals. I found it through a mentor who knew the Executive Director.
HC: What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
RE: I currently don’t report to anyone, but one of my favorite quotes is, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer” from Zora Neale Hurston. It has left me with a passion for the problems I try to solve verse the solutions.
HC: What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
RE: I learned that I could not do everything and needed to delegate. It came when I first started the company and I would face challenges in meeting deadlines. Execution is key to success and I was not doing my best by keeping my hands in everything. When I would miss out on opportunities I would always think back about how could I have done better, where the reality was who could have done this task other than me.
HC: What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?
RE: Being an executive has its moments, but every time I get the opportunity to see myself on TV it is always an out-of-body experience that I am thankful for. Most recently I was on Fox Business News.
HC: What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
RE: I look for someone who is creative, knows themselves to an extent and is a team player. It is how we built our culture and how we will continue to make an impact as a company.
HC: What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
RE: Know the difference between advice and opinions. It will save you a lot of time. You can not please everyone and need your time to run your company.
HC: What’s the one thing that’s stood out to you the most in a resume?
RE: Volunteer experience always stands out to me, as it gives me a great insight on where someone’s passion lies.