Speaking of Duke Grads - my chance meeting with JJ Ramberg and a broken foot

In my most recent blog I referenced the talk I gave at Duke University two weeks ago on my journey going "From Science to Fashion" and then I elaborated a little on the number of women receiving  MBAs. One Duke graduate with an MBA that I follow quite a bit is JJ Ramberg from MSNBC's Sunday morning show "Your Business"! JJ earned her undergraduate degree from Duke but then went on to Stanford for her MBA (last blog I talked about MBA schools,  Stanford's MBA program was one of the top in the country!). When I first became an entrepreneur I devoured any kind of knowledge on "small business", books, blogs, seminars, even shows. As I had mentioned, I am an early riser even on the weekends, so one day I happened across this incredible show called "Your Business" with JJ Ramberg and thought that it was being produced just for me (only because it was providing me with key information about my small business when I actually needed it!!! ). It was so full of very useful information that from that day on, I started to record it every Sunday morning at 7:30 on MSNBC. Every week there are examples of funding pitches, social media strategies, marketing and sales etc. JJ recently came out with a fantastic book for all small business owners called "It's Your Business - 183 Essential Tips that will transform your small business". I got the book and love it. Most of the tips are very relevant to my handbag business. One of my favorite tips was  written by a good friend of mine Dana Hughens from Clairemont Communications about how to welcome new employees (page 88, tip #59).

So how did I meet JJ? Well, this past April, I was in NYC to serve on a panel of executive women in technology (my previous career before starting my handbag business) for a unique women's organization called Papilio founded by Nadine Rubin whose mission is to build a community of women executives in technology seeking guidance, council and support for the purpose of elevating and accelerating their career objectives. Well, on my way to the event wearing my new black and white wedges while catching a cab in Manhattan, I fell flat on my face! Yes, you heard me correctly, fell down on the ground and broke my foot!! Went to an urgent care in a rickshaw (we could not catch a cab during rush hour! - what a funny sight!) and ended up with a temp cast on my left foot. Needless to say, I did not make it to the panel discussion and was on "life is a dreamcake" PAIN medication! The next day I was flying back from NYC to RDU with my cast and crutches and, I am embarrassed to say my pajama pants on (my regular clothes would not fit over the cast!). Perfect time to run into JJ Ramberg at the airport on her way to RDU (looking quite polished and professional - ha ... so embarrassing...  ). So I recognized her across the way at the RDU gate, even though she had her hair up in a cute ponytail and some cool artsy type clothes on. I told her that I am a big fan and watched her show every Sunday morning. She seemed a little surprised to hear that someone waits for it every Sunday morning at 7:30. Anyway, she asked me about my business and I told her that I started a company called Uvo Luxury, to design and manufacture handbags for professional women. She said she loved the bag I was carrying (white and fuchsia tablet bag) and that it would be better for her to carry that then her current small gray backpack she was carrying ( she might have been just trying to be nice, I really see her more with the Black and cream version of our tablet bag!). I told her that I have only been an entrepreneur for 2 and a half years and that I used to be a research scientist, but I am now using my engineering and research skills to design unique functionality into fashion handbags. My heart jumped when she said "you should be our show!” When she asked why I started my handbag company, I told her that I had discovered a gap in the market when I spent three years searching for the ideal handbag that I could use while traveling around the world giving talks to carry my computer and work documents and then have the same handbag look elegant enough to carry out to a nice dinner. She then told me what I needed to do to get on her show as a guest!!!! She said for me to write her a note stating that we met and talked and that she thinks I should be on the show! I followed her directions immediately and am still waiting for the phone call, but very very hopeful!   I never give up....

xo, Gigi