If you dream of starting your own company and making your mark on the world with a unique product or service, you’re not alone. Many women fantasize about quitting their day job to start the business of their dreams —whether that’s a whimsical bakery or a high-powered investment firm.
One thing that all aspiring business owners need to consider before opening their doors is how they will approach company culture.
It might seem premature to wonder about culture before you have your first employee, but Prissy Nikki CEO Nikki Corson says that it’s not.
The founder of a glamorous lash company, Corson founded her newest venture to help women embrace their inner beauty and fierceness. And she knows the business world inside and out. She’s been the President of multi-million-dollar roofing contracting company, Roofcrafters, for over a decade.
Today, she runs two companies in very different industries. However, she’s noticed that many aspects of company culture are universal and not industry-specific.
Over the years, she has learned a few things about treating yourself well, being a graceful leader under pressure, and scaling a company. Entrepreneurs regularly go to her for advice, either in person or by tuning in to her popular podcast, Life Amplified with Nikki, where she shares topics that are important to working women.
We sat down with Corson to hear her three best pieces of advice for female business owners wondering about company culture.
Aim To Be a Leader
Corson knows from experience that there are different kinds of people leading companies.
“Some people with the title of CEO, Founder, or President might be a boss and shout orders all day. They might even be good at their own job, but they don’t enable others to do their best work,” said Corson. “There’s a world of difference between being a boss and being a leader. It’s important to be a leader.”
She explains the difference between the two like this: a boss is someone that demands and dictates, but a leader is someone that inspires and encourages.
She knows that her staff at both companies do their jobs out of a sense of responsibility, but she constantly strives to ensure that they are doing it out of a place of enthusiasm, learning, collaboration, and growth too.
The dual-company executive works toward her own personal evolution in order to be an example to her employees and to attract the kind of talent she wants to work with.
Live by Your Company’s Core Values
“Whatever your company culture is, you have to live by it every day,” she said. “It all starts with you. How can you expect your employees to buy into the cultural mindset if you don’t follow it first?”
She explained that a team that aligns with and lives by a company’s culture works to make that culture richer, more dynamic, and deeper every day. “The truth is, you create your culture, but your team builds it up and strengthens your legacy. It starts at the top — with you — and trickles down into a deep pool,” she explained.
At Prissy Nikki, Corson has created a culture where self-improvement is integral. So, she knows if she’s not improving herself regularly, she can’t reasonably expect her employees to do it.
Serve Up Self-Love
Corson is a true believer in self-love and treating yourself with as much kindness as you do your family, friends, and employees.
“When I was younger, I didn’t even realize I didn’t love myself. I ran around with such a confident front, and I didn’t understand that it was to hide my extreme insecurities. I was so mean to myself under the guise of confidence. I think a lot of women can resonate with that,” she said.
So, whether self-love to you means taking an afternoon off to do something you enjoy or forgiving yourself for striking out at a big meeting — do it. You need to be your own biggest supporter.
Corson’s valuable advice can be used by business owners across a variety of fields and will help new bosses develop into inspiring leaders.
About Nikki Corson
Nikki Corson is a powerhouse CEO of Prissy Nikki, who provides top-tier lashes to bring out your natural bold, and beautiful self. Nikki is a Women’s Entrepreneur VIP Award winner, a certified roofing contractor in three states, and is recognized as one of the Top 3 roofing contractors in Georgia. She is also the host of the popular podcast, Life Amplified with Nikki. For more information on getting high-quality lashes, please visit https://prissynikki.com/
