Desirée Rogers

Sure. My name is Desiree Rogers. I live in Chicago in New York, and I currently... own two brands, one, Fast and Fair, and the other is called Black Opal.

Sure. My name is Desiree Rogers. I live in Chicago in New York, and I currently... own two brands, one, Fast and Fair, and the other is called Black Opal.

We specialize in melanin-rich skin, and the combined age of the two companies is 80 years old, so we believe in longevity for sure, and we are reinvigorating and relaunching these brands in the marketplace, and so we're sold anywhere from Sephora to Macy's to Ulta to Walmart, and so We really are enjoying bringing beauty and skin care to this community.

We specialize in melanin-rich skin, and the combined age of the two companies is 80 years old, so we believe in longevity for sure, and we are reinvigorating and relaunching these brands in the marketplace, and so we're sold anywhere from Sephora to Macy's to Ulta to Walmart, and so We really are enjoying bringing beauty and skin care to this community.

Sure. So my career has been spent both in corporate and also in doing service in businesses. in more political environments. I like to say I worked for a president and governor and a, um, mayor. And so I was the first social secretary for president Obama. I guided tourism under Rahm Emanuel here in Chicago.

Sure. So my career has been spent both in corporate and also in doing service in businesses. in more political environments. I like to say I worked for a president and governor and a, um, mayor. And so I was the first social secretary for president Obama. I guided tourism under Rahm Emanuel here in Chicago.

And then early in my career, I was the director of the Illinois state lottery under, um, governor, um, Edgar. And so I bounced back between, um, government work, political work, working in administrations and also corporate and have served on a number of not-for-profit boards in my career.

And then early in my career, I was the director of the Illinois state lottery under, um, governor, um, Edgar. And so I bounced back between, um, government work, political work, working in administrations and also corporate and have served on a number of not-for-profit boards in my career.

You know, so, I mean, I think that it's super important to, you don't just get to say, oh, I want to be on a board and I'm going to be on a board. That's just not how it works, at least In my opinion, I think it's about, you know, deciding for yourself, you know, what your interests are and putting your best foot forward.

You know, so, I mean, I think that it's super important to, you don't just get to say, oh, I want to be on a board and I'm going to be on a board. That's just not how it works, at least In my opinion, I think it's about, you know, deciding for yourself, you know, what your interests are and putting your best foot forward.

And so I certainly agree with what's been said that gaining experience across multiple types of operations is extremely helpful. And I think, you know, certainly on, you know, whether it's, you know, your non-for-profit boards starting early and, you know, as a newbie, people are much more forgiving and will help you learn how to read the financials.

And so I certainly agree with what's been said that gaining experience across multiple types of operations is extremely helpful. And I think, you know, certainly on, you know, whether it's, you know, your non-for-profit boards starting early and, you know, as a newbie, people are much more forgiving and will help you learn how to read the financials.

And, you know, you can witness, you know, people that maybe have had an extended period of time on boards and and how they conduct themselves. And so the beginning is really a learning process and learning as much as you can. And then also thinking about what your expertise is. And, you know, I think that that's important.

And, you know, you can witness, you know, people that maybe have had an extended period of time on boards and and how they conduct themselves. And so the beginning is really a learning process and learning as much as you can. And then also thinking about what your expertise is. And, you know, I think that that's important.

People will look at my resume and say, well, this person, what does this person do? It looks very like mixed. And I don't know what this person does. And I need to take a step back and say, okay, what do I do well? And what I've been focused on in my career is this whole idea of,

People will look at my resume and say, well, this person, what does this person do? It looks very like mixed. And I don't know what this person does. And I need to take a step back and say, okay, what do I do well? And what I've been focused on in my career is this whole idea of,

of thinking about more mature organizations or products and services and how do they get enhanced, reconfigured, refreshed to, in fact, do well in a new environment. And so that's been my work across both non-for-profit, government, and also corporate. And so I think one of the other things that are important with board service is many times they are looking for particular expertise.

of thinking about more mature organizations or products and services and how do they get enhanced, reconfigured, refreshed to, in fact, do well in a new environment. And so that's been my work across both non-for-profit, government, and also corporate. And so I think one of the other things that are important with board service is many times they are looking for particular expertise.

So, you know, just knowing what your expertise is. And again, at the beginning, I said, I don't think you can ask to be on a board. But I do think that networking that was mentioned earlier and having people understand what you're good at is a really good tactic because

So, you know, just knowing what your expertise is. And again, at the beginning, I said, I don't think you can ask to be on a board. But I do think that networking that was mentioned earlier and having people understand what you're good at is a really good tactic because