Jamie Kern Lima

Every time we got knocked down, we kept going and we kept growing. And in 2016, L'Oréal, the biggest beauty company in the world, knew that we had created something unlike what everyone else was doing. What we were told over and over would never work, had grown into one of the largest beauty companies in the country.

Every time we got knocked down, we kept going and we kept growing. And in 2016, L'Oréal, the biggest beauty company in the world, knew that we had created something unlike what everyone else was doing. What we were told over and over would never work, had grown into one of the largest beauty companies in the country.

And in 2016, L'Oreal paid $1.2 billion cash to buy the company I started in my living room, which is just wild, and then made me the first woman to hold a CEO title of a brand in their 108-year history. So it was just crazy. And here's the thing. Here's what I really hope you take root today and every day outside of here is I don't care how many no's you get. That bank might tell you no.

And in 2016, L'Oreal paid $1.2 billion cash to buy the company I started in my living room, which is just wild, and then made me the first woman to hold a CEO title of a brand in their 108-year history. So it was just crazy. And here's the thing. Here's what I really hope you take root today and every day outside of here is I don't care how many no's you get. That bank might tell you no.

The investor might say no. A boss might not see your potential. You have a power inside of you, a knowing that when you trust it, it'll always lead you to the next right step or the next right lesson. No one else's doubt gets to define your destiny. No one else's no gets to define your yes. And here's the thing. The day the L'Oreal deal was announced, it was everywhere.

The investor might say no. A boss might not see your potential. You have a power inside of you, a knowing that when you trust it, it'll always lead you to the next right step or the next right lesson. No one else's doubt gets to define your destiny. No one else's no gets to define your yes. And here's the thing. The day the L'Oreal deal was announced, it was everywhere.

The homepage of the Wall Street Journal. And that was the first time I heard from that potential investor who said women won't buy makeup from someone who looks like you with your body and your weight. He says, congratulations on the L'Oreal deal. I was wrong. And I don't know if y'all have seen the movie, have you seen the movie Pretty Woman?

The homepage of the Wall Street Journal. And that was the first time I heard from that potential investor who said women won't buy makeup from someone who looks like you with your body and your weight. He says, congratulations on the L'Oreal deal. I was wrong. And I don't know if y'all have seen the movie, have you seen the movie Pretty Woman?

Where she like goes in the store and they won't help her. And then she goes back two days later. So what I wanted to say to him was big mistake. Like huge, huge. I wanted to say I can give you 1.2 billion reasons why. It's a huge mistake. But I didn't. I kept it classy because I wouldn't have wanted to be him. And here's what I know is, you know, I believe rejection is God's protection.

Where she like goes in the store and they won't help her. And then she goes back two days later. So what I wanted to say to him was big mistake. Like huge, huge. I wanted to say I can give you 1.2 billion reasons why. It's a huge mistake. But I didn't. I kept it classy because I wouldn't have wanted to be him. And here's what I know is, you know, I believe rejection is God's protection.

Because here's the thing, y'all. Had he believed in us, we were so desperate. We would have given him so much equity, probably for close to nothing. But because he didn't believe in us, we were still the largest shareholder of the company the day L'Oreal acquired us. So... And remember the head of QVC Beauty, Alan Burke, who said you're not the right fit for QVC or our customers?

Because here's the thing, y'all. Had he believed in us, we were so desperate. We would have given him so much equity, probably for close to nothing. But because he didn't believe in us, we were still the largest shareholder of the company the day L'Oreal acquired us. So... And remember the head of QVC Beauty, Alan Burke, who said you're not the right fit for QVC or our customers?

So shortly after we launched on QVC, he became one of my greatest mentors and friends. He still is to this day, and he had been there decades at QVC. And shortly after we launched, he retired. And when he did, we hired him in a paid position on our advisory board. So the guy that rejected me was now working for me, right? Like, no one can tell you you're not the right fit.

So shortly after we launched on QVC, he became one of my greatest mentors and friends. He still is to this day, and he had been there decades at QVC. And shortly after we launched, he retired. And when he did, we hired him in a paid position on our advisory board. So the guy that rejected me was now working for me, right? Like, no one can tell you you're not the right fit.

And, you know, it's really such a lesson just to never take rejection personally and never take someone else's doubt about you personally and never let that doubt turn into doubt in your own head. Because the person who doubts you today might be calling you boss tomorrow. History isn't made by the ones who play it safe. So today I ask you, what is the true calling that has only your name on it?

And, you know, it's really such a lesson just to never take rejection personally and never take someone else's doubt about you personally and never let that doubt turn into doubt in your own head. Because the person who doubts you today might be calling you boss tomorrow. History isn't made by the ones who play it safe. So today I ask you, what is the true calling that has only your name on it?

What does the power inside of you tell you that you're destined for? Your calling might be to work in investment banking to become an MD or a partner or to start your own firm. Your calling might be to consult for five years then start an idea in your living room you haven't been able to shape.

What does the power inside of you tell you that you're destined for? Your calling might be to work in investment banking to become an MD or a partner or to start your own firm. Your calling might be to consult for five years then start an idea in your living room you haven't been able to shape.

Your calling might be to put one foot in front of the other in the best direction you know how until you hear that call that says, this is it. Your calling might be to dare to make the lowest salary in Columbia Business School history until you're on your path to making the highest.

Your calling might be to put one foot in front of the other in the best direction you know how until you hear that call that says, this is it. Your calling might be to dare to make the lowest salary in Columbia Business School history until you're on your path to making the highest.