This March ORLY is celebrating Women’s History Month by featuring twelve women who inspire us.

Each day we’ll be posting a Q&A and a New Woman’s History Month polish trio hand selected by each of our featured women.

The celebration doesn’t stop there - 10% of sales from all Women’s History Month trios will be donated to
Downtown Women's Center.

Act fast!
Trios will only be available through March 31, 2020.
Click here to shop.

SERENA POON

Founder, Serena Loves LLC & Just Add Water

How did you know you had the right idea? How much did this idea change from initial concept to launching your brand?

With Serena Loves LLC, I knew when I came up with the concept that I wanted the brand to be a representation of all the information, experiences, products and tips about things that I loved. The initial concept of the brand was primarily focused on tangible products, but by launch, it had expanded to include services in the form of coaching, consulting and energy work.

With Just Add Water, the idea came from the concept of addressing a common health issue that I found existed for my clients whenever they traveled, with a solution I created in the form of a recipe with “Everything that they needed in a day in a little snack-sized zip lock baggie. All they needed to do was just add water to it.” The idea slightly evolved to include the tagline of “Simplify Your Self-Care” and I decided that the brand would eventually have an entire product line with the same concept, with specific products designed to address more specific issues.  

How do you handle adversity and doubt? What about self-doubt? 

I’ll be really honest – I used to handle adversity and doubt by either hiding or making myself small and unnoticeable. When doubt hit me, I used to question myself in a million different ways, with a combination of a million different variables. Now, with a solid practice of mindfulness, sitting still and checking into my intuition, I am able to flip that moment of self-doubt into a reminder moment to be present, ground myself and to check in: “Is this what I really want? Is this my truth? How do I feel about this situation? Am I being honest and authentic about my decisions?”

What has been your biggest set-back or road block and how did you handle that situation?

As I look back from where I stand today, I can honestly say that may biggest setbacks were not the eight surgeries I had to have; not the unhealthy or dysfunctional relationships I had; not the myriad of “mistakes” I made as a budding entrepreneur. My biggest set-back was my own belief system, the thoughts and stories I had in my head about myself and my circumstances at any given time. How I handle every single situation is slightly different, as each time, it comes from a place of growth from where I am in the present moment. But any time I am presented with a roadblock, I see it as a gift, a lesson that is disguised as a challenge. With this mindset, any set-back is not only an opportunity to learn – it can even be a situation that can propel you even further.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

As a kid, I thought I wanted to be an archaeologist! Indiana Jones was the hero and protagonist in a series of popular movies at the time and he was an archaeologist. It just goes to show how much of an impact our heroes and our mentors have on us, our younger generations and our children. It’s also a great reminder of the power of story-telling and how it helps us navigate our own stories.

What advice would you give your teenage self? 

Be open and be fearless. That which you are most afraid of, is that which you have to spend your energy and focus on conquering and healing. You can spend a lifetime running away from your fears, but the greatest lessons and most rewarding moments come from facing your fears, going outside of your comfort zone and growing from these experiences.

What was your dream job before building your brand? 

My dream job was a vision I had a few years after my dad passed away. I envisioned myself on a stage, sharing my story and my experiences to an audience with the purpose inspire and empower others to pursue and live their dreams.

What inspired you when you were younger? What inspires or motivates you now?

Ever since both my parents had cancer, I was inspired to use food as healing and to help people optimize their health through the power of physical and spiritual nutrition. Their experience continues to be the driving force behind my mission and I am constantly motivated by the results from the power of positivity and love. Together we rise and collectively we are stronger. It inspires me to continue the work.

What piece of advice would you give to young women today? 

There’s a quote I love that I often share, because it’s one that I live by, as a constant reminder to dream big, stay on your path, and believe that you are ALL that you need to achieve all your dreams: “NO one is YOU and that is your POWER.” Each one of us is a magical human being with love to give, wisdom to share and a unique power can be the driving force towards any goal. All you need to do is focus your attention and your energy in the right direction.