How I Got Here: The founder of Australian beauty startup Par Olive on trusting your intuition
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“As a founder of a startup, it is all-consuming. I’ve made many, many sacrifices over the past two years that are not often talked about.“
Have you ever stalked someone on LinkedIn and wondered how on earth they managed to land that wildly impressive job? While the internet and social media might have us believe that our ideal job is a mere pipe dream, the individuals who have these jobs were, believe it or not, in the same position once, fantasising over someone else’s seemingly unattainable job.
But behind the awe-inspiring titles and the fancy work events lies a heck of a lot of hard work. So what lessons have been learnt and what skills have proved invaluable in getting them from daydreaming about success to actually being at the top of their industry?
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Welcome to How I Got Here, where we talk to women who are killing it in their respective fields about how they landed their awe-inspiring jobs, exploring the peaks and pits, the failures and the wins, and most importantly the knowledge, advice and practical tips they’ve gleaned along the way.
This week we speak to Olivia Boyd-Smith, the founder of ingestible beauty brand, Par Olive. Before launching Par Olive and Pearl, the brand’s uniquely Australian-made marine collagen range, Olivia worked in “an array of different industries”. She gathered experience across the law, public relations and publishing sectors, eventually finding herself heading up a premium LA-based wellness brand.
It took a great deal of discipline, commitment and passion for Olivia to finally take the leap to launch her own brand. Ultimately, she realised it was “important to tune into what lights you up” – and she hasn’t looked back since. Here’s what sher learnt along the way.
What do you do and what’s your official job title?
My name is Olivia Boyd-Smith, I am the Founder and Director of Australian ingestible beauty brand, Par Olive.
Take us back to when you were first starting out. Did you study to get into your chosen field, or did you start out with an internship/entry-level role and climb the ladder? Tell us the story.
I worked in an array of different industries throughout my early and mid-twenties, which I was initially a little ashamed of, but I am now so proud that I experienced different roles and sectors before landing where I am now.
I studied Communications at UTS in Sydney as my undergraduate degree, worked in luxury public relations and publishing and then transitioned to postgraduate law. [I was] working in law for a couple of years before heading up marketing and PR for an LA-based premium wellness brand and launching them into Asia-Pacific.
Launching a new brand in new markets… really gave me the confidence to start my own business and take the leap. I worked full-time throughout most of my university studies, so I really hustled and gained so much experience and knowledge along the journey. This really paved the way for me as the Director of Par Olive.
What challenges/hurdles have you faced getting to where you are now? Can you tell us about one in particular?
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Transitioning out of law after studying and committing to working in that industry. It takes a lot of discipline, commitment and investment, but ultimately I knew deep down I wasn’t on the right path. It is easier said than done to listen to that inner knowing, however, I think it is so important to tune into what lights you up.
… I followed a corporate career journey because I thought that’s what I should do, rather than what I genuinely wanted to do. Once I started to follow my passion and intuition, creating a wellness brand made so much sense for me. My mother has been in dermatology my whole life. I’ve always had such a deep interest in the interlink between beauty and wellness, and I am so, so passionate about innovating the ingestible beauty space.
What do you want people to know about your industry/your role?
I want people to really think about what they are consuming. If you are taking a supplement every single day, turn the jar, see where and how it was sourced, and aim to understand the ingredients. We only have one body, it is so crucial to know where your supplements are coming from and ensure you are having the highest grade, most sustainably-sourced and clinically-backed formulas.
Pearl is dermatologist-developed, sustainably-sourced collagen and 100 per cent made in Australia, which is so important to me. Our primary packaging is glass, and our refills are recyclable and made from sugarcane. When I couldn’t find the product I was seeking, I worked with an Australian dermatologist and dietician to create it.
What’s the best part about your role?
Connecting with the Par Olive community. We’ve been so lucky to build such a kind, authentic and warm community wanting to elevate their wellness journey with so much appreciation for our sourcing, sustainability and formulations. Hearing of their incredible results [and] seeing them share the product with their friends, sisters, mothers and daughters truly lights me up and gives my day-to-day so much meaning.
What would surprise people about your role?
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As a founder of a start-up, it is all-consuming. I’ve made many, many sacrifices over the past two years that are not often talked about. My friendships, relationships and family life have suffered because you need to be all in and 100 per cent committed in the first couple of years of starting a business.
Now that I’m a couple of years in, I’ve really learned the importance of prioritising my own personal health and relationships whilst growing the brand, as that enables me to be the best founder, friend, sister and daughter I can be.
What skills have served you well in your industry?
A clear vision, strong work ethic and sales. Creating a brand with sustainability and traceability at the forefront is expensive, and there are a lot of corners we could easily cut. I have such a strong vision and high standards… [in terms of] what suppliers we work with, our packaging and how we represent ourselves as a brand.
We come across many roadblocks daily, so a strong and pragmatic work ethic is paramount to overcome and work through these obstacles. In addition to this, the power of selling is so important [and] as a founder you are always selling your vision to your community, retailers and investors.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a role like yours one day?
Take the leap and believe in yourself. No one is going to start that business for you. Do the research, understand the industry you are wanting to enter and back yourself. I never want to look back and regret the chances I didn’t take. I am always encouraging friends, family and strangers I meet to follow their passion and create the career path they’ve always envisioned for themselves.
Read the rest of the How I Got Here series here.
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