Each month, Built in Los Angeles features some of the key players in Los Angeles' burgeoning tech space and the women who are making it all happen. We'll ask these founders, strategists, developers and innovators what drives them forward, their secrets to success, and what advice they have for the next generation of female entrepreneurs.
Tracy Lawrence | Chewse
Self-proclaimed Chewish girl, Tracy Lawrence shares her take on fear, bike tours, and her favorite subject - food.
[ibimage==27791==Original==none==self==ibimage_align-left]WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am the CEO and co-founder of Chewse – we love feeding offices their lunch. We work with office managers to be build menu rotations, place orders, and confirm deliveries – all the company has to do is approve the menus! Chewse is outsourcing for catering.
HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?
My parents were the original entrepreneurs (and co-founders) who inspired me. I used to sit at the dinner table while they spoke of expenses, cost of goods, and workman’s comp. All I wanted to do was talk about salad, pasta alfredo, and crème brulee. I told them I would never be an entrepreneur because I would never find a passion I want to bring to the dinner table. Of course, I went into the food business.
WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?
“Why do I smile? Because, it’s worth it” by Marcel the Shell! Why work in startups if the journey isn’t worth it?
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE, ON A DAILY BASIS?
Managing my own psychology through the ups and downs of startup life.
WHAT'S YOUR SECRET WEAPON?
This shouldn’t be a secret to any founder, but it truly is my team. I trust that they have my back, and can execute on a shared vision. I am very lucky to have them.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE?
Biking tours of cities while stopping to eat pastries along the way.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
While I did contract work as an event planner, I would consider Chewse my first real job. I started it during my senior year of undergrad at USC, and I never seemed to have left.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
If you’re afraid to do something, stop and identify what’s actually scaring you. If it’s a fear of judgment, what’s the worse that can happen? If it’s fear of failure, what’s the worse that can happen? Identify the roots of fear, and you’ll often find it’s not as scary as when you are afraid to look at it directly.
Connect with Tracy here in the BILA community or "Tweet me a food picture @chewishgirl and I’ll surely respond!"
