Family time, from left: Lindsay McConnon, in the Sycamore hat and our Coralee puff-sleeved top; Linsay Radcliffe, in the Redwood hat and our Natuka blouse
Entrepreneur Chat
Freya Founders, Lindsay McConnon & Linsay Radcliffe
If you've spent any time in our stores, or on our site, you're familiar with Freya hats—they're some of our favorite toppers around. Now meet the women behind the brand: Lindsay McConnon and Linsay Radcliffe, two friends who, like the Veronicas, bonded over a shared love of fashion and decided to pursue their dreams with the launch of their own company. And, like the Veronicas, every day is a balancing act between mom duty and boss duty for this San Francisco-based duo. Here, we learn how they do it all—and discover the resources that fueled their startup success, too.
SHOP THE LOOK:
On Lindsay, left: Coralee Puff-Sleeved Top and Sycamore Hat
On Linsay: Natuka Blouse and Redwood Hat
Q&A
Top 3 tips to getting it all done?
1. Find your carpool buddies! It's impossible to manage the logistics of active, busy kids without relying on the help of others. Plus, the kids have more fun when they get to giggle in the backseat with their friends.
2. Put your kids to work. Giving them consistent chores and responsibility can really lift a load off of busy parents.
3. In terms of professional time management, we've found that the best way to manage the complex responsibilities of entrepreneurship is to rely on others—and for us that means each other, but it can also be employees, investors or other partners. Creating a clear division of responsibilities means that each busy entrepreneur can let go of some tasks to allow time for others and the sacred space of creative thinking, which is so critical in our industry.
1. Find your carpool buddies! It's impossible to manage the logistics of active, busy kids without relying on the help of others. Plus, the kids have more fun when they get to giggle in the backseat with their friends.
2. Put your kids to work. Giving them consistent chores and responsibility can really lift a load off of busy parents.
3. In terms of professional time management, we've found that the best way to manage the complex responsibilities of entrepreneurship is to rely on others—and for us that means each other, but it can also be employees, investors or other partners. Creating a clear division of responsibilities means that each busy entrepreneur can let go of some tasks to allow time for others and the sacred space of creative thinking, which is so critical in our industry.
Words of wisdom on the work/family balance?
Nobody has the perfect answer here and that's probably the most important kernel of truth. Each of us make difficult choices in deciding how to divide our time between our families, careers, friends and selves, and these are our personal decisions. By listening to our intuition and using that as a guide, we can find peace in our choices and release ourselves from this feeling that we should be able to have it all.
Nobody has the perfect answer here and that's probably the most important kernel of truth. Each of us make difficult choices in deciding how to divide our time between our families, careers, friends and selves, and these are our personal decisions. By listening to our intuition and using that as a guide, we can find peace in our choices and release ourselves from this feeling that we should be able to have it all.
The List
Must-Read Books
1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
It's an autobiography by the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Nike. His stories from the early days of founding the company remind us that the magic of enduring brands is not created overnight. He encountered a series of daunting roadblocks, but his persistence and passion for his work persevered. His legacy is obvious now, but to understand the scrappy doggedness that characterized the company's inception reminds us to just keep doing what we love and following our gut despite the unanticipated challenges that come our way.
It's an autobiography by the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Nike. His stories from the early days of founding the company remind us that the magic of enduring brands is not created overnight. He encountered a series of daunting roadblocks, but his persistence and passion for his work persevered. His legacy is obvious now, but to understand the scrappy doggedness that characterized the company's inception reminds us to just keep doing what we love and following our gut despite the unanticipated challenges that come our way.
2. The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melissa Gates
Although Bill Gates may be the more well-known half of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, his star by no means eclipses that of his insightful and compassionate wife Melinda, who has spent the better part of three decades working to create a better world, in particular to shine a light on the plight of women globally. This brief but powerful book illustrates how women continue to be disadvantaged by social, political and economic conditions both domestically and abroad and illustrates how we can work to empower women to change the world. Our business is women owned and operated, and women are the backbone of our work—female artisans in developing economies are the primary engine of our creative output. We need to be able to support our female employees and business partners, and this book offers keen insights into how to do so more successfully.
Although Bill Gates may be the more well-known half of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, his star by no means eclipses that of his insightful and compassionate wife Melinda, who has spent the better part of three decades working to create a better world, in particular to shine a light on the plight of women globally. This brief but powerful book illustrates how women continue to be disadvantaged by social, political and economic conditions both domestically and abroad and illustrates how we can work to empower women to change the world. Our business is women owned and operated, and women are the backbone of our work—female artisans in developing economies are the primary engine of our creative output. We need to be able to support our female employees and business partners, and this book offers keen insights into how to do so more successfully.
3. The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs
The book grapples with global income inequality, with a focus on the deepest forms of poverty. As a retail company, the global supply chain is part of our day-to-day reality. This book sheds light on how manufacturing businesses can be the productive driver moving third world economies to second world economies and transforming the futures of young people over the course of even one generation. For anyone who wants to put a critical eye to trade, economic and political policy, this book is enlightening and offers hope for how companies that operate in the global market and can be a positive force for change in the futures of developing nations.
The book grapples with global income inequality, with a focus on the deepest forms of poverty. As a retail company, the global supply chain is part of our day-to-day reality. This book sheds light on how manufacturing businesses can be the productive driver moving third world economies to second world economies and transforming the futures of young people over the course of even one generation. For anyone who wants to put a critical eye to trade, economic and political policy, this book is enlightening and offers hope for how companies that operate in the global market and can be a positive force for change in the futures of developing nations.
Must-Listen Podcasts
1. The Daily
A daily 30 minute podcast by The New York Times, The Daily provides an in-depth view into topics that matter. We love this podcast because it helps us feel informed beyond the clickbait headlines of today's news cycle. Thirty minutes is literally the perfect length for a morning school dropoff or evening makeup routine.
A daily 30 minute podcast by The New York Times, The Daily provides an in-depth view into topics that matter. We love this podcast because it helps us feel informed beyond the clickbait headlines of today's news cycle. Thirty minutes is literally the perfect length for a morning school dropoff or evening makeup routine.
2. BBC Global News Podcast
We love the BBC news for its extensive coverage of global issues. This podcast breaks through the iterative noise that often accompanies domestic media outlets and covers a breadth of issues that don't make headlines within the US. New episodes are posted daily and are about 30 minutes in length. We work with so many international partners and it's helpful to know the relevant issues that are happening regionally that may be affecting their lives and businesses.
We love the BBC news for its extensive coverage of global issues. This podcast breaks through the iterative noise that often accompanies domestic media outlets and covers a breadth of issues that don't make headlines within the US. New episodes are posted daily and are about 30 minutes in length. We work with so many international partners and it's helpful to know the relevant issues that are happening regionally that may be affecting their lives and businesses.
3. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard's interviews are insightful, humorous and poignant. Spanning the gamut of pop culture to sports and science, he interviews influential personalities ranging from Amy Poehler to Walter Isaacson. These are the kind of celebrity interviews that we love best, ones that remind us of our shared humanity and inspire us to think about what it's like to live for a moment in another's shoes.
Dax Shepard's interviews are insightful, humorous and poignant. Spanning the gamut of pop culture to sports and science, he interviews influential personalities ranging from Amy Poehler to Walter Isaacson. These are the kind of celebrity interviews that we love best, ones that remind us of our shared humanity and inspire us to think about what it's like to live for a moment in another's shoes.
Must-Follow IG
1. @michelleobama
Michelle Obama continues to be a huge advocate for women and families. She shines a light on all sorts of women across the country whose daily work helps improve their community, and her feed is a constant source of inspiration. Plus, we love her self-deprecating sense of humour and beautiful fashion choices.
Michelle Obama continues to be a huge advocate for women and families. She shines a light on all sorts of women across the country whose daily work helps improve their community, and her feed is a constant source of inspiration. Plus, we love her self-deprecating sense of humour and beautiful fashion choices.
2. @reesewitherspoon
Because Reese doesn't take herself too seriously and always has a fun take on the challenges of daily life as a mom and woman. Plus, we love the idea of somehow getting through all of those awesome looking book recs!
Because Reese doesn't take herself too seriously and always has a fun take on the challenges of daily life as a mom and woman. Plus, we love the idea of somehow getting through all of those awesome looking book recs!
3. @serenawilliams
Serena is such a badass. On her feed, you can watch her hit on the court one moment and apply lipstick in stiletto heels the next moment. We love how she goes full force in so many different lanes of interest, including fashion and entrepreneurship, while maintaining the vulnerability of motherhood.
Serena is such a badass. On her feed, you can watch her hit on the court one moment and apply lipstick in stiletto heels the next moment. We love how she goes full force in so many different lanes of interest, including fashion and entrepreneurship, while maintaining the vulnerability of motherhood.
