Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Building While Flying


Apr 29, 2021

The beauty industry is often seen as shallow, and it’s not often taken very seriously. One entrepreneur is out to change that stigma and make a difference. Real-estate investor turned beauty entrepreneur Arah Sims brings her passion for purpose to the industry, while empowering people everywhere to explore a new form of self-expression.

Welcome to Building While Flying!

This weekly podcast is brought to you by the Sasha Group. We’re the small-to-medium-sized business arm of the VaynerX family of companies. We help ambitious companies build strong brands that flex with the times through strategy, branding, media, and marketing.

In ever-changing times, businesses and brands have to shift and adapt. And across all sectors, there is an air of experimentation. Business owners are trying new things out in the wild;  building the plane while flying.

Our pilots, Katie Hankinson and Mickey Cloud, will be talking to a diverse range of business leaders and founders. They’ll explore how these guests tackle various challenges while staying resilient and committed to growth. Through these real-life examples of strategies put into practice, we hope to inspire you to experiment and develop your own strategies as we all navigate these uncertain times together. 

Arah Sims is turning something she grew up with—nail art—into a vehicle for self-expression and activism. 

Arah began her entrepreneurial journey in real estate and property management after college. Then when COVID-19 hit in 2020, she, like the rest of the world, had to pivot. After realizing how much she and others missed their self-care routines, Kyutee Beauty was born. Kyutee is a trail-blazing beauty brand that inspires and empowers people to expand the canvas of self-expression to their nails. 

In her conversation with Katie, Arah shares each step of her journey thus far. She talks about the initial support from Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote organization and early influencer partnerships, and how those opportunities set Kyutee up for later success. Kyutee Beauty is also part of Cantu Elevate, a program created in partnership with The Sasha Group to help Black female beauty entrepreneurs navigate today’s marketing landscape and grow beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Arah stresses the importance of “passion with a purpose” and emphasizes her desire to do her part to share her message with people across the country. Arah also discusses the importance of mentorship, especially for Black female entrepreneurs, and how having support systems and sounding boards make a difference in her business and life.

Other in-flight topics:

  • Real estate investment 
  • Identifying opportunities during hard times
  • Working with influencers and partners that align with your goals
  • Developing a strong foundation for young brands 
  • The entrepreneurship skill set 
  • Importance of mentorship as entrepreneurs
  • Role as a mentor for fellow Black female entrepreneurs 
  • Entrepreneurship out of necessity
  • Cantu Elevate, a program created in partnership with The Sasha Group to help Black female beauty entrepreneurs navigate today’s marketing landscape

Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/kyuteenails/?hl=en https://kyutee.com/ TikTok - @kyuteenails

In-flight Question: What do you want the next collab for Kyutee to be?