Conscious Entrepreneurship: May I introduce Julie Allen
Julie Allen is the CEO of Mary Rose NW Boutique and founder at the Mary Rose Foundation. She is an author and eating disorder awareness activist.
Allen started Mary Rose NW Boutique because she recognized the need for a clothing boutique that focused on body positivity, self-love/acceptance, and helping all bodies feel beautiful and confident in their clothes. Julie struggled with anorexia and bulimia for 15 years and has made it her mission to empower women to love and embrace themselves wholeheartedly.
The Mary Rose Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 designed to help people who are struggling with the financial burden of eating disorder treatment and works on the prevention side as well with their large outreach programs. Julie’s message is simply one of strength, courage, self-compassion and most of all, hope.
CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP — What meaning do you give this term?
Building a business based on purpose driven values and creating good in this world. Business that affects change for the betterment of society.
MENTORS — We all need a little help along the journey. Who has been an invaluable mentor for you? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
I honestly have not had a mentor in the traditional sense. I have purposefully sought out relationships with peers who I feel will make me better, both personally and professionally. I strive to surround myself with likeminded individuals that will help me push to my fullest potential.
TO THRIVE — When you see yourself thriving: Do you see yourself opening up opportunities for others along the way to participate in your success, and how?
Women supporting one another is one of my main goals with the boutique. We are a company that stands for equality and empowering women. Mary Rose values its team and strives to lead by example. My goal is to be able to employee more full time team members by growing the boutique and in turn increasing revenue for our foundation.
CAUSE — What are the causes close to your heart, and you are supporting right now? Can you share a story how you got involved? How did it make you feel?
Our nonprofit, the Mary Rose Foundation, is a 501c3 that I started in 2018. We fund eating disorder treatment for those in need and also are working on creating outreach/prevention programs for youth that will empower our youth to love themselves as they are. A portion of all sales at the boutique are donated to the nonprofit in addition to our fundraising efforts. I suffered with anorexia and bulimia for 15 years growing up and was in and out of treatment countless times. This is an important area that does not have much awareness. I am working to change that.
THE FUTURE — How do you see the face of entrepreneurship in 5 years? How do companies /brands need to adapt to secure their place in the future?
I believe businesses will become more and more about the people behind the brand. People are craving authenticity, relationships, trust, and effecting change for the betterment of society. Businesses and brands that will excel will find ways to effectively do this and interweave their mission in all their messaging.
ADVICE — What kind of advice would you like to give to an aspiring entrepreneur who feels limited due to their background or lack of resources?
My background is in healthcare, absolutely nothing to do with business. I now am the CEO of my own company and we are on track to show over a 150% increase in revenue this year. Do your research and go for it. Learn your strengths and weaknesses. Dive into your strengths and hire out your areas of weakness.
DRIVE — Do you sometimes feel bad for “wanting more out of life”, and if so, why? What is your personal motivation that leads you through the hardships of entrepreneurship?
Not at all. The success of my business is tied directly to the success of our foundation that helps so many people. The foundation truly is the heart of our business and knowing that we are able to help people get the life saving eating disorder treatment they need keeps me going on difficult days.
CHALLENGES — Entrepreneurship is very challenging. We each have our own coping mechanism. Mine is humor. What is yours? Can you share a story?
Movement. Lifting weights and walking is my self-care time and it is vital to my overall well being. It is a priority of mine to schedule movement in daily.
YOU — Is there anything you would like to share that we have not asked you here?
I believe businesses with a heart will be the future. Find what you care about, find a way to impact that area, and weave that messaging into your content consistently.
THANK YOU!
Follow the Mary Rose Foundation on Instagram.
Demee Koch about the MEDIUM interview series on CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
Conscious entrepreneurship for me is about building a sustainable business that values and respects the resources used and makes an effort of giving back to society.
I believe we need entrepreneurs to really get involved in the causes close to their heart.
This is why I reach out to entrepreneurs that aim for more than generating profit. With this interview, I aim to share entrepreneurial purpose-led passion to inspire others.
Looking forward to learn from you. Reach out to me via LinkedIn.
Demee ❤︎
