Thanks to my intern Kelly for attending the Aviatra Accelerators event and doing this interview with Jackie Neville of Your Stylist, LLC!
Innovation and girl power- an unstoppable combination! Flight Night hosted by Aviatra Accelerators was a celebration of 5 local women pursuing their entrepreneurial passions.
The evening began with casual cocktail conversation, mingling, and an amazing food spread at the New Riff Distillery. The sun was shining through the opened garage doors that led to a third floor patio furnished with chic black settees complete with panoramic views of the Queen City and her surroundings.
Kicking off the event was an alumna of the previous program speaking about her experience and the success that Bad Girl Ventures helped her to achieve. Afterwards, Cincinnati’s favorite mixologist, Molly Wellman, shared her story of following her passions and not compromising her visions or values while creating her business which ultimately led to her very successful career as a female entrepreneur.
“My advice for the winner is to stick to your guns. Really make whatever you are pursuing all yours. Be unique! The public wants something new, and that is what you can bring to the table,” says Wellman. As I was listening to the five finalists pitching their businesses, I realized that this was the commonality between all of the unique endeavors: all of these women were seeking to put themselves into what they were doing. They were dissatisfied with the status quo and set out to make the world a better place through their services.
Whether it was making healthy, organic, sustainable food available to all or empowering professional black women; putting dog owner’s minds to rest because they know their fur babies are being properly cared for or fostering confidence physically and mentally through personalized fitness classes- these women were vying for change.
Jackie Neville, CEO of Your Stylist, LLC, is a personal shopper focused on empowering women by making them look and feel their best. “The best part of this experience is learning what I am truly capable of on my own. I left a 22 year career to start Your Stylist, LLC–and it’s working!! It feels pretty incredible to create something that not only changed my life but also changes women’s lives by making them feel amazing through their wardrobes!” says Neville.
“What I take away from this LAUNCH class is the value of making connections and building my network of women supporting other women. There needs to be more of that and I am a big believer in women working with each other, not against each other,” says Neville.
Although she did not win the grand prize, Neville was awarded free business consultation. “Aviatra places importance on staying connected even after we complete the program. So I plan on attending future networking events of theirs, and hopefully coming back as a presenter to future Aviatra participants encouraging them to follow their passion in life.”
To learn more about Aviatra Accelerators check out their website (built by a former graduate of Bad Girls Ventures) which will be up and running this summer. In the meantime, learn more about what they are doing in and for the community at their Facebook page. You can learn more about Jackie at https://www.yourstylistjackie.com/.