Brenna Padesky: Brenna Green Jeans

THE FACTS
Name:  Brenna Padesky
Job Description: Owner of Brenna Green Jeans
Company Info: http://www.brennagreenjeans.etsy.com/ 
I design original knit and crochet wear and home accessories.

WHO ARE YOU?
1. What made you decide to start your company?
I am a total control freak and perfectionist. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to run a business that was completely based on my own tastes and desires. I learned to knit in college and taught myself to crochet shortly after. Creating has always been an outlet for me. It's a way that I can express my unique sense of humour and bring to life what I see in my imagination. I foresee that my designs will grow quirkier as I continue to carve out my design niche.

2. Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I'm looking forward to getting my hats and hood scarves featured in some unique boutiques not only in New York City, but also in Wisconsin where I grew up. I'm also planning to expand and offer blankets, pillow coverings, and other household goods. Summer promises to get my creative juices flowing because who needs cold weather gear when things heat up? I've already got some fun ideas in mind (think bikinis...). Right now most of my sales are local. I wear my items around and people get interested. I am really looking forward to seeing online sales grow and my Etsy site flourish.

3. Who was your inspiration?
My inspiration for my items comes from my friends and family. I design each item with someone in mind. Sometimes the item reflects the personality traits of the person who it's made in honour of. Other times, I don't have someone in mind when I begin a project but by the time I'm through I can picture exactly who should be wearing it, so I name it for them.

4. What turns you on?
So many things. My boyfriend for one (that's important, right?). Creatively, I'm turned on by anything that has history. I love old quilts. They seem very romantic and I love imagining who made them and slept underneath them. I also love vintage fabrics and children's books, old farmhouses, and cardigan sweaters that look handmade. Show me pretty much anything that looks like a grandmother should own it, and I'll fall in love. I hope that the people who buy my wares will keep them for a long time and have lots of adventures of their own while wearing them. I like to daydream about where a pair of my legwarmers might end up in 50 years.

5. What advice do you have for tomorrow’s female entrepreneurs?
Take it one step at a time. It's so easy to become overwhelmed when you think about all of the things that need to happen in order for your business to become a reality. I try to celebrate each small achievement. It's much more important to me to do things well than to do them fast. Every sale, no matter the size, is hugely thrilling and I hope I never lose that feeling. I can hardly believe that something I only imagined doing has become a viable business over the past few months.

6. Tell us a sexy secret ;-)
Well, I haven't been hit by lightning or anything like that, but I did (accidentally) bite myself in the knee when I was a kid. Hard enough to require stitches. And the scar looks like a kiss print. Muah!

Jean Chuang Menges: Wisdom House New York

THE FACTS
Name: Jean Chuang Menges, L.Ac.
Job Description: Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wisdom House New York, Inc.
Company Info: http://www.wisdomhousewellness.com/.

I founded Wisdom House New York, Inc. in 2009 based on my philosophy of health and wellness. I am trained in both western medicine with degrees in biology and medical technology, and in eastern medicine with training and certifications in acupuncture and oriental medicine. I envisioned a holistic center where expert practitioners of various healing disciplines come together and integrate their modalities to help optimize the health and well being of the individual client. Wisdom House is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.


WHO ARE YOU?
1. What made you decide to start your company?
In late 2008, several energy medicine practitioners approached me to start a low-cost community clinic for energetic modalities. We opened our first 4Women Community Clinic in NYC and began treating clients using the BodyTalk System, Matrix Energetics, Yuen Method, Total Body Modification, and Natural Healing. Each of these techniques has helped thousands of people worldwide to empower their health. Working with these three inspirational women reenergized my life-long passion for community health and philanthropic work. In July 2009, I began the groundwork for Wisdom House New York, Inc.

2. Where do you see your business in 5 years?
My dream is to have multiple locations in the tri-state area providing holistic health-care modalities in private practice sessions as well as reduced-cost clinics in under-served neighborhoods. Our company philanthropic focus will be on improving neighborhood ecology, with projects ranging from providing education programs by leading holistic medicine leaders to supporting community access to green, sustainable food and resources. Our objective is to establish a new system of access to easy, effective, and economical wellness care and to help our clients to achieve optimal health, happiness, and purposeful lives.

3. Who was your inspiration?
My grandparents and the people in the rural community in Taiwan where I grew up inspired me. There the respect for ancient Chinese practices of health and longevity are strong. High school and college encounters with inspiring biology and physics teachers lead to several science degrees, but I felt something was missing. I began to study holistic healing and found my calling and inspiration in the principles of natural healing and in the community of others such as the women founders of 4Women Community Clinic.

4. What turns you on?
I love it when my clients respond and heal with my help. I am deeply enthusiastic about the Wans 3E method of acupuncture, which focuses on ease and efficiency of diagnoses and treatment leading to economical use of fewer needles, less work, less time, and fewer herbs. I am also trained in other healing modalities, and I am fully committed to finding the best treatment for each individual.

5. What advice do you have for tomorrow’s female entrepreneurs?
Persistence and passion are the keys, I believe.

6. Tell us a sexy secret ;-)
I love ballroom dancing, but my 6’2” musician husband seems to have two left feet. Perhaps the fact that I am 5” has something to do with it! I also love being a mom and laughing with my two children ages 5 and 3.