# How I Built Resilience: Aishetu Dozie of Bossy Cosmetics

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-10-08
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics

## Summary

Aishetu Dozie, founder of Bossy Cosmetics, explains how she left a senior investment banking career at Goldman Sachs to launch a makeup brand focused on female empowerment. Facing rejection from venture capitalists who deemed her niche beauty concept for Black women too small, she self-funded the company and leveraged her Stanford fellowship to validate the idea through customer research. Dozie details the operational challenges of managing a global supply chain across Italy, China, and Germany during the pandemic, which initially led to stockouts but ultimately positioned the brand for growth through the 15% Pledge and increased consumer interest in Black-owned businesses.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=0) Introduction: Aishetu Dozie and Bossy Cosmetics
- [2:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=120) Leaving Goldman Sachs and the Stanford Fellowship
- [5:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=319) Validating the Beauty Concept and Product Strategy
- [9:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=547) Rejecting Venture Capital and Self-Funding
- [13:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=829) Trademarking the Name 'Bossy' and Rebranding
- [16:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=968) Supply Chain Disruptions and Pandemic Challenges
- [19:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-08-how-i-built-resilience-aishetu-dozie-of-bossy-cosmetics#t=1172) The 15% Pledge and Retail Expansion

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Bossy Cosmetics (product)
- Goldman Sachs (company)
- Stanford (other)
- Distinguished Careers Institute (other)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Sephora (company)
- 15% Pledge (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Oddball's Path From Idea to Funding a Nationwide Target Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-11-oddballs-path-from-idea-to-funding-a-nationwide-target-launch) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [021: Using Public Research to Develop WINK Lash and Brow Oil with Megan Cox of Amalie Beauty](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-10-04-021-using-public-research-to-develop-wink-lash-and-brow-oil-with-megan-cox-of-am) (Product Startup)
- [Ep. 2: Bissy Energy Drink - The Real Kola with Zach En'wezoh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-05-04-ep-2-bissy-energy-drink-the-real-kola-with-zach-enwezoh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Gloria Allorbi of Gloria’s Shito®️](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-10-11-founder-feature-gloria-allorbi-of-glorias-shito) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Akua Boakye Okunseinde of Karité](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-21-founder-feature-akua-boakye-okunseinde-of-karite) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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