Dawn Camarda Creator Of MyiBrows Shares How Her Sacrifices Helped Her Pursue A Successful Business
Interviewed By maryan aiken & Taylor Maher. Editor.
“My belief has always been to make tomorrow better than today. Make my life better than it was yesterday. Never settling!”
Dawn Camarda
President and Chief Executive Officer. Blake Alexander Cosmetics (Producer of MyiBrows)
Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. Valdosta State University
CHARITY INVOLVEMENT
Blake Meier New Life Foundation
The Blake Meier New Life Foundation is a charity and non-profit that I started in 2016 after the death of my son, Blake. The organization helps families and those affected with drug addiction find resources for recovery.
dawn@myibrows.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: myibrows Facebook: myibrows Linked In: myibrows
Your Eyebrows Are MYiBROWS
Advertising
DIOR
PETER PHILIPS, CREATIVE & IMAGE DIRECTOR FOR DIOR MAKEUP, CREATED COMPLETELY NATURAL AND LUMINOUS MAKE-UP FOR MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI’S 2021 CRUISE COLLECTION, REVEALED IN LECCE, IN THE HEART OF PUGLIA. GET A NATURAL & FLAWLESS FACE.
DIOR MAKEUP. CALL DIOR. SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. PHIPPS PLAZA (404) 812-7287 OR MACY’S LENOX SQUARE (404) 834 9817 TO HELP YOU SHOP WITH EASE
DIOR MAVENS SERIES
CityBox in collaboration with Maryan Aiken & Dior Atlanta is honored in selecting & carrying on the tradition of celebrating the incredible group of women in Atlanta at Dior Macy’s Lenox Square.
The Dior Mavens are stylishly captivating. She is a fashionista in her own right. She exudes confidence & beauty and she fully celebrates the moment of who she is now in her chosen field. She is a ground breaker, a catalyst and an influencer. She is an entrepreneur, a business leader and she is recognized for her business engagements, sense of style, community & philanthropic involvement.
Advertising
Serendipity Labs
Escape the Home Office to a Professional Work Environment with Serendipity Labs Atlanta. Private offices & team rooms designed with ample space for continued social distancing.
CityBox: Hi Dawn, your personal journey is moving and incredibly striking, who inspired you and why?
Dawn: My parents were really incredibly loving, inspiring and encouraging. Always telling me how to do what I most wanted to in life, as long as it wasn’t harmful. Things like encouraging me to play the slide Trombone even though it was a very large instrument, and I was probably the smallest person in my class, of which I did play throughout high school. Also, I always loved working on cars with my father; therefore, when I told them I really wanted to pursue auto mechanics as my high school major, they were 100% supportive, even though I was the first and only girl to do that in my high school. These things made me realize that if I wanted to reach for something, I needed to just do it.
My father was also a very supportive “girl’s” dad who always told my sisters and I that we are strong girls who always need to remember to never just rely on being a wife or homemaker. We always needed to achieve our goals and never give up. He also never went more than a couple of days telling us sisters that we were smart and beautiful, and that he was proud of us. Having a strong father figure is something that all girls need. That does not take away from my very strong, five-foot-tall mother who was equally as loving and incredible. But when a father pushes his daughter to do the things she desires, the impact on her is illuminating.
I was very lucky to have been raised in the kind of home that I was with amazing parents. This formed and inspired me to evolve into the woman I am today. It also taught me to be the best parent that I could be with my own children.
Photography by Michelle Reed
Q: How did you balance being a mother and running your business as a real estate professional and creating the app for MyiBrows? What have you sacrificed (both personally and professionally) at each state of your career?
When I became a mother, my priorities changed. My number one focus was my children. Parenting is such an important role, and takes continuous work, sleepless nights, and patience. Throughout my role as a mother, I always worked. Arranging my life as a mother around my employment and my multiple entrepreneurial dealings took some creativity and planning. Definitely learned to juggle many things at once, but I figured it out and just did it.
When I came up with the idea for MyiBrows, my children were all grown up. I didn’t need to juggle a family; however, I am a full-time realtor so I needed to prioritize my schedule. Additionally, I was a full-time college student at the time, as well; therefore, I had to fit that into my schedule too.
College was definitely something personally that I sacrificed when my family was young. I always told myself that I would complete my college education when the time was right, and I did just that. I obtained my Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Valdosta State University in May 2019.
Professionally, I definitely sacrificed my dream career, a real estate attorney. I thought that I would have gone back to school a little sooner in my life but had a late start. Also, I had been grateful for the opportunity to be there to raise my children and develop the tight relationships with them. They were worth the sacrifice, and I am now on a new and exciting adventure with an idea that I took chance on.
Advertising
KM FLOORS INC.
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL SOURCE AND INSTALLATION OF ATLANTA’S FINEST FLOORS. HARDWOOD. LUXURY VINYL PLANK. CARPET. TILE
Q: As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career and how did you overcome that?
Throughout my entire career, as a female I experienced some barriers that I did not let stop me. Early on in my career, before I was in any type of leadership position, I experienced sexual harassment. Additionally, having children that relied on me to be there for them, I was not given many opportunities to advance. I was good at my job, however, knowing my commitment was to my children and possibly being called away for a sick child, etc. held me back.
As I grew into my role as a working mom and created my businesses around my family needs, any barriers that arose were quickly squashed. I figured out a way to fix what was broken or overcome an obstacle.
Advertising
STARBUCKS MENU 2021
Starbucks new winter menu offers a range of beverages and fan-favorite foods to help customers bring in the new year with the right choices for their lifestyle and taste preferences. Beginning January 5, customers can enjoy the new Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew, Pistachio Latte, Kale and Portabella Mushroom Sous Vide Egg Bites, and Earth Cake Pop as well as celebrate the return of the Honey Almondmilk Flat White and Red Velvet Loaf. Visit your favorite Starbucks near you!
Q: Three things that we should know about you?
Three things that you should know about me are first, I am a fiercely protective mother and grandmother. My children have always been the center of my universe, and now their babies have a place there too. I am grateful to have been blessed with the gift of motherhood and they are my most prized possessions.
Second, I was married and began having my children young, so many things went on the back burner including my education. My lifelong dream was to get a bachelor’s degree, and when the opportunity came to me in 2015, I pursued the degree and graduated proudly in May 2019 from Valdosta State University. I tell people to never give up on their dreams.
Thirdly, I am an avid horse person. I not only own and love horses, but I love to ride them. At the moment I have three horses, and each one is a completely different ride. One of them is like jumping on a big comfy couch to take a relaxing stroll, one of them is a fiery and spirited girl who is challenging but such a fun experience, and one is a very refined, English jumper who knows her job but makes you work hard. This is what I enjoy doing most in my spare time. And even better, my children and grandchildren all love to ride and have taken an interest in the sport itself.
Advertising
GYPSY KITCHEN
A STYLISH MODERN RESTAURANT FEATURING SHAREABLE SPANISH SNACKS & PLATES WITH MOROCCAN & INDIAN HINTS.
Q: What fuels your drive?
My belief has always been to make tomorrow better than today. Make my life better than it was yesterday. Never settling! If you set goals, you should always try and achieve them. There will be obstacles and there is usually a way around that obstacle if you really try. My drive is fueled by always making the better out of a day, goal or situation. The glass must always be half full. That alone keeps me going. If there is a situation that seems gloomy, most people will avoid it or succumb to it. I don’t do that. I found at a very young age that I like myself better if I face the issue straight on and try to remedy it. The word “try” is the critical word because, there have been few occasions that I could not fix or overcome a problem. But I “tried”, and that alone made me feel good about myself. An accomplishment does not have to be something that has been completed successfully, but something you gave 110% towards, even if it fails, it has been done to the best of your ability. That stands behind my drive for everything that I do. Knowing I am making an attempt, giving it my all, because when I look back at my success or failure the one thing that stands out to me is that at least I “tried”.
Advertising
MCIM
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET YOUR HEALTH RIGHT. ARE YOU READY TO FEEL THE DIFFERENCE? MCIM. INTEGRATIVE. HOLISTIC. FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE.
PHONE: (678) 732-9065 INFO@MCIMATLANTA.COM
NORTHSIDE TOWER
6065 ROSWELL RD, NE #830
ATLANTA, GA 30328
Q: What exciting project are you working on?
The exciting project I am continuing to work on is the MyiBrows app, it's custom eyebrow templates and the in-app retail boutique. This has been such a large and time-consuming project to reach fruition; however, every day I am closer to seeing my actual vision come to life. That is super exciting to me. Also, realizing how this product will help people save valuable time not struggling to put their eyebrows on beautifully is exciting to me, as well.
Advertising
TRINA TURK
Looser silhouettes, lighter fabrics, and a color palette curated with web conferencing in mind served as the kickstart for a collection she dubbed “virtual vacation.” “It’s more about entering that state of mind,” shared Turk via Zoom. “We might not be able to travel right now, but we’re all imagining other places, looking at them online. So it’s about getting creative and trying to visualize where we’re headed next.
Trina Turk Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear collection available at Phipps Plaza. 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 949 1444
Q: What’s been your most successful approach in building business relationships and why?
I am all about starting the conversation, whether it be a friendly hello to someone passing by or making an effort to speak to people during a networking event. Always being approachable or appearing to be approachable is a great way to open the door for communication. Also, always be a good listener and never dominate a conversation. Being interested in someone else’s story is always a good thing. There are benefits to you for doing this and benefits to the person telling the story. If they are telling you their story, they clearly want to be impressionable to you. If you are showing interest, you are clearly impressing them. This is a very selfless way of building relationships with people. The important pull from a conversation that you listened well to can be something very helpful to you or to another person you may pass the information on to. These approaches are very small things that may end up creating something very big.
Advertising
THE CRAFTED COMPANY
ATLANTA FLORAL DESIGN. CRAFTED WITH INTENTION. FLOWERS FOR HOME. OFFICE. WEDDINGS. BIRTHDAYS. PARTIES. ANNIVERSARIES.
JUST BECAUSE
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
The advice I would give to the next generation of female leaders is to continue on your path. Don’t ever walk away when a door slams in your face. Go aggressively find the next one that opens and walk through it. Never take no for an answer, and always remember that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Advertising
MYIBROWS
WITH MYIBROWS APP, YOUR BROWS ARE ON JUST RIGHT, YOU NEED NOTHING ELSE TO MAKE YOU FEEL SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL.
Photography by Michelle Reed
DIOR MAVENS SERIES
The Dior Mavens are stylishly captivating. She is a fashionista in her own right. She exudes confidence & beauty and she fully celebrates the moment of who she is now in her chosen field. She is a ground breaker, a catalyst and an influencer. She is an entrepreneur, a business leader and she is recognized for her business engagements, sense of style, community & philanthropic involvement.
Advertising
LE BILBOQUET
UPSCALE, LIGHT-FILLED CAFE & WHITE-TABLECLOTH RESTAURANT FEATURING TRADITIONAL FRENCH CUISINE
Q: What are the lessons you’ve gained that have profoundly shifted your professional path?
The lessons I’ve gained throughout my life that have profoundly shifted my professional path occurred for me late in my life. I was a wife and mother most of my adult life, and my goal was to raise amazing human beings who would be great citizens in their communities. There were three of these little people that I brought to adulthood with consistent teachings; therefore, my career path definitely took a back seat. My then husband was focused on building a career to give us a better life. Things didn’t quite end up the way I thought while wearing my rose colored-glasses, but my children grew up amazing, and I was able to take the credit for that. Once everybody left the nest, I realized that I was free to do whatever I wanted. When I looked at my path, I wished I would have taken a little bit more time for me. I realized I had 30 years of catch up to do, so with that being said I would tell the mom of three dedicated to her creation of amazing human beings, to take a little bit of time and plan a professional path with some investment in her skills, worth and even a brand. This is in no way selfish of you. Life does not always go as planned and you have to have a back-up plan for yourself.
Advertising
BROWN ASSETS GROUP
WE’VE HELPED MILLIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES GAIN THEIR BUYING POWER BACK. OUR MISSION IS TO HELP ASSIST INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL FREEDOM
Q: What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
The one most important thing that I realize now 30 years later about women in the workplace is that I had and now have a voice. Way back in my very early working days I was the subject of sexual harassment. This went on for a long period of time (like a couple of years). At first it was very quietly done and at the end it was a full-on groping moment that I will never forget. But because it was witnessed my many people (men) in the office, there was no question that it even happened. However, I was mortified, embarrassed and felt as though I did something wrong. I was terrified to go to my boss and tell him. I was terrified that I did something to make him do that.
Today, I look back at that and realize I had a voice back then but was so afraid to use it.Today, I use it all of the time and it can be pretty loud.My male boss back then handled it extremely well and told me that none of what happened was my fault. All of the men that witnessed it came to me and apologized for not doing something about it at that moment.That was a moment that I will never forget and taught me so much. The lesson from that situation taught me to always defend myself.
Listening to Spotify. Good Days. SZA. Good Days. Single.
