Photo by Tausha Dickinson // tau
Photo by Tausha Dickinson // taushadickinson.com
Shannen Stewart
Our annual list of trailblazing women are creating lasting legacies for themselves and for the city of Nashville. Now they’re sharing their stories, their triumphs, their setbacks, and their advice with us. Prepare to be inspired.
Early Aspirations
As a kid, I never imagined I would one day be an entrepreneur. I was taught the path to success was to go to college and then find your place in corporate America. However, I would say that the drive and the passion to be an entrepreneur was always inside me. At 13, I passed out homemade business cards to my neighbors to secure summer work. At 15, I worked as a hostess at a small mom and pop restaurant and quickly convinced them to let me be a server, although the legal age to serve alcohol was actually 18. With this grit, I saved enough money to buy my first car on my 16th birthday. I have always been goal- oriented and resourceful.
Challenges Faced
In February 2020, after working for seven years with Heels & Handshakes as a side hustle, I finally decided to take the plunge, quit my corporate job, and make my dream of having Heels & Handshakes as my full-time career a reality. Of course, the pandemic hit one month later and essentially knocked out the hospitality and events industry, which is Heels & Handshake’s primary market. I was fortunate enough to have built a digital community so the transition to online was seamless. However, my largest challenge was that a majority of Heels members were furloughed or unemployed due to COVID-19. We quickly put together workshops to review resumes and interview skills, offered scholarships to those unemployed, and ran a “Hire HH” campaign in Nashville to help members find employment. Additionally, we implemented a referral program called “Heel 2 Heel,” encouraging those members still in business to work with other Heels members and local small businesses. In a global pandemic, we were able to track more than half a million in revenue from B2B.
Work Perks
I truly love connecting people! I am the Patti Stanger [Millionaire Matchmaker] for women in business. One of my greatest joys is hearing from a Heels member who just landed her dream job from a Heels connection. I get excited every time a member tells me they’ve received a referral from attending one of our networking events.
Advice to Others
My advice to anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur is to embrace failure; choose to see it as a learning opportunity. Don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. I hate the saying, “fake it ‘til you make it.” There are endless opportunities to learn and grow. Ask someone you admire to mentor you, join a networking organization, and/or volunteer on a committee. Level up. Surround yourself with people who are going to help you accelerate in your career.
Meet Shannen Stewart and other women in the local community who are the best in their fields at our annual Women in Business event.
>>> PURCHASE TICKETS
The mix and mingle reception will be held on August 24 from 5-7:30 p.m., to network with our Women in Business honorees plus 200 other local business professionals. Throughout the evening, we will be doing live Q and A sessions with each woman!
Guests will enjoy hors d'oeuvres from Virgin Hotels Nashville along with wine from Biltmore Winery and cocktails from Tito's Handmade Vodka. Beverages from a full bar will also be available for purchase (credit cards only).