Jackie Ferrari
Founder & CEO of Simply Threads
What inspired you to start your business?
Flexibility to live where I wanted to raise my children and a fierce appetite to manage my own destiny.
What challenges have you faced as a woman entrepreneur and how did you overcome them?
Finances and being overlooked for larger, male-dominated foreign organizations.
What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Know where you want to go and be flexible on the path to get there. Hire the right people then get out of their way!
What three traits define you?
Generosity, Kindness, Moxie.
What women inspire you?
Strong women who lead with passion, kindness and strength. I know several.
How has being a WBENC-Certified WBE helped your business?
WBENC Certification helps me spread the word that it’s good to be a woman in business, in America, today. It helps me call on my customers to task making real change.
What do you see as the coolest or most important trend in your industry?
The continued conversation and action to engage with women-owned businesses. Every corporation has a heightened sense of awareness of the importance of this.
As a business owner, what keeps you up at night?
The momentum slowing and things returning to how they used to be — that this is all a trend and it won’t stick.
What are the biggest obstacles you see for young female entrepreneurs?
Financing.
What do you love about being a business owner?
Making a difference by capitalizing on opportunities I see.
How do you define success?
Taking care of my family and watching my staff grow to take care of their families.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t ever forget where you came from.
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Work out, cook and volunteer in disaster relief.
What are you reading or listening to now?
Younger Next Year and the Viking Heart.
What’s the best way to start your day?
A morning chat with God while doing 60 minutes of cardio.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A businesswoman wearing a suit carrying a brief case.
How do you unwind after a long workday?
Go home to my amazing husband and laugh.
What do you like about your workspace?
The people in it. I love my team!
Fill in the blank:
When I face a challenge, I… figure out another way to get through the door.
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself… take an accounting class.
The one thing I couldn’t live without is… my kids.
By this time next year, I… will be the winner of three government contracts.
To get my creative juices flowing, I… do cardio. Best place to be along and think!
simply threads
Simply Threads delivers products that are comfortable to all shapes and sizes, allowing women to find the softest, most comfortable loungewear they could imagine.
