She has gone from starting her first business with just $93 to her name, to becoming known as the ‘master of branding’ thanks to the success of her company, The McCord List.
Now Rachel McCord is sharing her knowledge about entrepreneurship on the upcoming series, Female Founders, which will see the 33-year-old host interviewing the likes of Kristin Cavallari and Molly Sims about what it really takes to run a company.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com about the new venture, the star – who launched her own events firm in Las Vegas with less than $100 – revealed why she was so passionate about helping empower women within business, and shared some of her biggest tips for those who are eager to launch their own brands.
‘I feel like it’s such an important moment in history to be able to share these messages of women,’ she gushed. I’ve been so inspired by how many women have come forward… I personally wanted to learn from these women.’
Rachel McCord is sharing her knowledge about entrepreneurship on her upcoming series, Female Founders
The mother-of-one continued: ‘It’s such an honor that we have so many incredible female founders who have come on the show. We’ve been really excited to partner up not only with Bloomberg, but also several other outlets to get these messages out.
She added: ‘Just having the opportunity to sit down with these incredible women who have fought through the major obstacles; they’ve been silenced in boardrooms, they’ve been cut off, interrupted and shut down, and they’ve faced so many challenges.
‘We know that women today are only getting about two to three per cent of all venture capital. It’s insane. At the same time, you’re seeing such incredible results from female founders.
‘So being able to be a part of this incredible movement and seeing the women who are not only showing up for the show, but rallying behind our incredible female founders has just been so inspiring.’
Reflecting on some of the best advice that had been given so far while making the show, Rachel stated: ‘I think my favorite piece of advice has been just to start today. Don’t be afraid, don’t wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow isn’t promised. Just show up now and give it your all.’
She continued: ‘Another one is to narrow your focus and win. Seeing these women be so focused on narrowing down and winning because of that… I think that’s really important. That’s what I’m personally focused on doing right now in my business, and in my life in general.’
Rachel continued: ‘Just being willing to say no to the things so that I can say yes to something else. You have to realize that every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else. So make sure you’re really intentional with your choices.’
The LaunchPreneur founder also opened up about hearing other women in business discuss the ways they have had to ‘grind and hustle and push through walls and barriers and glass ceilings that you did not think were possible’ as she advised others to prepare for such obstacles.
Recalling previous meetings in which men in the room had automatically assumed her husband and co-founder, Rick Schirmer, was running the show, Rachel explained that she found a way to use it to her advantage.
‘I used to get discouraged by that. It’s actually pretty common and it’s sad,’ she explained. ‘Now what I do is use that time to take a step back and read the room. I take time to see, “What do I need to do here? What can I shift?”. I’m able to show up with more intentionality.’
The 33-year-old interviewing the likes of Kristin Cavallari and Molly Sims about what it really takes to run a company
Rachel founded the McCord List, a female empowerment master business program, helping entrepreneurs and public figures build and transform their businesses, in 2013.
Elsewhere, the Elevator Pitch judge highlighted the importance of taking time away from working on your business to ensure you are not getting overwhelmed with responsibilities.
Rachel shared a selection of items she calls her ‘Queen List’ which she turns to when having a rough day.
‘I take a walk, I do lavender, I listen to my music. I paint, I draw, I read positive words. I read the Bible,’ she noted. ‘There are certain things that I do that get me back in check.’
She continued: ‘If you don’t do that, then you might not be able to get back in check and other things will suffer.’ For me, I move so fast because I have to. I don’t feel like I can afford a bad day and why should I have one?’
The star noted that some women often feel like where they came from in life could be a hinderance when trying to launch a business, but the star credited her own career journey as a sign to never hold yourself back.
Growing up in a trailer park in Georgia, Atlanta, Rachel pushed through experiences and abuse that became part of her relentless motivation in life.
Rachel shared some of her biggest tips with DailyMail.com, for those who are eager to launch their own brands
After doing internal work to open up her focus on her purpose, Rachel now hopes she can be a source of inspiration to others.
She explained: ‘I’m really plugged into my “why”. I really believe the reason why I somehow got out of the trailer park, which is not a bad place to be anyway, is because, for me, it was important.
‘I wanted to do something for my life that I could share with my children one day. It was really important to me to be able to build something for myself.’
Rachel continued: ‘The reason why I was able to succeed is because I have a greater purpose in my life.’
The star later added: ‘I think I owe it to myself to say that what I’ve what I’ve been through is not my future, but I can use what I’ve been through to inspire others. I’m showing up and I’m doing something that is important, that is making a difference, that is full of purpose.
The star and her actress sister AnnaLynne McCord have devoted their lives to uplifting others through business efforts and charity work
‘In that way, it does help me be a better entrepreneur. It helps me show up as a better leader.’
Rachel founded the McCord List, a female empowerment master business program, helping entrepreneurs and public figures build and transform their businesses, in 2013.
Through the company, she offers Business Model and Brand Development, Personal and Professional Branding, and Sales and Marketing Training and Development.
Female Founders airs this Summer on Bloomberg TV. It will also be available to stream online on USA Today, Entrepreneur, Business Rockstars and in all airports through Reach TV.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk