What led you to start your own business?

I moved to Los Angeles in 2014 for TV hosting and have since hosted for ABC, E!, and the Miss USA telecast. Between gigs there was always a dreadful waiting period. I realized I didn’t have to wait: I could create my own brand and tell the stories I wanted to tell, which ended up being about female empowerment.

ALEX WEHRLEY, 28

#Empowerista, a mentorship program and online community with the mission of empowering women

Employees: 1 full-time; several freelancers

Financials: Profitable; bootstrapped – $10,000 raised

Where did you get the startup money?

I funded the endeavor myself through reinvesting money I’d made from my

TV career. At first, I simply created free content to add value and build my audience. My three main revenue streams are speaking fees, sponsors, and my one-on-one and group mentoring programs.

What’s been the biggest challenge so far?

Having patience. There is always this gap between where I am and where I want to be. I can’t achieve my big long-term goals every day, but I can empower women every day.  

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned?

To not try to be all things to all people. My best chance of empowering as many women as possible lies in sharing my unique point of view and lessons I’ve learned.

How many hours a day do you put in?

I usually work about nine-hour days during the week and five hours on the weekend. It’s crucial to also give myself time and space to stay inspired and energized.  

Has your youth led to any awkward situations, such as when you supervise employees who are older than you?

My work is 80 percent online, so I’m in good company with fellow millennials. Every once in awhile I’ll mentor someone who is older than me, which can feel sort of weird at first. But often it’s my young perspective that they appreciate most.

Would you start another company?

Yes. I could see myself starting several other businesses. They would likely all empower people in some way.

Could you ever work for someone else?

Absolutely. I host, speak, and mentor for other companies all the time and enjoy it a lot.

What do you do to unwind?

I do a lot of yoga, meditating, and listening to podcasts. I also have a guilty pleasure: watching “The Bachelor/Bachelorette.”

— Kristin Marguerite Doidge