Over the Lege attracts from actual Texas politics, and the unreal drama they create. – CultureMap Austin

Celebrated Texas jewellery star Kendra Scott’s capability to juggle a work-life stability is significantly spectacular. The founding father of her namesake billion-dollar model is a newlywed, a returning visitor shark on the upcoming season of Shark Tank, and she or he’s about to drop her first memoir, Born to Shine: Do Good, Find Your Joy, and Build a Life You Love.

Between a dizzying schedule of managing her model, philanthropic efforts, a multi-state guide tour, Shark Tank duties, and nurturing a brand new blended household of eight, we marvel when the Austin-based entrepreneur has time to breathe.

Apparently, queso, margaritas, and discovering pleasure within the little issues gasoline the entrepreneur to maintain going. Scott additionally credit her marriage to Thomas Evans (her wedding ceremony ring is the one piece of jewellery she by no means takes off) and the connection together with her household, together with three sons — Kade, Beck, and Gray — as foundations of her success.

And whereas her jewellery has been essential accent for over 20 years, her first enterprise into the literary world has been certainly one of vulnerability and dedication.

After kicking off her guide tour in Houston earlier this week, Scott will probably be on the firm’s South Congress Flagship in Austin this Saturday, September 17, from 11 am to 1 pm. Tickets for the occasion are nonetheless out there on Eventbrite, and every ticket features a copy of the guide, a meet and greet with Kendra, an unique tote bag, and extra.

Forward of the Austin occasion, Scott sat down with CultureMap in Houston to get an unique on her subsequent chapter.

CultureMap: How lengthy did it take you to write down Born to Shine?

Kendra Scott: It took slightly over two years from once I determined to write down the guide, however actually I’ve been scripting this guide for years. I by no means realized that my journal notes would sometime flip right into a guide. It has been a protracted course of, however after 20 years of our firm being in enterprise — it was actually the right time to write down this guide.

CM: How did you juggle writing, managing the enterprise and being a working mother?

KS: You already know, it’s at all times a problem. If anybody tells you it’s simple, and so they have it found out, I feel they’re mendacity. I wrote this through the pandemic, so I used to be house working with the assist system of my closest folks with me. All of our conferences had been digital, so it allowed me to have time for reflection.

I had additionally simply stepped down as CEO and will simply concentrate on being chairwoman, designer, and founder. I used to be capable of focus extra on our philanthropic efforts, like our college on the College of Texas (Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute), and focus on scripting this guide. It’s one thing that I’ve at all times needed to do.

CM: How private do you get within the guide?

KS: I get very weak within the guide and I really feel that there’s energy in vulnerability. I hope that being weak will permit different ladies or folks to share their failures, successes, and ups and downs and be genuine.

I additionally hope that the tales of my childhood, marriage, divorce, beginning a enterprise and failing at a enterprise — all of these issues are a part of what makes me who I’m. Within the guide, I discuss in regards to the energy of gem stones. Gems all have veins which can be thought of imperfections, however actually it’s what makes them stunning.

CM: Was there something that you just wrote however then modified your thoughts about?

KS: I pulled out your entire first chapter, and I wasn’t going to place it in there. My writer, who can also be my editor, informed me that the chapter was nice and that she thought it ought to be chapter one.

It made me understand that I needed to be trustworthy as a result of the guide begins in a tricky place however then takes readers on an unbelievable journey.

CM: Can followers sit up for extra books sooner or later?

KS: You already know, I considered this. Now that this guide is on the market on the earth, I do not assume it will likely be the final one. It’s a totally different technique to be artistic, and I feel I’ve different tales to inform.

I might like to do a kids’s guide sometime. My oldest son was one once I began this firm; now, he’s 20, so he has grown together with the enterprise. Now I’ve a nine-year-old, and I’ve at all times learn to him. I actually hope that kids’s books will probably be in my future.

KS: Why did you determine to start out your guide tour in Houston?

CM: Houston is a part of who I’m. That is the place I grew to become Texan. I moved right here from Wisconsin once I was 16 and graduated from Klein Excessive College. Transferring at 16 years outdated and as a junior might be powerful, however I used to be embraced at Klein — the group was so welcoming.

Houston made me the girl I’m right now. It made me understand there may be extra to the world than the little city in Wisconsin the place I grew up. Houston is such a vibrant metropolis filled with tradition and variety – I felt prefer it was actually necessary for me to start out right here as a result of this was my first begin in Texas.

CM: You might be returning to Shark Tank for Season 14. How was the expertise this time round?

KS: I completely love being on Shark Tank. I will probably be flying to Los Angeles for the premiere with all the opposite visitor sharks on September 23, and it’s thrilling as a result of there has by no means been a dwell premiere.

Nothing evokes me greater than different entrepreneurs. There are lengthy days on set, however they go by shortly as a result of it will get me pumped to satisfy different entrepreneurs. Many of those folks had been considering of concepts earlier than the pandemic, and the downtime through the pandemic gave them the chance to place their concepts into motion. I get to witness just a bit of that within the tank – it’s so enjoyable.

CM: You could have so much occurring, however is there anything followers can sit up for earlier than the tip of the 12 months?

KS: We simply launched engagement rings and an entire bridal assortment which is so thrilling. We’re increasing into different superb jewellery classes, together with diamonds and gold and are including extra customization choices than ever earlier than.

Scott Brothers, the road I created with my boys through the pandemic, can also be increasing. It’s so enjoyable that our male clients who had been right here to purchase for the ladies of their lives can now purchase one thing for themselves. We additionally simply expanded into watches, so so much is occurring.

If you consider it, it took Ralph Lauren 25 years to broaden into different classes. Our firm has been round for 20 years, so I actually like that the following section of Kendra Scott will probably be so enjoyable and thrilling. From a philanthropic standpoint, now we have given over $50 million since 2010 to ladies’s and kids’s charities. We’re, in some ways, a philanthropic group inside a model. That’s how we measure success, so I cannot wait to announce our charitable efforts within the coming years.

We now have a robust basis and know what we characterize and stand for — I really feel like the most effective is but to come back.