Interview with Bravery Magazine Co-Founder, Ashley Aikele

Bravery Magazine is such a cool concept - a children's magazine focused on inspiring women. What's even cooler is the fabulous execution of that concept by friends and co-founders, Ashley Aikele and Elyse Beard. Each issue of Bravery features stories, artwork, and activities centered around a strong female role model. We're wondering who is more inspired... our daughters or us?

where is your hometown?

I grew up in a small town in Idaho. My business partner grew up in a small town in Southern Utah. We often joke about the suprising amount of similarities between our two hometowns and mourn the fact that neither of them have a Target.

what does your household look like?

Married with three kids. We've cycled through a few dogs but they've chewed up enough of my shoes for me to call it quits for now!

what year did your company launch?

September 2017. We ran a Kickstarter campaign after coming up with the idea earlier that year. It was a quick turnaround and we've been running ever since!

what originally sparked your idea for the company?

We both had opposite experiences with our young daughters that made us realize we wanted better role models for them and better resources for ourselves as parents. We researched a lot of products but only came up with a handful of books specifically geared toward girls. We wanted something beautiful and educational that parents could do with both their girls and boys that could help empower and inspire them.

what do you love most about your company?

That it inspires kids to be brave. We've received countless messages from adults and kids telling us of their experiences trying something new and relating it to what they have learned in one of our Bravery issues. It's been incredibly rewarding!

What is a current goal you are striving for?

We are always looking for ways to expand our product line to reach more kids. We're tossing around the idea of making board books for the younger set, so that's exciting!

How do you keep up your mental health?

I make it a priority to go walking every morning. I've also started Betterhelp and prioritizing weekly talks with my therapist. As a business owner it's too easy to put self-care aside. But I've found that when I make it a priority, I am much more productive in my work and happier in general.

Looking back on your entrepreneurial journey, what do you wish you had done differently?

So far, nothing! We've definitely made mistakes and have had difficult times learning how to run a business, but we've grown and learned through those mistakes. We like to call them "learning opportunities" around here.

if you could give some advice to your 21-year-old self, what would you say?

Trust yourself! Go after what you want, because you are worth it!

Fun Tips

recommended read:

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

worthwhile TV series

Love on the Spectrum

Vacation spot you still dream about:

Thailand!

Song on repeat:

Gramercy Park by Alicia Keys

Cocktail of choice:

I don't drink alcohol, but my non-alcoholic drink of choice is Dr. Pepper or a really good flavored lemonade.

Entertaining tip or trick:

Adding fresh flowers always makes a great impact! Candles also add to the ambience.

Recent purchase that delighted you:

My bathrobe from Oddbird Company. The absolute best!

Skincare MVP:

Care eye+lip nourishing cream

Essential makeup product:

Glossier lipstick. I love the matte, stained lip look it gives me.

“We've received countless messages from adults and kids telling us of their experiences trying something new and relating it to what they have learned in one of our Bravery issues. It's been incredibly rewarding!”

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