McKenna Haz on Ditching the 'Real Job' Myth to Forge Your Entrepreneurial Path

In this episode, Madeline chats with McKenna Haz, the founder of Seaav, a sustainability-focused activewear brand, born from McKenna's passion for the ocean and sustainability. Growing up on Vancouver Island, Canada, McKenna was motivated by the Fukushima earthquake's environmental impact to take action. She launched Seaav from her college dorm, combining her interests in activewear, the ocean, and sustainability. McKenna discusses the challenges of balancing college, sports, and starting a business, the importance of pitch competitions and grants in her early success, and the evolution of her company's mission and strategies. She emphasizes the significance of core values, the role of networking and mentorship, adapting to the changing landscape of social media marketing, and the focus on collaborative collections with influencers for future growth. McKenna shares her commitment to sustainability, her learning journey as a young entrepreneur, and her strategies for maintaining well-being through journaling and running.00:00 McKenna's Entrepreneurial Journey Begins00:19 From Childhood Passion to Entrepreneurial Venture: The Birth of Seaav01:41 Juggling College, Sports, and Starting a Company: The Early Days of Seaav.04:09 The Growth of Seaav: Building a Sustainable Fashion Brand04:54 Understanding Core Values and Building a Team08:47 Expanding the Team and Overcoming Challenges15:15 Learning from Mistakes: Navigating Team Dynamics and Remote Work21:32 The Evolution of Seaav's Fashion Line and Understanding the Core Customer31:07 Navigating the Greenwashing Landscape33:06 The Journey of Attracting Investors37:19 Leveraging Networking for Business Growth46:19 Mastering Social Media and Influencer Marketing55:18 Looking Ahead: 2024 Brand Strategies and Personal GrowthFinding Fearless is an exploration of human-centric leadership and a celebration of ambition,  releasing every other week on Wednesdays, 6AM PST.  If you liked the show, please rate, review, and share! You can also visit our website to learn more about how to become a sponsor of Finding Fearless!Finding Fearless is produced by Fearless Foundry, a creative consultancy focused on advancing ambitious humans from around the globe to amplify their impact through branding, marketing, and business development. You can contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in our services and can follow us on all social media @fearlessfoundry. Season 4 music is by Premium Beats. All audio is recorded and owned by Fearless Foundry.