Entrepreneur Tells Students to Take The Time to Find Their Way
Bethenny Frankel didn’t waste any time setting the tone for the conversation at Farmingdale State College on March 22, when post-introduction she asked if there was a policy on swearing.
The entrepreneur, philanthropist, reality-TV star, multiple New York Times bestselling author, beauty "(de)influencer" and mother was raw and real as she discussed her journey to becoming a self-made businesswoman, going from selling organic cookies from her car, to the architect of the Skinnygirl product line, and the leader of a massive philanthropic organization.
Sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, the event wrapped up FSC’s celebration of Women’s History Month. The discussion was moderated by Sharon Khan-Sakoor, Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement.
“She was enlightening,” said Genevieve Paraszczuk, ’25, of Bethpage after the presentation. “It wasn’t scripted, it was real and honest.”
“I thought she was amazing,” added Michael Hammer ’23, of Hewlett. “What I took away from this is go out and meet people. Make connections.”
In noting how many years it took her to find a niche, Frankel encouraged students not to panic if they lacked direction, as long as they were not stagnating. “If you are not on the right road at that age, you can change it,” she noted. “Go where the fish are. As long as you are not moving backwards.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do until my late 30s,” said Frankel to the crowd of about 150 people. “In college, people think they need to know what they want to do, because people are coming up with ideas in garages. I didn’t think about money, I didn’t have a career, I didn’t know where I was going. But I was not sitting around; you have to be moving forward.”
Among her biggest ventures are serving as Founder and CEO of Skinnygirl, which started by selling lower-calorie mixed drinks and later branched out to clothing, snacks, cosmetics, and other products for women; BStrong, a philanthropic organization that collects money and goods from donors and distributes them in areas impacted by crisis; and her series Glam or Sham, in which she compares high-end beauty products to less expensive versions and has generated huge followings on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and her website. She also has a blog and a podcast.
BStrong now has more than 10,000 individuals, companies, and foundations contributing to its efforts. While Frankel said she didn’t always keep up on current events, fans would contact her about disasters, and “I wanted to be in the mix,” she said. “Giving back was initially activated by events and things that inspire me.” The effort has taken off. “Now we have warehouses all over the world filled with aid, ready to go.”
While several earlier business ventures failed, she was “discovered” through reality TV.
An appearance on the hit TV show "The Apprentice" didn’t get her funding for her natural food company --“It was mostly a dry sponge, but I squeezed what I could out of it.” But that led to her run on the BravoTV series “Real Housewives of New York City”, which she described as “a train wreck with everyone drinking,” and later “A university on how not to act,” but the show put Frankel in the public eye, and they loved her. Her experience and exposure on the show became the vehicle for the launch of the Skinnygirl product line.
When starting a company, success is less about the product and more about execution and endless work, according to Frankel. “Just work your ass off at 25, work hard. Work smart. If you are knocking on a door and don’t get in, find another key.”
Frankel added she never thought of herself as being a successful businessman or woman, but a successful business person, and did not see her gender as a hindrance to starting and running a business. “Men don’t dominate the entrepreneurial field now,” said Frankel. “It’s not fun to be a White male. People can’t afford to take chances and make moves. It’s hard to be in business now when you’re shackled.”
When it comes to business dealings, she believes she is on an equal footing with men. At the beginning of a work experience, you need to lay down what’s acceptable and what’s not. That includes never compromising integrity. “If someone has been nice to you, come back to them,” she said. “You always want to be on the side of ethics. No one thinks I’m a picnic, but I’m fair.”
Success, according to Frankel, is about balance: being a good person, giving back, being present, and not taking on too much.
Knowing what a high-pressure time college is for young people makes sharing with them especially enjoyable, Frankel said. “It’s when they feel they have to know everything; my true story tells them they have time to decide,” she noted. “Kids I went to high school with who got 1500 on their SATs are not doing any better than I am.”
Students appreciated Frankel’s candor and enthusiasm. “I really enjoyed it,” said Amanda Morrison, '24, of Farmingdale. “She lit up the room. Everyone was excited about it, she did a great job connecting with the audience and gave great advice.” Morrison said she especially enjoys Frankel’s take on makeup brands. “They are raw and genuine, and I appreciate her reviews since I have limited funds to spend on myself.”
“It was great, I loved her,” added Lindsay Davis, ’24, of Wantagh, who said she watched “Housewives” with her mother. "She is such a big inspiration to women.”
More Photos: A Conversation with Bethenny Frankel
