Fairygodboss Of The Week: Meesen Brown

Founder / CEO, Behere

New York, NY

FGB: Tell us about your career. How did you get to where you are now?

MB: After graduating business school, I took a position at one of the "big five" banks in Toronto. Early on, I recognized I was not a fan of corporate inefficiencies, red tape and navigating corporate banking as a woman. After leaving finance, I took a role at a not-for-profit in Sydney, Australia. I was able to work with a fantastic team of women that helped me understand the importance of teamwork and reliability. Despite this, I still faced inefficiencies and a slow-paced environment. I had a choice; to keep knocking on doors, or build a door and open it.

So, I launched Behere, a flexible work and travel experience for women. I thought the best way to get what I wanted was to provide an opportunity for women to be inspired through experiences. Through Behere, I have been able to learn, grow, share and collaborate with amazing women around the world.

MB: Starting Behere. It was challenging to move somewhere new and start a new career, only to realize that in order to always be learning and growing I needed to create my own path. Actually taking that leap and starting Behere was extremely challenging but ultimately the most rewarding.

MB:  When you start to create and build a product or service, it is overwhelming and frightening because you're putting your life and love into your work; it's a form of expression. You put it out to the world to be judged, which is difficult at first, but you remember to stay focused and not forget your goals and keep striving to make an impact.

FGB: What is the #1 career tip you'd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you?

MB: I always tell myself to 'keep moving forward.' I look at failure, success and adversity as an opportunity to learn. The day you stop learning, you stop growing.

MB: Working at Behere gives me the opportunity to build and interact with a community of women worldwide. It's truly amazing when you connect with someone that is thousands of miles away but is facing the same issues professionally or personally.

MB: There are SO many amazing ladies changing the face of entrepreneurship for women that I can't pick just one! Every woman that is encouraging, supporting and inspiring others is truly admirable.

MB: I love keeping active, it keeps me balanced and clears my mind, so I'm usually out hiking, running or playing sports, when I'm not cooking or reading. Of course, I also love to travel and explore, finding hidden gems in new places.

MB: “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations.

MB: “Catch Me If You Can.”

MB: “A House in the Sky: A Memoir” by Amanda Lindhout.

MB: Health food products are my shopping vice. If I won the lottery, I would support worldwide education, women entrepreneurs and women in the workforce.

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