Lola Ogden is an experienced CEO who founded Beddley in 2017. Apart from that, she is also the founder and CEO of GapEnder, which she launched in 2018. Lola is an all-around person who has worked with different brands as a consultant officer.

His diverse knowledge as a Chief Operating Officer has earned her a position to run his own business. She enjoys being his boss because there is more freedom to do whatever you want.

I am a proud alumnus of Columbia Business School, where I studied for my bachelor’s in business management. However, after one year in the field, I realized a degree alone was not enough to cut myself a niche in the market. I enrolled back in Columbia to study MBA. I learned many skills through my fellow friends, like being a strategic consultant and digital marketing skills.

That master’s degree transformed my mind to think about business in everything I touched. I have skills in business analysis and strategic planning. In addition, my good communication skills earned me a lot of chances in life.

Immediately after graduation, in 1998, I got my first job at Citi. The company’s headquarters are in New York. I was the vice president of Citi, where we ensured the service being offered was of high quality. There was more pressure because any mess at one point could affect the company’s total revenue.

So, together with the founder, who was the company’s CEO, we could wake up early and go to bed late in the night. I never realized why we were doing so until I owned my company. The salary was outstanding. I got all the privileges I wanted, but the work was overwhelming.

After one and half a year, I got an opportunity to join a consultant company in the US. I became a senior strategy consultant in the marketing department. Since 2000, I have worked with the company for 17 years. I resigned in 2017 when I was ready to venture into my own business. I have interacted with bright minds for all those years and learned a lot. Likewise, I met hundreds of CEOs who were very passionate about their company. Everyone wants to be their boss. That pressure was too much for me until I decided to look for my business, where I could control my waves.

Just after quitting my job, I brainstormed on what I could do. I used my knowledge in technology and finance to set up a company that could offer modern duvet covers. These duvet covers have three open sides to fit every individual. In addition, we have created different duvet covers which come in various styles.

Then, in September 2017, I was ready to launch Baddley. I had a little capital where I only employed ten workers. Within a year, the company was doing well. We started earning some revenue. We have expanded our products to offer pillow shams and duvet inserts. One can even use the cover as a light bedsheet.

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In 2018, another idea rang into my mind, and I set up another company called GrapEnder. Here, we make fashionable shirts that are sizeable. My idea was to conceal the zipper that people have always complained about on their shirts. Sometimes the shirt comes with large buttons, which is annoying.

Our shirts are very fitting, and each goes at $150. Currently, I run the two companies. Balancing at a time looks difficult, but I have learned to take responsibility on both ends with time.

To my fellow entrepreneurs, the journey to the free world is never easy. But we can always try our best to achieve what is possible. Having a good team can bring more success to your company, so choose wisely.

To a younger Lola Ogden, make use of experienced people around you. When you are in your 20s, learn a lot, the mind is always fresh enough to absorb more. Then brainstorm on any solution you can bring.