Question

What does your company do?

Miss O & Friends® is a place for girls who have outgrown Barbie®, yet not ready for Britney.



Created and managed by tween girls, we ask girls what they want and we deliver.



Where girls can do stuff that’s cool and age appropriate.



How did you decide to start your company?

When I was 10, I drew these girls that I called cool girls, later to become Miss O & Friends.



This led to me, my sister, and some friends creating a world where tween girls can just be tween girls.



When I was 15, we created a company out of what I did.



What made you think your business idea would be successful?

I naturally addressed a gap in the marketplace. We created something that did not exist that I and all my friends loved because it was natural, authentic – REAL.



How do customers find out about your company?

A lot of our traffic is from one girl telling another – Word- of-Mouth they call it.



How did you decide on pricing for your products or services?

For our licensed products, it is based on what the retailers think we should charge, and the retailers base that on what other similar kinds of products sell for.



To participate on our website, where everything we do is based on what our community of tween girls tells us they want, and then tween girls actually make it happen, it is TOTALLY FREE!



Where do you sell your products or services?
(For example: online, at a market, in people's homes, etc.)

Online products are sold through our website.



Our books are at school book fairs and also are sold on Amazon.



Our "KidsCounsel" advice column can be found in many local newspapers.



What competitors does your company have, and why do your customers choose your company instead of your competitors?

We are not aware of any companies that have been created and are managed by girls, ages 8-14.



Young girls may go to big factory-like websites, like Disney®, but Disney does not have tween girls run their website like we do.

If you have other people working for your company, how did you find those people?

Many young girls have approached us – first as interns, then, if they are good, as paid employees.



My dad does the finance and other adults do the back office stuff. Many of these people my dad knew.



Did you get any investments from other people to start or expand your company? If so, how did you convince them that it was a good investment?

Yes, from our Advisory Board and from The Procter & Gamble Company.



These people invested because they believe that something that is real and authentic will always reflect the needs of the customers it serves.



What are the best things about working for yourself as an entrepreneur?

I make these really big presentations to big company executives, talk to the press, and get to speak about my experiences.



What are the hardest things about being an entrepreneur?

The highs and lows. The good news and the not so good news can really shake you if you let it. The goal is to stay even keel.



What surprised you the most about being an entrepreneur?

How much time it can demand of my schedule and how it can be really emotional.



What qualities does a successful entrepreneur need to have?

Believe in who you are and what you do, and never, ever give up.



What are your future goals for your company and for yourself personally?

I’m a syndicated writer, and I like writing, but have decided to become a Doctor. With Miss O, we hope to continue to grow it with the help of tween girls across the globe!



Do you have advice for teen entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

If you believe in your idea, and you believe in yourself, it’s just a matter of time. Be patient and persistent.

According to Juliette Brindak, what are the qualities of a successful entrepreneur?

Vince Lombardi once said, “You never lose, you just run out of time.” Make sure you never run out of time!

Answer 1

According to Juliette Brindak, a successful entrepreneur should:

- Believe in who you are and what you do (self‑confidence)
- Never, ever give up (persistence/tenacity)
- Be patient and persistent (long‑term commitment)
- Stay even‑keeled through the highs and lows (emotional resilience)
- Be authentic/real — address a genuine need

She sums it up with the Vince Lombardi idea: “You never lose, you just run out of time,” so don’t run out of time — keep going.