Sonalie Figueiras is on a mission to help people make greener, safer, healthier choices for themselves and for the planet
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented and inspiring folks, so we’ve decided to share the love by interviewing some of the lovely Launchpad members. Looking for inspiration? Check out how Sonalie Figueiras, founder of Green Queen and SourceGreenPackaging.com, gets it done like a boss.
How I get it done:How I get it done: Sonalie Figueiras
How and why did you decide to launch your business?
It’s a long story but in a nutshell: I had chronic health issues that led me to figure out that our food system is broken, which led me to uncover the climate crisis we are facing, and that’s how I ended up with three businesses that all seek to help people make greener, safer, healthier choices for themselves and for the planet.
What does the Launchpad community mean to you?
The chance to connect with like-minded APAC female founders. No one is doing what they do alone, or in a vacuum. You need people around you to help you, inspire you, assist you, support you and value you. Community provides all of this.
What’s the secret to your success?
I enjoy complex problem solving and I am fairly mentally tough so I can keep going when others give up, and when problems arise, I don’t get stressed. Also, I am a big reader (at least two hours a day: literary fiction, longform journalism, op-eds), so I am able to connect the dots on a lot of subjects and reference many different disciplines. NB: I think reading is hugely underrated as a business skill.
How I get it done: Lightning round
On a typical morning: Wake up – check phone (yes yes I know, it’s bad) and make sure there are no emergencies on Whatsapp/Slack/email to deal with. Get my son sorted out (give him breakfast, dress him, brush his teeth), go to meet my trainer for a Muay Thai PT session. Go to the office (grab coffee on the way, three espressos over ice) and then get to my desk at work where the full day starts. Spend an hour sorting out emails and the content plan for the day. Then I usually have online meetings all day with clients and founders for Green Queen and buyers and suppliers for Source GreenPackaging.com.
On dealing with self-doubt and criticism: I am half Asian so I am programmed to think I am not smart enough, not successful enough, not thin enough, not X enough (fill in the blank). So that’s table stakes. I will probably always have some of that. I’ve learnt some useful CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques to talk myself out of these type of negative thought patterns when they come up.
On staying motivated and energised: I try to spend time in nature to unplug every weekend. If I don’t hit a trail or the beach on the weekend, I feel robbed come Monday. Nature = healing.
On the advice you’d give your younger self: Make up your own rules, choose your own path and take bigger risks, but do it all SOONER. There’s no time to lose. Also, there’s a space in the world for people like you (brown-skinned, female, strong, outspoken).
Catch Sonalie at our fireside chat!
Want to learn more about the future of consumption and consumer behaviour trends? Join the Launchpad fireside chat on 23 February at 10am with Sonalie and Honeycombers founder Chris Edwards. Sonalie and Chris will be trendcasting what the future holds for businesses and consumers. If you had a crystal ball, and could see into the future, what would you want to know to prepare for changing trends in what we eat, wear, watch, and buy? And we’ve got a special deal for Honeycombers’ readers! Although it normally costs $580 to register to attend a Launchpad event for non-members, the first 30 Honeycombers readers can join the panel discussion for FREE with the discount code readytolaunch. Register now!
Find out more about Green Queen and SourceGreenPackaging.com.
Launchpad is a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is designed to make the entrepreneurial journey not only easier, and more successful, but also a whole lot more fun. The platform offers almost daily activities for members to connect, along with regular masterclasses, member networking roulette, small-business mentoring and media profiles on Honeycombers.
